Evaluating an item

[mayf-166]

Just starting to sell and am baffled at disparities in prices on a particular item. In this instance, it's a Ty beanie baby 'kuku', which on ebay shows valuations ranging from $50 up to 5,000. When I view same item on Amazon, the prices range from $1 up, but many for 5,6 dollars. I just don't understand the differences. Help, anyone!

[maxine*j]

When you search on eBay to get an idea of value, don't look current listings, because asking  prices and getting  prices are two very different things.

Look at Completed Listings to see what didn't sell at what prices, and what did sell and for how much (those figures are in green), like this:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=kuku+ty+beanie+baby&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Complete=1&_ud...

[caldreamer]

After you search for item click on SOLD LISTING (that tells you price actually sold for) and true value of the item.   

[mtgraves7984]

You'll go crazy looking for beanie baby comps. Just price it at what you want for it. Good luck.

[nuvistors]

Some sellers are very attached to their dolls.

[simba6]

Prices in venues like flea-markets and auctions vary as the crow flies. You can find great buys or get your clock cleaned. Buyers must always shop and compare prices to insure they get the best value.  Condition is everything with collectables too.

[mayf-166]

I appreciate your point. But, I've yet to run across such a disparity of prices...from $1 on Amazon to $2500 or more on ebay. I just don't grasp the gap, even considering the cheap ones might be knock offs or soemthing.

[maxine*j]

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@mayf-166 wrote:

I appreciate your point. But, I've yet to run across such a disparity of prices...from $1 on Amazon to $2500 or more on ebay. I just don't grasp the gap, even considering the cheap ones might be knock offs or soemthing.

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The disparity, as others have noted, is because people can ASK any price they like for anything.  People with unrealistic expectations and / or who have not studied the market will ask prices they'll never get.  And some people price with their hearts, not their heads.

You'll find the same disparity in other categories on eBay, not just in collectibles.

If you're thinking of selling your Beanie Babies (or anything else, for that matter) it is REALIZED prices that matter.  

[mtgraves7984]

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@mayf-166 wrote:

I appreciate your point. But, I've yet to run across such a disparity of prices...from $1 on Amazon to $2500 or more on ebay. I just don't grasp the gap, even considering the cheap ones might be knock offs or soemthing.

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@mayf-166 

You'll go crazy looking for beanie baby comps. Just price it at what you want for it. Good luck.

[chapeau-noir]

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@mayf-166 wrote:

I appreciate your point. But, I've yet to run across such a disparity of prices...from $1 on Amazon to $2500 or more on ebay. I just don't grasp the gap, even considering the cheap ones might be knock offs or soemthing.

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I run into this a lot book buying - I collect books and there will be outrageous prices on Amazon, say $4500 for a book when other Amazon sellers have them for say $25-40 depending on condition.  The other day I was looking at a particular type of skirt - it usually goes for about $35 pre-owned - one seller had it for $256. 

It's nuts, but I've seen crazy pricing like that since I started here in 2000.

[mayf-166]

You're spot on and I do appreciate your input. I just don't want to give away any 'Rembrandt' that I may have and not realize it!

[mayf-166]

Thanks so much for furthering the education of this novice. I've found already that many sellers of used books are large outfits that list for just minimal amounts, dealing in volume I suppose.

[maxine*j]

I'm told that on Amazon, people use those crazy prices as "placeholders," although I've never quite got the point, not being an Amazon seller myself. 

And, of course, some high prices are those of sellers who intend to drop-ship.  (I mean, if someone is actually willing to pay XX dollars, the seller is convinced he can find it for less and arrange the shipment.)

Then there are the crazy people...    😃

[femmefan1946]

On AddAll ,which conglomerates dozens of booksellers and which I use for comps, I've noticed that when a relatively common paperback has an insanely high asking price It is usually on Amazon.

One reason may be placeholding, but I think fat fingers and typos are equally likely.

[chapeau-noir]

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@mayf-166 wrote:

Thanks so much for furthering the education of this novice. I've found already that many sellers of used books are large outfits that list for just minimal amounts, dealing in volume I suppose.

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Those massive booksellers on Amazon make their money on shipping - they never combine shipping so that dollar book costs $4.95 or whatever to ship, if you buy two or three from the same outfit, they ship for $4.95 each.  That's OK if it's coming from the UK, for instance, but domestically, they're basically taking about $3 off the top of each book, which is a 300% return on say a dollar book. Their profit margin comes in cheap (awful) packaging and the fact that they're obtaining the books for a few pennies each, probably by the truckload.