Trying to buy on eBay during Covid times-

[mattl]

Anyone trying to buy odds and end on ebay lately?  It's nuts. I'm trying to buy a remote control setup for my AV system.  For years I've been using a good solid dependable Harmony 670 remote.  Never an issue, still none, got half a dozen around the house for all my equipment.  But- I've accumulated a plethora of RF remotes for FireStick, Xfinity Flex box and so on, none function with an  IR remote, so I've got 4 remotes lying around, plus a few others for stuff rarely used.

 

Harmony also makes a universal RF/IR remote that has a base unit that integrates all the stuff plus lets me control house lighting and even integrates with my Amazon Alexa units.  For stuff like this  swore of buying new just looked for a good used one.  I've bid on easily 6 or 7 over that past week all got outbid.

 

I looked at items sold and in March they were going from the min $20-40, my price range, now that has easily doubled.  Thought about buying individual pieces and putting them together.  Base unit was going for a low as $4 a month ago, now $40.  I guess people are bored and want to use their stimulus money, like me.  I really didn't give it too much thought just got tired of juggling remotes.  Guess I'll wait it out.  Hope anyone selling here is making out well as the sellers I see on eBay.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> Hope anyone selling here is making out well as the sellers I see on eBay.

There are a ton of separate factors at play here...

Many people have lost their jobs, so while they previously would have been fine letting go of extra stuff they don't need for cheap, they might now be less willing to make deals, as those items have more potential value to them.

Another factor is that shipping logistics have changed. Obtaining boxes and packaging materials, taking items to the post office, etc, all involve trips to stores, handling things, and interactions with other people. If you are concerned about social distancing, or in a higher-risk group, you might not want any part of this process. So people may have pulled back from listing items online, and there is a change to the supply & demand equation from that. People may be leery of local sales as well (Craigslist, etc) for the same reasons.

I don't know about your area, but in mine, local prices seem to have gone up across the board. Antiques in particular are way out of line. I think it's just the wrong combination of people needing money, and at the same time weighing and balancing their own personal risks...

 

[mattl]

No, it's not the sellers that are raising prices, it's the folks bidding.  I'm after a high end remote, not something most people would even know about.

 

[sarahperdue]

Higher end products

It seems like most buyers of high end stuff just buy new. Many would never have considered buying used...until now.

The price perspective of people who have bought new is completely different from those of us who routinely buy used. I tend to think of the price of a used item in comparison to similar used items. A bargain when compared to new is outrageous to those of us who habitually buy used.

For example, I bought a Kate Spade bag at the thrift store for $10. I probably would not have paid much more. The resale value on eBay wasn’t that great, <$50, so I kept it. If I was a person who considered buying it new, $350 would be a bargain.

If I was accustomed to buying new, I’d probably shop at a department store or specialty shop, but now I’m stuck at home, upper middle class and bored. Now, I’m shopping online. eBay? Wow! What bargains!

Just speculation on my part,
Sarah

 

[lorainfurniture]

Probably a lot what Sarah said. I sell appliance parts so not exactly the type of thing people would buy on impulse yet my sales are up 30%.

It’s the stimulus money hands down. People can’t seem to just keep money in their bank. My appliance guy who delivers for one of the major appliance retailers pulled up to my shop mid route and I was floored to see half his truck was filled with big screen TVs. Like more than 20, none smaller than 55”

 

[gansky1]

Just try to find a bread machine right now, was perusing the stock at local stores, Target, Amazon, etc.  Even eBay is a bit thin and going for surprising bids.   Same with food freezers, going for ridiculous money on CL, out of stock at stores...

 

[sarahperdue]

Bread machine

Once you find your bread machine, good luck finding yeast. It’s another covid-19 panic shortage.

Sarah

 

[gizmo]

bread machines, eh?

I have a spare bread machine taking up space.
It was at the recycle shop, looked unused, has owners manual, cost me $5. A Breville.
I was attracted because it has a specific gluten free cycle, my older one I have to manually program a gluten free cycle.
But I don't like the new one - it bakes a tall fat loaf that makes huge slices, no good for gluten free bread.
Maybe I should turn it into cash???

No shortage of yeast here. And I have enough in the fridge for about a year any way.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I recently purchased a set of vintage Christmas lights. They were mailed out the next day. It took almost a month to be delivered from Pittsburgh by USPS. As for pricing, while some undoubtedly will raise prices out of desperation, the mere fact that so many have lost their jobs will force them to reconsider. I can't imagine anyone spending money on ebay when you've lost your job. Perhaps we will start seeing more realistic pricing on ebay and other sites.

 

As for yeast, Amazon has it again. With reasonable prices and delivery times.

 

[fan-of-fans]

overpriced

I love trolling eBay and spend too much time on there I'm sure. You can learn about so many things by looking at the pictures even if you don't buy. Lately though I have been on more because there isn't a lot else to do at the moment.

Prices on eBay have been high for a long time. I'm surprised at the things I look at like electronics, which I don't think anyone else would want, and yet they end up selling for high prices. Maybe I'm not the only one looking at them after all.

Another thing I've been annoyed at lately is sellers will doctor up the listings, by reducing the buy it now price by a substantial amount yet raise the shipping price. At first it looks like you're getting a better deal but they actually make it more expensive by a few dollars.

Even pre-virus I noticed some listings that sit for months actually get the prices increased over time. I don't get that, if an item isn't selling, maybe you've got it priced TOO high, so why raise the price even more?

 

[perc-o-prince]

Hey Cole,

It's sellers like you described that are the reason eBay began charging a final value fee on the shipping as well as the item purchase price. Sucks for those of us who charge actual shipping because it began costing me 10% of the shipping cost to ship, not to mention the +/- 3% PayPal takes. So on most things I've added a modest ($1-4) handling charge.

As for them raising prices on things that haven't sold, most of the time that's just silliness. However, in certain places in retail that's actually a valid ploy. If something seems to be priced to low, jewelry or a painting perhaps, a knowledgeable shopper may be wary to buy thinking it could be suspect. Raise the price and you've now made it more desirable (sometimes "snob appeal" works).

Chuck

 

[mattl]

As  I said I'm not finding the sellers raising prices, it's  the bidders going nuts. Shipping is going up I noticed.

 

[lorainfurniture]

Shipping has gone up by quite a bit. First class is now ranged from $2.78-5.04. Priority is $7+ for anything over 1lb. FedEx thankfully has actually lowered some of their options.

As a person who does a lot of selling on eBay, you have to understand the grind. The only people getting rich on eBay is eBay.

I just sold a broiler drawer for a stove on my website . $110. $5 goes to credit card, $5 worth of cardboard to box it. $78 f’n dollars to ship in two separate boxes. Took me an hour to box and I cleared $22. If I would have sold on eBay I would have likely lost money on that sale. I go to sleep at night hoping it doesn’t get returned.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Was at Aldi's today and there was half a pallet of flour in house.  I didn't buy any.

I'm fasting anyway so, but I wouldn't make my own bread.