Trading Post Blog

A gift that will impress but not break the bank is the challenge this Mother’s Day. When it’s the thought that counts, it’s the time to get online and get creative.

With over 85,000 new listings on average each week the Trading Post® has the answer. Plus, the all new ‘Bargain Box’ is a great place to find gifts, with hundreds of items for auction, all starting from 99c!

“All the items in our top 10 are in the bargain box on  www.tradingpost.com.au and up for auction with a 99c starting price,” explained David Bray, Trading Post®’s Senior Business Manager.

To make sure you get the best deal, David’s hot tips are:
Check the location and postage costs up-front, you may be able to find a local seller and just pop round the corner to collect.
If you miss out on an item don’t loose heart, there are loads of great deals online
Compare prices when out and about by visiting m.tradingpost.com.au from your mobile.
Set up free SMS alerts to track items ending, out bid or won through Trading Post® Mobile (m.tradingpost.com.au).
Get to know who you’re buying from by checking seller feedback and ratings from previous transactions.

David has also done the work for you and trawled the site to come up with his top 10 Mother’s Day gift ideas:

Battery operated massager – enjoy the luxury of massage at home
Five piece coffee plunger set – the ultimate for entertaining
Four piece wine tool serving set – the perfect gift to make a nice bottle even more special
Boxed candle and incense set – heaven scented…
Pets carry case handbag – for the mum who has everything
Cordless electric sweeper broom – to make her life a little bit easier
Five piece condiment glass set – an inventive surprise
Luxurious plush bathrobe – a great idea to keep cosy in the winter
Manicure set – a ladies best friend
Ladies fashion sunglasses, Italian design – for a touch of chic

Plus check out awesome buys such as satellite navigation systems, digital cameras and iPods on ‘auction of the day’ – there is a new item every day, all starting from 99c!

Check out the latest copy of Trading Post®, head online to www.tradingpost.com.au or visit m.tradingpost.com.au from your your mobile web browser.

All items listed are available and current at time of release of this media release from Trading Post®, the Aussie icon Australians have loved buying and selling with for more than 40 years.

For interviews or further information please contact:
Sally Taylor, Communicado, ph: 03 9522 9908, mob: 0402 204 991,
e:  sally.taylorATcommunicado.com.au
Alex Brudenell, Communicado, ph: 03 9522 9909, mob: 0402 442 721,
e:  alex.brudenellATcommunicado.com.au

Trading Post® and the Trading Post logo are registered trade marks of Research Resources Pty Ltd. Sensis® and the Sensis logo are registered trade marks of Telstra Corporation Ltd.

Trading Post^®, Red Cross and The Department of Human Services in Victoria, have joined forces to raise more money for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The fundraiser encourages people to sell their unwanted household items on tradingpost.com.au and donate the sale proceeds directly to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

“Many people have offered furniture and personal effects to help those affected by the bushfires and we have been overwhelmed by the support,” said Mr Robert Tickner, CEO, Red Cross. “Trading Post^®’s bushfire appeal sale is a great idea, enabling Australian’s to work together to sell their unwanted items and raise additional money for the appeal.”

Trading Post^® was approached by the Victorian Department of Human Services as a result of so many people contacting fund-raising organisations asking how they can donate items to help victims of the bushfires.

What is needed now is money to help bushfire survivors rebuild their homes and their lives.

The Trading Post^® bushfire appeal sale gives Australians an alternative way to generate funds for the Appeal by selling their unwanted or unused items.

Sensis CEO Mr Bruce Akhurst said “Trading Post^® is delighted to be able to provide this service for all Australian’s to support the Bushfire Appeal. Every Australian has unused items at home and the online sale is a great way to turn these items into cash for people in real and urgent need. So we urge everyone to clear out their homes, offices and garages and turn these items into money for such a worthy cause!” 

The new online sale is now up and running. To list items or browse and buy items head online to www.tradingpost.com.au .

HOW TO:

Listing items for sale to raise money for the bushfire appeal is easy. Simply go online to www.tradingpost.com.au and click on the Bushfire Appeal banner on the home page. You will then be directed to the Bushfire Appeal page to buy or list items for sale. Items must be listed in the bushfire appeal category for the sale proceeds to be automatically donated to the appeal.

Detailed, step-by-step instructions are provided on the site. Trading Post® have also waived the usual listing and selling fees for sale items to further support the cause.

For interviews or further information please contact:

Lucinda Tippett, Sensis, ph 03 8653 5836, mob: 0448 271 123

Tory Montgomery, Communicado, mob: 0411 736 633

Trading Post^® and the Trading Post logo are registered trade marks of Research Resources Pty Ltd. Sensis® and the Sensis logo are registered trade marks of Telstra Corporation Ltd.

Australia day - it’s the day we come together as a nation to celebrate Australia and being Australian. And what could be more Australian than having a public holiday to celebrate!

But how ‘Australian’ are you? Australia’s own Trading Post^® has trawled their 200,000 listings to put together the “Top 10 items every true blue Aussie should own”.

Whether planning a BBQ with mates, going to the beach or trying to remember the national anthem, Australia Day is a time to sit back, relax and remember what being Australian actually means. 

Essential Aussie items check list:

Thongs 

The all important Esky

BBQ – how can any Aussie live without one!

Cricket – bats, signed shirts, Ashes memories

Ugg boots

Something green and gold – from off-road trail bikes to sequin tops

Stubby holders

Tennis memorabilia – antique wooden rackets to signed celebrity collectibles 

Beach hoodie

A piece of history or heritage – from antique Holden’s to aboriginal art

Missing one of these items? Check out the latest copy of Trading Post^®, head online to  www.tradingpost.com.au or visit m.tradingpost.com.au on your mobile.

All items listed are available and current at time of release from Trading Post^®, the Aussie icon Australians have loved buying and selling with for more than 40 years.

For interviews or further information please contact:

Sally Taylor, Communicado, ph 03 9522 9922, mob: 0402 204 991

The biggest, the best, the longest? In the lead up to Australia Day - what could be more Aussie than a bit of competitive spirit?!

Two men survived 25 days at sea in their Esky, just imagine what you could do in your very own giant Esky. 

Thanks to Techni Ice, whose Esky was used by the two stranded fishermen, an identical 1,100L Esky will be up for auction on Trading Post^® from today, Wednesday 21 January 2009. All monies raised will be donated to Surf Life Saving Australia.

Get your hands on the ‘ultimate mate impresser’ by visiting www.tradingpost.com.au or m.tradingpost.com.au from your mobile

The auction will be listed on www.tradingpost.com.au from Wednesday 21 January and will run for one week, closing on Wednesday 28 January 2009.

For interviews or further information please contact:

Sally Taylor, Communicado, ph 03 9522 9922, mob: 0402 204 991

Whether looking to get rid of the worst gift ever or just trying to be inventive to save money, street smart givers are looking to the internet to avoid embarrassing mishaps.

Any ‘chronic’ re-gifter knows the rules to successfully palming off old gifts including only giving away unused items, always re-wrapping a gift and ensuring the receiver will actually like it!

The most dangerous re-gifting faux par is getting caught out.

Street smart re-gifters, otherwise know as e-gifters, are turning instead to the internet to make money from unwanted gifts by selling them online.

“I have to admit I have listed a Christmas present for auction on www.tradingpost.com.au but I can’t tell you what it was as I don’t want to get found out.” said Jeff Mentiplay, GM of General Merchandise at Trading Post®.

Since Christmas, Trading Post® has seen the number of new listings in the following categories approximately double: sports, leisure & recreation; wheels, tyres, parts & accessories; fashion and beauty; dvds, cds, videos, records & tapes.

Plus for a limited time only, Trading Post® are giving everyone a gift with their ‘sell for free offer’ until 31 January 2009 for basic auction and buy now ads.

To get into the action, go online to www.tradingpost.com.au or m.tradingpost.com.au from your mobile.

Case Study 1: Stephen Smorgon wishes his friends had e-gifted with Trading Post® rather than re-gifting!

“Do you remember that time when all your friends started to become engaged? Well it’s a time I will never forget. My friend got engaged during summer and I knew he would need to do lots of entertaining with his new fiancé, so decided to get them a pizza maker that made the perfect pizza for 8+ people. What more could they ask for, they both loved their pizzas and I thought they would get a lot of use out of our gift.

While wrapping the present, I made sure that the card was inside the box so that it would not get lost

Time went on and it was now my turn to get engaged, I opened the gift from the same friend, and low and behold, a pizza maker! I thought they must have loved our gift so much they had bought us one. We pulled it out a few months back and realised that when we opened the box, our card for our friend’s engagement present was still inside the BOX!!!!”

For more case studies, interviews or further information please contact:

Sally Taylor, Communicado, ph 03 9522 9922, mob: 0402 204 991

Trading Post® and the Trading Post logo are registered trade marks of Research Resources Pty Ltd. Sensis® and the Sensis logo are registered trade marks of Telstra Corporation Ltd.

 The mobile phone is the latest weapon for Australia’s bargain hunters this Christmas as they compare prices of high street retailers with those available on Trading Post® Mobile, while on the go!

In the past, shopping around for the best deal meant hours of searching the internet and then trudging around shops comparing prices. Now with Trading Post® accessible from mobile phones, it easy to compare prices when out and about.

The launch this week of Trading Post®’s new mobile shopping site (m.tradingpost.com.au) also allows shoppers to not only check prices but bid and buy items with Trading Post® from the palm of their hand.

 “With the new mobile search, bid and buy capability, Trading Post® Mobile offers real time access to Trading Post® inventory, including classifieds and auction ad listings allowing Australians to find great bargains while they’re on the go, or without having to leave the comfort of their couch,” explains Trading Post^®’s Group Manager, Marketing, Kellie Cordner.

“There are literally thousands of great deals on Trading Post®. In the lead up to Christmas we are seeing an increase in listings across a wide range of categories from stocking fillers to larger goods. Everyone is trying to make a dollar selling unwanted items,” Ms Cordner said.

Read more… »

A surfboard signed by Steve Irwin and won in an Australia Day Promotion at Australia Zoo is up for auction on tradingpost.com.au.

The prized possession, which is in ‘mint’ condition and has never been used, has reluctantly been put up for auction.

Read more… »

Christmas shopping is most men’s nightmare: They never know what to buy (please not perfume again) and invariably leave it to the last minute.

The experts at Trading Post® have trawled over the hundreds of thousands of items on their website to bring you ideas that will suit every person on your Christmas list without having to step into a shop.

Read more… »

When times are tough, the tough get shopping…for a bargain.  And with the global financial crisis showing no signs of abating, Aussie families are looking for smart ways to fill their kids Christmas stockings without busting the budget.

With more than 85,000 new listings each week, you’re sure to find the perfect bargain at Trading Post®. The experts at one of Australia’s favourite places to buy and sell have started the job for you with the following ideas that will fill your child’s stocking for less than $50.

“With the click of a mouse it is quick and easy to search for the best bargain or look for ideas. Just pick the item category to search for a comprehensive and inspiring list, then refine your search by specifying a price range and selecting the location using the advanced options,” explained Jeff Mentiplay, GM of General Merchandise at Trading Post®. Read more… »

Australia’s iconic Trading Post® has weighed-in to the local online auction market with the launch of auctions on its new website www.tradingpost.com.au.

Sensis CEO, Mr Bruce Akhurst said: “Trading Post®, the Aussie icon Australians have loved buying and selling with for more than 40 years, is putting choice back into online auctions and making it free to list your items.”

“With one in two Australians having bought or sold something on the internet, it’s clear we love buying and selling online. And while auctions have only just started on www.tradingpost.com.au, our aim is to build up the number of items available and become Australia’s favourite place to buy and sell.”

The Trading Post®’s announcement comes at a time when Australian sellers are up in arms following eBay’s decision to force sellers to use its own payment service PayPal and as a result, pay additional fees.

Read more… »