The Smokoo Experience -

Feb. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- There are three penny auction sites online that are as legitimate as Google or Amazon but have been given a bad rap thanks to the hundreds of scam sites operating under the penny auction model. The three are Swoopo, Madbid and Smokoo.

Smokoo operates out of South Africa and is the most transparent of the three. Each company goes to great lengths to prove their legitimacy.

The penny auction model is not new but is the most abused of all online shopping models, which is unfortunate. The penny auction model is also the most misunderstood. The penny auction model, otherwise known as pay-to-bid auctions, offers users a unique opportunity to purchase goods they normally wouldn’t be able to afford.

Smokoo, which is the youngest of the three penny auction sites, auctioned off two cars in its first five months of operation. A Mercedes C180 CGI and a Mini Cooper Countryman. Both cars went for less than 99% of the price. Nonetheless, even with its open door policy (users are welcome to visit the Smokoo team at their offices in Johannesburg, South Africa) there are still a few sceptics adamant that Smokoo is a scam.

While most companies would ignore the criticism, Smokoo takes their critics on and engages them on public forums, and open blogs. The approach has worked, there are fewer critics now than when Smokoo started. The company believes all that is needed is a little education and critics can be turned into fans. Smokoo wants all members to have a fairy-tale experience on the site.

One of the more fascinating stories is that of username:Raphy. Raphy joined Smokoo as a user on January 31st and bought R250 worth of credits. Over the next two days Raphy experienced what Smokoo wants every user to experience, a magical shopping experience!
Raphy bid on a 20 credit bidpack and won the auction.

Shortly after, Raphy bid on a 500 credit bidpack and won that auction, too. The new user then turned his sights to some of the great items on auction that day. The Samsung 40”Full HD television looked appealing. It would to any of us. Raphy secured that auction at precisely 20h30 that evening.  To put Raphy’s story in perspective, the Samsung television is worth R22, 999.00.

A day later Raphy bid on a Washer Dryer combo and added another 100 credit bidpack to his shopping basket.

To summarise, Raphy spent R250 on Smokoo and bought products worth R29, 698.00, in two days. This is only one story. An exciting story, but for Smokoo it’s a common story.

These kind of purchases happen daily. Smokoo provides the framework for shoppers to fill their baskets with high-end items, for low-end prices. The internet continues to reinvent the way we do things. Sometimes it takes people a little time to catch up. Smokoo has revolutionised shopping.

Give the sceptics time.

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This exciting new website offers South Africans a totally unique opportunity to bid for and win some of the most amazing and desirable consumer items of our time at a mere fraction of their cost price.

The innovative pay-to-bid system is the simple but ingenious concept that makes these fantastic purchases possible and creates a truly unbelievable atmosphere of excitement in the process.

When shopping on Smokoo.co.za you will be joining other bidders in a thrilling and fun-filled shopping spree which is actually a highly entertaining and modern adaptation of the traditional auction. Smokoo.co.za is the place where shopping ceases to be a chore and becomes great entertainment.