Swoopo?

[ColleenG]

Has anyone ever bought or bid on anything from Swoopo.com? I've seen them adverised here on the Dis. They had a Rebel XSi for $79. I'm a big believer in if it sounds too good to be true, it isn't. I just don't know how they work that they could sell something for so little. DH thinks it's where the mob sells all the stuff that "fell off the truck."

 

[Code]

I'm a big believer in if it sounds too good to be true, it isn't.

You nailed it. Especially in the world of buying electronics online.

 

[fitzperry]

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Swoopo

According to the review posted there, it's sort of a hybrid raffle/auction. I'd stay away.

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks for the link. Now I see how they turn a profit.

 

[fitzperry]

No problem. I think your husband might be correct about the source of their merchandise.

 

[ColleenG]

I thought maybe he had just been watching too many Sopranos reruns!

 

[saturndb]

Here is how swoopo works:
The concept goes something like this: items are put up for bid, and each time a user bids, the price is increased by 15 cents. At the same time the amount of time added to the auction also increases up to 20 seconds with each bid. If no new bids are received before time runs out, the last bidder wins the item.
Swoopo claims that this allows users to purchase items at about 35 percent of the retail price.

But wait....

These deals sound too good to be true to you? In a way they are. Users cannot just simply register and bid. Instead once registered a user must fill his or her account with prepaid bids. Yes, that’s right, you pay to bid. Each bid costs the user $1, and can be purchased in packs of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500. There is no discount for buying larger packs.