posted on March 18, 2003 06:38:09 PM new
I can't believe the prices alot of these lying E-Bay sellers claim their products sell for.I buy the exact same product,most likely from the same company and I know they are as full of _hit as a Christmas turkey. What really makes it bad is they have took over some categories and any other seller doesn't stand a prayer trying to sell the same product or even any like it. And of course they are making their money off the shipping and have enough negs to be elected President.What ever happened to a truefull ad or is it a must to write an ad of pure lies to sell. The sad part is people fall for this crap.
posted on March 18, 2003 06:46:37 PM new
I am also a seller for 6 years now. The "seller" you wrote about is the kind of worm that came out of some hole someplace and now calls themselfs a "SELLER" or "DEALER." They should crawl back in the hole they came out of.
posted on March 18, 2003 06:47:34 PM new
So, you buy wholesale and instead of quoting the "retail" price, you tell them what you actually pay? How in the devil do you make any money at all? Oh, no, not the "shipping and handling" issue again! No, I do not "make money" off of shipping. More often than not, I break even on it. I charge a flat rate for Priority up to 2 lbs of $5.00. Actual shipping is from $3.85 to $5.00 (when you factor in the zones), sometimes more. Then, factor in the cost of packing materials (popcorn, bubble wrap, jewelry boxes if I have jewelry to sell), the cost of gasoline at $1.79 per gallon to run to the post office to mail the package in a timely manner. I'd say, no, I'm not making money off of shipping. When I travel for work, I get .15 per mile PLUS gasoline. Rightfully, I could be factoring in wear and tear on the automobile. Let's not forget the "time" it takes to package up the item, type the label and put postage on the package. I really wish we could get off the shipping cost issue. If you don't like the cost, don't bid! No one is holding a gun to your head.
Edited to add I'm not the seller they are talking about. Just another seller who gets angry at being slammed for shipping costs. Maybe we, as sellers, should just add that cost (plus a bit more for the then added fees) to our auctions and then "ship for free."
Cheryl
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Mar 18, 2003 06:50 PM ]
posted on March 18, 2003 07:15:14 PM new
Whenever I come across a large supply of dukways, I list far below wholesale & make out like a bandit! Costs next to nothing for postage for a perfect dukway! Eat yer lettle hearts out!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
posted on March 18, 2003 08:22:35 PM new
I don't believe this message is really about the "high" shipping cost
I think it is related to the lying sellers.
Which you will find anywhere and everywhere,, not just on ebay....
Maybe you should think of some thing else to sell, as You don't like the other sellers in your area.
There is alot of cut throat sellers in my area also...I don't know how they make any $$ and still are selling.. mainly "powersellers", some items I have lowered the price, some I have raised and offer free shipping, some I have a really low, low, low starting bid, with a $3.00 mark up on the shipping...
This is just a few ways I have changed my auctions and it has worked.. as I am selling alot more.... If I sell 1 item.. that is 1 item they didn't sell to my bidder..and make a sale on.
posted on March 19, 2003 07:59:45 AM new
Heres one ad I'm talking about 3405888164 The Seller Claims it retails for $349.00 I'm not saying anything about the shipping of $14.05. The true is this item cost me $5.90 if I buy 20 $5.31. The suggested retail is only $27.95 and it is NOT is put a laptop computer in, it is to small.It is just a tote bag not even a briefcase.
posted on March 19, 2003 08:15:41 AM new
You will find this in the jewelry categories too. Overinflated values for gemstones that are not worth what the seller claims to be "suggested retail value". Whether you agree with it or not, it's a form of marketing and stores have done it forever and a day.
Having said that, it is up to the consumer to be aware. Some will bid and think they got a bargain and they will go away happy. Others will find out afterwards what the real deal is and it will be a learning experience for them.
I doubt there is much you can do to stop this. It's a big world and we all compete with each other whether we think it's fair or not.
posted on March 19, 2003 08:42:56 AM new
.....What I am wondering about this post is how a person "takes over catagories, so no one else can sell the item"...I'd love to know how that's done so I can start making my first million...Seems to me a lower priced widget by someone else selling the same item would sell, regardless of the false statements by the seller that "took Over" the category...What am I missing here?
posted on March 19, 2003 12:02:51 PM new
I see nothing wrong with putting in the listing what something "actually" retails for, but think about it...don't you think that all those people reading those ads with huge mark-ups have an idea as to what the real cost is? I'd say that putting some overinflated retail cost in the listing is just making this person look a bit silly.
But as far as what others are charging for S/H costs, that's their business. It can only keep buyers from bidding on their widgets and go look for someone who charges less for S/H. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ask questions about shipping if it isn't in the listing "before" bidding, right?
posted on March 19, 2003 12:17:43 PM new
Does anyone remember Ginsu knives? Do you remember how wonderful they were and that they retailed for a high price but were available for a limited time only at this unbelievably low price? The truth is they bought those knives from retail outlet and were charging more for them on TV than you could get them yourself from the same retail outlet. Stores used to sell the five pack of Ivory soap for more than you could buy five individual bars but because they listed "5 bars for $x.xx" in big red bold letters in a newspaper ad, people bought them without bothering to check the price on the individual bars. What you're seeing in those auctions isn't anything new.
posted on March 20, 2003 12:31:33 PM new
Attorney General offices have been going after B&M operations for this for awhile ... I remember quite a few furniture stores got nailed for offering merchandise at a "sale price" that was actually the normal selling price. The only real change, though, is that we see advertisers putting "weasel words" in their ads to protect them: Prices shown reflect the additional savings. Original prices may not have resulted in actual sales. Intermediate markdowns may have been taken.
posted on March 20, 2003 12:52:42 PM new
There is a seller in the fotwear category that does the same thing.
She has titles like:
YELLOW BOX SHOES HEELS NEW $129.
The descripion will say something like:
These yellow box shoes retail for $129. You can get them for a fraction of the cost.
The most expensive WHOLESALE shoe price the company has ever offered is $35. NOTHING by that brand ever retails for more than $75, with most items being areound $39 retail.
The item she was describing was a pair of rubber soled, wedge, casual flip-flop thongs. Retail of $19.99.
She does this with other brands also. The yellow box ad just sticks out in my mind, because it was just a full on lie.
posted on March 23, 2003 01:36:01 PM new
IMO any customer that can't see thru the bs(sometimes called fluff or puffery) deserves what they get. What's the big deal?
