eBay

tim_innsbruck · ‎08-14-2023

There is a Price Gauging Policy page.

And there is a how to report price gauging section.

However the information given is outdated/wrong.

Report Category does not contain "Price Gauging" as an option, nor anything close to it that fits.

So how do I report an absolutely blatant case of price gauging?

In case anyone is curious, Item is a current model, pre-owned watch the seller is trying to sell for more than twice the retail price in the official store of the watches manufacturer.

cheers

albertabrightalberta · ‎08-21-2023

@continentalcollectibles wrote:
Honestly to me, Price Gauging is when You're forced to Pay a Price and have no option to go to some other Place. its a Free Market out there and Since it's not an item necessary to Live or survive during an emergency I can't see where it could be considered Price Gauging in fact there are so many cases when a used item is worth more than a New one the buyer is free not to pay it

No, this is NOT what price "gauging" is!! Price gauging is what most sellers do when they search ebay and other sites to determine what their item might be worth.

Price GOUGING is what the OP is incorrectly alleging. As others have pointed out, an overpriced watch (or sports card, coin, handbag, etc.) is NOT a necessity of life and pricing it as what one might consider more than it's worth isn't gouging (with an "o").

albertabrightalberta | Volunteer Community Mentor
"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you."

kh-cathy · ‎08-21-2023

Hi everyone,

This discussion has gotten a bit heated. Please remember that, while it is fine to disagree with others, discussion should always remain friendly and respectful as required by the Community Guidelines.

Thank you for your cooperation.

tim_innsbruck · ‎08-21-2023

Yes, Inhawaii is entirely correct.
While ebay responded saying that they would take the item down and that I was correct....
They did not do so.

Concerning the question, whether I did bid on the item. I offered the current retail price x0.8 as the best offer option, and also added the information that the watch costs way less brand new. This was declined by the seller, and then I inquired whether that actually falls under ebays price gauging policy.
I inquired, thats it!
I was really just curious if ebay is happy for its users to try to rinse customers or not.
Anyhow, I am out. The thread is all yours.

Cheers

mam98031 · ‎08-21-2023

Yes @inhawaii is correct as others before and after him that said the same thing are correct. With all respect you are trying to get involved in something that you just don't need to. The seller is not breaking any rule. But your right as a buyer is to move on and find a seller you would prefer to purchase from.

This seller just didn't meet your expectations. Trying to find a way to do the transaction with them won't help anyone. Just move on and find it at a price you like and a seller you are willing to do business with.

Good Luck.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." Quote from Edward I Koch

chapeau-noir · ‎08-21-2023

One can gauge prices without gouging.

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

iamalwaysright · ‎08-22-2023

@inhawaii wrote:
@bonjourami wrote:
LOL..what nerve!
True story.
I once forgot to take the price tag off a item I shipped out.
The buyer later left me a negative feedback.
"This seller buys the item cheap then marks up the price to make a profit."

That's happened to me before back when I was too lazy to remove price stickers. One time it happened on an item I sold for $9 with free shipping and the retail sticker was 5.95.

I also had a colleague of mine found out I was an ebay seller then confidently talking about how she knew all my secrets of how sellers like me do it. Basically saying because she took business classes in college, and my "secret" was that I buy things at a cheaper price and sell them to others at a higher price to make money. Sad that she had to go to college to understand the concept of cost and profit. She makes well over 200k now btw.

iamalwaysright · ‎08-22-2023

@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@inhawaii wrote:

True story.

I once forgot to take the price tag off a item I shipped out.
The buyer later left me a negative feedback.
"This seller buys the item cheap then marks up the price to make a profit."
That's why I double and triple check my items before shipping them. I never want to mistakenly leave a receipt or a price tag inside an item that shows that I paid less than I sold it for.

I didn't care about it back in the day. But now with MBG the way it is, I've reconsidered.

iamalwaysright · ‎08-22-2023

@tim_innsbruck wrote:

I offered the current retail price x0.8 as the best offer option, and also added the information that the watch costs way less brand new.

If it were me, given the information that you've provided thus far, I would never have bothered with this seller and just paid the "way less" price for a brand new one at the official store of the manufacturer you mentioned in your OP. But that's just me... I like paying less, not having to haggle, brand new vs used, reputable official store vs a private seller I don't know, immediate order placing vs waiting around for negotiation replies.

There has to be something about this particular item the seller has listed that you are failing to mention to us. Maybe it was previously owned by Pee Wee Herman or something. Who knows. Trying to shame a seller because they didn't take your offer is frowned upon.