BLATANT FEE AVOIDANCE !!

[shoplineca]

There is hardly any room to post a legitimate item for sale on eBay in my categories any longer and I honestly dont understand why eBay allows these rip-off sellers to continue to whore eBay.

For sale on eBay.ca with BIN from $4.35 Cdn to $12.41 Cdn are acoustic guitars including gig bag, extra set of strings, strap, tuning pipe and pic. The same items for sale from several different US Sellers with almost identical TOS and descriptions so I am assuming they are selling out of a Drop Ship warehouse.

I get instruments in direct from several countries in 40' containers, dealing directly with the manufacturers and the cheapest gig bag and cheapest set of strings, tuning pipe and guitar strap will cost me more than $15 Cdn and these guys are including the guitars as well.

Their shipping charges are between $39.99 USD and $47.99 USD to Canada, insured via UPS ground service so it is apparent that they have at least doubled the shipping costs to cover the instrument costs.

There are about 3-4 of these ads for every 1 legitimate ad now so, like computers with people selling information on how to get an inexpensive computer, my categories are strating to get totally bogged down in people inflating shipping prices to advertise cheap items and avoid paying eBay their fees.

I guess it doesnt bother eBay too much as they get full fees paid through the PayPal payments where they collect on shipping as well.

Its really going to the dogs. OK I am off my soap box now!

Malcolm

[ospreylinks]

Again, I blame Ebay Malcolm. When selling and listing fees are fair, most are willing to pay.

When they become loopy.... just like taxes we all look for methods of avoidance.

Jeff

[shoplineca]

Jeff
Its like a low end MacGreggor set of clubs for sale on eBay for $39.99 including the golf bag, Ts, a dozen golf balls, ball marker, towel and golf cart with $89 for shipping.

You and I both know that on your best day you couldnt supply the gold bag, golf balls, Ts, marker, towel and cart for $39 let alone a full set of clubs.

You are darn right I blame eBay because these bums are listing 10 times the amount of times as anyone else and PayPal is collecting on shipping and the end price.

Is this what is referred to as creative marketing? No, its what is referred to as a scam, fully supported by eBay in direct competition with legitimate sellers.

Malcolm

[coastwindchimes]

This is a serious problem, and it's turning eBay into a circus. I was looking at computers some time ago, and many of the listings were these foolish things selling 'information' on were to get a 'free' computer. They were mostly writen in such a way that a lot of people were bidding, thinking they were actually bidding for a computer. There were dozens, if not hundreds, of these listings clogging the site. And I've also noted all these listings for 'cheap' with the highly inflated shipping. eBay should obviously be cleaning house. These listings make shopping not just painful, but dangerous.

[shoplineca]

I leanred about the problem with the computer listings from US Power Sellers who say they can no longer trust buying a computer on eBay. Several of the legitimate computer sellers have been reducing their listings due to the dramatic decline in business.

Some of the people being "fooled" by people selling information on where to get further info on buying a computer cheaply, have been paying as much as $500 USD believing that they are buying a brand new Dell laptop.

It is not happening with musical instruments through Sellers with NO inventory giving away the merchandise thereby paying eBay less than $1 per listing and charging triple the delivery costs and not having to pay eBay any fees for the inflated shipping charges.

In the mean time I lay out $4 to $9 per listing and try to reflect a legitimate price for a superior instrument but people are being fooled by the ads which are almost identical for all vendors.

Malcolm

[momosworld]

Malcolm,

This is exactly what i said before about eBay going overseas now, because the manufacturers are also getting in on eBay now and are selling things for dirt cheap, then an outrageous s/h fee, eg: Bluetooth Dongle i pay almost $16 CAD shipped here and sell for $20 USD, they are selling for $.99 up to $9 and $12 and $25 s/h

Ridiculous, anyhow i noticed your other thread, officially gone. Im sorry to hear that, good luck in whatever you do, but i do hope you stay around.

Regards,
Moez.