Over-priced items

[janni0844]

I thought eBay was a way to buy "bargain" items.

I just searched for an item and the cheapest was $100 plus postage.

Deals Direct supply the same item for $89.95 postage free.

Impressed?  Don't think so

[carly2579]

dave most of the time with paypal fees etc and ebay fees i make  hardley any money at all thats why things on ebay are expensive all the  fees

[wishuponastarcelebrationsandgifts]

I take exception to your assumption that you can get a bargain on eBay. This assumes that there are mug sellers out there who will sell for less than value.

If you want to take advantage of mugs that is your prerogative. But if you can't find mugs, that is hardly a reason to complain.

Unless you make a habit of taking advantage of people.

I suspect the expectation that bargains are to be had on ebay is partly due to ebay's own marketing of the site. Their advertising is directed towards price sensitive consumers - get it fast and cheap. I think at some stage there was also the suggestion in their advertising campaigns that ebay prices are below retail.

As sellers we are continuously asked to offer buyers a better deal - free postage (ie postage included in price), extended return periods, immediate shipping, express post etc. If we don't comply we are punished by having our listings buried so that nobody can find them. These initiatives are then marketed to buyers. Many sellers feel obligated to jump through these hoops, even if it means they start to operate at a loss.There is that hope that things will pick up again once the changes are bedded down.

I can understand that given all of this, buyers are expecting prices to be bargain basement. At the end of the day you get what you pay for. If an item is significantly cheaper it is most likely because it is obsolete, not selling, reconditioned, drop shipped, a second, grey import, non compliant with Australian standards etc etc.

[davewil1964]

I sell at (eBay) market rates. I am NEVER the cheapest. I make whatever the market will bear, which is sometimes a loss.

My point is the sense of entitlement that OP seems to have. "Buy on eBay and get stuff for less than it's worth". I am certainly not interested in that sort of buyer mindset, and I doubt very many sellers are, either.

[carly2579]

no i have to be honest if a  dvd goes for 2  dollars it makes me mad  because   with postage  i  dont make anything but if you put stuff to high  it doesnt sell its a delicate balence isnt it

[the-kazbar]

I feel I have opened Pandora's box here!  Sorry, I didn't mean to upset anyone. 

I should specifiy here that the sellers "seem to be" (because I am not sure) some sort of store (not a private seller) because they have a number of that particular item for sale and have the "buy now for" option. 

So I am presuming (shouldn't do that I know) they are opportunists buying (possibly from Deals Director or similar) and trying to sell at a profit.

Not illegal at all, but a true pitfall for people believing eBay has the "best deals".  I guess I had higher expectations.

That's all I was trying to say 🙂

you obviously have no idea of the costs involved in selling on ebay if you think someone could buy for $89.99 and sell it for $100 and expect to run a successful business

[Anonymous]

Have to agree with 1sweetap6v8 . Seems we can all make some sort of excuse as to why ebay sellers charge more. Now how ...

Of course you dont care about FVF or anything else as a buyer. Shock me. Its also not surprising that you dont care about Australian sellers (Let me take a moment to say, GO AUSSIE!) There is no "excuse" for why I sell at the prices i do. They are rock bottom and if i sell for any less i will be out of business. (I guess even now I probably will be soon anyway) So whilst sellers like myself are aware that people like you can and will buy from any dealer, sweat shop or otherwise overseas rather than pay a dollar or two more and support Australian business. There is simply nothing we can do about it except to roll over and die. But thanks for your support of your fellow Australians!

[lane-ends]

To be honest I dont do this out of charity, and neither do most sellers it is a simple realationship between best price v best turnover v time spent buying/listing/processing +a few other overheads involved.

Successful sellers will work out whether lowest margin gives big enough turnover (that they can handle) is more profitable against highest margin combined with low turnover.

That is for buying habits to dictate.

Buyers set the prices so blame buyers rather than sellers.

[judyztreasurez]

eBay is no longer for garage sale items. It is merely another retail outlet with the convenience of buying on-line and having your item delivered

A wise shopper, if they have the time, will go from store to store and search around on eBay and the internet to get the cheapest price. If you have the time to do that, then good for you but a lot of people don't have the time

Same thing with b & m stores. Today whilst shopping I looked for kids track pants for my grandies and couldn't get the colour or sizes I was after but I did find them on Ebay for just $6 each. The other shops had them for $14.95 but not the sizes or colours I wanted

Retailing is changing. There are a lot more choices than what there used to be

Horses for courses 🙂

[2106greencat]

Have to agree with 1sweetap6v8 . Seems we can all make some sort of excuse as to why ebay sellers charge more. Now how ...

Of course you dont care about FVF or anything else as a buyer. Shock me. Its also not surprising that you dont care about Australian sellers (Let me take a moment to say, GO AUSSIE!) There is no "excuse" for why I sell at the prices i do. They are rock bottom and if i sell for any less i will be out of business. (I guess even now I probably will be soon anyway) So whilst sellers like myself are aware that people like you can and will buy from any dealer, sweat shop or otherwise overseas rather than pay a dollar or two more and support Australian business. There is simply nothing we can do about it except to roll over and die. But thanks for your support of your fellow Australians!

Well said.

[carly2579]

ditto