topic Re: Overpriced in Buying

Overpriced

bsal6160 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:06:25 GMT

Has anyone else noticed how items on Ebay appear to be getting more expensive these days. I think a lot of sellers now have an over-inflated sense of value of the items they are trying to sell. Its almost at the point where its cheaper, if not the same price, to buy it from a main stream shop nowadays.

Re: Overpriced

*sparklz* — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:34:57 GMT

You might find a lot of sellers on ebay are running a business and like a B&M store they also have overheads that are to be factored into their sale price.

A lot of people can not just go to the shops as they are in remote areas so ebay or any online shopping is the easiest and best option for them.

Re: Overpriced

ausfast — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:16:46 GMT

Not sure what type of products you're referring to but I find it still to be much cheaper on eBay than B&M stores... for most products I look into.

Are you talking about branded goods?

Re: Overpriced

digital*ghost — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:31:56 GMT

Has anyone else noticed how items on Ebay appear to be getting more expensive these days. I think a lot of sellers now have an over-inflated sense of value of the items they are trying to sell. Its almost at the point where its cheaper, if not the same price, to buy it from a main stream shop nowadays.

If the items are at similar prices elsewhere, I don't think it's possible that the sellers on eBay have an over-inflated sense of value...unless you're suggesting that because it's on eBay, it's worth less than what you'd pay somewhere else?

True enough, it was once a case of 'get it cheaper on eBay', but eBay seems to want to move away from the image of cheap / discount / clearance, they want to be a global online shopping mall and real shopping malls are aware of and competing with eBay now, so it's not just a case of eBay getting more expensive, but B&M retail getting a little cheaper, too.

Plus, it's a bit of a viscious cycle I suppose...people are spending less, other things are costing more, which often means sellers can't afford to offer larger discounts because the volume of sales still won't absorb it if they do.

Re: Overpriced

patchoo78 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:36:03 GMT

I noticed the opposite.. A lot of the items I'm looking at are quite cheap but the postage was extortionate

Re: Overpriced

ausfast — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:46:32 GMT

I noticed the opposite.. A lot of the items I'm looking at are quite cheap but the postage was extortionate

Yes exactly... I find that postage prices are the one of the major contributing factors in making online shopping in australia too expensive. Australia Post has a monopoly for postal services so they keep increasing their prices of their services.

At times I feel like I am a subsidiary department of Australia Post. They seems to get a large chunk of my turnover leaving me with little profit.

Re: Overpriced

davewil1964 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:25:43 GMT

I notice that dropshipper TRSs can land brand new books in country for the same price I can sell a used one.

I still sell the odd one though.

Maybe proper descriptions and in-country service count for something.

Re: Overpriced

patchoo78 — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:35:00 GMT

I would be more likely to buy a book from Aus.. When I want a book, I want it now! Other stuff can wait

Re: Overpriced

lyndal1838 — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:34:27 GMT

I buy books from whatever source that I can get it cheapest. I have found from experience that often books arrive from overseas quicker than they arrive from Aussie sellers in the same city as I am in.

I recently bought a book from a non ebay seller in the UK, and 2 books from ebay sellers in Sydney...all Free Postage, all books in stock, ready for immediate dispatch. The UK purchase arrived several days before the local purchases.

BTW, the local purchases were from the ebay stores of major book retailers and they were cheaper (and free postage) than walking into the store and buying.

Is it any wonder that people buy on-line instead of travelling to a store.

Re: Overpriced

bluecaramello — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 03:45:21 GMT

I agree with you, prices have increased and it also seems that some of the quality has gone down the toilet to, but so has retail stuff particulary in the region i live in.

It makes me wonder that i myself have started to not buy stuff regardless of the price because the quality is s*!t, i have done that a lot lately and i know others that are doing the same, eventually this is going to have a hug impact on the enconomy as i'd rather keep my money in my pocket then waste it on cheap,nasty, crap imported junk.

Re: Overpriced

skinnyshrek — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 17:05:37 GMT

yes i agree and the postage in Australia is ridiculous!

Re: Overpriced

papermoon.lady — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:48:21 GMT

I find postage is too high sometimes, particularly from overseas, but it is not really the seller's fault. However, it does deter me from buying certain items.

As far as books are concerned, I mostly buy them at book sales, where you can find real bargains, although they are usually a bit too crowded... We also have a new shop here where all books are 5 dollars (new, even if the price on the book is over 30 dollars sometimes), and some are really good.

Re: Overpriced

phorum_junkie* — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 04:11:49 GMT

When I want a book, I want it now!

Which is why I love my Kindle 😉

Re: Overpriced

thesoulyearns — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:09:50 GMT

Depends what you're looking for. Still plenty of bargains to be found on eBay.

Re: Overpriced

the3coopers — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:18:47 GMT

There are a couple of things at play. Firstly, eBay is encouraging Stores, and it's far cheaper to list for 30 days in a Store than 7 days as an Auction.

So, sellers can put up a high price and just wait it out - costs almost nothing (especially for media like books at 5c per month).

The "urgency" of the auction format is fading, and buyers are not bidding as much either - they want it Now Now Now!

That said, there is certainly a downward trend in prices of many categories. Technology stuff particularly - the cheapness of imports has really caused local sellers to have to smarten up or miss out completely.

Overall, I reckon the PROFIT in selling on Ebay has dropped considerably in recent years. Or put another way, I am working a lot harder to make the same profits, because I have to turn over about twice as much!

Therefore, like most sellers I am having to reassess the product ranges and find different items to sell. The only bargains from me are the stuff that was overpriced, where I am now marking it down by 25% per month until somebody eventually buys it.

Re: Overpriced

karenferndale — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 04:23:57 GMT

All the things I have bought so far, except for one item, including mobile phones, have been less expensive than the stores.

Ebay sellers deserve to get a decent price and I don't think they have an inflated sense of worth. I will say this however, since there is the chance of being ripped off on ebay, as you really are buying sight unseen, if the price was the SAME as the stores, you would not buy from ebay.

With Ebay you have to contend with postages costs, while with stores you don't.

Re: Overpriced

lyndal1838 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 05:16:57 GMT

While you do not have to contend with postage costs at a B&M store you do have to factor in travel costs and time in going to the shops.

With ebay the trick is to factor the postage into the overall price you are prepared to pay.

Re: Overpriced

lane-ends — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:41:53 GMT

Market place sets prices if they are too high they wont sell, if too cheap they will sell quickly and sellers will increse price until sale start to drop off

Many more buyers are buying for convenience rather than pure bargains.

Re: Overpriced

annies_fancy_dress — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:32:00 GMT

I take it that you don't sell.

If you did, you might realise what a HARD slog it is to make a living selling these days. Not that it was EVER EASY.

It's not necessarily the seller's fault that prices are increasing while quality (often out of their control) is diminishing.

I'm finding many (if not most) of the items I have sold for years have suddenly gone downward in quality.

I've already started to change to different lines.

Re: Overpriced

c_mount — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 07:18:12 GMT

A lot of Aussie sellers selling camera and video gear seem to think they can still get what they paid for them 6-7 years ago. Most a deluded.