I think it would be best if EVERYONE HERE just stopped purchasing from eBay - period.
It would put and end to these pointless eBay rants and help me to win with lower bids...
I buy & sell on e-bay but the selling costs are so high anymore I think that is why people are trying to get that extra $$ for stuff. I also saw HO PRR PA's on e-bay for like 69.00 saw the same item @ Trainworld website for like 20 less! I don't think e-bay is any worse than regular auctions that you go to. I do a few farm auctions and farmers are notorious for biding equipment up way higher than they could buy it at a dealer. I think people get in their mind that if it is an auction "I am getting a bargain" mentality. As said by others Buyer Beware! Just my 2 cents.
Sam
I just wonder:
1}how many items do not sell on ebay as priced to high
2} how many items get relisted at the same insane high price
3} how many items which did not sell at the higher price are relisted at a lower price.
4} How much I could ask for/make by selling off my old "junk" on ebay
There is a reason some call it "Evil Bay"
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Ebay is no different than the real world shopping. People have to be educated to shop. Everyone is to busy to save money. Everyday we have two supermarkets that way overcharge for sliced deli meats and cheese, and yet people keep buying it. I'm talking $6.99 a pound for the same brand selling elsewhere for $3.49 per pound. On average all groceries sell at 25% or more higher yet the parking lot is full.
I spent many years in the industrial parts market. One of the items was a 12volt generic horn i could purchase for $3.49 each wholesale. Dealers were selling then between $12.00 to $16.00 each all the time as a name brand They all mounted, sounded, and worked the same. Go figure.
Bob
Medina1128 I was looking for a set of decals for a Santa Fe heavyweight and found them at Microscale's website for $6.50. Not bad. Just out of curiosity, I searched for them on eBay, and found a set of the SAME decals, only the seller wanted $12.15 for them.
I was looking for a set of decals for a Santa Fe heavyweight and found them at Microscale's website for $6.50. Not bad. Just out of curiosity, I searched for them on eBay, and found a set of the SAME decals, only the seller wanted $12.15 for them.
Was that the only set you found on eBay? Or just the highest priced decal set? A vendor on eBay prices his items higher than you can get it elsewhere - how does that make eBay in the wrong? Or even the vendor with the high-priced goods - how is he wrong for asking a higher price than somebody else?
Do you really want price controls where everybody sells at the lowest price somebody offers? I suggest a relocation to a country where prices are rigidly controlled for an education in how price controls work (or don't work).
eBay is a market place that charges sellers to sell there. eBay fee policies and terms favor commercial sellers over the individual selling his used or unwanted new stuff. Buyers go to eBay because of the huge variety of easily-searched stuff available, that is sometimes very difficult to find anywhere else. Because of the large customer base, sellers find it worthwhile to do business there despite the eBay and PayPal fees. Commercial sellers are often willing to sit on their inventory rather than sell right now at a lower price, just like internet retailers and brick and mortar hobby shops do. Some commercial sellers mark up above retail, just like some internet retailers and brick and mortar hobby shops do.
Non-commercial establishments (like myself) tend to use the eBay auction format with low reserve and starting price because the auction sets the market price for that particular week. The price I get may be lower or higher than I want or expect, but I've sold the item regardless. Same with buying - the rarity of an item and the competition drive the auction price. If I want the item badly enough and can't locate it elsewhere, I'll go big. If it's available elsewhere, that caps my bid. I don't bother with a Buy It Now unless the price is lower than elsewhere.
Sorry, I just don't see anything wrong with people and eBay. Please provide a convincing argument to change my mind.
Fred W
VALUE: A MUTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN A BUYER AND A SELLER REGARDING THE PRICE OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE.
I don't know that these decals, at $12.15, are necessarily over-priced particularly if they are out-of-stock at Microscale and Medina1128 is unable to locate them from another source; it is going to all depend upon how imperative it is for him to get his mitts on a set of decals for Uncle John Heavyweights. This has happened to me . . . . . it has happened to you: I have forestalled a purchase in anticipation of a price reduction only to have it go in the other direction. It's not likely to happen but were Microscale to double the price of their decals from $6,50 to $13.00 then that $12.15 is going to look mighty handsome.
A couple of years back a 1960 Edsel Villager 9-passenger station wagon sold at Barrett-Jackson for over $100,000.00; I would never pay that kind of money for a 1960 Edsel Villager 9-passenger station wagon . . . . . when I saw this I shook my head in disbelief; I don't have that kind of money and I wouldn't pay it if I did have it. But the purchaser of that car obviously did have it and when all was said and done the seller and the buyer had come to a consensus of the VALUE of that product.
$12.15? Good buy . . . . . or perhaps "Good bye" whatever might happen to be your bag!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
To answer some of the questions:
Now, if I can find someone to unload some passenger cars on. You know the ones; they have the silhouettes of passengers on frosted acetate windows that have interior lighting. I remember Lionel had those kinds of passenger cars from my grandfather's layout.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I have been following this thread for quite awhile, sort of, and I think everyone has basically missed the point here about EBAY including the original poster.
The people on EBAY are not the problem here, they generally make up the same cross section of people you will find at any train show, flea market, swap meet or what ever. These include everything from super nice, honest guys, to crooks, scamers, sceamers, nutjobs, the totally uninformed and of course the ever present a-holes. In other words the same cross section of population we all deal with everyday in life.
The root problem is EBAY itself as it tolarates the "problem makers" to continue to buy "and" sell on there when they should be kicked off or at least suspended. I know of one fellow who has been kicked off more than once and he just dummies up a new ID and he's right back on EBAY. Then he has to literally scam a couple dozen people before EBAY gets off their "bumps" and does something about it.
Then about the time they get some halfway decent rules in place that "appear" to be working some new geniuses arrive on the team and start changing everything with their "new ideas" and then it starts again. As long as this is allowed to continue Ebay is going to have these problems and this reputation.
I have done a lot of buying and selling on EBAY over the years and can tell you that I have been "scamed" by buyers as well as sellers, and what has EBAY done about it, absolutely nothing. Why? Because they really don't care as long as they collect their fees.
So as someone several posts back stated "caveat emptor". If you find someone you are comfortable dealing with, stay with them. Also write them and ask questions, their responses or lack of them can tell you a lot about what kind of person you are dealing with.
If they are grossly overpriced, write them and ask them "why". If their shipping is outragous write them and ask them "why".
Most of the time their responses will make it obvious as to whether or not you really want to deal with this individual.
Education is great but there is no substitute for common sense, unfortunately there are no courses available for that.
Mark
I've been using eBay since 1998, mostly for selling off my surplus model railroad and photography items. I haven't bought any model railroad items yet, so have not had any problems with sellers. My feedback score is 445, but I've probably had twice as many sales because in the past, not everyone bothered to leave feedback.
I've had a few problems with buyers and sellers over the years, but I've never really lost out. With the new eBay/PayPal protection plan, one bad buy was made good. The photo item I won wasn't very expensive, with shipping it was only around $19.00. I never got the item, filed a complaint form and it about ten days the entire amount was credited to my PayPal account. So I am now more reassured when bidding on something, for I know I'll either receive the item or I'll get my money refunded.
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
I fail to see how it's Ebays fault. I am not a huge user of Ebay but have bought many things not all of which is MRR related. I have only had one issue and that was with a vendors use of the word Great Condition. No matter.
E-bay is not responsible for how much a vendor chooses to charge or how much a person decides to bid. That is up to the individuals. Just like one store charges $45 for a pair of Wrangler jeans and a few blocks away the Farm Store charges $26 for the same jeans. Is that the city they both do business in fault? No. So why can the fancy store still charge and sell at $45? Because customers, for their own reasons PAY that much. I've heard with my own ears over the jean thing "I won't buy my jeans from a farm store. They're cheap." Same jeans. Same with anything. Retail price is whatever a vendor places on an item. Value is what a person is willing to pay for the item.
If you pay $13 for a decal set you can pay $5 elsewhere, well, that's up to you. But if you see someone asking $13 for the set and know you can get it for $5.... what's the problem? No one is forcing you to choose the higher priced one. Just walk away. If someone pays that much, so what. Will it drive the cost up? I doubt it. Most people will not pay that, and the $5 guys will make more in volume that the $13 guys. Personally, I factor shipping in to my purchases and compare if possible to the LHS. If the internet is within a few either way, I will buy from LHS. What I get off the internet is either, way cheaper (not usual for new stuff as my LHS is a discount shop), or it's something the LHS can't get (read not available anymore). Occasionally there is a whim purchase, but not often. Those are my boundries, not necessarily yours.
Someone mentioned gas prices. We see it all the time. Gasoline as much as a nickel a gallon higher at one place and there are still cars topping off. Why? Who knows. The customer has their reasons. Convenient? Been doing business with them for years? Trust their gas? Who knows. Point is people are going to pay what they want and the vendor is going to feel out what they will give and hope they get the most. That's the way it is, was, and always will be.
Auctioneers will tell you, and I believe one already has, it's amazing what some people will give for an item. I too have seen ordinary items at sales go for within penies of what a new item will go for. Some for more. Odd but true. Auction fever I guess. People who have auctions hope for those people. People who attend want a bargain. How they view a bargain is their own view and who knows how they see it.
Yes it is illegal to resell concert tickets or almost any performance ticket at a higher than face price, but that's a whole different animal and has nothing to do with general retail. The list of reasons is long. Mainly, and to paraphrase, just because you "bought" a ticket, you didn't "buy" the seat or the view. You must own, enter into a legal agreement with the true owners or licensed to sell something before you legally can. The same price or less is not an issue as the "owners" would have made no more money and unless specified is usually not illegal.
Bottom line. If the vendors charge too much, don't buy it. If you can find it cheaper elswhere, get it there. If it's priced where you are comfortable, what ever that may be, buy it if you choose. But don't blame Ebay for the pricing problems.
Business hasn't changed and it never will.
Just remember, what something is worth is directly proportional to how bad someone wants to have something compared to how bad someone wants to get rid of it. Simple. Nothing less, nothing more.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Todd: Bottom line. If the vendors charge too much, don't buy it. If you can find it cheaper elswhere, get it there. If it's priced where you are comfortable, what ever that may be, buy it if you choose. But don't blame Ebay for the pricing problems.
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Absolutely! Keep looking and the wanted item may be found 7-8 pages down for less and may include free shipping..I also agree e-Bay isn't to blame nor is UPS or USPS.
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Todd:Just remember, what something is worth is directly proportional to how bad someone wants to have something compared to how bad someone wants to get rid of it. Simple.
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I am wanting 3 extremely hard to find boxcars.. If found I would be willing to pay extra for.
The odds of finding these cars 1000:1..I haven't seen one on e-bay since they was first release 8 years ago.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I don't remember saying it was EBAY's fault for overpricing, it's EBAY's fault for letting "skeevy" vendors and sellers continue to operate on their site and doing nothing about it.
And the "skeevy" vendors and sellers are what cause the problems, if you want to list an Athearn BB car kit for $1000 that's your business and as long as you follow "honest" business practices that is between the seller and any potential buyer no matter how silly it may be.
Once again, as long as EBAY has the wild west, anything goes policy you'll have problems and their unwillingness to address these issues will just compound the problems.
Just the same as it would be at most any train show, flea market, or swap meet. The asking prices are unimportant, the honesty is.
In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!. I am a fan of Fine Scale Miniature kits. I started buying a few about 10 years ago. I buy directly from George Selios at Fine Scale Miniatures each year. I have bought a few kits on eBay. I have always gotten what the seller said was in the kit. It does upset me to know that there are people out there who buy several FSM kits from Selios and then turn around and sell them on eBay. Needless to say, their minimum price is well above the price of the kit if you bought it directly. It is too bad that the model railroad fraternity does not police itself better. I will probably not build all of the kits (although I plan to do so). But, if I had a FSM that I was not going to build and someone else wanted it to build, I would trade them for another FSM kit that I would like to build.
Craig North Carolina
Its your money. Buy it if you want to or not. People selling on Ebay charging to much? Then don't buy it. Please can we lock this thread now?
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
You will never convince people to not buy from ebay.
I buy a lot of stuff from ebay because I know how to shop and I know how to search the Internet for price comparisons. IN some searches, I do find an on line seller's shop with a better price including shipping, sometimes free shipping.
Now, the real issue, ebay sellers know a fool is born every minute and can get ridiculous prices for stuff if they know how to make the item look better than it actually is.
I know a couple people who buy something because it looks good. I use to shake my head when I went to visit them because they would have some boxes they never even opened. They have a need to buy stuff for whatever reason.
As an example for smart shopping, now some people find an item at say Best Buy, click on their smart phone and look at the Internet and find a better price with free shipping at an on line shop. They then order from the on line shop while standing in the Big Box store.
This has been happening this Christmas season as good shoppers know know to use technology.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Aikidomaster In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!. I am a fan of Fine Scale Miniature kits. I started buying a few about 10 years ago. I buy directly from George Selios at Fine Scale Miniatures each year. I have bought a few kits on eBay. I have always gotten what the seller said was in the kit. It does upset me to know that there are people out there who buy several FSM kits from Selios and then turn around and sell them on eBay. Needless to say, their minimum price is well above the price of the kit if you bought it directly. It is too bad that the model railroad fraternity does not police itself better.
In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!. I am a fan of Fine Scale Miniature kits. I started buying a few about 10 years ago. I buy directly from George Selios at Fine Scale Miniatures each year. I have bought a few kits on eBay. I have always gotten what the seller said was in the kit. It does upset me to know that there are people out there who buy several FSM kits from Selios and then turn around and sell them on eBay. Needless to say, their minimum price is well above the price of the kit if you bought it directly. It is too bad that the model railroad fraternity does not police itself better.
Police itself against what? Why are you upset with investors - that's what they are - buying up FSM kits at retail, and selling them for more? It's they who are risking their money, not you. And the extra demand that the investors create for George Selios spurs him on to create more kits.
Why should George hold on to his production run to sell onesies and twosies when investors are willing to bear the carrying costs and buy in larger lots? You buy what you want direct, so you aren't paying extra - I don't understand the problem. The idea of buying the FSM kits for investment is no different than if they bought stocks or real estate or the hottest toys - the idea is to buy things at a lower price than you will sell them later for. That you have no personal use for the items you are buying or selling is really of no concern.
A hobby shop does the same exact thing. They buy items they have no intention of using personally, and try to sell them for a higher price than they paid. If they don't sell in a reasonable time at a higher price, their losses mount, and eventually they go out of business. Since George Selios doesn't need to discount his merchandise to hobby shops or any other buyers, those buyers must sell at a higher price than Selios charges. Actually, Selios is offering a good deal to the individual buyers - they can buy direct at the same price as the quantity buyers. That doesn't happen for most model railroad items.
Again, I'm open to being shown where I'm out to lunch on this issue.
fwright Aikidomaster: In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!. I am a fan of Fine Scale Miniature kits. I started buying a few about 10 years ago. I buy directly from George Selios at Fine Scale Miniatures each year. I have bought a few kits on eBay. I have always gotten what the seller said was in the kit. It does upset me to know that there are people out there who buy several FSM kits from Selios and then turn around and sell them on eBay. Needless to say, their minimum price is well above the price of the kit if you bought it directly. It is too bad that the model railroad fraternity does not police itself better. Police itself against what? Why are you upset with investors - that's what they are - buying up FSM kits at retail, and selling them for more? It's they who are risking their money, not you. And the extra demand that the investors create for George Selios spurs him on to create more kits. Why should George hold on to his production run to sell onesies and twosies when investors are willing to bear the carrying costs and buy in larger lots? You buy what you want direct, so you aren't paying extra - I don't understand the problem. The idea of buying the FSM kits for investment is no different than if they bought stocks or real estate or the hottest toys - the idea is to buy things at a lower price than you will sell them later for. That you have no personal use for the items you are buying or selling is really of no concern. A hobby shop does the same exact thing. They buy items they have no intention of using personally, and try to sell them for a higher price than they paid. If they don't sell in a reasonable time at a higher price, their losses mount, and eventually they go out of business. Since George Selios doesn't need to discount his merchandise to hobby shops or any other buyers, those buyers must sell at a higher price than Selios charges. Actually, Selios is offering a good deal to the individual buyers - they can buy direct at the same price as the quantity buyers. That doesn't happen for most model railroad items. Again, I'm open to being shown where I'm out to lunch on this issue. Fred W
Aikidomaster: In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!. I am a fan of Fine Scale Miniature kits. I started buying a few about 10 years ago. I buy directly from George Selios at Fine Scale Miniatures each year. I have bought a few kits on eBay. I have always gotten what the seller said was in the kit. It does upset me to know that there are people out there who buy several FSM kits from Selios and then turn around and sell them on eBay. Needless to say, their minimum price is well above the price of the kit if you bought it directly. It is too bad that the model railroad fraternity does not police itself better.
Fred, your right on target, and lunch is on me.
Again, I don't understand (and probably never will) why some people can't seem to grasp the supply and demand rule. The higher the demand, the higher the price will become, it doesn't matter what the original asking price is if there is a person willing to pay more.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Aikidomaster In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!..... I will probably not build all of the kits (although I plan to do so). But, if I had a FSM that I was not going to build and someone else wanted it to build, I would trade them for another FSM kit that I would like to build.
In short people are greedy. eBay is a great place to find things and lose your wallet!!.....
I will probably not build all of the kits (although I plan to do so). But, if I had a FSM that I was not going to build and someone else wanted it to build, I would trade them for another FSM kit that I would like to build.
So if you had an FSM kit that you were not going to build, would you sell it to me for what you paid for it directly from Sellios? That I doubt! You would sell it for as much as you could get for it, just like those who buy and sell FSM kits!
Lock it down! This one is dead!!
Been down this road before. Always seems to end the same way. Onto other topics. Thanks.
Tom
[Locked]
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.