Are some ebayers mad?

jpembroke

I put a pair of used Specialized MTB Sport shoes on ebay, described thus:

Pair of Specialized MTB Sport shoes. Size 8/ Euro 42. Black. 3 Velcro strap fastening. Good condition. Will take SPD cleats (not included)

When I went out this morning bidding stood at £17.50 (would have been very happy with that); got home this afternoon and bidding had finished at £55.11!!!! You can get new ones for less than that. I feel like a criminal taking that sort of money for a pair of used shoes. I guess it's their lookout but I do feel rather uncomfortable about this.

and if you're the buyer and you're reading this (having hopefully recovered from your very heavy afternoon drinking/drugs session), do PM me.

redvee

The auction might have finished that high but you still got to get paid. I sold a power cable for a sony MP3 player for £10 inc p&p, Sony want £60 for same item. Mine was BN. I've still to get payment and no comunication from the winner. Two more days before a non-payer alert goes into Ebay.

jpembroke

Hmm, fair point. I won't lose sleep over it though.

gkerr4

I have a theory on this (having sold a few things that went for shocking prices)

I think that there are a lot of people who don't treat paypal as 'real' money - it's just like a trading account / secret cash stash

you sell stuff you don't want - get 'credits' in your paypal and then trade those credits for stuff you do want and if the credits are higher than the purchase could be made for 'real cash' then so what

I honestly think people operate like this - try not to feel like a criminal - it's just the (weird) way ebay seems to operate!

redvee

Thought like that when I bought my ATC2K. Sold a few odds and sods that were in the shed at home and got Paypal upto a figure high enough for the camera. got to build it back up again before I can buy more goodies

jpembroke

Thanks mate, that makes me feel better. I've sold a lot of stuff on ebay but nothing has ever gone for such a bonkers price before.

gkerr4

redvee wrote:

Thought like that when I bought my ATC2K. Sold a few odds and sods that were in the shed at home and got Paypal upto a figure high enough for the camera. got to build it back up again before I can buy more goodies

see - redvee demonstrates my point - that paypal is viewed as "not real money" and just something to be "build back up before I can buy more goodies".

(I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that BTW - it's just the way it seems to work a lot of the tim)

Desert Orchid

3 things that people think,

if you buy it on the internet, it's cheaper.

if you buy it at auction, it's cheaper


so if you buy it from an internet auction,

it HAS to be cheaper

Alex_Simmons/RST

jpembroke wrote:

I put a pair of used Specialized MTB Sport shoes on ebay, described thus:

Pair of Specialized MTB Sport shoes. Size 8/ Euro 42. Black. 3 Velcro strap fastening. Good condition. Will take SPD cleats (not included)

When I went out this morning bidding stood at £17.50 (would have been very happy with that); got home this afternoon and bidding had finished at £55.11!!!! You can get new ones for less than that. I feel like a criminal taking that sort of money for a pair of used shoes. I guess it's their lookout but I do feel rather uncomfortable about this.

and if you're the buyer and you're reading this (having hopefully recovered from your very heavy afternoon drinking/drugs session), do PM me.

would you feel bad if you got a really good deal by purchasing something on eBay?

cee

folks also get into the whole bidding war thing....

Ebay have been quite clever with the wording they use on the site to psychologically build the frenzy....

When you are the successful bidder on ebay, you have WON the item, execpt you havn't really, you were prepared to pay the most!

It is very easy when watching an auction to feel beaten when someone enters a higher bid, so one reaction is to bid more!

daz51

I think some people get a kick or even maybe an addiction at it if you know what i mean

jpembroke

Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:

jpembroke wrote:

I put a pair of used Specialized MTB Sport shoes on ebay, described thus:

Pair of Specialized MTB Sport shoes. Size 8/ Euro 42. Black. 3 Velcro strap fastening. Good condition. Will take SPD cleats (not included)

When I went out this morning bidding stood at £17.50 (would have been very happy with that); got home this afternoon and bidding had finished at £55.11!!!! You can get new ones for less than that. I feel like a criminal taking that sort of money for a pair of used shoes. I guess it's their lookout but I do feel rather uncomfortable about this.

and if you're the buyer and you're reading this (having hopefully recovered from your very heavy afternoon drinking/drugs session), do PM me.

would you feel bad if you got a really good deal by purchasing something on eBay?

I take your point. Swings and roundabouts and all that.

feel

Hi, i have regularly seen people bid more than they can buy it for :shock:
Usually it is with the power sellers? who have a shop, they often list the same item multiple times and yet people will bid more than a following item's buy it now price :roll:

Captain Turok

Are some ebayers mad?

YES!, and long may it continue!!

synchronicity

gkerr4 wrote:

I have a theory on this (having sold a few things that went for shocking prices)

I think that there are a lot of people who don't treat paypal as 'real' money - it's just like a trading account / secret cash stash

you sell stuff you don't want - get 'credits' in your paypal and then trade those credits for stuff you do want and if the credits are higher than the purchase could be made for 'real cash' then so what

I honestly think people operate like this - try not to feel like a criminal - it's just the (weird) way ebay seems to operate!

YES. 100% true, couldn't agree more. If you are lucky enough to find the exact item you want being sold on ebay, I'd be prepared to pay slightly more than an online shop if they accept paypal & have a good repuation. But in most cases, it's lower than RRP anyway. People just bid more (auto bid) to 'guarantee' they get the item. Except when 2 people do that, one ends up paying for it.

I also use paypal to funnel money back to pay off a small Australian loan.

iga

I once sold a car stereo for £20, the plastic surround it fitted into went for £50, utter madness.

Clever Pun

cee wrote:

folks also get into the whole bidding war thing....

this

I use a sniper and if I wasn't willing to throw enough money at it then so be it

bagpusscp

Looking at these ....YES
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=012

geoff_ss

It's not only cycling stuff. Most of my eBay trading has been associated with RC model aeroplanes and there're regular 'More ebay madness' posts in the RC forum I visit regularly.

I've recently been getting rid of some old motor cycle kit and an old fashioned 'pudding basin' style helmet that I'd long since replaced with a newer similar one because it was unsafe IMO fetched over £50. It was bought by someone from Italy. A modern, unused open-face helmet went for around £10!

However, eBay is an excellent way of selling stuff that's useful but no longer needed. I've sold a lot of valve technology hifi as well as old motor cycle magnetos etc that I was reluctant to bin when I knew there were people out there who would value it.

Geoff

gumball3000

I started my Professional Artist Career on eBay.

It started as an office conversation along the same lines and with my point that Paypal funds are not like spending real money.

To prove my point, I took a piece of paper from the printer, drew four lines on it with a marker pen and signed and dated it, calling it "Fear".

I listed it under paintings and art and gave it a very grand description, refering to myslef as a "New Artist" and the piece as Conceptual Art from my "Office Art" series.
"Presented on A4, with a bold central work......"

7 days later.....

£15...

I then retired from Art....

Although I did think about doing prints.......

Captain Turok

Geoff_SS wrote:

old fashioned 'pudding basin' style helmet that I'd long since replaced with a newer similar one because it was unsafe IMO fetched over £50. It was bought by someone from Italy. A modern, unused open-face helmet went for around £10!

"Pudding basin" sounds kool, v retro. Sounds perfect for a scooter!,

Just goes to show some people value things differently..