posted on May 5, 2002 09:40:11 AM
I didn't find pictures like sun818 did, but ofcourse I wasn't looking for that.
What I found was the amount of low class, in my opinion, merchandise and people were bidding on it. As I could see it in their pictures there was no value but people were still bidding and then on the better items there were no bids. I don't understand it, for a few pennies more auctions could be won that had some value but still people were bidding on the other items. When I put an auction on I keep my fingers crossed that everything I put on is good so that when a buyer opens my package the buyer is extremely happy. Does anyone else have an opinion. Maybe that is the reason for all the nonpay bidders and negative feedback. I have over a 450 feedback with no neutrals or negatives because I take pride in what I sell. If I won't buy it I can't sell it.
posted on May 5, 2002 10:23:40 AM
Libra63, it explains why dollar stores thrive and people keep spending money on low quality items today and then throw them out tomorrow.
I am convinced that many people today shop only by looking at price, not quality. It is sad but true and I see it in my shop daily. I get tired of explaining why my items cost just a bit more because the consumer doesn't take the time to see the difference.
posted on May 5, 2002 10:47:10 AM
Ssssnort. It is a strange thing, what people will buy. But, then again, one man's junk is another's treasure.
No one ever said that it takes above average intelligence to buy something on eBay. Heck, about a year ago I guy sold a grease-stained brown paper bag from a deli as a joke. The auction closed for $15 and both parties left each other positive feedback.
Hoax or not, the fact remains that in the matter of opinion, there is no accounting for taste. >
posted on May 5, 2002 11:05:16 AM
I would avoid taking the position of official arbiter of taste. What, for example, do you consider "low class" merchandise?
posted on May 5, 2002 11:05:26 AM
This really isn't just auctionsite related either, just as kiara pointed out.
I sold my B&M about 4 years ago because I quite literally refused to stock low quality items and got tired of trying to explain why mine cost more than what they could get it for at Wall*mart or other "discount" outlet. Lots of times, they really didn't seem to comprehend that it wasn't the same!
All my life I have heard you must compare "apples to apples and oragnes to oranges". That is still true, but fewer people seem to fully understand the meaning behind that. They are more prone to believe "if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck".
How can I really argue with that. If a $10 low quality item suits their purpose, then why should I really expect them to pay $100 for mine just because it is a better quality?
I think it's also got something to do with how easily we become bored with something and start looking for a new toy.
If you paid $1,000 for an item, you feel complelled to keep it a little longer than 6 months! If you paid $50 for something similar you don't feel so bad about tossing it for something new. If the "el cheapo" breaks after only a few uses, even better 'cause then you can get a new something guilt free!!! Afterall, the old one broke!
posted on May 5, 2002 11:17:30 AM
What your saying may well be true for you but none the less that is your personal opinion.
Generally People who Judge class and value by looks alone will tend to pay more for what they have and get less of what they want or need in there life.
Most of the items bought at any dollar Store are of the same quility and even name brand as you can buy in any other discount store only the prices are lower.
The dollar stores can sell these items for far less because they go out and bid on Train loads and truck loads of shipped unclaimed items as well as from auction where store are going out of business and the court ordered the inventory auctioned off for what they could get.
as well there was a large boom in opening of dollar stores in the 80's and 90's because of recessions manufactures got stuck with warehouses full of product already made when these companies went out of business didnt pay for or take shippment on.
these manufactures are stuck not only paying monthly for the warehouse space but they have two choices dump millions in inventory and take 100% loss or sell it off and recoup some of there losses on these contracts.
The factory I work for had many of these types of contracts.
Anyone remember some years back like 10 years back a product that popped up in stores for a very short time called burple it was a koolaid like powder drink mix that came in a collapsible type bottles there was purple and orange.
well the company I work for contracted to make millions of these the product was not bad but the company had bad marketing and went under not long after the first shipment the factory got stuck with million of these bottle and the drink mix packets that went into them and never got the $$ for production well burple organ and grape showed up in Dollar stores for a long time.
another product that met the same fate was po peet the collapsible kitchen container seen advertised first in the 70's and then again in the 80's first time out this was a hot seller second time out in the 80's didnt sell as well There promotion started just a few short weeks before the stock crash of the 80's and business dried up.
Same story for the Squirt guns with the fadeing Dye that was so popular back in the 80's the company I work for made the refill cartrages for the squirt rifles the guns were a hot seller the refills didnt sell as well they went to the dollar stores and odd lot type stores as the product was discontinued the remaining lots are sold to the odd lot and family dollar type stores.
same itemsand qulity people were paying $4 and $20 for in stores and on tv showing up in these $10 and less stores.
Other things that meet the same fate are Items that are sold in stores like woolworth which is no longer around CVS and other large durg store chains if they purchace inventory that dont sell well in a season they dont keep it they sell it off to these close out stores and dollar stores.
most big department stores do the same thing JC penny, sears, macys how many of these $10 limit clothing stores are out there Today they are selling top name brands you would have paid $50 to $100 for the item at pennys a few years back now for $10 at these type stores.
this is not low class Items they are the same items many people paid up to 100X more for in many case not more then two year ago.
posted on May 5, 2002 11:32:38 AM
dman3, I understand what you are saying. I was thinking more along the lines of items our local dollar stores sell. Candles that melt down fast, glass candle holders that break when they get too hot, plush animals that the hair falls out of, and other things that compete with my sales.
I am not saying that all their items are bad and the world (and ebay) has proven that there is a market for almost anything, good or bad.
