"Catch the Wave" And win a personal watercraft
5/25/2004 1:57:56 PM by Chris Molho
Online
24/7 auctions of marine-related merchandise -- ranging from diving and
fishing to personal watercraft, and with $1 starting bids --Wavesf.com
allows businesses to offer great deals in a secure auction environment.
Bidding is free and simple. All you have to do is register online, and
you're only charged if you win. Wavesf.com is one of the fastest
growing auction marketplaces in the country. It offers airline tickets,
room nights, tours, cruises, all-inclusive vacations and now
marine-related merchandise and watercraft. The company negotiates deals
with major brands to offer amazing bargains. Just ask the Gabriel
Prado, who was the winning bidder of a new Yamaha WaveRunner XLT800
threeseat, 120 horsepower personal watercraft.
Prado's winning bid of $6,014 was announced on the last day of the
South Florida Boat Show in June at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Prado and his girlfriend, Martha, picked up the watercraft from Jet Ski
of Miami - in time to enjoy the long Fourth of July weekend in the
Florida Keys -- riding into the sunset on a great deal provided by
WAVESF.com auctions. Prado did his homework; he shopped around to gauge
prices and features before he decided to bid. Auction items are usually
featured for 1-2 weeks and bidders can visit the sponsoring vendor's
location to look and compare items being auctioned. Prado had an idea
of what he was willing to pay and placed an "autobid," which lets
bidders place the maximum bid price for a particular item, and then the
program automatically increases the bid when outbid. As a back-up, he
stayed close to his DSLconnection as the end date neared (the date and
time the auction ends) -- surpassing his initial autobid of $6,000 by
$1 increments to $6,014 when several other bidders raised the ante. The
retail price of a WaveRunner XLT800 with trailer is $8,300.
After his winning bid for the WaveRunner, Prado bid for a Mares Nemo
diver's watch and underwater digital camera. Though he was outbid on
those two items, Prado says he and some of his friends will be back for
more great deals. "I found out about the auction from a promotional ad
in The Miami Herald and went online to check it out," said Prado. "I
found it easy to register and felt comfortable in bidding since it was
a branded product from a reputable dealer." Though he wasn't looking
for a personal watercraft, he couldn't pass up a bargain and was
prompted to bid by his girlfriend as something they could both enjoy
together on the water. Win or lose, you will have fun competing online
for the ultimate deal, says Tom Rusling, online manager for Wavesf.com.
Bid on the featured item or "buy it now" direct from participating
dealers or merchants and choose the make or model desired -- you're
only a click away, he said.
The WaveRunner is just a taste of things to come on Wavesf.com
auctions, promises Jose Chao, publisher of Wave South Florida magazine.
"Every day great deals on special items and trips are being bid on and
won by people looking for bargains, while others are missing out on
these Gabriel Prado and his friend, Martha, try out the WaveRunner he
won at auction. opportunities. Wavesf.com covers the entire spectrum of
ocean adventures from fishing, boating, diving, vacationing, and coming
soon, waterfront living (real estate)," said Chao. "You can bid on top
of the line fishing gear, from shoes, sunglasses, and T-shirts and
lures, to high tech rods and reels. "For the divers of South Florida,
there are computer diving watches like the Mares Nemo watch,
regulators, and underwater cameras, including an underwater digital
camera that could become an extreme bargain for any diver wanting to
capture the beauty that the ocean depths have to offer.
"For boaters looking to upgrade, there are boat grills to feed your
family or your fishing buddies while out cruising the waves, and
AM/FM/CD players, because there is nothing like some good tunes to make
any time great, and spotlights for when you go out for big game fish on
late nights or early mornings," said Chao. For those who like
vacationing off the beaten path, Wave's partnership with established
vendors ensures people will be bidding on deals to the most exotic
places one can imagine, says Chao.
"You want to scuba dive Belize or Cozumel, no problem, register and
bid," he said. "You want to cruise the waters of the Caribbean and
visit the most beautiful beaches around, catch the Wave. You want to
visit the Mediterranean with stops in places like Copenhagen, Denmark
to Genoa and Italy -- then you've got to catch the Wave!" It is as
simple as going to www.wavesf.com, registering and beginning your bid
for every item and vacation package at $1, he said. Recently, through
World Watersports and Divers Direct, wavesf.com began showcasing an
expanded selection of "cool stuff" for on, in and around the water,
said Chao.
Coming soon is a new category for nautical gifts. New products,
reputable vendors and Wave's affiliation with Knight Ridder and
SkyAuction.com ensures confidence and 100 percent customer
satisfaction, he said. Go for it, says Chao. Register today at
wavesf.com and become a member. It's free and if you register by Labor
Day, you will receive a free trial subscription to Wave South Florida
magazine. Simply go to wavesf.com/register and write in "3Free" under
the specified promo code.