topic Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7 in Selling

is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $700?

justjulia — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 14:20:14 GMT

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 14:56:29 GMT

free market economy.

Nothing wrong with that. Buyers should do their homework before buying.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

lm-entertainment — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 14:56:58 GMT

it certainly isn't illegal. that's how the system works - people buy things for cheaper elsewhere and sell them for a profit.

beware though, some buyers do get upset when they find out that items are being sold to them at a high markup which they could have gotten locally elsewhere. i remember reading some threads about people doing that with items from k-mart.

my thoughts have always been that if they purchase the item at the price it's being sold for and didn't conduct their research, it's no ones fault but their own - but in the past, buyers have left sellers negative feedback for doing it.

the simple fact is, every seller here buys their items from somewhere at a cheaper price than they sell them for - most though will do it through a means whereby other people can't get it at the same price or it's unavailable to people locally etc.

don't know whether i would have mentioned it here though if i were you, a lot of sellers will start searching for what item it is you're talking about 😛

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 15:14:01 GMT

http://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Buying/SCAM-alert-Sellers-posting-Kmart-items-at-inflated-prices/m-p/2047357/thread-id/78313?device-view=desktop

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 19:53:54 GMT

If it was a 'buy it now' and a potential buyer does not like the price, nobody is forcing them to pay it

If it was an auction with whatever start bid and it was bid upto $700 , nobody made people bid up to it, it was the bidder(s) choice what they were willing to pay

Personally, although I would not buy something for x and then come on here and put a start bid of xxx , it is not just sellers on ebay who do this. Actual b&m stores have HUGE mark ups too. I wonder how many times you have made the comment they are illegal and immoral?

Or is it more annoyance that other people bid more than you did?

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

collect247 — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 21:26:19 GMT

Sorry but it's neither just have a look at how the world goes around and around and around everyone is out to make a profit but as a buyer like everyone said you need to do your research.

But I'm guessing that your post has to do with you contemplating on doing it? buying from Bunnings and then reselling?

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

springyzone — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 22:57:59 GMT

No, it is not illegal or immoral.

For all anyone knows, the item may have been massively discounted from RRP at Bunnings, bought at a sale.

But if it is usually $400 at Bunnings then I certainly would not mention where I got it from in the ad.

Don't expect buyers to be impressed if they find out though, they will feel ripped off.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

phorum_junkie* — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 11:59:55 GMT

It is no different to Woolies selling a tin of beans for $2 and Coles selling it for $2.05. If someone buys from Coles and then sees the Woolies price later do they accuse Coles of doing something illegal or immoral?

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

swapwaregames — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 09:58:04 GMT

Look I think i have an issue with listing Nintendo and Sony Handheld games, I know i sell over the SRP in stores, but in truth im lucky to make $5-$6 on an item, after registered post costs and shipping / handling and ofc EBAY/Paypal's 13% fee to ensure the product is delivered to the customer the safest and secure way possible (through the Mail System).

Nintendo and Sony (through 3rd party distributor) have a policy that the retailer can only make 20% (between wholesale (inc GST) and retail, the wholesale rate of buying a nintendo 3DS game with a $59.95 retail is 47.96 (43.13ex GST), reason why i import all my games, Sony PS VITA games are the same , this is buying through All Interactive as well, average wholesale rate on Nintendo 3DS Games in the UK is around ~22.00-24.00ex VAT pounds (we don't pay VAT ofc) so it costs me to land the item is about $44-45 (so i already save ~3.50 on buying local), A Registered Post label is 3.30, Postage 2.00 and tough bag about 42-50c, so registered post is about $5.80 (yes i could get express post enevelopes for .50c more, but i prefer the safe and secure option), so there is already 5.80 added to the shipping, that makes my cost price to ship.

So example with the new game Story of Seasons Trio of Towns i have a listed price of 64.78 which is 4.83 over the $59.95 SRP, but in truth i landed the title for 44.54 for this item, that might sound a big profit margin but its not because ebay/paypal take 13% which brings price down to 56.35 then take off 5.80 postage down to 50.55 gives me a HUGE profit of 6.00. Now when July 1 hits next year and everyone pays 10% GST at the ebay checkout (unless you have already paid it at your supplier, or are registered for GST), its going to change the whole EBAY ball game, when all items will increase by 10%, good news for retail shops but bad news for everyday ebay sellers just trying to make a pretty penny.

So next year see MANY items over the Suggested Retail Price.

cheers

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

lyndal1838 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 10:49:26 GMT

Not everything will increase by 10% next year. Prices on ebay are supposed to be listed GST inclusive so any sellers already registered for GST are already including it in their prices.

It is only really going to affect imported goods and in many cases they will still be cheaper than the same goods already in Australia.

The devil will be in how the GST is applied and what other charges will be included.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

heihachi_73 — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:04:48 GMT

Making $5 on an item after "eBay tax" is a fairly decent profit, but do many games actually sell? I don't generally sell brand new games (e.g. new releases) and find that eBay is a mixed bag when it comes to sales, with most games sitting there unsold for months while a small number trickle through; other times I might sell half a dozen in a single day or over the weekend and then nothing all week, despite most of them being the exact same games that have sat there forever! I offer both regular and tracked postage (Registered Post) but it doesn't make a difference even when I would lose $1-$2 on the postage ($3 for a 125-250g large letter and $4 for the RP label).

As for using tough bags, I would suggest using a 160x230mm bubble mailer (padded bag) as I find with tough bags the only thing protected from damage is the tough bag itself, I have had countless items arrive with cracked cases courtesy of Australia Post, and every time they have been in either a paper envelope, a tough bag, or a Parcel Post/eBay satchel. If you buy the mailers in bulk (e.g. a box of 200) on eBay they are only a few cents each rather than around 50c (note: don't buy the Australia Post ones, they are either slightly too narrow to fit DVD/Blu-Ray cases or miles too big). The bubble mailers are 18-19mm thick with a DVD case inside so they still pass as a large letter rather than a parcel.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

swapwaregames — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 15:41:00 GMT

Bubble wrap are the worst they too soft and items move during transits, with a tough bag ive sent maybe 800 items out with no damage whatsoever, as long as you seal it properly its the best, ive had many items arrive in bubble bags, and postie stuffs them in the mail and discs becoming dislodged and cases cracked, i maybe had one complaint in the last 3 months and it was because i sent express post in a bubble bag and the limited edition was crushed on arrival. About making the $5, yes im happy and i have worked out a formula that works, it sells , it sells, it doesnt , down the track ebgames go out of stock and item then sells, you win some , and you loose some just have to live with it.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

phoenixpnsion — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 01:03:22 GMT

Definitely not, but I would doubt you would make any consistent profits, considering all the fees, buyer fraud and sell through.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

ozstockman — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 00:56:37 GMT

It is business mate. How is it different from buying the whole container of things in China and selling it for profit in Australia?

I totally agree with other members pointing out here that it is a consumer responsibility to find a better price. If they do not care to do their homework and find the best price they should not blame anyone but themselves.

BTW, that kmart thing was mentioned here earlier. I have read it was like a local type of drop shipping here in AU a few years ago. People would list kMart items on eBay and after they were sold they rushed into a closest KMart store, buy a product and ship it to a buyer.

I remember seeing one store here on ebay about 7 years ago who was selling Ikea stuff only,. It was kind of a very clever idea considering we do not have IKEA stores at every corner and IKEA does not offer online purchases. Moreover 7 years ago we could have just 2-3 stores in the whole Australia and a lot of people could not get there from where they lived. So I guess it was beneficial for a lot of buyers

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

morfhis-au — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 07:16:56 GMT

It may or may not be illegal depending on the product and juristication. It's absolutely is unquestionably immoral and unethical. But then so is capitalism at a fundamental level. So go ahead, all capitalists are essentially cheating people with markups, getting themselves lots of money for nothing. Those selling at high prices would say to this, "But I brought it from Bunnings (or where ever) and posted it to you! I deserve that 300% margin of dozens, or hundreds, of dollars for 30 minutes work!"

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

padi*0409 — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 07:35:50 GMT

If buyers don't practice due diligence and just assume items are cheaper on eBay, then more fool them.

I have looked for items on eBay in the past and then looked at the retailers website to compare prices, sometimes they are cheaper there sometimes not, but I have certainly saved money by spending a bit of time doing just that.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

bikeden — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:34:37 GMT

The prices at Bunnings have no doubt risen in the three years since this thread started ?

Move on.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

louisas_lines — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 01:26:00 GMT

Haha this thread reminds me of some Facebook threads recently.

On one group, somebody recognised after some research that they had purchased a really expensive piece of crockery in an op shop for about $4 that was worth more that $400. So all moralistic and proud, they march back down to said op shop, inform the attendent of the true value of the piece, get their $4 back and the shop goes on to sell it for much more. Thread full of claps on the back and support for the high moral aptitude and social consciousness of the punter.

Over on the FB resellers groups, high stakes competition going on for who has achieved the best flips from op shops, such as gucci bags etc etc.

Love the diversity of our communities.

Re: is it illegal or just immoral to buy something from bunnings for $400 and sell it on Ebay for $7

digital*ghost — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 04:28:23 GMT

@louisas_lines wrote:

On one group, somebody recognised after some research that they had purchased a really expensive piece of crockery in an op shop for about $4 that was worth more that $400. So all moralistic and proud, they march back down to said op shop, inform the attendent of the true value of the piece, get their $4 back and the shop goes on to sell it for much more. Thread full of claps on the back and support for the high moral aptitude and social consciousness of the punter.

A parade indeed, lol.

Would be easier to just donate some more money to the charity running the shop if someone felt that bad about buying something that was valued at significantly more than they paid for it. Charities don't tend to be inclined to wait for the one who will come in and pay $400 - not the ones I ever went to, anyway, some of them don't have the resources for that kind of sale.