How (and why) would you sell something so cheap?

[inhawaii]

I stumbled across a lazer pointer/keychain for 86 cents and free shipping to the US.

China seller.  I know it's going to be a piece of junk.

Let's say for the sake of discussion that the lazer pointer costs them a nickel. 

Let's say for the sake of discussion that the padded envelope costs them a nickel. 

I know (or at least i think i know) that you can't ship a lazer pointer from China to the US for 76 cents or less. 

So how on Earth do they make money?????

And we didn't even factor in ebay/paypal fees!

[southern*sweet*tea]

They're fine with making one or two cents each, because they sell tens of thousands.

The better question to ask would be "why would you BUY something so cheap?"

[parkersparrow]

It's kinda like the dollar store. Everything they sell is not actually worth a dollar. It all evens out in the end. 

[equid0x]

It's called economic warfare. The end game is to drive all other sellers out of business so they can take over the market and raise the price.

[orangehound]

Don't forget that for that 86 cents, they also get:

• Name
• Address
• e-mail address
• phone number

That information has value ...

[slippinjimmy]

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@orangehound wrote:

Don't forget that for that 86 cents, they also get:

• Name
• Address
• e-mail address
• phone number

That information has value ...

---

THIS^^^^^^^

Plus that is a "qualified" lead (ie: a person who likely will buy again) not just some random name on a lead list you can buy for pennies per hundred email addresses.

Also helps build sales numbers to assist with your metrics (this can backfire of course).

[fashunu4eeuh]

Some vendors offer a spectacular deal on an item in order to get the customer in the door, so to speak, a loss leader It also may be a way for a seller to build up feedback quickly.

[vintagecraze50]

There's a lot of work involved in selling ultra cheap items with voluminous sales to make a profit. I respect them for that. Struggling there to feed their families and have a better life. Bless them all.

[ittybitnot]

THIS^^^^^^^

And then you get ad nauseum offers in your "my ebay" messages to buy more.  There is no more report button in eBay messages, and likely they get a few "TAKERS"  to make it all worthwhile for the seller and eBay. 

[slippinjimmy]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

THIS^^^^^^^

And then you get ad nauseum offers in your "my ebay" messages to buy more.  There is no more report button in eBay messages, and likely they get a few "TAKERS"  to make it all worthwhile for the seller and eBay. 

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Actually they always send me direct messages never via eBay.

Most of them operate responsibly, opt-outs are included and even if you don't opt out the sales pitches only come a few times.

[turquoisetulips]

I know (or at least i think i know) that you can't ship a lazer pointer from China to the US for 76 cents or less. inhawaii 

I believe  they can .  It's just that  we can't ship a laser  pointer  from the U.S to China  for 76 cents or less . tulips 

[reallynicestamps]

Well here are the official China Post rates

https://www.chinapostaltracking.com/service/rate/

At the moment, the yuan is worth 15 cents US.

So something that weighs less than 20 grams can be sent for less than 83 cents.

However a 200 gram package sent Surface is $4.65 and sent Air is $7.20USD.

Given that, my suspicion is that the seller is selling vapourware. Which is very cheap to send. All he has to do is refund the few buyers who can figure out how to effectively demand a refund . If he refunds, eBay will not penalize him and he keeps the money from the buyers who forgot or didn't bother about an under a dollar purchase two months previously.

[reallynicestamps]

Hmmm- we've purchased flashlight pens as promotional items. Good pens, working flashlight about a buck (or less- we paid a Canadian loonie).

The catch was buying at least 100, which lowers the cost to the seller, even with adding the promotional print.

The Chinese seller may be expecting buyers to order quantities as handouts.

[lawnmowerpartsstore2]

You hit the nail right on the head !!!

[turquoisetulips]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

Well here are the official China Post rates

https://www.chinapostaltracking.com/service/rate/

At the moment, the yuan is worth 15 cents US.

So something that weighs less than 20 grams can be sent for less than 83 cents.

However a 200 gram package sent Surface is $4.65 and sent Air is $7.20USD.

Given that, my suspicion is that the seller is selling vapourware. Which is very cheap to send. All he has to do is refund the few buyers who can figure out how to effectively demand a refund . If he refunds, eBay will not penalize him and he keeps the money from the buyers who forgot or didn't bother about an under a dollar purchase two months previously.

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The only thing I'm certain of  is I've won hundreds if not thousands  of small packaged  items from China  on auction  for 50 cents and even less with free shipping over the years .  Other than a few lost items or postal missaps they've never had a problem getting them to me .They must be making a profit somehow  because those same merchants are still in business . Tulips