With up to 92% savings on recommended retail prices (RRP) and one customer reporting savings of over £3,000, John Pye offers consumers a way to fight the increased cost of living
Online auctions specialist John Pye & Sons (t/a John Pye Auctions) has seen record numbers of registered bidders as customers sign up to try to get deals through its weekly auctions, in a bid to counter the cost-of-living crisis.
Trevor Palethorpe Associate Director and Joint Head of John Pye Business & Property, said:
“Since May 2022, online registrations for new accounts have been the highest the firm has ever seen, up by 15% on previous months and maintaining a consistent level of growth. From May to August 2022, we’ve seen some of the biggest registration figures for new customers, with May being our biggest month for overall bidders ever.”
With potential savings of thousands of pounds on big-ticket domestic appliances and household goods, online auctions offer a way to buy new or returned branded items at a fraction of the original cost. With weekly online auctions and bids starting at just £4, many people are turning to the auctions to find a way to afford things that they need as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
Trevor Palethorpe adds:
“The fact that our bidding audience is increasing by 10% per month since gas and electric prices went up in April is no coincidence. At the beginning of 2019 we had 500,000 registered bidders and now we have over 750,000 as of 1st October 2022 – so a 50 per cent uplift. We are expecting even more to come as another price hike comes into effect and people are doing what they can to get deals before Christmas.”
Mum of two, Chloe Smith from Nottingham, saved over £3,000 by using John Pye Auctions to kit out her kitchen and daughter’s bedrooms. Now a longstanding auction customer, Chloe initially heard about John Pye through a friend and has been a fan ever since. She explains:
“It’s a great place to go if there is something specific that you need but are looking to get a bargain. There are all kinds of items available from household electrical appliances, furniture, cars, TVs, clothes, pretty much anything you can think of.” “We fitted a new kitchen recently when we moved into a house which needed some work. Through John Pye we bought a large American style fridge freezer, two built in cookers, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an induction hob, a toilet and TVs. We also bought a running machine in lockdown.”
The potential cost savings and the friendly staff are the biggest benefits for Chloe and her family, she adds:
“We were able to sort our new kitchen at a fraction of the price if I had bought brand new. The items are sold as seen, without return and sometimes there might be a slight flaw, for example the fridge freezer had a minor dent in it. Totally not a problem and not really noticeable. Everything else has been perfect. That’s the trade-off for getting a great price I guess. You can go and view all the items before the auction too and the team are really helpful.”
For anyone thinking of trying their luck at auction, Chloe really recommends it and has done to several friends and family members, adding:
“It’s really simple, you go online and look at the auction, you choose items that you are interested in and add them to a watch list. I look for the item I want to buy, I look at the recommended retail price, I agree in my mind how much I am prepared to spend and set a budget. I like that I can browse the auctions and search for what I’m looking for and they are there on my watch list ready for bidding. Once bidding is live you bid on the items you want to buy.” “When you win an item you feel elated. Especially if you get a real bargain – my dishwasher was £17! I have sometimes gone over budget but not by much. You also have to remember to add on fees and taxes, but the website helps with that and you factor it into your overall budget.”
The most popular products at online auction are home furnishings, tech and gaming products, garden furniture and sporting goods. Items come from a range of different sources including returns from retailers and large PLCs, from banks and other lenders, corporate liquidations, government bodies and private clients.
Representative savings in recent auctions include:
- 92% saving: Sofa Workshop Warehouse Stock – Seatle 3 -eater sofa bed in DAzza Cream – RRP £3965, sold for £300 (inc fees and VAT)
- 84% saving: Dyson V6 absolute Cordless Vacuum – RRP £199.00 sold for £32.50 (inc fees and VAT)
- 33.5% saving: Dyson Airwrap Complete Long – RRP 479.99 sold for £319.00 (inc fees and VAT)
- 92% saving: LG Instaview ThinQ Fridge Freezer – RRP £2,199 Sold for £183.00 (inc fees and VAT)
- 91% saving: AEG Microwave Oven – RRP £689.00 Sold for £62.00 (inc fees and VAT)
- 86% saving: Zannussi Washing Machine – RRP £469.00 Sold for £66 (inc fees and VAT)
- 72% saving: Samsung 65” UHD TV RRP £899.00 Sold for £250.00 (inc fees and VAT)
Trevor Palethorpe concludes:
“Buying at auction isn’t for everyone, as there are no guarantees you will win the item and there is a no returns policy or warranty. Also, some items go for more than expected too. All items are sold as seen and customers are encouraged to view and test items where possible to avoid disappointment, at our network of seven public viewing rooms and 10 car compounds around the country. However, it can be a great way to find what you are looking for at a much-reduced price. Do your research, set your budget and give it a go.”
To find out more about buying at auction with John Pye visit: https://www.johnpye.co.uk/.