The E-bay culture

[onewaydave]

I needed a couple of sets of feeler gauges for an upcoming project. I recently went through a psychologically tormenting Harbor freight experience with feeler gauges made in China and wanted gauges that actually represented measurements rather than nothing representing measurements.

There on the bay was a Craftsman Deluxe 36 feeler gauge set #40811, new in original package with a starting bid of $9. Hear organ music chine Hallalula. Being a little, but not enough timid, I googled the Sears item number and found a tool jobber selling them for $12 (http://www.professionalequipment.com/craftsman-leaf-feeler-combination-gauge-set-9-40811/measuring-instruments/) but looked no farther. So, I thought, not much bid room but I'll give it a shot. Hear loud heavy organ music in a minor key and a quick flash of Lon Chaney with a smirky smile.

So I bid. As it turned out, I lost (http://www.ebay.com/itm/281018853658?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649). Hear Angles cheer in harmony.

So, then I go to a Sears site and find the same item for $6.79 marked down to $5.94. The store locator noted that my closest store (in about a 2 hour radius) did not stock this item. Hear a big sigh of relief, not so much for the money not wasted but for the embarrassment not experienced.

So then my wife needed to go to "town". I took her in and spent my waiting time shopping at Sears. Where they had the exact same item on the shelf for $6.79 (no shipping).

Doncha juz luuuuv e-bay?

Dave, .

 

[ThreePointedStar]

I love eBay for items I know for sure are a deal. Prior planning will make or break your purchase. Good thing you did some research!

 

[wornoutoldman]

Ebay rule number 1: Always google item you are thinking about bidding on.
Ebay rule number 2: See Rule number 1.
Ebay rule number 3: Snipe to win.

 

[trexdoink]

I keep a few old catalogs and price lists around just for eBay purchases. It's easy to get caught up in the " heat of the moment" and overpay.

 

[onewaydave]

Ebay rule number 1: Always google item you are thinking about bidding on.
Ebay rule number 2: See Rule number 1.
Ebay rule number 3: Snipe to win.

Yeah, usually do. Glad I didn't #3.

Dave.

 

[coolreed]

Before you buy anything on the Bay you need to do research to find out the true value of what you are looking to buy. I have been caught in the same situation before.

 

[zuk123]

This is especially true for Craftsman and sears products as they are often available at steep discounts in various channels for limited times. The result is a whole class of people who make money buying at the limited huge discount, and then selling at just less than the 'normal' price.

There has been some discussion about Cman refurbs and warrantee items ending up in the grey market too.

Always pays to look around.

The best example I've had personally-- I needed a new gas burner tube for my grill. The usual online sellers (ebay, ereplacementparts, etc) had one for around $78, which while high seemed reasonable vs the cost of a new grill. A wider search turned up the same part on Amazon for $7 with free prime shipping! Score, and $$ saved!

zuk

 

[Hootbro]

For the most part, Ebay is auction house. As with any auction environment, it is not about bringing value to the buyer but maximizing value to the seller and by proxy, value to the auction house with the fees it collects.

While it is fun to jib and jive about outrageous pricing, it is neither here nor there in the overall picture.

As already mentioned, if you want value out of Ebay, you have to know what the market is before bidding/buying. Never the sellers responsibility to price "fair" or educate the bidders/buyers before hand.

 

[bjm442]

it's the same for craigslist. There is a guy by me selling a "used" snap-on speeder for $30, I can get a new one for $40.

 

[Stuart in MN]

For the most part, Ebay is auction house. As with any auction environment, it is not about bringing value to the buyer but maximizing value to the seller and by proxy, value to the auction house with the fees it collects.

Agreed. Auctions have been this way since the beginning of time - the sellers are there to make money, not give you a good deal.

 

[canuckian]

I get the "heat of the moment" phenomena and what not but what kills me is when I see 2+ bidders with extreme tunnel vision going at it for an item driving it above retail while there's a BIN listed for the same item for less than retail. Takes 10 seconds to do a quick search to see if there's any better deals on an object before you commit to bid. Happened to me a year or 2 ago. I was watching a socket set and noticed the bids had started to go up on it in the final 30 minutes (I'll never understand why people do that). It was still well below retail but I figured I'd do a quick search. Ended up finding 2 of the exact same set listed on BIN's for about 50% of retail with cheaper shipping than the auction. Well, I grabbed the set I wanted and went back to see the end of the auction. The 2 idiots drove the final price to about 30% above retail!!!

 

[Tomg303]

On ebay there are craftsman industrial wrench sets for full price when you can get them for 60% off right now. Its crazy how much 2 mins of research can net you sometimes.

 

[Tanshanomi]

For me, Ebay is great for tracking down rare or vintage items and obsolete parts I can't find through another source. But if something isn't out of production, I will buy it from a local brick-and-mortar store or an online retailer such as Amazon. Ebay is often the worst place to buy new, unused stuff.

 

[Andy Griffith]

So then my wife needed to go to "town". I took her in and spent my waiting time shopping at Sears. Where they had the exact same item on the shelf for $6.79 (no shipping).

Aha, the old go to town with the wife routine, I'm well familiar with that system...'we can go together and get some things 'we' need from town...'

Not sure how it works in your family but more often than not said system works like this for me.

I'm so proud of myself for saving $6.21 on the set of feeler gauges, yet when the math is done it looks like this:

Wife spending in town: $80
minus my hard fought savings of $6.21 = net 'savings' of -$73.79.

 

[kc-steve]

This is just a wild guess, but I think some people on eBay are bidding those prices because they calculate the cost and time for driving to pick it up at brick and mortar stores. At $4 a gallon for gasoline, I can't blame 'em. If someone has to drive many miles, it's a no-brainer.

Steve

 

[Catalyze]

I live in The Outlands and nothing is under 110 miles to "go to town". That is one way mileage so figure the gas to just go to Texas and shop. I needed 1 1/2" square plastic plugs to cap off some tubing. I just go to Ebay and buy them from a free shipper. It seems really counter intuitive to "shop" Ebay and Amazon but out here you shop online or you have really limited local choices.
Craig

 

[pipsters]

This is just a wild guess, but I think some people on eBay are bidding those prices because they calculate the cost and time for driving to pick it up at brick and mortar stores. At $4 a gallon for gasoline, I can't blame 'em. If someone has to drive many miles, it's a no-brainer.

Steve

Last month I sold over $1300 between here and ebay. Only one person was in the boonies and that was someone on here. With my 75% FedEx discount it still cost $20 to mail it 2 day air!! I was stunned! Most of the time FedEx 2-day beats the USPS but not always!!

Compare that to shipping to Chicago, I just sent a Precision Instruments torque wrench in to get warrantied and it was $6.** in a "large" FedEx box 2 day air...from the east coast.

 

[onewaydave]

Humm? Caveat emptor, yeah I've heard of that. But, I haven't heard of every scam version out there.

Luckily I'm not saddled with a wife that out spends me.

I only live 46 miles from small-town-shoping. Its when I make 2 or more trips for the same project due to anything from over site to just plane ignorance.

Dave.

 

[JerryC]

When i saw the thread title I thought you were going to echo my rant of idiots bidding the price past retail on the first day of a 6 day listing.

 

[318fekim]

I've had some good luck on the 'bay, I bought a '76 AMC Gremlin for $400 bucks cause I needed a 258 and sold the "pop out" quarter windows to a guy in Oregon for 200+! As a seller you cant get a bigger audience.

mike

 

[Eric Commarato]

I have some incredible purchases on Ebay...some great deals on Starrett machinist tools, recently an 18" vernier height gauge for $25.00 in almost new condition which lists new for close to $600. I too am baffled by bidding wars that go on where items sell for much more that they are really worth. I guess its a winning mentality for some folks who just have to win that bid. I guess some people have fun bidding on ebay. I dont particularly like to bid on stuff, if you are smart and check often you can find deals as Buy It Now. The other thing to watch on Ebay as everyone knows are shipping prices. Sometimes shipping prices can be more than the item itself.

 

[greasegorilla]

I got suckered into an ebay bidding war this last weekend. Spent $150 on a snap on ratchet and breaker bar lot. Should be in tommorow so I can post some pics and you guys can tell me how bad I got took for.

 

[Danglerb]

Sometime in the next six months or so I will be jumping back in as an "active" seller on ebay, too much junk to attempt local sale, but I am not looking forward to it. Ebay has gone way down hill from a sellers perspective. You need to be prepared to eat a sale if the buyer is a real turd and you forget to dot some i.

 

[71goldss]

I'm a frequent ebay buyer. Lately I've been thinking of picking up the 5 pc Craftsman Tappet wrench set on Sears' website. Sears reg price is $25.99, but has been lowered to $23.39 for a while now. I've also been watching ebay for this same set and it consistantly sells in the mid $30's and up, and with multiple bidders on each auction. Who knows why so many don't bother to do their homework before biddng?

 

[pipsters]

The problem with selling on ebay.

$35 tappet wrench set. $29.75 after fees.

$23.39 set plus tax roughly $25. You take a lot of risk to make under $5. If the guy gets it and says it's got a scratch you are out the tools, and the shipping. You just lost $35+.

On the industrial stuff I was selling. I sold the 14 pc sets for $130. Minus fees I'm at $110. Minus shipping I'm at $90. Back then they were $74.99 + tax so roughly $80. I basically made $10 on the sale. Not really that much money at all when you look at the risk. On my last sale guy said two were bent, item not as described. Not a big deal in this case because Apex will mail you out wrenches to whomever calls up. But still stress on my part.

Not worth it...

 

[71goldss]

The problem with selling on ebay.

$35 tappet wrench set. $29.75 after fees.

$23.39 set plus tax roughly $25. You take a lot of risk to make under $5. If the guy gets it and says it's got a scratch you are out the tools, and the shipping. You just lost $35+.

On the industrial stuff I was selling. I sold the 14 pc sets for $130. Minus fees I'm at $110. Minus shipping I'm at $90. Back then they were $74.99 + tax so roughly $80. I basically made $10 on the sale. Not really that much money at all when you look at the risk. On my last sale guy said two were bent, item not as described. Not a big deal in this case because Apex will mail you out wrenches to whomever calls up. But still stress on my part.

Not worth it...

I hear ya! Ebay's listing fees, final value fees, PayPay fees, and the occasional free shipping offer (just to be competative) has really cut back on my selling. I do plan a few listings in the near future though, on good sellable stuff I don't have much invested in. Just a way to clear up space rather than tossing out. I'm going to list it in lots to make it as easy as possible. What the hell!

 

[StaggeringGoat]

A few years ago I needed a new lower unit for the outboard on my boat. (old Mercury) I found a good used one on ebay for $300, and it was an upgrade from my old one. After I replaced it, I listed the old lower unit on ebay as broken, for parts only. I think I got $375 for it.

Hell, I've even sold gift cards for more than face value. Ebay is for sheep...

 

[onewaydave]

When i saw the thread title I thought you were going to echo my rant of idiots bidding the price past retail on the first day of a 6 day listing.

Yeah, now there is a novel concept. Let me tell everyone out there I'm interested and will bid my kids inheritance for that in-stock Walmart item!

Dave, almost feeling sorry for e-bay sellers.

 

[Falcon67]

I just sourced a pair of rear wheel cylinders and a spring kit for the Mustang. I scanned local, then eBay and ended up buying from rockauto.com for about 1/2 the eBay asking prices and less than local, including the shipping. My mama told me, you better shop around.

 

[onewaydave]

... My mama told me, you better shop around.

Oh, that's good. And right in the theme of things.

Dave.

 

[Tanshanomi]

As a counterpoint, I recently auctioned a 24-year-old Simpson Bandit motorcycle helmet. I started it a $199 with a $275 B.I.N., which I thought was hopelessly pie-in-the-sky. But once the dust settled it ended up going for $356.00. I would have never expected it could go that high. Sometimes the frenzy mentality works to your benefit when you're the seller.

 

[Crusty Nut]

Yeah, I think the extra couple bucks would have been worth it in not going to town, not going to a store and not dealing with a cashier. And the time and gas savings.
BUT, there are a lot of rip off on ebay. Just have to do your best on each deal.

 

[jake00]

Years ago, I bought a headlight fairing for a gs500 off eBay for 60. Ended up selling the bike before I got around to putting it on. Relisted it, sold it for 275... I wish I could o that more often

 

[Man of Many Vices]

I live in California, bought a VW Westfalia Vanagon in New Hampshire off eBay for $10,000. Wife and I flew out during Christmas to pick it up and drive back. Engine blew up near St. Louis. Had it towed to a shop. Too expensive to fix. Went to do laundry, and while looking out the window saw another VW camper van at a gas station with two flat tires. It had a blown motor also. Told wife: "Hey, Sweetie, if we buy this one, we can have them both shipped to California at the same time. It will make this trip worthwhile!"

Both cars are still sitting on my driveway, 3 years later. I was an eBay junkie. Not anymore.

 

[Skyline]

The problem with selling on ebay.

$35 tappet wrench set. $29.75 after fees.

$23.39 set plus tax roughly $25. You take a lot of risk to make under $5. If the guy gets it and says it's got a scratch you are out the tools, and the shipping. You just lost $35+.

On the industrial stuff I was selling. I sold the 14 pc sets for $130. Minus fees I'm at $110. Minus shipping I'm at $90. Back then they were $74.99 + tax so roughly $80. I basically made $10 on the sale. Not really that much money at all when you look at the risk. On my last sale guy said two were bent, item not as described. Not a big deal in this case because Apex will mail you out wrenches to whomever calls up. But still stress on my part.

Not worth it...

The trick to selling on eBay as a business is to be able to make a sufficient margin. My overall costs run 14%. I charge out shipping at actual cost to me. I have explored the idea of adding lines of new tools to the used tools I sell, but I was not able to get sufficiently discounted wholesale prices to be competitive, not to mention make money. Hard for the "little guy" anyway. If you're buying a couple of thousand dollars of product per month, and getting 30% off list price, it's impossible to compete with sellers who gross 10x or 100x that per month, and get 40% off list. And no one expects to pay brick and mortar store list price for new tools on eBay.

If you need to discount off list to make sales, and you're only getting 30% off list yourself, combined with 14% fees and income tax on top of that, there's simply no money to be made. The only way to be successful is to get much steeper discounts off the goods you want to sell. To get pretty much any new product, especially tools, at 40-50% off list, you need big numbers. You WILL get those discounts, but not for a business you run out of your home. You need a large stock, warehouse space to store it all,(although some large sellers get stuff drop shipped), hundreds of thousands invested, and sufficient staff to sell enough to turn your inventory. This is why I sell used tools; I can make acceptable margins without a huge investment.

 

[onewaydave]

... I think the extra couple bucks would have been worth it in not going to town, not going to a store and not dealing with a cashier. ...

Here in lies the Ethos of my life. I just wish I could (have) live(d) it.

Dave, guessing he is all philosophical today.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Last night I bought some cap plugs from a seller on Ebay. I bought four of them from a local Fastenal store, then later needed four more. I've waited four months and have not received them. They don't seem interested in worrying about it, even though they are in stock in a store in N. Carolina and just need to be put into a box and sent via their internal truck system. Buy local? Not this time.

 

[GortonsFisherman]

Yeah, there's no question that when you figure in the cost of gas, Ebay can be the better deal in the long run, even with the costs of shipping. Especially, if you live rurally and drive a big ol' pick'em-up.