Computers, home electronics, sports equipment and a variety of other goods will be available, according to company news releases. As of yet, however, none of the Japanese auction sites have taken off to the extent that their US counterparts have. Given the prolonged recession in Japan, and the gradual economic tightening since the bubble economy of the late '80s, it is not surprising that consumers are becoming more and more cost conscious. One upshot of the bargain-hunting mentality of late has been an increase in the popularity of flea markets. For Japan, which had begun to lose the tradition of open markets, haggling, etc. in its cosmopolitan areas, these flea markets are to many people a refreshing return to the past.
Housewives sell kids' clothes, young people sell music and games, and enthusiasts sell collectibles.
With the advent of the World Wide Web, Japanese flea markets have been brought online. Today, there are scores of sites where an individual can put a personal item up for sale. One of the largest of these sites is CyberSpace Japan's FreeMarket, which describes itself simply as a bulletin board for personal ads, where sales of personal products are welcome. The functionality of Japanese online flea markets varies from site to site, but several now allow sellers to move items by auction. The straightforward interface allows users to upload items, place bids, and send queries to sellers conveniently.