QXL MaxBid is the UK's newest auction sensation where bidders can bid for products at a fraction of the normal retail price.

QXL, operating since 1997, is one of Europe's leading online auction sites. QXL MaxBid allows bidders to place bids on new and exciting products at a fraction of the normal retail price by paying an Administration and Handling Fee per bid.

Bids are kept secret during the course of the auction, the number of bids that will be accepted is limited per auction and the winner is selected by the highest unique bid once the maximum number of bids has been reached

Originally: QXL was the online equivalent of Sothebys and Christies. The products QXL offers are diverse and continually rotated. It often goes out into the market to actively seek out manufacturers' excess inventory, reconditioned models and end-of-line products.

Most auctions are open for a week, but there are daily and even hourly auctions. A great site to keep those frenzied bargain hunters happy. Each page has full product details, starting price, leading bid and suggested bid increment.

The only downside it that there is no information of the retail high street price, so it's suggested that you do your homework first. Be warned the Internet auction can be an addictive game.

QXL is an ideal online auction site for selling refurbished, end-of-line or customer return computers at low, low prices and PCs and various components are a key part of its business.

You have to register to shop here and then bid. It's well worth the hassle since you really can pick up some good bargains here. There's a wide range of stock, with leading brand machines sometimes become available.

Autotrader online, the well known magazine peddling used cars, has become an excellent an all-purpose car site. You can access the magazine content and browse a directory of online shops selling car-related products. There's a useful set of tools to help with buying a new car but the real pull is the Used Cars section where you can search a database of 140,000 vehicles. You specify your postcode and how far you're prepared to travel and Autotrader tries to find a deal for you and with colour pictures to accompany each car, you know exactly what you are getting.