Online auctions have struck a deep chord in American culture. The sheer numbers of sellers now is so huge that it has become possible to buy many things that you need and want. You can also find items from your past, such as favorite toys or games, that you thought were gone forever. You even buy items to resell for profit. The bazaar never closes; the markets never sleep. You can “shop ‘til you drop” and not make the slightest ripple in the Web.

Small businesses are increasingly buying at least some of their computer hardware, peripherals, office supplies, and office furniture from online auction sites, including those that sell large lots of overstocked goods. Owners of small and home-based businesses often have to provide their own technical support. Many have discovered that online auction sites can keep them supplied with hard-to-find repair parts and affordable software, so the older systems they have paid for can stay on the job a couple of years longer.

Hobbyists and artists have swarmed to online auction sites, because the Internet and the Web have greatly expanded their ability to buy the exact tools, materials, kits, and specialty items they need.

For collectors, the Web is a wonderland, and online auction sites have brought them an amazingly affordable means of covering a lot of ground in a hurry as they search for rare and coveted items.

College students have to buy a lot of books, and many of the ones they need can be found at online auctions for prices much lower than their bookstores charge. Online auctions are especially thrifty for English majors who must read many classic novels and poetry collections. Amazon.com is famous for its book sales where individuals can sell used copies right alongside online book dealers. A college student may literally find dozens of copies of a needed book on Amazon, ranging from very ratty paperback to a treasured collectible hardback. Books are readily available on most other auction sites, as well.