High ebay prices only on newer stuff?
Tammy Major
While I can't speak specifically to photography related equipment, I can
tell you I've had excellent results using eBay for other items. I've
purchased about 30 items so far ranging in value from $5 to $300 and I've
only been "burned" once.
eBay is, IMHO, an honest service at a fair price. The seller pays a modest
commission while the buyer pays nothing more than the cost of the item (and
usually shipping). I would recommend, however, that you investigate an
escrow service for larger purchases. It's a small price to pay for piece of
mind.
The only thing that REALLY annoys me are the "FS:" ads that link back to an
eBay item posted to the newsgroups. Geez!
-Greg
Jeffrey C. Albro wrote in message <788non$h9j$1...@news3.tufts.edu>...
>
>I'm getting back into photography (some of you may recognize my name,
>I've been away for quite a while) and I'm looking for a small nikon manual
>focus camera (thinking fm, fe, fg series). It seems that the e-bay prices
>are pretty good for the older manual nikon stuff. Am I missing something?
>
>-Jeff
AllisonAndDerek
retail price....
Paul Coen
> Ive seen digital cameras sell on ebay (used) at about 30-40% above their
> retail price....
>
Some idiot just bought a long Minolta Maxxum remote release cable for
$80-$90 when it costs $30-$40 new if you go mail order. I can't say
I'm impressed by the quality of the bidders.
Jeffrey C. Albro
mey...@my-dejanews.com
item on ebay ends up overpriced (but I think most do). If you know what
something's worth, and can get a good deal at ebay, there's no reason to avoid
it.
Bob
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
AllisonAndDerek
the world is full of idiots.... 1/2 of them shop on ebay
Paul Coen wrote in message ...
teac...@my-dejanews.com
In article <qe7q91dKrTsE@forest>,
pc...@forest.drew.edu (Paul Coen) wrote:
> In article <788q0i$dm8$1...@newshost.cyberramp.net>, "AllisonAndDerek"
<der...@cyberramp.net> writes:
> > Ive seen digital cameras sell on ebay (used) at about 30-40% above their
> > retail price....
> >
>
> Some idiot just bought a long Minolta Maxxum remote release cable for
> $80-$90 when it costs $30-$40 new if you go mail order. I can't say
> I'm impressed by the quality of the bidders.
>
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
Dave Herzstein
say...<dereku@cybe
>rramp.net> writes:
>> Ive seen digital cameras sell on ebay (used) at about 30-40% above their
>> retail price....
>
>Some idiot just bought a long Minolta Maxxum remote release cable for
>$80-$90 when it costs $30-$40 new if you go mail order. I can't say
>I'm impressed by the quality of the bidders.
If you were selling, you'd think the the quality of the bidders
was very high! ;-)
--
Dave Herzstein
http://www.kjsl.com/~dave/index.html
KARL WOLZ
common sense goes by the wayside. But don't blame ebay, this happens at all
auctions. If you go in knowing what an item is worth, and stop bidding when
that value is reached, you won't get burned. No one but you is controlling
your bids, so it is impossible to blame anyone else for your own actions.
Karl
Dave Herzstein wrote in message <78a0mp$4k...@svlss.lmms.lmco.com>...
KARL WOLZ
high, but if you are looking for a more obscure item, you can get a good
deal.
mey...@my-dejanews.com wrote in message
<789rad$lou$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>In article <788non$h9j$1...@news3.tufts.edu>,
> jal...@allegro.cs.tufts.edu (Jeffrey C. Albro) wrote:
>>
>> I'm getting back into photography (some of you may recognize my name,
>> I've been away for quite a while) and I'm looking for a small nikon
manual
>> focus camera (thinking fm, fe, fg series). It seems that the e-bay
prices
>> are pretty good for the older manual nikon stuff. Am I missing
something?
>>
>> -Jeff
>>
>You need to do your research, and know what somethings worth. Not every
photo
>item on ebay ends up overpriced (but I think most do). If you know what
>something's worth, and can get a good deal at ebay, there's no reason to
avoid
>it.
>
>Bob
>
Bill Firestone
too high is a little tacky! We do not need price police in this country. It is the bidder that is
bidding too high not the seller trying to rip off the buyer. If a reserve is met and the high bid is
much higher it is not the sellers fault. Now the second high bidder found one elsewhere and and the
total sale is blown. What is your eBay handle?
Bill
Paul Coen wrote:
Joshua_Putnam
>Generally, if an item listed is something everyone wants, the price will be
>high, but if you are looking for a more obscure item, you can get a good
>deal.
I'm not sure if that's always true. There aren't all that many
people out there who want an Olympus Varimagnifinder, for
instance, but the last one I saw on Ebay went for $170+, when
they're under $150 new.
--
Jo...@WolfeNet.com is Joshua Putnam / P.O. Box 13220 / Burton, WA 98013
"My other bike is a car."
http://www.wolfenet.com/~josh/
Michael P. Kube-McDowell
<der...@cyberramp.net> wrote:
>I sware I just wanna slap 1/2 the people on top of the head and tell them:
>
>www.pricewatch.com
>
>the world is full of idiots.... 1/2 of them shop on ebay
Pricewatch doesn't seem to be much help on older equipment (stuff
that's not currently available outside of a used-equipment catalog).
Am I misremembering, or isn't there an Internet site that collects
online price data with a spider, rather than requiring sellers to
submit info?
Best,
K-Mac
Terry Danks
wrote:
> If you go in knowing what an item is worth, and stop bidding when
>that value is reached, you won't get burned.
No, you won't but too often you WILL be wasting your time. You will
"win" few auctions at ebay this way. At least that has been my
experience.
Nikon F2 bodies go for $159 to $289 at KEH. Place a bid for an F2
body at ebay of $289 and you are wasting your time. Also, the only
bidding that counts is the sniping that occurs in the race against the
clock during the last couple of minutes . . . very unlike a "real"
auction which is not time limited.
That is my conclusion on ebay . . . it is a waste of my time . . . but
I still play the game on occasion. Maybe I'll get a bargain yet.
Terry Danks
Nova Scotia
Canada
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/danksta/home.htm
Terry Danks
>eBay is a great place to SELL - not too good for buying!
>
Hey! That's MY line! ;>)
Terry Danks
wrote:
>Generally, if an item listed is something everyone wants, the price will be
>high, but if you are looking for a more obscure item, you can get a good
>deal.
>
Normally I am looking for Nikon gear and have had abysmal success at
ebay.
However I recently bid $10 for a used CD, I thought it was a high bid
on an obscure piece of old popular music. I was not high bidder. Seems
it is not just camera stuff that is high.
Kent Kressenberg
prices for junk or items which could be bought new for less on the one
hand, great difficulty in selling popular and reasonably-priced gear on
the other. Thee seems to be no rhyme or rhythm to this.
I recently listed a Mamiya (TLR) prism with an minimum bid of roughly
half the going prices, yet drew not one bid. I currently have a
late-model Canon 28mm lens on eBay, languishing for want of a $50 bid.
Quite puzzling given the ludicrous bids for other items.
Kent
Terry Danks wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Jan 1999 14:25:39 GMT, teac...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> >eBay is a great place to SELL - not too good for buying!
> >
> Hey! That's MY line! ;>)
Charles F Seyferlich
>
> On 22 Jan 1999 14:45:40 GMT, "KARL WOLZ" <wolz...@worldnet.att.net>
> wrote:
>
> > If you go in knowing what an item is worth, and stop bidding when
> >that value is reached, you won't get burned.
>
> No, you won't but too often you WILL be wasting your time. You will
> "win" few auctions at ebay this way. At least that has been my
> experience.
> Nikon F2 bodies go for $159 to $289 at KEH. Place a bid for an F2
> body at ebay of $289 and you are wasting your time. Also, the only
> bidding that counts is the sniping that occurs in the race against the
> clock during the last couple of minutes . . . very unlike a "real"
> auction which is not time limited.
> That is my conclusion on ebay . . . it is a waste of my time . . . but
> I still play the game on occasion. Maybe I'll get a bargain yet.
For what it is worth I did a search in eBay to see what F2's have been
selling for. The last ten sold:
F2 Black mint $404.00
F2 $271.00
F2AS Black $449.44
F2 w/50 f1.4 $330.00
F2 outfit, black, w/interval timer $626.00
F2 w/nik bag $392.00
F2 no finder, ugly $93.00
F2 w/50 f2 $250.00
F2 and lens $275.00
F2 body $175.00
Info is from subject line only. I did not check each to see if some did
not meet reserve.
Prices I find high, on eBay and dealers alike, is the Nikon F. An
Apollo, black with plain prism - forget it. F3's seem to be relative
bargins.
Gary Warren
either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at least 30%
below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few other
responses that I had were lowball offers. I put the items on ebay and they
sold for at least what I was asking here.
Unless buyers on this newsgroup get realistic, everyone will be selling on
e-bay
Gary Warren
AllisonAndDerek wrote:
> I sware I just wanna slap 1/2 the people on top of the head and tell them:
>
> www.pricewatch.com
>
> the world is full of idiots.... 1/2 of them shop on ebay
> Paul Coen wrote in message ...
> >In article <788q0i$dm8$1...@newshost.cyberramp.net>, "AllisonAndDerek"
> <der...@cyberramp.net> writes:
> >> Ive seen digital cameras sell on ebay (used) at about 30-40% above their
> >> retail price....
> >>
> >
> >Some idiot just bought a long Minolta Maxxum remote release cable for
> >$80-$90 when it costs $30-$40 new if you go mail order. I can't say
> >I'm impressed by the quality of the bidders.
I can't say that I'm impressed with the quality of buyers on this newsgroup,
either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at least 30%
below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few other
responses that I had were lowball offers. I put the items on ebay and they
sold for at least what I was asking here.
Unless buyers on this newsgroup get realistic, everyone will be selling on
e-bay -- fact of life.
Gary Warren
Steve
> You have a very different audience here than you do on Ebay.
>
No, you don't. We eBay'ers tend to keep quiet because we will get
blasted by all of you wise non-eBay'ers.
I like eBay. I have sold stuff there, I have bought stuff there. I 've
bought a FEW things thru this newsgroup, a lens, and a lot of film. But
not much more than that.
Steve
Greg Finn
>
> I can't say that I'm impressed with the quality of buyers on this newsgroup,
> either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at least 30%
> below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few other
> responses that I had were lowball offers. I put the items on ebay and they
> sold for at least what I was asking here.
> Unless buyers on this newsgroup get realistic, everyone will be selling on
> e-bay
> Gary Warren
As one who has purchased several items here at below dealer prices, you
apparently weren't offering something that people here wanted.
As far as EBay is concerned, I just purchased via newsgroup a piece in
M condition for $200 less than precisely the same in VG condition on
EBay that hasn't even yet finished its auction.
EBay is an auction house for the masses and there are a lot of people
out there who do not know the current street price for what they are
bidding. Mark you, that's a good thing for sellers, but it's a bad
thing for buyers.
For the moment, I consider EBay to be a wierd, inefficient market and
stay away from it. I can find much better prices via specialty
classifieds or Shutterbug. You need patience though.
Steve
>
> On Fri, 22 Jan 1999 18:51:55 -0600, Steve <cam...@alloymail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Joshua_Putnam wrote:
> >> You have a very different audience here than you do on Ebay.
> >>
> >
> >No, you don't. We eBay'ers tend to keep quiet because we will get
> >blasted by all of you wise non-eBay'ers.
>
> Funny, I thought is was we whiny ebay-bashers that were persecuted by
> you wise ebayers who find such bargains ;>)
My daddy can beat up your Daddy!
Joshua_Putnam
>I can't say that I'm impressed with the quality of buyers on this newsgroup,
>either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at least 30%
>below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few other
>responses that I had were lowball offers.
You may be offering 30% below what dealers are asking, but how
does it compare to what people would pay at a swap meet or after
negotiating with a dealer, rather than paying the asking price?
You have a very different audience here than you do on Ebay.
Terry Danks
wrote:
>Joshua_Putnam wrote:
>> You have a very different audience here than you do on Ebay.
>>
>
rich garrett
ripped off on ebay paying more
than new cost for items, and I have certainly seen it happen.
no one has mentioned the poor guy who lists something forsale here on
r.p.m for WAY less than
market value, and the item gets scarfed up quickly. his lack of
knowlege hurts the sellor, and benefits
the buyer. Over the last years that I have been reading this news group
I have seen lots of
items offered at extreemly low prices. but never heard any criticism.
my one gripe on this group, is that everytime I put something for sale,
some bottom dweller comes up
with an offer that is truely insulting. I had a Nikon 80-200 AF 2.8
listed here and someone had
the b**ls to make an offer of $250. been watching too many of the get
rich real estate videos!
ebay and this news group are different approaches to buying/selling.
ebay is certainly a better
place to sell, than to buy. but there are bargains there. you just
need some disipline in bidding.
It takes TWO bidders to get the price up. likewise if there is only ONE
bidder the price will stay
low.
this newsgroup is a better place to buy.
as in all internet buying - caveat emptor.
rich
skgrimes
and picks up the Diana camera for $30.00 or the 4X5 camera with Dagor lens
for $250.00 there are maybe a dozen on the same newsgroup who would have
paid more for either item. These did *not* get a bargain on this newsgroup,
this time.
People only seem to complain that high prices (in the case of eBay not
commanded, but bid) are "rip-offs" The sharp trader who takes the
opportunity afforded by a naive seller is, for some reason, not subject to
the same moral criticism for a low price and even gets to brag it around to
his friends. "I got this Retina from a little old widow at a yard sale for
only $5.00........."
--
--- S.K. Grimes -- Feinmechanik ----
--Machine work for photographers
--Lenses fitted to shutters, iris scales engraved
http://www.skgrimes.com
(updated 1-16-99)
Greg Finn wrote in message <6wr9smx...@jug.isi.edu>...
>Gary Warren <ga...@gwtc.net> writes:
>
>>
>> I can't say that I'm impressed with the quality of buyers on this
newsgroup,
>> either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at
least 30%
>> below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few
other
Terry Danks
wrote:
>
>no one has mentioned the poor guy who lists something forsale here on
>r.p.m for WAY less than
>market value, and the item gets scarfed up quickly. [snip]
>I have seen lots of
>items offered at extreemly low prices. but never heard any criticism.
>
Well, I obviously still cruise this NG. However I was offered a used
Nikon PN-11 in response to my WTB post for a price greater than the
cost of a new one at Adorama and B&H. It was my first attempt to buy
from rpm and was a turn off for sure. I am leery of the group and the
"BEWARE OF SO & SO" posts hurt too. Buying used gear is a minefield I
guess, at ebay or rpm.
While I have yet to be "stung" buying used gear, I have not received
any "windfalls" either. I suppose that is as it should be. By and
large I prefer KEH for used stuff . . . no jpegs though.
Steve
>
> But, for the one guy on the newsgroups who is on the ball at the right time
> and picks up the Diana camera for $30.00 or the 4X5 camera with Dagor lens
> for $250.00 there are maybe a dozen on the same newsgroup who would have
> paid more for either item. These did *not* get a bargain on this newsgroup,
> this time.
>
> People only seem to complain that high prices (in the case of eBay not
> commanded, but bid) are "rip-offs" The sharp trader who takes the
> opportunity afforded by a naive seller is, for some reason, not subject to
> the same moral criticism for a low price and even gets to brag it around to
> his friends. "I got this Retina from a little old widow at a yard sale for
> only $5.00........."
>
> --
> --- S.K. Grimes -- Feinmechanik ----
>
It's that old Communist/Liberal Democrat idea that businesses (sellers)
are inherently evil and buyers/customers/workers are morally perfect.
No one seems to complain that business have to pay more for electricity,
water, gas, garbage pickup, and telephone service than homeowners do.
Now why is this? Because all of these things were voted for by either
the 95% of the population that does not own a business, or by
polititions who are trying to please that 95%. The other 5%, the
business owners, complain mightily, but to no avail - why, we business
people are rich and evil, and deserve to pay more! (never mind that the
average customer that walks into my shop makes more money than I do).
So, who, or what, determines the value of an object? The seller? The
buyer? Nosey people who get in the middle of a deal and proclaim the
seller is ripping off the buyer, merely because he heard that the
merchandise in question sold for less elswhere?
Personally, I only buy an object if I can make money with it. For
instance, I bought my truck to use in my business. If I buy a camera, I
will use it to make money (directly by making photos to sell, and
indirectly by using photograpy to promote my other business).
In conclusion, an object for sale is overpriced only if you cannot
afford to pay for it, and/or have no use for it. If you can't afford it,
but know that it is what you need for practical purpose, get a temp job
at night for a few weeks (it's what I did to buy my first med format
cameras - I delivered pizza!).
Stop bitchin' and start doin' .
Steve
MikeDi1123
>the world is full of idiots.... 1/2 of them shop on ebay
>Paul Coen wrote in message ...
>>In article <788q0i$dm8$1...@newshost.cyberramp.net>, "AllisonAndDerek"
><der...@cyberramp.net> writes:
>>> Ive seen digital cameras sell on ebay (used) at about 30-40% above their
>>> retail price....
>>>
>>
>>Some idiot just bought a long Minolta Maxxum remote release cable for
>>$80-$90 when it costs $30-$40 new if you go mail order. I can't say
>>I'm impressed by the quality of the bidders.
>
>
well if you dont know what the prices are on what you're bidding on
first then if you pay
more than it's worth your a fool those who think
this is the rule haven't been here long, AND
you should be smart enough not to over bid yourself.
mike
feedback welcome
skgrimes
automatically equate with naivete or stupidity. You can get some real
bargains on marketplace newsgroup if you are patient and skillful at being
the first to respond and follow thru on an item. But suppose you are not,
or find the time and effort needed inconvenient.
On eBay you can simply bid high to get the item (sometimes rare, sometimes
merely inconvenient to obtain.) To some perfectly rational people paying
$100.00 for an item which with skill and patience can be obtained for $50.00
is not an exercise in stupidity but merely a direct and efficient path from
"I want it" to "I have it"
Some of these people are able to spend the time that it would have taken to
save the $50.00 to earn the $50.00 difference (or even $100.00 or $10,000 in
cases of very effective and high functioning ones) in some other line of
endeavor, be it photography, overtime at a good union job, or whatever.
This explains the private little smile that the guy who has what he wanted,
merely by paying an extra $50.00 has when he is accused of naivete or
stupidity.
--- S.K. Grimes -- Feinmechanik ----
--Machine work for photographers
--Lenses fitted to shutters, iris scales engraved
http://www.skgrimes.com
(updated 1-16-99)
MikeDi1123 wrote in message
<19990124110907...@ng-cd1.aol.com>...
g3a5...@coastalnet.com
I still play the game on occasion. Maybe I'll get a bargain yet.>>
On the other hand, maybe we should be selling instead of buying.
Richard
RA Friedman
RAF
mgreg
here and had only pitiful offers trying to steal the equipment. I did sell a
Yashicamat 124G here and it went well but I see more complaining than actual
bidding, and do not forget the self appointed price police here whose want in life
is to inform everyone how knowledgeable they are about prices. Damn, wish they
would get off their wallets and bid rather than criticize other sales
organization, prices, and sellers and bidders.
Mel Gregory
Gary Warren wrote:
> I can't say that I'm impressed with the quality of buyers on this newsgroup,
> either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at least 30%
> below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few other
> responses that I had were lowball offers. I put the items on ebay and they
> sold for at least what I was asking here.
> Unless buyers on this newsgroup get realistic, everyone will be selling on
> e-bay
> Gary Warren
>
> AllisonAndDerek wrote:
>
> > I sware I just wanna slap 1/2 the people on top of the head and tell them:
> >
> > www.pricewatch.com
> >
> > the world is full of idiots.... 1/2 of them shop on ebay
> > Paul Coen wrote in message ...
> > >In article <788q0i$dm8$1...@newshost.cyberramp.net>, "AllisonAndDerek"
> > <der...@cyberramp.net> writes:
> > >> Ive seen digital cameras sell on ebay (used) at about 30-40% above their
> > >> retail price....
> > >>
> > >
> > >Some idiot just bought a long Minolta Maxxum remote release cable for
> > >$80-$90 when it costs $30-$40 new if you go mail order. I can't say
> > >I'm impressed by the quality of the bidders.
>
> I can't say that I'm impressed with the quality of buyers on this newsgroup,
> either. I've advertised several items on this newsgroup at prices at least 30%
> below what dealers are asking and only had one real response. The few other
> responses that I had were lowball offers. I put the items on ebay and they
> sold for at least what I was asking here.
> Unless buyers on this newsgroup get realistic, everyone will be selling on
Terry Danks
>[snip]and do not forget the self appointed price police here whose want in life
>is to inform everyone how knowledgeable they are about prices. Damn, wish they
>would get off their wallets and bid rather than criticize other sales
>organization, prices, and sellers and bidders.
>Mel Gregory
What's to fear from the "price police" Mel?
bpf...@worldnet.att.net
>
> Amen to what Mr. Warren has written. I have listed Nikon equipment at >fair prices here and had only pitiful offers trying to steal the >equipment.
Isn't that the meaning of a marketplace buyerr's and seller's make
offers and if there is a meeting of the minds a sale is negotiated. I've
had WTB:'s on and it's been months before a reader came along to offer
the item.
If you don't like the NG don't use it. Pretty straight forward.