Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

[JasonB]

I'm a fan of e-bay. I can sit and browse for hours. Where else can you find so much stuff/junk/stuff without leaving your chair. I've sold a few boat parts I didn't need and bought a few items I needed or wanted. Usually they are either hard to find/specialty items or I'm patiently hunting bargains.

What I don't get is why people will run the bid on common items way past what you can just buy it for elsewhere. Props are a good example. A new aluminum prop in a given size is $85 with free shipping here at iboats and under $100 shipped at mist e-tailors. Why in the world will people bid over $75 +$30 shipping for a used one?

Other "common" items are the same way, I just don't get it.

I guess I'm just stingy...

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

I am a pretty avid Ebayer and the best answer I can give is that people get it in their head that they really NEED an item. They don't usually do research on it first. Instead of googling the item to find retail outlets selling it new, their first stop is Ebay.

Other than this I really don't know why.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

What I don't understand is why people dont wait till near the end of the auction to bid. I have sold a lot on ebay and notice people bid up items on the first night. When I bid on items I always wait till near the end to place my bid.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

A lot of people use their price guage of what they can buy it locally for. Some of the inflated prices are cheaper than what they can buy it for on Main st USA.

Beyond that it is what WITF says, they just don't have a clue. Ebay is easy to access, doing Internet search is more difficult for country bumpkins who only have dial up.

 

[wncrjb]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

I think may people get caught up in the bidding war...either that, or the attitude that they are NOT going to get beat, so they have to win the item just to be the "winner".

wncrjb

 

[rolmops]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

EBay is much like Vegas.Once you start gamblin' it's hard to stop

 

[dhath]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

I bought my Wellcraft in ebay!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOL

 

[KaGee]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

See it all the time Jason. No explanation other than PT Barnum was right.

 

[sun_runner235]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

One thing to help you keep out of a bidding war and win a lot of auctions is a website called auctionsniper.com. Through this site you give your ebay account info and it ties into your "watched items". You tell the site what the maximum bid you would pay for the item and the time you want it to bid. ie. 5 seconds before auction end. When the auction gets close to ending it will bid for you at the time you request. Its a good way to keep your costs down and win 80% or more of the auctions. They site is paid by pennies on the dollar of the cost of the winning bid. The site will also email you and let you know someones bid is higher than what you said your maximum bid should be. Take a look at it and give it a try.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

I use BayGenie's free version. The pay version has more bells and whistles, but I've won several items with the free version. You'll also need a clock sync download. There are tons of free ones of those as well.

One reason for paying more than new is the convenience of PayPal and getting the item shipped right to your door. Many that both buy and sell on eBay might be willing to pay more because they made a killing on items they sold and the money is sitting right there in PayPal.

 

[PW2]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

That's the way auctions work. I've been to a ton of real auctions and there are often times when prices exceed the brand new price.

My first auction I ever went to was when I was a kid at the Reinell boat company in Marysville, Wa. There was a boat they were selling--They had two similar ones, both factory rejects--the first one was in better condition than the second. I had $600 in my pocket, and wanted to buy one of them. The first one went for $550, and I thought I was in good shape for a real deal on the second one.

The bidding on the second one didn't even slow down till it reached $1000. Brand new in perfect condition they were $1295. Go figure!

Auctions are funny animals, and ebay is no different.

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

It must be a world-wide thing!

I keep seeing silly things that you can buy brand new going for silly prices on ebay.co.uk. Classic example, the car I've restored: you can still buy the badges from the dealer for around $10 but second-hand ones on ebay regularly hit $50

Fool and his money etc etc

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

I've seen it the other way on Ebay also. A lady auctioned her dead husband's brand new, still in the box Quicksilver DVA meter for $25.00. I had just bought an ES (same thing) for $115.00 the week before.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

I've seen it the other way on Ebay also. A lady auctioned her dead husband's brand new, still in the box Quicksilver DVA meter for $25.00. I had just bought an ES (same thing) for $115.00 the week before.

Me too. I had a 3000 dollar, 9 month old scooter for sale on Ebay. The same bike with more miles and less accessories sold for 2450 in another state. My bike sold for 1700 bucks. I lost half the value of the bike in 9 months and 1500 miles, WITH a new aftermarket windshield installed.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Somebody 'splain something to me about EBay

"Local pickup only" will kill the bids on many large items when you have no locals looking for such a thing at the right time.

What peeves me is when a seller lists an item "with no reserve"

But has a starting bid of $xx dollars.

Ain't dat da same thang?