Ebay as the absolute arbiter of price

wizargoz

wizargoz

Super Member
OK, here we go:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/ele/670146159.html

I love this quote: "my back isn't what it was then, so I don't wanna bother to put them on ebay". You have to lift them up to get them on eBay?

I ranted about this before, but it's sadly true: Ebay is the absolute arbiter of price for everything now. And it's so sad...:tears:

"Here's a box of rusted and busted up old junk. Nothing lights up or powers on, but a box just like this sold on eBay for $40- so that's what I'm asking. That's only fair." Thrift stores use them for pricing, and so do estate sales, pawn shops...God!

I have a room full of equipment I'm going to put on CL here in Phoenix, and I really am selling to get the room back. But I won't be using eBay or CL or anything else as my price guide- it will be priced for what I think it's worth, to me or to another collector.

You can't bribe me, and I won't sell out. Fair is fair- or at least it used to be...:tresbon:
 
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I agree with you, but he can ask whatever he wants for it. The market will decide for him. With peoples' disposable income rapidly declining, I think we may see items starting to go for more down to earth prices then in the past.

When I see crap at thrift stores and yard sales priced at Ebay prices, I simply tell them "good luck" and move on. I may give them my phone number if it is something special so they can call me when they finally realize it isn't going to sell for their asking price. If they are rude, I tell them to sell it on Ebay instead. Almost anyone with a pulse can get an account.
 
On the other hand most people don't have a clue what their old stereo worth now. Where else they can look for a valuation?
 
wizargoz said:
OK, here we go:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/ele/670146159.html
I ranted about this before, but it's sadly true: Ebay is the absolute arbiter of price for everything now. And it's so sad...:tears:
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I complain about this phenomenon all the time too.. It's what I have branded as ebation... and I despise it... a good description of ebation is: an owners overly inflated ideas or worth, more often than not, based on a couple of ebay noobs and their bidding stupidity.
 
I'm having sadly, to look at this another way. If I want to be able to sell a piece for what I consider a decent price by at least putting a reserve on it I have to go to ebay. As an example...............

I recently put my Musical Fidelity A5 amp for sale at less than half the original cost with 165 views with no takers. I fully understand that perhaps no one wants this particular model or make, that the economy is sluggish, or even at less than half the price $1000 is a lot of money. I'm absolutely cool with that and I'm not whining.

But at the same time I read so much about the big score's here that I'm wondering if that's what it's all about. If you have the expertise and chance to buy a less than perfect piece and refurbish it, more power to you. I wish I had that ability but don't. If you want to scour yard sales, estate sales etc. go for it. Why not save money when you can. But sometimes I think there are those here that want something for nothing.

I don't particularly care for ebay in some respects but in order to get what I think a piece is worth I'm forced to. I only try here first because I know that gear here is appreciated and I'd like to give good deal's to fellow AK'ers rather than having to deal with ebay buyers.

With that said I have had luck with some items here, but again I sold them for less than their worth to........1. Let it be known that I'm willing to make good deals here and........2. Again, make some AK'ers a good deal. And to the ones that have bought from me I Thank You.

I guess my point to this ramble is to say that if I do want to receive a fair price for my gear I have to go to ebay.

I understand what you all are saying and again please, please don't take this as sour grapes on my part because my item didn't sell but if it weren't for the prices on ebay I wouldn't be able to move anything. Are prices inflated, yes, sometimes. Are there less than honest sellers, of course. Do some think that just because it's X,Y or Z named it should sell for outrageous amounts, yup everyday.

I just want the chance to get a decent price for decent gear. For that I'll use ebay. My 2 cents................................R1:music::yes:
 
Ebay has created a stable marketplace for second hand sales, it makes sense that it has become the defacto standard for valuation.

dew.
 
wizargoz said:
I ranted about this before, but it's sadly true: Ebay is the absolute arbiter of price for everything now. And it's so sad...:tears:

"Here's a box of rusted and busted up old junk. Nothing lights up or powers on, but a box just like this sold on eBay for $40- so that's what I'm asking. That's only fair."
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Yep ebay is the new blue book.
 
Interesting, forget the politics, the Braun reel to reel if it is the 1 I remember will be well worth the guy's asking price even if it needs some minor work. They are rare. Even rarer is the big matching receiver from the company of the same period. There was one locally that had been completely rebuilt by a Braun factory service rep who also had the reel to reel and turntable and he was asking $2900 just for the receiver.
 
spartanmanor said:
It does make all our vintage gear worth more. :D
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True, but that door swings both ways. I have a number of vintage pieces that I've been debating placing up for auction since January. I've "watched" auctions for similar/identical items during that time frame and have noted that the Final Value market price has dropped 15%-25% on a number of them, compared to last year. I view it akin to the housing market - a good time for buyers, a bad time for sellers. Like jhal mentioned, a lot of previously available disposable income is going into higher costs at the gas pump and checkout line at the grocery store.

The other mitigating factor on eBay is the brutal cost of shipping, which adds 15%-40% (depending on weight, size, and distance) to the total cost of acquiring an item. Priority Mail and First Class rates go up again on May 14th. So, I'm torn between dealing with the local loonies on Craig's List or running Reserve auctions on eBay so that I don't lose my tail.

It's not cash-in-hand, but I sometimes wonder if I wouldn't be better off taking items over to Goodwilll or SA and taking the equivalent market (eBay) value off my taxes next year... :scratch2:
 
laffing..i dont get you guys, Ebay is fun, grandmothers are selling their old doilies on Ebay and having a ball. to think that people aren't going to refer to ebay for valuation is naive and to get mad when they do is absurd. If you dont like the price dont buy, people cant sell something unless someone is willing to buy it is a self correcting market, something sells for 10 bucks one day and 2 bucks the next, so what.. get a grip, set your price buying or selling and most of all have fun.
 
I won't get into the guy that called me today. Returning a call from almost two weeks ago about some albums he had listed on CL. Dance and Techno...

He said he wants $5 per album.. high pressure sales, can you come in the next hour, I have two other people coming. How about tomorrow.. blah blah blah..

I said I don't pay that much for a lot.. he said they sell for more on ebay.. I told him then quit bothering me, and put them up.. He asked again if I had his number.. told him yep, it's in my phone now, but call me back when you get tired of sitting on them for that price :D
 
dew042 said:
Ebay has created a stable marketplace for second hand sales, it makes sense that it has become the defacto standard for valuation.

dew.
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I agree. Other source of info is audiogon blue book where prices are based on their sales experience.
 
My rant was not that eBay is GOOD or BAD, but that people's dependence on it as the absolute arbiter of pricing is misplaced- and misleading. To those who always say "Let the market decide", please contact me when gas hits $5 a gallon, and bread $5 a loaf (soon). It is the artificial and unnecessary inflated price manipulation I bemoan- based on the dominance of only one outlet (whether Exxon or eBay). Amateurs or experts- greed makes no distinction.
No, there's nothing wrong with eBay- as a reference. But as the ABSOLUTE arbiter of consumer goods pricing, I think it's a shame. A market is not a market without competition, and except for CL (and even CL uses eBay pricing), there really isn't any. :tresbon:
 
With all due respect, you can bemoan eBay as the "defacto standard", but it is what it is.

It's a global marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers. Everybody can see what's being sold, and everybody can choose to pay what they are willing to pay.

The only point of confusion/stupidity is when somebody says: "I saw it on eBay for that.". Well, if you didn't see it "Sell on eBay for that...", then you are mistaken as to the value.

You can think it's worth more, or you can think it's worth less, but if several of "them" have sold on eBay for $xxx, then that's what they're worth.

And you can take that to the bank.
 
Fisherdude said:
With all due respect, you can bemoan eBay as the "defacto standard", but it is what it is.

It's a global marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers. Everybody can see what's being sold, and everybody can choose to pay what they are willing to pay.

The only point of confusion/stupidity is when somebody says: "I saw it on eBay for that.". Well, if you didn't see it "Sell on eBay for that...", then you are mistaken as to the value.

You can think it's worth more, or you can think it's worth less, but if several of "them" have sold on eBay for $xxx, then that's what they're worth.

And you can take that to the bank.
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I pretty much agree with all said here, but would like to expand on the phrase "global marketplace". eBay allows for INTERNATIONAL exposure of goods for shipping to interested parties; CL is a bit watered down there. Folks expecting full eBay prices at their garage sale are deluding themselves in the hopes that they will have an interested party willing to pay top dollar stumble fortuitously into their piles of crossword puzzles and Happy Meal toys. eBay prices are fine on eBay, but usually unrealistic at thrifts and garage sales.

But the OPs seller is probably pretty straight up as he's discounted his stuff to a quarter of its' perceived eBay value, and that seems not out of line to me. I wish him well.
 
wizargoz said:
My rant was not that eBay is GOOD or BAD, but that people's dependence on it as the absolute arbiter of pricing is misplaced- and misleading. To those who always say "Let the market decide", please contact me when gas hits $5 a gallon, and bread $5 a loaf (soon). It is the artificial and unnecessary inflated price manipulation I bemoan- based on the dominance of only one outlet (whether Exxon or eBay). Amateurs or experts- greed makes no distinction.
No, there's nothing wrong with eBay- as a reference. But as the ABSOLUTE arbiter of consumer goods pricing, I think it's a shame. A market is not a market without competition, and except for CL (and even CL uses eBay pricing), there really isn't any. :tresbon:
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There's nothing 'artificial' about it. REAL people pay real money for real products. Sounds like the very essence of its value based on what the market will allow. Furthermore, people bidding on items they want is the ultimate in competition as well.

And yes, the market will decide. Because when gas hits $5 a gallon consumers will balk and finally change their lifestyles, or find other ways to cope. Nobody forces you to buy gas. On the flip side, the oil industry risks losing the petroleum market altogether if prices continue to rise at such an high rate. The market has give and take -- ask too much and the customer will go somewhere else, ask too little and you can't make money. As a consumer you have the choose to buy something from somebody, if their price is too high, they risk not selling it. Its their right, and risk, to ask whatever price they would like for it.

Just because you can not longer rip someone off because of their ignorance does not mean its unfair and artificial.

dew.
 
The one thing I think a lot of use forget is an auction caters to who wants it the Most.If an obsesive collecter wants it the price will be inflated.Have seen things go for more used than they could have payed brand new.I use E*ay as a guide only.
 
What remains to be seen is the fact that a lot of the people that say "it sells for $500 on Ebay" are looking at an item LISTED for that price, that in fact never does sell.... and using THAT as their guide, not completed listings.

It seems that in my area this is what happens more often than not.

And my reply to them is as always --- Then go sell it on Ebay!
 
Like it or not, the only way you can buy or sell a lot of this stuff is through eBay. Say you want an antenna bracket for an old receiver, start combing through the want adds and yard sales and see what kind of luck you have. Say you want to sell an antenna bracket for an old receiver, put it in your yard sale and see what kind of luck you have.
 
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