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Author Topic: eBay idiots  (Read 3635 times)

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Offline HowardH

  • Posts: 1123
eBay idiots
« on: September 09, 2017, 09:48 AM »
I like to peruse the Ebay ads to see if there is something for sale where I might get a bargain.  I usually ending up shaking my head and laughing at these idiots who think they can get away with charging more than list, sometimes, a lot more!  For example:
OF 1400 on Ebay

How in the world can somebody think they can get someone to pay double?  Is it true what PT Barnum said, that there's a sucker born every minute?  People who buy Festool are usually not casual tool buyers.  They do their research and know about the tools.  I wonder if Festool USA has anything to say about these guys since they are purporting to sell new tools. 
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Howard H
The Dallas Texas Festool Fanatic!

Mark Twain:  "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a letter approving of it." "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything."

mft1080, Trion, MFT/3, T15, OF 1400, RO150FEQ, TS55, RTS400, CT22, CT36E, 800, 1080, 1400, 1900 rails, CSX, Vecturo, Qwas dogs, Parf Dogs, Zobo's, Syslite Uni, CMS GE

Offline TinyShop

  • Posts: 182
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2017, 10:26 AM »
Agreed - although I've speculated that there must be an ulterior motive for these kinds of obviously way overpriced listings (which eBay is rife with). I've contemplated that they are part of some sort of sophisticated money laundering scheme (or the like). Or that they perhaps somehow bolster seller's cred with eBay (for instance, is there some sort of economic advantage in their relationship with eBay for high volume sellers to having a bunch of listings that are always active but that never sell?). There's got to be a good reason behind this nonsense.   
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Offline live4ever

  • Posts: 783
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2017, 11:38 AM »
It's called arbitrage.  It seems especially silly to do with Festools but who knows, maybe it works for those sellers. 

Here's a good article about how this works.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/amphtml/278622
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Offline TinyShop

  • Posts: 182
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2017, 02:46 PM »
Sucks that the system relies 100% on uneducated consumers, a population that I would guess is not going away anytime soon. Buyer beware.
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Offline HowardH

  • Posts: 1123
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2017, 02:51 PM »
Isn't that the truth!  If someone is willing to pay double, even when they can see several other legitimate ads at the Festool price, then they will get what they deserve. 
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Howard H
The Dallas Texas Festool Fanatic!

Mark Twain:  "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a letter approving of it." "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything."

mft1080, Trion, MFT/3, T15, OF 1400, RO150FEQ, TS55, RTS400, CT22, CT36E, 800, 1080, 1400, 1900 rails, CSX, Vecturo, Qwas dogs, Parf Dogs, Zobo's, Syslite Uni, CMS GE

Offline antss

  • Posts: 1453
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2017, 09:01 PM »
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Offline jobsworth

  • Posts: 5189
  • Does Anyone Know What Time It Is?
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2017, 12:49 PM »
I was loking through craigslist and yea I some some over priced tools. Sad cuz One I would of bought if it was correctly / reasonable priced
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Offline Svar

  • Posts: 1418
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2017, 01:16 PM »
I would not jump into conclusions about the seller being an idiot. 2000+ transactions a year and 99% positive feedback. You try that.
There is a number of reasons why severe overpricing happens:
1. Place holder for out of stock items.
2. Automatic pricing feedback loop such as this: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/The-perils-of-automatic-pricing-on-Amazon-1351782.php
3. Private arrangement with a buyer where actual transaction goes through best offer.
4. Just a typo.
Etc., etc.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2017, 01:21 PM by Svar »
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Offline ChuckM

  • Posts: 592
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2017, 01:54 PM »
Quote from: Svar on September 11, 2017, 01:16 PM
I would not jump into conclusions about the seller being an idiot. 2000+ transactions a year and 99% positive feedback. You try that.
There is a number of reasons why severe overpricing happens:
1. Place holder for out of stock items.

Etc., etc.

Just a couple of weeks ago, this auction was listed for $1200 or so:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Replacement-Wheel-for-Veritas-Wheel-Marking-Gauges-477717-05N35-11-RDGTools-/351833325628?hash=item51eae6803c:g:mk4AAOSwMgdX0U1M

Back to normal now, for the #1 reason you stated.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2017, 01:59 PM by ChuckM »
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Offline dhoover1027

  • Posts: 23
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2017, 05:32 PM »
I saw yesterday a Amazon listing for the package of 5 splinter guards for the TS55 and TS57 that Festool  sells for $24.00. Exact same part number and description.
$72 and some cents !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can anyone be taken that easily ?
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Online Peter Halle

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Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2017, 06:17 PM »
Quote from: dhoover1027 on October 19, 2017, 05:32 PM
I saw yesterday a Amazon listing for the package of 5 splinter guards for the TS55 and TS57 that Festool  sells for $24.00. Exact same part number and description.
$72 and some cents !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can anyone be taken that easily ?

Yep.  Sucks doesn't it?
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Offline Deke

  • Posts: 229
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2017, 09:51 AM »
I once sold an old Mac computer on ebay. The bidding went insane and they winner had a price for nearly the same cost of a newer and much more powerful computer. I felt so guilty I actually wrote him and gave him a more reasonable price. On the buyer side, I guess some people get into the win at any cost attitude. I seem to remember some economics/psychology lesson on this from college, but the details escape me. As for shameless sellers, I'm sure it works often enough. It's too bad. With so many options and information out there, I don't understand it.
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Offline J0hn

  • Posts: 116
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2017, 09:12 PM »
Quote from: Svar on September 11, 2017, 01:16 PM
3. Private arrangement with a buyer where actual transaction goes through best offer.

That actually makes sense.

Let's say you had an expensive tool that you were trying to sell on this Forum.  To 'legitimize' the sale, the seller could list the item on eBay at a price that no one would actually pay that much for and then sell it to the other forum member at a 'buy it now/agreed upon' price.

It offers protection to both the seller and the buyer that way with a small fee going to paypal
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Offline harry_

  • Posts: 1174
Re: eBay idiots
« Reply #13 on: October 27, 2017, 09:19 PM »
Quote from: Svar on September 11, 2017, 01:16 PM
I would not jump into conclusions about the seller being an idiot. 2000+ transactions a year and 99% positive feedback. You try that.
There is a number of reasons why severe overpricing happens:
1. Place holder for out of stock items.
2. Automatic pricing feedback loop such as this: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/The-perils-of-automatic-pricing-on-Amazon-1351782.php
3. Private arrangement with a buyer where actual transaction goes through best offer.
4. Just a typo.
Etc., etc.


I am wondering if Festool does that on Amazon. Although who could they price against given their set pricing. None the less, some of their own pricing is crazy! [scared]
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