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How to alert buyers
Summary: jefrock49 raises a concern about sellers on eBay overcharging for "vintage" items that are available for less on the creator's official website, suggesting it might be unethical. golfingaddict and inceptions argue that sellers are free to set their prices and that it's up to buyers to comparison shop. gosimus emphasizes that buyers learn from experience, while mam98031 points out that buyers have a responsibility to verify seller claims. jefrock49 insists that intentional misrepresentation by sellers is problematic and suggests buyers should be able to trust sellers' descriptions.
Is there any way to alert potential buyers when they're being scammed by a seller asking too much for a pre-owned item that is readily available new for less money on the original creator's website? I'm specifically referring to the people on ebay overcharging buyers for "vintage" used Gladys Boalt Christmas tree ornaments. The majority of these ornaments being sold here by different sellers are immediately available new for less on Gladys Boalt's own website, boalt gallery. Certainly, from an ethical standpoint, it makes more sense for the money to go to her, as the creator of these wonderful items.
jefrock49
OP2 weeks agoOrnament overcharge
mam98031
Mentor2 weeks ago@jefrock49 How is that seller "scamming" potential buyers? I'm not sure I understand. Buyers have responsibilities too. A big one is the pricing. Is it a price you are willing to pay, yes or no. If the answer is no, continue shopping until you find the item that fits your needs. Sellers are NOT responsible for what other sellers list their items for nor should they ever be held responsible for that.
I say, move one. Leave this seller alone. Maybe not purchase from them, but if they are that overpriced it is unlikely their stuff will sell anyway. And you have NO RIGHT to contact buyers or potential buyers in any way to share your OPINION.
jefrock49
OP2 weeks agoI am not sharing an OPINION. It is a fact that the listed item is not rare, so describing it as such is misrepresenting it, or in plainer language, lying. If the seller knows the item is not rare but charges a higher price for it as though it is, it is not my OPINION that the seller is in the wrong, because the misrepresentation is deliberate. I suppose the solution you're proposing is that the buyer should go into the transaction assuming that the seller's description is not to be trusted and do a certain amount of due diligence before deciding to purchase from that seller anyway. The solution I'm proposing is that it's a two-way street: the buyer should be able to rightfully assume that the seller is telling the truth about the item they're selling before researching whether or not the price is a fair one, that's all. When your trust that you're paying for the real thing is well-founded, isn't that a good thing?
mam98031
Mentor2 weeks agoI think we all get that and we respect your opinion and the right to have it. But you don't have the right to impose your opinion on other buyers on this site. While you feel the seller is wrong, it is up to buyers to decide to purchase or not to purchase.
No one here said or suggested that anyone "...buyer should go into the transaction assuming that the seller's description is not to be trusted..." What was said is that a buyer has the responsibility to look at any given listing and decide FOR THEMSELVES if they want to purchase it or not.
"...do a certain amount of due diligence before deciding to purchase from that seller anyway." Yes that is the responsibility of EVERY buyer.
"he solution I'm proposing is that it's a two-way street: the buyer should be able to rightfully assume that the seller is telling the truth about the item they're selling before researching whether or not the price is a fair one, that's all. When your trust that you're paying for the real thing is well-founded, isn't that a good thing?" That is ripe for abuse. Who is going to police that what another buyer is saying about the seller's item is accurate or even true? Or would you just assume anyone that posted something was being truthful and not have a hidden agenda such as a competitor or buyer with a bone to pick on something else, or even someone that personally knows the seller and just wants to hurt them.
Buyers decide if the price is FAIR by deciding to purchase the item. If a buyer deems the item is too expensive, then they should simply move on and not try to destroy the seller because they disagree with their pricing. If the item truly is too expensive and many other have the same thing for a lower price, then this would simply take care of itself as long as the buyers are doing what they are responsible for doing.
gosimus
Mentor2 weeks ago · Edited@jefrock49
< any way to alert potential buyers when they're being scammed by a seller asking too much for a pre-owned item >
It's commendable you want to help others, but you'll just have to take the intention as good as the deed. There's no way to accomplish what you want.
Anyway, if you were able to warn somebody, they'd be grateful in the moment but the memory would fade and they'd go back to their old days. But let them get stung, significantly stung, and they'll remember it for a lifetime.
That reminds me of the old proverb. Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll spend every weekend on the lake.
inceptions
Mentor2 weeks agoHi @jefrock49
Just as with any of the more than 2 billion items listed on eBay, if you find an item for less somewhere else, you can purchase somewhere else. It's up to you. Every buyer comparison shops (or should). There is no way to alert others and no need to. Sellers set their pricing, it's up to the buyer to decide whether to buy or not.
The sellers acquired those items from somewhere and no matter how many hands the item went through before they were listed on eBay, the creator of them was paid for the first sale so you need not worry about her.
I took a very quick look at the pricing on eBay as well as on other sites, and it looks comparable on average, though I'm sure you can find exceptions.
golfingaddict
Mentor2 weeks agoYou cannot reach out to buyers. You don't know who they are and you are invading privacy between seller and buyer.
The seller can charge anything they want for the items.
Buyers can find the website or pass on items that might be priced too high.
Sellers have the right to sell the items for the price they list. You are overstepping by trying to contact and tell others to not buy from them.