Ebay for cycling stuff - what's the point ?

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Moss

Guest
What did Forrest Gump Say: "Stupid is, as Stupid does" eBayers have gone crazy with what they will pay for items in their auctions! STUPIDITY.
 

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Got a £1000 (allegedly) piano for £100 on ebay.

However, I was forced to suddenly sell it (moving house, removal firm suddenly realised actually no they can't move it - the day before moving!). Put it on ebay 24hr - got £2.50 for it.
 

lulubel

Über Member
Location
Malaga, Spain
I'm sure its like u said, people getting mates to bid and up the price, a few times I've got into a bit of a bidding war in this situation, pulled out at the last minute and had the seller contact me after the auction as the other bidder 'wont pay'. All a bit suspect...

No, it's people getting carried away with the bidding (usually in the closing minutes).

My OH has been selling handmade items on eBay for years, and items do sell for silly prices. She'll often have the same item listed twice, one as an auction and the other as a buy now, and the final auction price will go well above the buy now price. She's had a few winning bidders not pay for the item when that happens (presumably because they realise what they've done, and they don't want to pay "over the odds"), but most of the time, people do pay.
 

Mozzy

New Member
Location
Taunton Somerset
Agree whole heartedly with L. Some items, well plenty actually go for far more than you can buy them for new; This then has to be as said the hype of the final moments, plus that :who as bid higher than me????' syndrome about wishing to see yourself as high bidder and wasted a week of your time off and on checking bid status.

To some extent I think the really good times have gone. I joined EB in 1999 and had a significant collection of things and decided I would have a pop to see how the water was. I made a killing over a few years, getting ten times what I thought I might. Sold as many privately as well, folks would ask as a winning bidder if I had this or that and invariably I did. Far better in my pocktick than left in the cupboard till when I became shroom compost.

There are some bargains to be had, just means searching around and keeping toes and fingers crossed no-one else wants it. I almost never bother anymore looking at buy it now and ignore anything with a reserve or single number feedback. Just this week I had my eye on something and it went for around £25 more than new … again, being caught up in the moment I suppose.

Some catagories just have far too much in them. I just recently gave away a load of almost new suits, jackets, trousers, coats, many unworn. Daughter said I should have used ebay; in the end I just couldn't be arsed with all the packing up, long queues in PO, argee bargeeing about any potential inaccuracies regarding sizing that I would have included.

Mozzy
 

MarkF

Guru
Location
Yorkshire
Yes it's daft but some posters are right there are still some bargains.

I recently bought a "worn once" £60 Altura rain jacket for £20, you take a risk but it really is as new, result! I bought a Dawes Horizon for £99 and was the only bidder, I didn't like it so re-listed it............. and it sold for £365. :wacko:

There are still often deals at "Buy it now", but people procrastinate, why? I don't know. There is another Dawes Horizon on Ebay right now at £300 "Buy it now", nobody has bitten but he's had one offer. If it was larger size I'd buy it, ride it next summer, then list it at .99p no reserve, it would sell for more than £300.
 

Lurpak

not interested mate
I bought some Oakley sunglasses for only 13.99. I could see there was a slight mistake with the logo so they were probably factory seconds. Good bargain nevertheless.
 
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brokenflipflop

Veteran
Location
Worsley
Got a £1000 (allegedly) piano for £100 on ebay.

However, I was forced to suddenly sell it (moving house, removal firm suddenly realised actually no they can't move it - the day before moving!). Put it on ebay 24hr - got £2.50 for it.

£2.50 for a piano. That destroys my whole argument in one fell swoop then.

Bargain
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brokenflipflop

Veteran
Location
Worsley
That's a good point Mozzy. You can spend your whole life faffing around on-line with your bids/offers and then be unsuccessful.

Last Saturday I spent most of the day pissing about on Ebay for some shifters. If I'd done a days overtime (which I could have done) then I could almost have bought a brand new set of shifters from Wiggle (and got a free packet of toffees toboot)

I think I need to rethink my retail therapy strategy
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Just ordered set of Shimano gear and brake cables for half the price of a current Ebay auction that some bandit is peddling.

Happy days
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Bicycle

Guest
eBay can be frustrating - and some things are very expensive) but it can work.


I got a nice HT MTB a few years ago at a fraction of the new price and not too used.

I suspect the original owner had not parted with it willingly, but that's another story...

I also got a lovely Pinarello road bike for my daughter that was oldish but in LOVELY condition.

The price for that was very good too - and I'm pretty certain it was legit.

But... I have walked away from MANY items in the last 3 hours because the price goes barmy in the last moments.

Why, I cannot imagine.
 
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brokenflipflop

Veteran
Location
Worsley
I've got bargains from EBay. It's easy.

I only buy what I want.
I only buy if I know what I'm getting.
I always check prices.
I use a sniping service and set my maximum bid in it.

It's the same for bikes, books and everything else.

But to be honest, it's exactly the same as I do when I'm buying new stuff from shops.

Trouble is DO you always know what you're getting?

At least most shops have a complaint/returns process.

My wife bought a genuine pair of Ugg boots off Ebay from China.......you can see where this is going can't you.

Yes she's a women, yes she's from Little Hulton, yes she's trusting.......BUT COME ON LUV...........CHINA !!!!! :eek:
 

HovR

Über Member
Location
Plymouth
I love eBay for accessories. Light brackets for £1.99, cable clips for 99p - Some great deals. But when it comes to bikes.. Last years Spesh Allez for £800? Might as well buy this years model for the same price at the LBS. :s
 

broomwagon

Active Member
Location
Cheshire
I got a good deal 'tother week when I bid for a Trek Pilot 2, 6 months old in mint condition. The auction was to end at 3am, which was a big mistake by the seller. With no reserve, I left a bid of £250 and went to bed. It was a nice surprise to wake and find I'd won it. Also picked up some cheap cycling jerseys which will do for training in.
 
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