Quicksales

Quicksales was an Australian online auction and classifieds marketplace, originally launched under the name OZtion in 2005. Founded in Melbourne by Philip Druce and Kelvin Yip, the service was created as a domestic alternative to larger online auction platforms. Its model combined auction listings, fixed-price purchases and seller storefronts, allowing individuals and businesses to list goods for sale to buyers primarily in Australia and New Zealand. The business gained substantial visibility in 2008 after eBay announced that it would require customers to use PayPal for payment processing. Although eBay subsequently reversed that policy, the controversy generated a significant short-term transfer of activity toward OZtion. Within roughly six weeks, the marketplace reported a 50 percent increase in sales and a rise of 28,000 members to 275,000. Daily new-member registrations also increased from approximately 250 to 650. This period established OZtion as a significant Australian competitor and helped it become the country's second-largest auction website. In June 2008, Druce and Yip sold OZtion to Jumbuck Entertainment, a listed media company, in a transaction comprising cash and shares. Jumbuck later sold the service to online classifieds company Carsales.com in April 2010 for $1.1 million. The marketplace adopted the Quicksales name on 7 February 2010, according to the referenced account, as it moved into the Carsales corporate portfolio. Under Carsales ownership, Quicksales became increasingly connected to specialist marketplaces in the wider network. By 2012 it handled accessory listings associated with Carsales, Bikesales and CaravanCampingSales, while inventory from those sites was also made searchable through Quicksales. This integration broadened the range of vehicle-related goods available on the platform and positioned Quicksales as a complementary general marketplace within a larger classifieds ecosystem. A July 2012 relaunch introduced free classifieds listings and a redesigned interface, removing the green visual treatment associated with the site's earlier identity. At its height, the service reportedly offered more than 1.8 million auction or purchase listings and had more than 515,000 member accounts. Its operating model included free basic listings, optional paid listing upgrades and qShops, searchable seller storefronts available for a monthly fee. Seller participation required verification, with options including SMS, landline telephone, address, credit-card, photo-identification and other verification methods. The platform also used reciprocal transaction ratings, in which buyers and sellers could mark a transaction satisfied, neutral or unsatisfied. Quicksales maintained rules governing prohibited or restricted goods. These included controlled drugs, illegal items, lock-picking devices, used underwear and swimwear, and used cosmetics. Alcohol listings required licensing information, while ticket listings were restricted to face value or less. The service notified members on 18 June 2018 that it would close on 30 July 2018. It was defunct by 2018 and no longer operates as an active marketplace.

Quicksales began in 2005 as OZtion, an online auction site founded in Melbourne by Philip Druce and Kelvin Yip. The founders targeted the Australian market with a platform supporting auctions and direct purchases. By May 2005, the site had reached approximately 2,000 members and listed more than 9,000 items. The service's most important early growth phase came in 2008. eBay announced that it would require customers to use PayPal for payment processing, prompting some Australian users and sellers to consider competing marketplaces. OZtion benefited from the resulting attention: its sales rose by 50 percent over a six-week period, membership increased by 28,000 to 275,000, and new registrations grew from around 250 to 650 per day. Although eBay later reversed its PayPal requirement, OZtion had strengthened its position as a major Australian auction site and was described as the country's second-largest auction website. In June 2008, OZtion was acquired by Jumbuck Entertainment, a listed media company. The consideration consisted of $2 million in cash and shares. In April 2010, Jumbuck sold the marketplace to online classifieds operator Carsales.com for $1.1 million. The service was renamed Quicksales on 7 February 2010, as recorded in the available reference material, and subsequently operated within the Carsales group. Carsales gradually connected Quicksales with its specialist classified services. In 2012, Quicksales handled accessory listings for Carsales, Bikesales and CaravanCampingSales, while listings from those related services were also surfaced on Quicksales. The arrangement gave buyers a broader search environment and linked the general marketplace to automotive and recreational-vehicle commerce. A July 2012 relaunch introduced free classifieds listings and redesigned the site's appearance, including the removal of the green colour scheme that had characterized the service since its early years. The platform supported both private and commercial sellers. Basic listings were free, with paid upgrades available, and sellers could use qShops to establish searchable storefronts containing business information. qShops were charged at $5 per calendar month according to the reference material. Seller access required at least one verification method; available methods included SMS and landline telephone verification, with additional address, credit-card, photo-identification, telephone and Australia Post verification options described in the site's historical rules. By 2007, selling privileges were generally limited to residents of Australia and New Zealand, subject to an exception for some earlier international registrants. Quicksales used a two-sided rating system. Buyers and sellers could assess transactions as satisfied, neutral or unsatisfied, and each user received an overall score calculated from those ratings. The marketplace also maintained restrictions on goods such as controlled drugs, illegal products, lock-picking devices, used underwear and swimwear, and used cosmetics. Alcohol listings required a licence number, and ticket resales above face value were prohibited. At its reported peak, Quicksales had more than 515,000 member accounts and over 1.8 million items available for auction or purchase. The company notified members by email on 18 June 2018 that the site would close on 30 July 2018. The platform is therefore defunct and no longer provides auction or classifieds services.

• 2018

  Closure

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  Members were notified that Quicksales would close on 30 July 2018.

• 2012

  Integration with Carsales sister sites

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  Quicksales began handling and surfacing accessory listings connected with Carsales, Bikesales and CaravanCampingSales.

• 2012

  Platform relaunch

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  A July relaunch introduced free classifieds listings and a redesigned visual identity.

• 2010

  Acquired by Carsales.com

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  Jumbuck sold the marketplace to Carsales.com for a reported $1.1 million.

• 2010

  OZtion renamed Quicksales

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  The service adopted the Quicksales name on 7 February, according to the referenced history.

• 2008

  Growth following eBay payment-policy controversy

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  OZtion recorded substantial increases in sales, membership and registrations after eBay announced mandatory PayPal processing.

• 2008

  Acquired by Jumbuck Entertainment

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  The founders sold OZtion to Jumbuck Entertainment for reported consideration of $2 million in cash and shares.

• 2005

  OZtion founded

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  Philip Druce and Kelvin Yip founded the Melbourne-based online auction site OZtion.

• 2005

  Early membership and listing growth

  [1]Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org

  By May, the marketplace had about 2,000 members and more than 9,000 items listed.

A domestic Australian online auction and classifieds marketplace offering an alternative to larger international platforms, with free basic listings, seller verification, auction and fixed-price formats, and later integration with the Carsales network.

• Marketplace format · 2005

  Online auctions

  Quicksales provided auction-style listings for consumer goods, collectibles, merchandise and other products. Sellers could list items at no basic listing charge, while optional paid upgrades were available. The auction format operated alongside fixed-price purchasing and helped position the service as an alternative to larger online auction platforms.

• Marketplace format · 2005

  Buy Now listings

  Buy Now listings allowed sellers to offer products for immediate purchase rather than waiting for an auction to conclude. This format was also relevant to restricted categories such as tickets, which had to be listed at or below face value under the marketplace's rules.

• Seller storefront

  qShops

  qShops were searchable online storefronts for sellers. A shop page could present a seller's business information and aggregate its listings, giving commercial participants a more persistent presence than individual item pages. The historical service description states that qShop owners paid $5 per calendar month.

• Classifieds marketplace · 2012

  Free classifieds

  Following its 2012 relaunch, Quicksales offered free classifieds listings in addition to its auction and fixed-price formats. The model was intended to lower the barrier for sellers and broaden the platform beyond traditional auction transactions.

• 2018

  Marketplace closureOther

  Background

  Quicksales remained part of the Carsales-related marketplace history until its final operating period.

  Action taken

  The operator notified members on 18 June that the website would close on 30 July 2018.

  Aftermath

  Quicksales became defunct and ceased operating as an auction and classifieds website.

  Source

• 2012

  Integration and free-listing relaunchStrategy

  Background

  Carsales was increasingly connecting Quicksales with its specialist marketplace services.

  Action taken

  Quicksales incorporated accessory listings from Carsales, Bikesales and CaravanCampingSales, and relaunched with free classifieds listings and a redesigned interface.

  Aftermath

  The service became more closely aligned with the Carsales network and offered buyers a wider pool of related listings.

  Source

• 2010

  Carsales.com acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Jumbuck Entertainment owned the online marketplace after acquiring it from its founders in 2008.

  Action taken

  Jumbuck sold the service to Carsales.com for a reported $1.1 million.

  Aftermath

  The marketplace operated within the Carsales network and was later integrated with related automotive and recreational-vehicle classified services.

  Reported acquisition price. $1.1 million (April 2010)

  Source

1. 1Quicksalesen.wikipedia.org