Are people really this dumb, another ebay drama

[mkirkpatrick]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Torque-Wrench-P...QitemZ140463736312QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f0

Never ceases to amaze be that people will pay more for something on ebay than if they went and bought it brand new from a store.

 

[Fedwrench]

"There's a sucker born every minute and that's enough to make a decent living from..." W. C. Fields

Ebay is full of listings for tools that were bought on sale and the seller is trying to double their money. Watch the Gearwrench listings ballon after each Sears half off sale.

 

[xcgates]

Some people apparently don't bother searching google, or even just amazon, to check on the price and shipping options.

I realized this a few years back, when I really started purchasing online in full force, and it was cheaper/more reliable/faster to buy from a place like Amazon than fight with an auction site. Don't get me wrong, when I needed a spare clutch (not just clutch plates) for my 25+ year old bike, E-Bay was the place to go, but that was a weird situation.

 

[mrholeshot]

Some people don't know about Harbor Freight and just looking for a deal. back when we only had one Harbor Freight store within a 500 mile radius(ours was 60 miles away) I would go up and buy these things. I would catch them on sale at 7.99 each (2003-2004) and buy 50 of them. I sold them out to customers for 24.99 for wheel installation. I tried one out from 35-150lb in 5lb incrememnts against my Williams torque wrench and it did OK. I wouldn't want to build a race engine with it but would use it if that was all available. I still had 5 of them I kept back for warranty and sold them at a Flea market for 25 dollars each and one for 20 a year ago and there was a Harbor Freight within 5 miles or where we were set up. I'd flat out tell people where they could get them but they want it now, didn't want to order or go pick it up and it was still the cheapest anywhere in the area.

 

[scott37300]

Ebay has tons of sellers that do exactly that, go buy things on sale at HF and list them on ebay. Not sure if people just don't know how cheap they can get them or just don't pay attention or take the time to look into it. I bought a plastic welder and a couple other HF things off ebay about 10 years ago before we had a HF around us.

Another example of people not checking before bidding a couple months ago I was looking for a new double flare kit for brake lines. Searching ebay everyday and found some snap on ones. Went to the snap on site like I always do and it was their TF5A that sells for 51.50 brand new. People were paying around 60 bucks for these used kits! Crazy how many people just bid on things without finding out how much they cost new. I buy a lot of used things since I don't turn wrenches for a living and I can get more tools if I buy used but I always do my homework and figure out a price I"m willing to pay for that particular used tool.

 

[Kev442]

If you are 200 miles from nowhere and can earn ebay bucks, you buy this on ebay. Not like it's a huge difference from the store price.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I see stuff like that on Craigslist all the time...Usually engine cranes...

 

[sselander]

Ebay used to be good

bargains can be had on CL ...

I still can't believe I paid under $40 for my Armstrong 64-046
3/8" drive torque wrench off CL. It does not even look like it was used.

The Internet, google, and CL are the best thing going.
Learn how to use them and reap the rewards

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77621

 

[wafrederick]

I have seen them cheap homier tape measures on Ebay too,one seller wanted $5.00 each and they go for a dollar at the Homier tool sales.I have seen a Killian's Irish Red sign on Ebay too,seller wanted more than Coors and Company was selling it for.