Thread: Why? Just Why?

Don't venders of stuff on E-Bay check what the average price is on what they are selling? I see razors were the average price is $30.00 and all sudden there will be one to 3 at $75.00!! these are in the same shape and sometimes in even WORSE shape as the others. I have seen a razor at say $35.00 and then see the same razor that someone is selling for $175.00!! do these folks think we buyers and bidders are stupid?. $200.00 for a Puma! dumb a**. $75.00 for a wore out W.H. Morley & Sons??. Help me out here.

Welcome to fleabay where common sense left a long time ago. Bet you don't complain when you get something sweet though...

I know what you mean. I buy razors. Put the time in to clean, polish and resell them for a small profit. Then someone e comes along with the same razor all rusty and children and there opening bid is higher than mi e and they get it.

Originally Posted by THORandODIN

Don't venders of stuff on E-Bay check what the average price is on what they are selling? I see razors were the average price is $30.00 and all sudden there will be one to 3 at $75.00!! these are in the same shape and sometimes in even WORSE shape as the others. I have seen a razor at say $35.00 and then see the same razor that someone is selling for $175.00!! do these folks think we buyers and bidders are stupid?. $200.00 for a Puma! dumb a**. $75.00 for a wore out W.H. Morley & Sons??. Help me out here.

For most sellers, it's just stuff from an estate sale, or something they find lying around and decide to throw it up for auction.

There is no monthly or weekly meeting to discuss and evaluate the condition, rarity, or value of essentially, "old stuff that's been lying around"...they put it on eBay with the price they think and it's up to the world, you like it, buy it/bid on it, you don't, move along....

That is exactly why you see the variance in prices and quality, and why sometimes you get a smokin' deal, and other times you shake your head when someone puts a rusted piece of junk up for $500.00 USD.....it really is that simple.

Also keep in mind that a significant number of people collect razors for the scales and couldn't care less about the blade.
I've seen average razors in poor condition go for 700$ because they had fancy scales that were apparently collectible.
I've also seen people here lose it completely over those same razors, telling the sellers they're not worth 70, let alone 700.

I have come very close on telling some of these vendors what their razor is really worth but am afraid of negative feedback or a nasty message from E-Bay. Oh, by the way Etsy is just as bad. Oh well I have been turned down all day on bids for Buy it Now or Best Offers. I have one guy who had a couple of nice razors, but he was selling them with 4 other POS razors as a lot. I even offered him a higher price just for ONE razor than he was asking for the 6 razors it was with.

I went to an antique store once and got talking to the owner and mentioned that the razor I was looking at was probably about 150yrs old. He was asking $25 for it and I wasn't willing to pay that since it was heavily honed and in bad shape. Anyway I went back a few weeks later and the same razor increased to $40 and a tag stating it was very old. A lot of people think the older something is the more valuable it is no matter the condition. Also if something is sentimental in anyway it is a lot more valuable, but nobody wants to realize sentiment is only worth anything to the person that it is sentimental to.

Simple, Ebay is not a collectors place is a place of business. People don't throw stuff on eBay, me included, just for the love of it. It's all about making money, if people don't like the product, move on. Is not the seller's job to school any of us on what an item is worth.

I have seen things on eBay that I have felt are outrageous, but that's my standards. Who am I to tell a seller how to run their shop?

I have had that happened to me, I politely say thanks, and place them on my block list. I don't need lecturing.

Is true, it can be frustrating, but there are bigger things in life that deserve my frustration.

:-)

Want a good deal? Check the BST section :-)

Check out the prices for some 'vintage' Arkansas stones some time. People are crazy.

Originally Posted by hrfdez

Simple, Ebay is not a collectors place is a place of business. People don't throw stuff on eBay, me included, just for the love of it. It's all about making money, if people don't like the product, move on. Is not the seller's job to school any of us on what an item is worth.

I sell razors on ebay. Before listing I see what similar items have sold for. This gives me a good average of what to expect in the bidding, and a pretty fair estimate of a starting asking price. I tend to 'over-inform' in my descriptions (i.e. describing the items, the condition, and possibly some history, if warranted). I will also incude as many photos as possible (12 max) and reveal any potential flaws. No funny business. Money-back guarantee, too. Why do all this? I want satisfied customers. Satisfied customers usually means positive feedback— the 'lifeblood' of being a successful vendor.
Too often you'll see ebay sellers as described in Phrank's post above— no knowledge of the particular item for sale, just moving it at the highest potential price possible.
This explains razors with big hunks missing from the blade, but the description states, "the box and razor are in excellent condition for their age."