Why is eBay supporting scalpers?

[rexxidelr_0]

Honestly given how when you look up on google how to report scalping, or price gouging really, you can't report items as such through their report tool. Yet following their instructions shows you that they don't care, as there is no option at all to do so currently. Which means eBay is rife with all these scam posters and all these scalpers and gougers that are using bots. To buy entire stocks up and repost for double to triple the price on ebay, seriously they just don't care. Heck to me they shouldn't allow all the stupid preorder items that people have posted, given how easily you can scam people with that kind of sale. 

I am so sick of companies not caring about consumers anymore, given they control the market on so many items, which means we have to look to them for them. With eBay fanning the flames by supporting all the price gouging you can see just by doing a simple search for an item.

[chapabargain]

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Selling/Here-s-some-feedback-Ebay-STOP-the-greedy-scalpers-ple... 

@rexxidelr_0 

[pikabo-icu]

Was there some specific item you were trying to purchase?

FYI: Preorders are not allowed if the shipping date is more than 30 days out.. 

[eleanor*rigby]

Without naming specific sellers or identifying their listings, can you give some examples of scalping on eBay, keeping in mind the definition of scalping?

And examples of price gouging, given the definition of that expression?

"Price gouging refers to when retailers and others take advantage of spikes in demand by charging exorbitant prices for necessities, often after a natural disaster or other state of emergency."

[chapeau-noir]

Since I'm in the midst of a race to the bottom, I can't really relate.  But unless they're emergency supplies, such as was needed at the height of the pandemic, the market is going to decide.  I'm not sure where the bots come in.

[pikabo-icu]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

Since I'm in the midst of a race to the bottom, I can't really relate.  But unless they're emergency supplies, such as was needed at the height of the pandemic, the market is going to decide.  I'm not sure where the bots come in.

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I see this mentioned a lot when it comes to video games, controllers, gaming systems etc.. 

IDK if they actually use bots to buy up all the released quantity but a lot of gamers believe they do. 

[chapeau-noir]

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@pikabo-icu wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

Since I'm in the midst of a race to the bottom, I can't really relate.  But unless they're emergency supplies, such as was needed at the height of the pandemic, the market is going to decide.  I'm not sure where the bots come in.

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I see this mentioned a lot when it comes to video games, controllers, gaming systems etc.. 

IDK if they actually use bots to buy up all the released quantity but a lot of gamers believe they do. 

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So this is off eBay and then the merch is unloaded onto eBay?  I can see that - I thought the OP was talking about bot actually manipulating sales on eBay and I'm not sure where that would come in.

But that kind of aggressive acquisition is definitely a problem.  Even clothing sellers like myself run into it when a particularly sought-after capsule collection is released - large sellers clear out all available stock both off-line and online and run up the price here.  It inevitably explodes with a big bang since fashion never lasts long.

[nuclearomen]

that's one thing - but what some people called scalping - price gouging isn't actually either - the cost of items have gone up - so has the cost to have those items shipped - when you purchase items even wholesale - shipping isn't free - in business > all expensive are recoupable > profit is made off sales > mark up is existent anywhere - local retail - online - flea market - don't care where or how - the price is marked up for the cost to obtain said items. On marketplaces especially - sellers pay fees to sell those items, that means the price of something on marketplace includes the cost to pay those fees for selling on a platform. 

[katzrul15]

I think many companies try to limit what people can buy - Apple and Microsoft do a good job of it, but Nintendo and PlayStation seem to thrive on it.  Especially as more merchandise has been distributed online vs B&M due to the pandemic.

Part of the issue is the "have to have it now" syndrome.  Wait 30-45 days and on most items, you will find a glut on them on here, on Amazon to buy.  DS was lucky enough to get a PS5 after the holidays for MSRP + free shipping.  At Christmas, people paid $1200-$2k to have one, especially the bundles, under the tree.

No idea what items you think are being hoarded right now, but it has been like this since Furbies and Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, Tickle Me Elmo and more.  I remember standing in line for a GameBoy for my DS in the freezing cold outside a ToysRus for over 4 hours to be one of the first 25 inside to buy one.  We got one, but ended up with a Pink one.  For a Boy.  Took me 40 min and another $40 in the parking lot to trade a guy for a Blue one.  Swore on the drive home, I was done with chasing the Holiday "must haves".  

[nuclearomen]

it supply and demand of course - you mention PS5 - same with Xbox Series X - these systems are being placed on marketplaces for really high prices - when the MSRP is $600 - but this both Sony and Microsofts fault - directly because these new systems were ready a year (almost) before released and yet they choose to limit production of them to "control" 3rd party asking prices - yeah - well that didn't work, it actually made it worse. Every month or so a new batch will go up for sale through those companies and their retail distributors will get some - they sell out immediately and the ones buying most of them? 3rd party sellers. 

I still do not have new Xbox - and i will not pay $1,000 - $1,500 - $2,000 + for it, I'll wait, in the meantime I have Xbox One X - all games for Xbox play on it - I have gaming PC also - i don't need PS or Xbox if I need to pay way high prices for it. 

[mudshark61369]

@rexxidelr_0,

When an item that is eagerly anticipated goes up for pre-release it is up to the manufacturer to limit how many items they will allow an individual to buy.   Once people buy those items, if the price climbs because of a limited production run and high demand they can ask what they want for the item. It is now theirs after all.  It is not scalping (as in tickets) because in many states a ticket holder is is not considered the owner of the ticket, they feel it belongs to the venue.

As others have mentioned Manufacturers love to release items in time for the Holidays with a limited production.  In normal circumstances post holiday they do a second much larger run and prices go down, and in some cases the items go on sale by Presidents day.  Covid however, has caused shortages in materials needed to make many items meaning the supply is low but demand is high causing those items to be much more expensive that they would be normally at this time of year.

You cannot blame people for wanting to make a profit if they can. 

[justafemster]

Supply and demand set the market price.  

If you're not willing to pay that price and the product is still in production, wait and the price will (probably) fall.

Now for out of production items... completely different scenario, prices will continue to rise until every last one is in the hands of collectors or people who can't live without. 

I make a (decent) living selling out of production products.   

[bobby8990]

If that's true why doesn't ebay remove the many pre-orders of games that are jacked up in price which have a release date of more than 30 days out? It's like ebay is breaking it's own rules. 

[mudshark61369]

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@bobby8990 wrote:

If that's true why doesn't ebay remove the many pre-orders of games that are jacked up in price which have a release date of more than 30 days out? It's like ebay is breaking it's own rules. 

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@bobby8990,

eBay cannot possibly vet each of the millions of new listings posted daily on the site from around the world.   Buyers can use the Report item button on listing pages if they see a seller is violating a policy.

[bobby8990]

I call **bleep**.  If a company as big as ebay can't make sure that no fraudulent auctions are taking place here on their own then perhaps they shouldn't exist. They're worth 42 billion USD. Don't tell me what they can't do.