Determining Price Gouging

[holisticyouhealth]

Who is determining what amount an item is selling for is price gouging? And who determines the products that are essential? I've just had kids multi vitamins listings, elderberry, and vitamin C listings taken down due to a price gouging policy? I've sold many and have all positive feedbacks from buyers.  Besides competitors and random users using the price gouging report option, who sits determining what is too much to sell an item for? Sellers are selling the same items for double the amount.. I just dont agree with this. I sell on Ebay to try and make extra money. I dont sell on ebay to lose m ok ney or break even.. 

[oldwestgold]

What is outrageous to you is not to others.  The bottom line is people should stay in their own lane and don't worry about what or how other sellers are pricing and selling.  That's called a free market.  If a potential buyer finds it too high, then they are free to buy elsewhere. Nobody has the right on eBay to tell others how to sell. Only eBay and the law can determine that. It is your business to run your business and no one else. People need to stop crying about others.

[oldwestgold]

For example, I checked one of your listings, Chrome Azzaro for $49.95. Walmart offers this exact item for $36.95.  Another Houbigant ~ QUELQUES FLEURS. Yours $171 and Walmarts $81 - more than twice the price.  WOW!  By definition, you are price gouging - over 10% of what it normally sells for. Should I report this listing? Not my business to do so. Watch before you throw stones at others.  Good luck!

[pkaszuba10]

I 100% totally agree! People need to get a life or mind their own business! Since eBay added that stupid price gouging button every one is creeping around reporting anything and everything if something is more then they want to pay for! They may not even have any intent on purchasing something but have no life and think they have some kind of authority! Hopefully soon eBay fixes this and sees  that it’s being abused and suspends these people reporting non stop! If it were my company and I was getting hundreds of these complaints from single sources they would be gone! No one wants to deal with people like that! 

[bdszelda]

See... that is insane.  I've seriously considered removing all listings of mine across all accounts / websites.  It just won't be worth having my account shut down for false accusations of price gouging.  And eBay is simply removing listings with 1 person reporting the listings.  All bot work and no real humans looking at the reports.  I'm lucky to be in a position where I could take a year off and be fine but I know many others cannot do that and it really sucks.

[oldwestgold]

Please! By checking just a few of your listings you are asking more than twice the price versus what Walmart sells for.  You are price gouging. I'm not trying to come across self righteous or anything like that.  What you are doing is wrong on many levels not to mention it is illegal.

[pkaszuba10]

I agree! Something needs to happen to the people who abuse the report buyer/price gouging button! 

[griffithbarbara1]

Just be careful because if there's something that you say in here they don't like they report that as well regardless of what they say beforehand to get a reply in the first place. Just be careful because they use their tools in here too whether it's justified or not

[pkaszuba10]

I haven’t looked but not everything comes from Walmart! So should I report CVS for selling way above Walmart prices! Exactly what someone else said! Everyone compares to Walmart prices!

[bdszelda]

I mean... department stores sell for double or triple Walmart's prices too and that's fine lol

[pkaszuba10]

I know! Everyone of these people forget that not everything comes from Wally World! So should I sur CVS for their prices? Should a seller forego fees and shipping to make these fake eBay police happy? Nope! These people would still report if you gave it away for free!

[oldwestgold]

I have had people report a few of my listings from time to time before this virus thing.  Most likely my competition. They would report an item as fake or counterfeit. They were wrong. Usually on a $25 coin or such. I would have to send the coin in for certification/genuine at an expense of $50+ each coin just to prove to eBay I know what I am selling. Would eBay reimburse me for their pulling my items in error?  NO! I have had to prove the experts that eBay relies on wrong over and over also. I don't mind doing it but it costs me time and money to do so.  It is not cost-justified to certify a $25 coin at a $50+ certification fee and have to wait 30-90 days for it to come back from the grading companies. So sad when people resort to tattle tailing. They should grow up and mind their own biz.  Just my two cents worth.  Have a great day!

[oldwestgold]

Oh, I agree.  That is my point. Prices are all over the board and for someone to claim price gouging is not looking at the big picture.

[jerzee908]

I just had to buy printer ink from CVS.......it was HP 61.....$29 and change.  I usually have a coupon, but I needed it, CVS is closer, less people, no lines, in and out.

Walmart.....$9 cheaper, absurd long lines, lots of people, a gamble if they even have it, more time out of my day, big possibility of getting a dent in the car, usually some sort of drama going on in the store no matter what........

Walmart's low prices are great and all, but sometimes the lack of customer service and all the headaches involved with going to a Walmart are just not worth it. 

I worked for a major grocery retailer at corporate level.  Retail prices get jacked up all of the time so that when it goes on sale, the savings looks big and gives the buyer the satisfaction of getting a good deal.  

[sas3177]

I want to first of all thank the people who didn't murder me in their head and in writing for defending my stance on this topic. Thank you. I was hesitant to come and read the thread this evening.

I just want to clarify or get off my chest so here goes:

1. These are items of convenience, of want not need. That is a HUGE difference. If they were concerned about safety and had very little money 1 gallon of bleach will do every job needed. 

2. Let's be honest here... The demographic that is purchasing items at these prices are not your average joe working and surviving and depending on a paycheck to paycheck. Again it goes back to WANT  vs NEED.

3. So many items have sold already at outrages prices that makes my dozen TP sales fail to comparison. Yet will eBay be refunding their portion to the customer or even donate that profit to an organization or do you think that they are just fine taking the profit off of said price gouging items??

4. If you read my post about time/material/costs I had written in my description and what my actual profit was BEFORE any shipping and handling materials and you still disagree with the listing price I would like to hear your argument on how that is price gouging.

5.  the trolls have nothing better to do then to be eBays Warriors of Justice to make themselves feel some sort of worth and pride for helping the community and the world get thru this situation together: Hey Troll...You are preventing a person who has the potential to save another persons life or their own when you stick your nose in everyone's affairs. We are a country of such diversity that $200 on cleaning supplies and TP for one person is completely fine to pay if it saves them time, their health, their peace of mind and the convenience for having it delivered to their doorstep. Not everyone is equal when it comes to this situation. And next time a company raises the price of a life saving procedure or a life saving medication I truly hope that you go after them as aggressively as you have the sellers on eBay!!

Everyone have a safe and healthy weekend. Much love ❤️

[sas3177]

THIS IS EVERYTHING!!! Thank you for stating it this way... Sadly I still don't think others will actually get it.