posted on August 24, 2001 06:58:14 PM
I've been shopping on Ebay for a sling pack backpack for my daughter for school. My rule is I never pay more than 1/2 retail + shipping on Ebay even for a new item.
A Gap sling pack retails for $25, but some of these auctions are getting bid up over $30, shipping not included.
posted on August 24, 2001 07:25:31 PM
Also some area's this back pack may have been a hot selling item and most or all the stores have sold out and normally they wont restock these item's till the next season or holiday.
posted on August 24, 2001 07:38:31 PM
Ok, that sounds reasonable, but if they are that hot, how are all of these people getting them cheap enough to be able to sell them and make a profit.
posted on August 24, 2001 07:44:22 PM
Tool categories are similar in problem. Many times the tools bring full retail. I don't get it either, why not just go to the store where the return policy is likely better and less expensive than the return via mail. But.. that's what makes the world go round.
posted on August 24, 2001 07:55:50 PM
Smart buying while they were in stock. Or, maybe they work retail or somewhere higher in the chain and get a discount.
Whats hot, whats not-- I remember when my boy had to have a pair of the first air jordans. Price blew me away at $100, but he was then the "coolest kid" at his school. Did alot for his ego.
Never paid anywhere near that much for a pair of shoes since (that was over 10 years ago.)
posted on August 24, 2001 08:54:34 PM
never pay more than half or retail excluding shipping?
how do you expect ebay dealers to make a profit?
ever wonder why items arrive poorly packed,defective,worn instead of new etc??
the wholesale price is 1/2 of retail price (i know not always) so if a ebay seller gets it at 10 and list at 13.99 and hope it will be bidded up to 16 so he can make a modest profit to compensate for his time and capital,he is still selling below retail and offering you the same quality merchandise as in the store,no reject,no remainder and no defects.
posted on August 24, 2001 09:59:54 PM
>>"how do you expect ebay dealers to make a profit?"<<
I look for items on ebay to get a bargain. I can drive 5 minutes or less in any direction and purchase these items at retail or less if they are on sale.
I personally get a lot of new items $50 - $150 retail for $1 - $10. I List them for $5 - $20 and they usually sell for about double the starting bid sometimes more. I make a good profit and the customer gets a great deal. Isn't that what is great about Ebay?
posted on August 24, 2001 10:17:22 PM
"I look for items on ebay to get a bargain. I can drive 5 minutes or less in any direction and purchase these items at retail or less if they are on sale."
The thing is not everyone lives five minutes away from good retail stores. Also, some things readily available to Americans may be a bit harder to get for internationals (and vice versa). Also, some people like to shop from their computer and eBay is a great place to shop for anything from computers to antiques. Five minutes is great, but if you had to drive an hour to the nearest city, then fight the crowds, then pay for parking, pay sales tax, etc. would it be worth it?
But I do understand that folks do look for a bargain. Which is why I think eBay is playing it wrong courting retailers while making the sellers who sell offbeat, antiques, etc., items feel second rate. People like eBay because you can find anything there. What will distinguish it once it's just an outlet mall?
posted on August 25, 2001 03:46:18 AM
I sold items to a fellow who explained he needed them packed tightly - not in big boxes with lots of peanuts because his mail plane often did not land but drops a 5 gallon bucket on a cord and orbits at about 5 or 6 hundred feet with the cord hanging out the door while he runs up to the bucket dumps his stuff out and sticks his outgoing mail in the bucket. Then they haul the bucket up and fly off.
posted on August 25, 2001 04:22:11 AM
<personally get a lot of new items $50 - $150 retail for $1 - $10. I List them for $5 - $20 and they usually sell for about double the starting bid sometimes more. I make a good profit>
do you really think that these items are sold for 50-150 and if so,are there many buyers??
look around and see for yourself,if you live within 5 minutes driving to retail shops.
retail shops are going under left and right.
posted on August 25, 2001 06:24:18 AM
There are a number of facts to consider about retail pricing, the first of which is that it is not the same from state to state or store to store.
Then there are lots of stores that sell things at a loss, like cds and colas in order to bring in traffic. Then the customers usually stays and buys more items at a healthy markup. It's a game, see? Walmart plays it real well, I have beat their prices time and time again.
As to why buy at "full retail" from an ebay seller, I can tell you cause I do it all the time. I bought the keyboard I am using now from an ebay seller, at more than retail! The reason is that it was not available at Sears, Circuit City, Best Buy or any of the other stores that _should_ have carried it. They also are known for poor service, pushing service contracts and not answering their phones. So finding this item on ebay after spending 2 hours driving from store to store was a blessing.
To put the frosting on the cake, I had the keyboard within 48 hours, the seller went out of his/her way to get it into the mail after I did a BIN and Paypal. Wonderful ebay sellers outnumber the bad ones, and exceptional service is one reason I keep buying here.
Now, I sell certain video and cd items, usually a dollar or two under usual retail, and get happy buyers. Once in a while I will get a scathing email challenging my price since the same thing is at Target or Amazon for less. I congratulate the buyer and tell them to grab the bargain. They almost always email me back to say it is out of stock or backordered but will I meet the price.
I too could sell tons of cds below cost if I didn't have to deliver!
People pay whatever price is comfortable for them, and sometimes the price conscious folks don't understand that there is a price for convenience, service and the like as well. I certainly don't get knowledgeable people in most of the chain stores, but read my auction description and you get a lot of useful information that is beyond what you get buying retail at a bargain palace.
Being an informed and savvy buyer isn't just about price. Though everyone loves a bargain!
I guess I'm a bit spoiled around here living within walking distance of a large mall and never gave much thought about those living in small towns/internationals.
I've also been a thrift store shopper for so long I seldom pay full price for anything. I have noticed that a lot of Canadians drive here to shop at the thrift stores and outlet stores.
I think I'll take a drive to the outlet mall this afternoon now that I'm thinking about it
posted on August 25, 2001 09:33:10 AM
It also depends on what your time is worth to you.
I bill myself out at $200.00 per hour in my regular job, so I have no problem paying over retail if it's a item I desire. eBay purchases are fast and effortless and this service is definately worth something to me.
posted on August 25, 2001 10:02:07 AM
we have best buy and compusa,bestbuy is like a zoo with so many people,there is 15 customers to one salesman.
so i shop compusa,less crowded,undivided attention from your local salesman and prices are competitive enough,they carry your stuff to your car and wave you off.
do they have loss leaders,well i have not found any,let me know if there is any.
as for walmart ,i shop sam club,who said sam club is a bargain??
most of their food items are value added,preserved,canned or frozen for longer shelf life and you have to buy in bulk,so where is the saving?
most supermarket chains can do the same thing sam does,shelf space is the name of the game,if they are willing to use their shelf space,they can offer the same for same price and better quality
posted on August 25, 2001 10:31:34 AM
I personally can't stand shopping around anymore. Nearly every time I have a "wish list" I can't find it at the stores near me, and we have all the usual malls, megastores, etc. I'm just not the shopping type.
For example, recently I needed a simple luggage cart that folds up. Went to Target, saw that they cost $20....but there were none on the shelf. Clerk said vaguely they might get some more in, but I wanted it that week. I went on ebay, bid a BIN, made sure I got it shipped Priority, and voila, had my cart in time for my project. The fact that I got an excellent price, including the Priority mail, was a bonus.
Come to think of it, I bought in-state and they should have charged me sales tax but I guess that seller doesn't operate that way...
posted on August 25, 2001 12:09:39 PM
It's impulsive behavior more than anything else, and shortsightedness. Even if you live 4 hours from the nearest city, you could visit the city twice a year and stock up for a year, often at sale or clearance prices if you time it right.
posted on August 25, 2001 12:27:32 PM
stock up what????????
this is not like pantyhose,toilet paper or campbell soup,how many luggage cart does one need?
many view shopping as a form of entertainment ,i dont mean dept store,i mean big supermarket where food you can see,smell and touch.
no one will ever approach you and say MAY I HELP YOU or you have spent too much time here??
posted on August 25, 2001 02:08:03 PM
What do you mean, "stock up what?" I can't imagine what you couldn't stock up on. Buy summer clothes at the close of the season for next year; buy electronics in the summer for your Christmas gifts. Buy a few backpacks after school starts. I bought luggage at 70% off before I even planned my vacation a year off.
posted on August 25, 2001 02:32:33 PM
So...theoretically we should all shop twice a year, hire a moving van to bring all the stuff home and empty out the garage to store it, then never visit a store in between these massive buying fits? I don't think so!
We do as much "stock up" buying as is practical, which is a fair amount, but it's impossible to anticipate every need for six months in advance. I can think of lots of good reasons why people pay retail (or close to it) on eBay, and people here have named most of them.
posted on August 25, 2001 02:57:05 PM
If you need a moving van on your shopping trips you have a serious spending problem, or you are fresh out of college. I live in the city so I frequent the stores for stocking up and I have not filled a garage with what I buy on clearance. I buy window insulation in the spring, a room heater in summer, shorts in the fall, back to school supplies after school is in full swing, a 4x4 in the summer, a years worth of deordorant when on clearance, a tv for the guest room in case vistors stay the night, and so forth. I guess it takes practice to be as good as me because I don't have the problems that "sonsie" may have anticipating the future.
posted on August 25, 2001 03:01:37 PM
A year worth of deodorant [sp], something smells fishy around here... . We all house too much stuff, hence is why we're on ebay dumping it...
posted on August 25, 2001 03:23:53 PM
As I said before, Quickdraw, I =do= anticipate the future and buy in advance when possible. But whether you're willing to admit it or not, it's impossible to anticipate every single thing you might need six or more months in advance.
Do you know exactly what your kids want for Christmas in March? Do you know you're going to have a new grandchild (and what the baby may need) a year ahead? Shoot...are you absolutely, positively SURE that neither you nor your kids will change weight or height and need some new clothes before your next scheduled stock-up trip? And what happens if you buy a year's worth of deodorant and discover you're allergic to it, or it doesn't work? (Of course, a smart shopper will buy just one of a new item to check this out, and I assume you do that, before investing a small fortune in a case lot.)
You can be a savvy shopper and buy during sales or when you find a good deal...and still shop more than twice a year. In fact, I'd say it's downright normal.
posted on August 25, 2001 03:46:22 PM
I think most of the good reasons have been listed but I'll add a bit to them.
When those blasted virtual pets were the rage, we could not find them in our area. There were waiting lists at ToysRUs for any that came in.
I happened to visit a relative in another part of the country where there were SHELVES of the things! Seems they hadn't "caught on" there.
I purchased a few extra & sold them to friends who'd been waiting forever for theirs.
There can be regional "shortages" of items, so paying retail isn't a biggie.
Remember the rush to McD when teenie beanies came out. I missed the first couple & had to buy them to finish the set. Paid more than retail for those.
Finally, if you have international buyers, they are often thrilled to purchase items they can't get in their own country or are so expensive to make them prohibitive.
I recall one Canadian buyer purchasing books from me because he could buy them & have them shipped from the US for LESS than buying & having them shipped in Canada. I'm still pondering that one.
I have several things I not only sell for retail but sell for above retail..because they are only offered in a few areas and it's doubtful people are going to drive or fly several hundred miles to get them (happy dance!).
