DubLi

DubLi (, ) an online shopping portal that provides reverse auctions to its users. DubLi has two different auction styles to participate in: the original DubLi “Unique Bid” style and “Xpress” auctioning. The “Xpress” style of buying is most closely related to eBay’s “Buy It Now” button, except the price of the item is constantly decreasing. A pre-determined maximum sale price is listed, and in order to see the current price, you must use a credit. Each time someone uses a credit to view the current sale price, the price is actually reduced by $0.25. In the "Unique Bid" auctions, buyers can make bids in $0.25 increments, and will know as soon as they place their bid whether it is the lowest unique bid at the time. As long as the auction continues, bidders will be notified by e-mail if someone else has bid at their amount, canceling their current status as the lowest unique bidder.
Items
All of the products on the site are provided from the company, rather than individual users. Shoppers have a choice of browsing through auctions and categories, or visiting the shopping mall. Finding items of a specific nature is done by browsing through categories, which follow a broad outline:
* All - All items available in the auction style are listed.
* Travel and Vouchers - This section exclusively lists travel vouchers and similar offers.
* Top Auction - Premier auctions items; these vary from month to month.
* Electronics - Items include; notebooks, cellphones and other gadgets popular today.
* For Her - This section often features items which are not appropriate for men.
* Household and Leisure - Items here are household appliances and similar.
* Toys and Games - Usually gaming consoles are to be found in this section.
As DubLi operates its site on a regional basis, covering each part of the world with a local site and warehouse, all trading is done using the local currency of the region.
Different Ways to Bid
DubLi offers three different types of auctions, each of which utilizes a different model to determine how the final bid wins. In brief, they are:
* Xpress is an auction where the price of an item goes down every time someone looks at the price. The item can be bought at anytime.
* Unique Bid is an auction where the lowest single bid will win the auction.
Bidding
DubLi uses an auction system which is similar to that known as the Vickrey auction. Bids are not revealed until the end of an auction. Depending on which national variation of the DubLi website is being used, the credit price varies.
* The current price of a given item is always sealed, until a bidder uses a credit to reveal the price. This may not, however, be the actual given price, for other bidders may have revealed the price themselves at the same time.
* The winning bid on all auctions is always the lowest bid, since the price of the item drops with each credit used to reveal the price of an item.
Whilst the above two points are true for each of the auction types, they each have their own rules and bidding styles, outlined below.
Xpress
The Xpress bid model is the most popular of the models, since it allows people to buy an item as soon as they like the price.
Unique Bid
The Unique bid is one in which the lowest single bid on any given monetary value for an item wins. These bids most emphasize what DubLi refers to as 'Fun Shopping', by increasing the element of chance. The Unique auction style is frequently used to showcase 'big' auctions. In July 2009, an auction for a $24,000 Harley Davidson ended, with the winner driving the motorbike away having paid $7,400. There is a risk, however, that the bidder will lose their credit money after bidding.
Controversy and Criticism
DubLi has come under criticism for operating like a multi-level marketing scheme, and bundling the purchase of credits with its MLM-licensing system. . Several individuals in DubLi management have criminal records and a history of building pyramid schemes and bankruptcy. . In addition, the shell company does not hold real auctions; The games have been likened to gambling and lottery games. .
DubLi does have a partner program; however, the main point of the store is for users to bid on merchandise, while the business model seems to be a completely separate part of the DubLi name.
While some websites make scam claims, there are also sites that assert the opposite DubLi Scam Rebuttals.

Charity Auctions
Dubli works in collaboration with American Idol 2007 winner Jordin Sparks via its Partnership Program. Her website runs using DubLi's software.

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