Bonanza Users Beware? Here’s What You Need To Know about the Site

There's a lot to be said about the accessibility of online shopping. Not only does it become easier to find the things you need from the comfort of your home, but it also allows you to make a little cash, turning yourself into an online retailer when you're making the sales.

Online marketplaces like Bonanza, an eBay alternative, have become the digital flea markets of the modern age.

This has created the perfect platform to connect the folks who want to buy with those who have something to sell. With so many different websites hitting the scene, many are worried about the legitimacy of the newer ones, leaving some to ask if it's safe to buy on sites like Bonanza. 

Keep reading as we break down Bonanza's deal, including the important endorsement they've earned. 

Just like with most things in life, there is a bit of risk in shopping on Bonanza. Not only does the website play host to over 50,000 individual online storefronts, according to Bonanza, but there is no charge for those sellers to list their items for sale (although they do pay $14.99 to get started). That means that bad actors could come on and post something for sale with little upfront cost or risk to themselves, occasionally allowing for bad apples to slip through.

That being said, there are ways to protect yourself. First, you should always check the seller's reputation. According to Bonanza, sellers listed on multiple websites can share their ratings from those other competitors. That means someone with many positive reviews from multiple sites is likely to be the real deal.

The website also claims that it uses different methods to track where sellers are logging in from, tracking systems or specific places known to be used for devious purposes so that it can flag them and verify the seller's info.

When it comes to determining the legitimacy of a business, many folks head over to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see what they have to say about things. As of the time of publication, the BBB had received 30 reviews that garnered the company less than a two star rating. Additionally, over the past three years 70 complaints were filed against Bonanza.

Still, the BBB has given the company what is akin to their seal of approval, issuing them an A+ rating.

If you want to give eBay a break and check out what Bonanza has to offer, I would suggest carefully reviewing the information on any sellers you're considering purchasing from. On top of that, I'd also keep any initial purchases on the small side, opting to test the waters before investing too much of your time or money into shopping the site.