Why do eBay users pay above the odds ??

[RMCF]

As someone who generally would have a look at eBay each day, this sort of stuff baffles me:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Feeder-The-Sin...QQcmdZViewItem

A copy of Feeder's 'The Singles' CD.
Currently at £9.50 with 10 bids. Postage is £1.35. Still nearly 10hrs to go.

You can buy it online at these prices, all with free delivery:
BangCD - £8.49
Play - £8.95
CD-Wow - £8.75

One born every minute - well more than one - more like loads!!

[Drew2]

Why do eBay users pay above the odds ??

Because most don't realise an auction is for buying something for the cheapest price! If you don't get it this time then buy the next one!!

There seems to be a very high "your not getting it" mentality on Ebay that seriously ...... me off! Which of course if your a seller is wonderful!

[RMCF]

I used to feel sorry for some of them, and emailed some privately to let them know where they could get CDs, memory cards etc much cheaper than they were willing to pay.

However, you are unable to do this too much now on eBay because they know if you are involved in an auction with someone and block you sending emails to people who you have no dealings with.

The sellers would have killed me!!

[Oblomov]

I have tried to buy a wide variety of items on ebay, value anything from £3 to £3000 and only ever bought one thing, a pirate copy of a BMW Satellite navigation CD. That says it all.

People who buy on ebay have more money than sense. People who sell on ebay have more money than morals.

[TeeDoubleUDee]

I agree. When I was looking to buy some DVDs earlier this year, I couldn't beleive people were paying well over the odds for second hand disks + P&P when they could have bought new from reputable dealers for a few quid cheaper.

However, don't knock eBay - I have bought some real bargains - just spend time doing your homework re pricing and check out the seller's feedback. I've just put my first item up for sale, next is a pair of Mission 780 Rosewood speakers - any takers?

[overkill]

Agree with the bulk of the above. Fleabay used to be great for picking up bargains, PC gear, hifi, CD's, albums even musical equipment. Nowadays the 'sunday ebayers' are on every day and prices have rocketed. It's worse than the housing market!

Trouble is most are too lazy to check 2nd hand values for hifi or PC gear, or new prices for CD's etc. Like someone above I used to e-mail people telling them they'd should try checking out xyz site instead, but just gave up on it after a while.

Its great for sellers, but increasingly naff for the buyer.

[signs]

Originally Posted by SOK

As someone who generally would have a look at eBay each day, this sort of stuff baffles me:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Feeder-The-Sin...QQcmdZViewItem

A copy of Feeder's 'The Singles' CD.
Currently at £9.50 with 10 bids. Postage is £1.35. Still nearly 10hrs to go.

You can buy it online at these prices, all with free delivery:
BangCD - £8.49
Play - £8.95
CD-Wow - £8.75

One born every minute - well more than one - more like loads!!

hey if the guy/gal is willing to pay £9.50 for feeder(poythene..being the only decent album they have done imo) they deserve to get ripped off

[per-Sony-fied]

Originally Posted by SOK

One born every minute - well more than one - more like loads!!

I guess you can count me in!

I've bought a few items from fleabay that could've been bought a little cheaper elsewhere had I done some more research beforehand. I suppose you could kinda call it impulsive knowing what the average price of items are and therefore bid on that basis.

Not to unhappy about it tho' as only a few quid outta pocket.

[mjn]

I think people, just get caught up in the bidding.

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by Oblomov

People who buy on ebay have more money than sense.

I think that's a grossly unfair generalisation. I often pick up CDs for a fraction of the price at amazon, cdwow etc. Also video games for my lads often at 50% of the likes of amazon, play etc.

As long as you check out the "going rate" beforehand and not get carried away you can pick up some real bargains off ebay. That said I probably only pickup one in 20 of the items I track. Many do go for stupid prices.

Best bargain was a £600 laserdisc player I bought for my brother for less than £50. Arrived boxed, mint, with the orig receipt. Built like a tank, plays like a dream, and considering he was quoted £200 to fix his old (and much inferior) player he was well chuffed.

Last thing I bought was a 1Gb Sony memory stick for £25. And a leather sony cybershot camera case which was £20-£25 cheapest, £12 on ebay.

[The_kUrGaN]

eBay can be very beneficial if used correctly. However, in the hands of Muppets it can also be quite hillarious/infuriating. Some punters do get caught up in the bidding, and a 'refusal to be beaten' attitude. Others blindly think that just because they are buying on eBay that it has to be cheaper and therefore a bargain, no matter what the price.

As has been said, a simple bit of research before and during bidding will give you your scope for obtaining a true bargain !

[bigphilm]

I think the problem with eBay now is that it is a mainstream brand know even by not internet users so you get people "browsing" who have no idea of the true value of things.

I have used eBay quite a lot as a buyer ( but less recently ) and a couple of times as a seller and while the prices have generally increased there are still bargains to be had (just got a Gameboy Advance SP + 4 games for £40)

I am just glad there are people out there that are willing to pay £100 for a second hand iPod 4Gb

Phil

[per-Sony-fied]

To get this thread back on track. I find eBay very worthwhile for the more rare/quality recordings. I'm amazed at how many people wanna move on their Mobile fidelity discs, in particular the now obsolete vinyl variant. At the right price thats fine by me
Picked up quite a few decent recordings on JVC's XRCD label which normally would be hard to find if not impossible in the UK. Cheaper of course than the normal UK or US outlets (average selling price of XRCD).

Although I have tracked several music discs and been astonished at some of their final value fees. MFSL and Nimbus Vinyl reaching circa £60 - £80

Their was a Original, 1st pressing (sought after) Pink Floyd LP (DSOTM) that went for an astonishing £750!!! A few weeks later same label/pressing went for £450!! You do the maths.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by per-Sony-fied

To get this thread back on track. I find eBay very worthwhile for the more rare/quality recordings. I'm amazed at how many people wanna move on their Mobile fidelity discs, in particular the now obsolete vinyl variant. At the right price thats fine by me
Picked up quite a few decent recordings on JVC's XRCD label which normally would be hard to find if not impossible in the UK. Cheaper of course than the normal UK or US outlets (average selling price of XRCD).

Although I have tracked several music discs and been astonished at some of their final value fees. MFSL and Nimbus Vinyl reaching circa £60 - £80

Their was a Original, 1st pressing (sought after) Pink Floyd LP (DSOTM) that went for an astonishing £750!!! A few weeks later same label/pressing went for £450!! You do the maths.

That's just the problem though! A few years back you could pick up MFSL recordings in mint to excellent nick for under £20. In the latest batch some went for over £70-£100!

I saw that DSOM as well! Now they are all advertising the solid label with "one of these went for £750 the other day".

I agree ebay may be the only place you can find these recordings now, but sadly the lack of nous (or self control) means they now go for way over the odds. Great if you're a seller, crap if you aren't.

[per-Sony-fied]

Originally Posted by overkill

That's just the problem though! A few years back you could pick up MFSL recordings in mint to excellent nick for under £20. In the latest batch some went for over £70-£100!

Yep this is a ridiculous state of affairs for used vinyl. While I have a fair record collection and some rather rare pressings I'm more than reluctant to part with them just for the dosh. Nice to know tho' that Vinyl of the correct ilk has a decent value.

With some patience and careful selection of auctions I managed to pick up a near mint copy (The cover is so shiny) of DSOTM on MFSL for a total inclusive price of £34 from the states. Considering the value of sealed or somy more tatty versions go for, I thought I'd done well. I'm sure if MFSL was still producing vinyl the new price would be very comparable. I guess tho' as time goes by these type of pressings become even harder to come by, it is of no surprise that value will rise for good examples.

I can now compare my long loved Jap version to the MOFI one

I agree ebay may be the only place you can find these recordings now, but sadly the lack of nous (or self control) means they now go for way over the odds. Great if you're a seller, crap if you aren't.

Well there are a few other places like Vivante and EIL I know of but both places are not the cheapest for Mint prestigous recordings.

I'm still wondering whether anyone will click Buyitnow for the Nimbus Sergeant peppers album