Online shoppers can click on festive bargain buys

SMART shoppers are avoiding the Christmas crowds by buying and selling presents online, according to one of the biggest internet shopping sites.

Ebay claims bargain hunters and people looking for special gifts can still get some of the year’s hottest items online, even after they’ve sold out in high street stores.

Ebay Ireland managing director John McElligott pointed out that canny consumers who bagged a coveted present earlier in the year could now make a tidy profit by selling it online.

Mr McElligott said many gift items that quickly sold out last Christmas like the Nintendo Wii were still in strong demand this year.

He claimed some people who had bought a brand new Nintendo Wii console for €300 earlier in 2007 were now selling them for €500 on average on Ebay — representing a profit of 66%.

“This is a win-win situation. Last minute present buyers get the perfect present for their loved ones and sellers can take advantage of the demand and put some extra cash in their present kitty,” said Mr McElligott.

Many shoppers are also clicking on the site’s “present picker” option, which recommends a selection of gifts based on information describing the personality of the recipient.

Ebay predicts that there will be huge interest among both buyers and sellers for the highly coveted Apple iPhone which has still not gone on sale in the Republic. It is fetching about €400 on the internet.

Other best selling items include Nintendo DS Brain Age (€30), Nintendo Wii (€300), iPod shuffle 1GB (€20), Halo 3 video game (€30), digital frames (€50) and mobile phones ranging in price from €10 to €500 depending on model.