| Customers interested in buying cars online, or those | | | | As far as online security features of this car auction |
| searching for second-hand cars for sale can get | | | | site are concerned, a highly encrypted and secure |
| ready for one of the most exciting, innovative and | | | | gateway ensures that all financial transactions are kept |
| explosive car auction experiences that South Africa | | | | out of the hands of nefarious individuals. Other safety |
| has ever seen. Online Car Bid has recently launched its | | | | features include: Credit card details that are never |
| website as a platform for online car auctions, a bold | | | | stored, an elimination of false bid via the transparent |
| new idea that has worked well internationally, but | | | | system Online Car Bid employs; finally, a refundable |
| never taken off in South Africa - until now that is. | | | | registration process ensures that all bidders are |
| Both consumers and dealers will be able to buy and | | | | prequalified. Between the buyer and the motor finance |
| sell vehicles through an online auction process, and the | | | | institution, Online Car Bid will act as the ultimate liaison. |
| company's local creators believe that this will | | | | Online Car Bid will also organise vehicle delivery at an |
| revolutionise the South African car sales industry. With | | | | affordable rate. |
| Online Car Bid securing partnership deals with many of | | | | Comparisons between a real car auction and an online |
| South Africa's biggest and best dealerships, the | | | | one are moot, as Nainkin informs us. "For buyers, the |
| consumer will now be able to bid on a massive range | | | | fact that bids can be placed online 24/7 in real-time |
| of used cars for sale - this stretches across all price | | | | makes our auctions more accessible and reduces the |
| ranges. Online Car Bid offers exceptional value and | | | | pressure and effort of attending an actual auction. It |
| choice. | | | | also provides buyers with a far wider selection of |
| Chregan O'Flynn, Director of Online Car Bid is quoted | | | | vehicles. What's more, if there are no vehicles on |
| as saying that, "We recognised the potential of | | | | auction that meet your requirements, we will source |
| combining the concept of a traditional auction with the | | | | the vehicle for you. Finally, buyers are not tied into a |
| benefits of online functionality, selecting South Africa's | | | | deal, as they are allowed to walk away from the sale |
| automotive space as the ideal platform to merge the | | | | within seven days if the vehicle has been |
| two". It is a vision such as this that drives Online Car | | | | misrepresented by the seller." He also states that most |
| Bid. Internet usage has all but ballooned from a hundred | | | | auction sites do not go into the level of detail that |
| thousand users in the mid 2000's to almost every | | | | Online Car Bid does - they delve into the interior, |
| South African now having access to the internet. As | | | | exterior and mechanical condition of the vehicle. This is |
| access to the internet grows, other auction sites such | | | | indeed an excellent level of transparency for any |
| as eBay have capitalised on this lucrative market. | | | | potential customer. |
| As a world first, Online Car Bid is the only site to offer | | | | As a showcase for their stock and for reaching out to |
| a full auction house service that is supported by a | | | | a far greater audience, Online Car bid will be of great |
| dedicated and qualified team of Auction Ambassadors, | | | | benefit to dealerships, as O'Flynn states. "A significant |
| individuals trained to ensure that all transactions are | | | | benefit of online auctions is that they allow customers |
| safe, secure and the highly professional. Simon Nainkin, | | | | from a wider geographical spread to participate in |
| the general manager of Online Car Bid, defines the | | | | auctions, which results in sale prices being more |
| Ambassadors as "Middle men who can provide all | | | | reflective of the true value of the items. We believe |
| buyers and sellers with a sales representative with | | | | that live 24/7 online car auctions will become the |
| whom they can liaise, they will also assist with | | | | preferred method of used car transactions in the |
| arranging safe meetings and test drives to ensure the | | | | foreseeable future, with South Africa leading the way |
| security of both parties". Second hand cars can now | | | | in this auction format." |
| be bought online, at home or in the office. Twitter, as | | | | Customers can now buy cars online with Online Car |
| well as Facebook pages will soon be launched, adding | | | | Bid and experience a new level of ease and security. |
| even further options for clients to interact. | | | | The future of car auctions is now. |