Holy freakin' ripoff batman!

classiccues said:
Be warned the pitfalls are many...

Reserves are tough because it is an imaginary number (unverifiable).. better off starting the bid within reason of your reserve.

Shill bidding.. you have to maintain an honor system, no bidding under another screen name or having friends "bump" it.. that is what makes auctioning tough.

Good luck.

JV
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You make valid points Joe. I know that I will be honest as the seller and not have friends shill bid etc and I will honor my "secret reserve" as well. :thumbup:

Im not sure how tough it would be but the idea of AZ offering an auction section is a great idea. It could also provide the forum with an income stream for future upgrades etc. It would be nice if they did it with low selling costs as well. Something like a flat $20 to run the auction if the item sells. The good think is we already have somewhat of a feedback system in place.
 
Monstermash said:
So I listed a few cues on eBay last week and a few of them sold. I just went to realist one and saw that my current balance due was over $160! The cues sold for a combined $1450 and I have to give eBay that much?

Well that prompted me to look at the current selling schedule and low and behold, they get a WOPPING 9% for a final value fee now. That's just a f*cking ripoff.

Oh well, I guess t hey just lost another seller because after this I'm not doing anymore selling.
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I sold a Joss West for around $2500.00 for a friend on ebay. The same cue was for sale locally for a year and he couldn't get a $1000.00 for it. Ebay gives you access to a world market that can be done no other way. Even if you use one of the brokers on this website that sells cues they charge you about 10%. I am sorry, things are not free and ebay is a very valuable tool that is hard to beat. The fact that you didn't even bother to check the fees is your fault. What did you think, it was free. I would be curious to see these cues you sold and see if you got top dollar for them or could have gotten more in your local pool room. Can you post the auctions?
 
same here

I as well have sold a few things on (ebag) customer service not much help, takes forever to get someone on the horn, about 30 min. wait. You have to sell so cheap and as it was stated the fees are way to high and then pay pal takes there cut. I am about ready to unplug anything that
is a rip off. What happened to the old school ways when things was not so complicated. jmo take care john
 
macguy said:
I sold a Joss West for around $2500.00 for a friend on ebay. The same cue was for sale locally for a year and he couldn't get a $1000.00 for it. Ebay gives you access to a world market that can be done no other way. Even if you use one of the brokers on this website that sells cues they charge you about 10%. I am sorry, things are not free and ebay is a very valuable tool that is hard to beat. The fact that you didn't even bother to check the fees is your fault. What did you think, it was free. I would be curious to see these cues you sold and see if you got top dollar for them or could have gotten more in your local pool room. Can you post the auctions?
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I sold two PFD's that were valued at around $1500 ea. I sold one for $700 and the other for $750. Not exactly worth the $160 I now have to pay Ebay.

It's not that I didn't bother to check to fees. I have sold a ton on Ebay in the past and the fees were no where near this much. I'm pretty sure they have gone up quite a bit recently.
 
9% :eek: Maybe they've decided they have time only for sellers with large online stores.

After not having used eBay in over a year, I was about to list a couple of things. Oh well, plan B.
 
trob said:
Hence why I now use craiglist to buy and sell. No fees. No shipping. Less of a chance of being ripped off. We meet at a public spot. Check out the merchandise. You exchange...shake hands and go on your way. No fees... No bullshit!
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Until somebody rapes you, kills you, hacks up your body and then dumps it in the wetlands.
 
Ebay fees are no doubt too high and they are always finding new ways to get more of your cash. Not sure which is better... 15% seller fees...or the chance of getting knocked in the head and robbed from craigslist. When I sell something on Craigslist...I always pack heat.
 
Monstermash said:
I sold two PFD's that were valued at around $1500 ea. I sold one for $700 and the other for $750. Not exactly worth the $160 I now have to pay Ebay.

It's not that I didn't bother to check to fees. I have sold a ton on Ebay in the past and the fees were no where near this much. I'm pretty sure they have gone up quite a bit recently.
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If they were worth that much then why did you sell them so cheap? You should have just taken them to the local pool room and sold them of posted them on here. The truth is, what you got was probably all they were worth. The value of something is what a willing buyer will pay. The rates on ebay have not gone up in ages. They did just had to change the policy and are charging on the whole sale including the shipping. that was due to people selling things for $.99 with $15.00 or $20.00 shipping to avoid the fees. One seller who posts on this board by the way, was selling SP's for $9.99 with $60.00 shipping. I have to ask again, why didn't you sell the cues on AZ?

I looks like you have only sold 41 things on ebay in the last 8 years not exactly a ton. I just looked at your ad's for the cues and your pictures were bad, your description makes it sound like you need to get rid of them. Plus you listed the two cues at the same time making them compete with each other. You did not present them as anything special, if anything you cheapened them when you say;

"PFD Studios it would cost you around $1500 but my reserve is much less than that so here's a chance to grab a great deal".

You didn't even tell them who PFD Studios is. Half you ad should have been a profile of the cue maker that is what determines the cues value the maker. Don't assume they have any idea who PFD is. You told them to bid low you didn't care if they sell cheap and they did. The short 5 day auctions also killed you and you had them ending after midnight eastern time possibly eliminating a few last minute bids. Either way they met your reserve so you should be happy. Listed correctly for the right period of time with killer pictures and a decent description they would have done much better I am sure or the heck with it, you don't sell them if no one wants to pay the price. Your ad said in effect, I need the money and I am selling cues cheap from my collection and that brought out the bargain hunters. Also reserve auctions turn people off and they don't even follow the auction or bid. Just tell them what you want as a starting price, you started them at $1.00, now people have to guess what you want. I just noticed your "No Return Policy". That is a huge red flag and is a deal breaker for a lot of people plus your low seller feedbacks and you haven't sold anything in months and when you go to the sellers feed backs page you have that negative glaring at you just a half a dozen sales down.
 
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macguy said:
If they were worth that much then why did you sell them so cheap? You should have just taken them to the local pool room and sold them of posted them on here. The truth is, what you got was probably all they were worth. The value of something is what a willing buyer will pay. The rates on ebay have not gone up in ages. They did just had to change the policy and are charging on the whole sale including the shipping. that was due to people selling things for $.99 with $15.00 or $20.00 shipping to avoid the fees. One seller who posts on this board by the way, was selling SP's for $9.99 with $60.00 shipping. I have to ask again, why didn't you sell the cues on AZ?

I looks like you have only sold 41 things on ebay in the last 8 years not exactly a ton. I just looked at your ad's for the cues and your pictures were bad, your description makes it sound like you need to get rid of them. Plus you listed the two cues at the same time making them compete with each other. You did not present them as anything special, if anything you cheapened them when you say;

"PFD Studios it would cost you around $1500 but my reserve is much less than that so here's a chance to grab a great deal".

You didn't even tell them who PFD Studios is. Half you ad should have been a profile of the cue maker that is what determines the cues value the maker. Don't assume they have any idea who PFD is. You told them to bid low you didn't care if they sell cheap and they did. The short 5 day auctions also killed you and you had them ending after midnight eastern time possibly eliminating a few last minute bids. Either way they met your reserve so you should be happy. Listed correctly for the right period of time with killer pictures and a decent description they would have done much better I am sure or the heck with it, you don't sell them if no one wants to pay the price. Your ad said in effect, I need the money and I am selling cues cheap from my collection and that brought out the bargain hunters. Also reserve auctions turn people off and they don't even follow the auction or bid. Just tell them what you want as a starting price, you started them at $1.00, now people have to guess what you want. I just noticed your "No Return Policy". That is a huge red flag and is a deal breaker for a lot of people plus your low seller feedbacks and you haven't sold anything in months and when you go to the sellers feed backs page you have that negative glaring at you just a half a dozen sales down.
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As this poster stated it is CRUCIAL to end auctions at a reasonable day and hour. I do 9:30 PM EST on Sunday. That 6:30 PM on the west coast. Most Ebay bidding wars occur in the final minutes with several buyers competing at the close. Some of my cheapest purchases for Ebay required me to set a 3 am alarm and be the only bidder. Midday end times are just as bad, as most people can't bid from the workplaces.
 
master9baller said:
As this poster stated it is CRUCIAL to end auctions at a reasonable day and hour. I do 9:30 PM EST on Sunday. That 6:30 PM on the west coast. Most Ebay bidding wars occur in the final minutes with several buyers competing at the close. Some of my cheapest purchases for Ebay required me to set a 3 am alarm and be the only bidder. Midday end times are just as bad, as most people can't bid from the workplaces.
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Although with the growing popularity of smart phones, now you can bid anywhere! I'm at work right now posting this from my Droid2. The mid day hours are going to be better for the sellers now. :thumbup:

Joe
 
snipershot said:
Although with the growing popularity of smart phones, now you can bid anywhere! I'm at work right now posting this from my Droid2. The mid day hours are going to be better for the sellers now. :thumbup:

Joe
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But why take the worst of it when you don't have to. Who knows, the two guys who may have run up the price are a doctor and a dentist who can't just sit there trying to sniper bid. In fact anything I have sold that really went up was due to only two or three bidders even if 400 people have looked at it. If either of them was unable to bid the price may have been half and someone gets a bargain. Not long ago I sold a bow I got at a garage sale for $2.00. Only three guys ever bid on it and in the last 15 minutes it went from $110.00, (That I was already ecstatic about), to $270. by just two bidders. If you click on advanced search and completed auctions it can be really strange. You will see an item sold for $35.00 and another auction only a few days earlier sold for a $120.00, THE EXACT SAME ITEM. It's a game and you want to give yourself the best odds.
 
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master9baller said:
That's Ebay's 8% plus Paypal's 3%.
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There is also the ebay listing fee. The amount depends on the catagory and the number of photos used in the listing... and... the time of the month that you list your item. It's minimal but still a fee that has to be paid along with the final value fee and the paypal fee.
 
master9baller said:
As this poster stated it is CRUCIAL to end auctions at a reasonable day and hour. I do 9:30 PM EST on Sunday. That 6:30 PM on the west coast. Most Ebay bidding wars occur in the final minutes with several buyers competing at the close. Some of my cheapest purchases for Ebay required me to set a 3 am alarm and be the only bidder. Midday end times are just as bad, as most people can't bid from the workplaces.
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I've found it's best to have my auctions end in the evening before 10pm. However buyers can put in their maximum bid at any time and forgetaboutit.
 
classiccues said:
Be warned the pitfalls are many...

Reserves are tough because it is an imaginary number (unverifiable).. better off starting the bid within reason of your reserve.

Shill bidding.. you have to maintain an honor system, no bidding under another screen name or having friends "bump" it.. that is what makes auctioning tough.

Good luck.

JV
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ebay has too many shill bidding auctions. i wont touch ebay for sure.

no reserve auctions either seller pull it down if price is still too low nearing the last day or shill bidding by another member.
 
Bigjohn said:
Ebay fees are no doubt too high and they are always finding new ways to get more of your cash. Not sure which is better... 15% seller fees...or the chance of getting knocked in the head and robbed from craigslist. When I sell something on Craigslist...I always pack heat.
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You know, you don't have to meet someone only craigslist to make a sale. If it is smaller items they can be shipped just like with ebay... Just wait for the payment and ship. The buyer is at more of a disadvantage, but that's what paying by debit card is for...

I use Craigslist search engines and look hundreds of miles away sometimes...
 
Bigjohn said:
Ebay needs some competition. They get you coming and going, and down the road. All fees are paid by the seller. By the time you pay the... listing fee... final value fee...and paypal fee, you are looking at about 15%. This is Highway Robbery and ebay needs to be taught a lesson.:(
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The best bet I see now is eBid. They have a one time fee and nothing afterwards. I don't understand with the way ebay is now that they don't have more listings. Support other auction sites and ebay will change when they see some real competition.
 
flyvirginiaguy said:
You know, you don't have to meet someone only craigslist to make a sale. If it is smaller items they can be shipped just like with ebay... Just wait for the payment and ship. The buyer is at more of a disadvantage, but that's what paying by debit card is for...

I use Craigslist search engines and look hundreds of miles away sometimes...
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Where is the buyers protection in this? Most CL sellers are individuals looking for cash, not credit cards for payment. Are you going to mail someone a money order 2 states over and hope they send the item... not me brother. Good Luck!
 
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