Local business owner branches out to online auction

Move over, eBay, there’s another online auction in town.

Jay Emmert, owner of Somerset Rental, has started his own online auction site at www.wisbid.com.

His reasons for starting the site were two-fold.

“I’ve bought a lot of stuff through on-line auctions, and it looked like a reasonable way to sell used equipment and other things in a nice, easy manner,” Emmert said.

Although he admits he is still new at this, the process for mounting a monthly auction is already in place.

The first week, the seller can bring his/her item to the Somerset Rental business location at 416 Main St. in Somerset. There is a form to fill out, stating that the item is legally yours and how you would like it described online. The item is left at the store.

In the second week, Emmert said he will take the digital photograph, write the description if necessary, and post it online. Potential buyers have the option to come into the store to see the item for themselves.

In the third week, the auctions close.

If the item is sold, Emmert said the check is cut the fourth week.

He said he wasn’t too worried about someone trying to sell something that wasn’t theirs.

“The police said that most people who are selling stolen things aren’t willing to wait for three weeks until the check comes,” Emmert said. “It’s not really an issue.”

The current lot lists various tools and machinery, but he said that he hopes to offer more variety as word gets out.

For more information about the auction, visit their website or call Somerset Rental at 715-247-2800.

Tags: business, somerset, retail, fccnetwork