Price Gouging Auction

[holsteinatlanta]

I have a question about price gouging.  I have an item that I listed as a 3 day auction.  I think the retail price is say $29.99 before covid.  I listed it at $39.99 three day auction.  Well it got bid up to $81!  So there are losing bids of $80, $75, $70.  Now I wouldn't ordinary list this item at 80 and never expected it to go this high or get bids at all.  So what is price gouging?  The bidder ran the price up 

Now it turns out I have 12  more of the item.  I offered it to the winning bidder for $81 each, then told him that the next lowest bid is $75 so he can have 12 more at $75 each.  (Is that gouging) btw my item is a package of 12 other sellers have just one for $20  and getting it. That may  be gouging. 

Please tell me how to proceed.  Do you thing the ebay support reps can answer the question or will the lange barrier be a problem

[dealwix]

How can $10.00 be the to when item is listed @ $.01. I have NO control on how HIGH  the Bids will go will. $26.00 is not Price Gouging in this situation.

[dealwix]

Those states are not going after sellers of TOILET PAPER. Get REAL. 

Price Gouging has historically referred to items such as fuel, food and shelter. There has @never been a Price Gouging prosecution for Toilet paper. You can not die if you do not have TP to wipe your  Bloody Bum..

[mesodude]

“That is complete **bleep**. I had an item (toilet paper) listed for a penny, and I am a price gouger?”

Absolutely. It doesn’t matter whether your item ultimately sells for one penny or one hundred thousand pennies. What you’re supposedly willing to accept or what you claim you anticipate an item will sell for is also irrelevant.  If you’re auctioning a scarce product that people need for every day life that is only scarce because of a pandemic, then you are price gouging. Period. There is no qualitative difference between offering a needed scarce item to the highest bidder and selling that item at an inflated price outright. This is not complicated. 

[mesodude]

“There has @never been a Price Gouging prosecution for Toilet paper. You can not die if you do not have TP to wipe your  Bloody Bum...”

Since I don’t think anyone here really wants or needs to hear the extent to which you’ve researched that peculiar theory, I won’t ask. However, I am curious why you feel your ethics and morality should depend on what law enforcement does or doesn’t specifically require you to do?

[mesodude]

“I have NO control on how HIGH  the Bids will go will.”

Exactly...that’s why believing it’s definitely not price-gouging if you simply start an auction with a low opening bid is beyond delusional.

[treasures-4less]

exactly, the fees and packing supplies plus most boxes have to be taken to post office (gas), etc. it adds up quickly, buyers don't realize.  I think if someone is willing to pay extra they should be allowed to.  There are lots of items way overpriced, but just don't buy then. Ebay should be considered as a convenience not a must purchase site. 

[coolections]

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@dealwix wrote:

How can $10.00 be the to when item is listed @ $.01. I have NO control on how HIGH  the Bids will go will. $26.00 is not Price Gouging in this situation.

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When the virus is over I would expect to do a search and see yours listed for $0.01.  Come back after the virus so we can search to see it. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@dealwix wrote:

Plus, eBay is trying to charge me $1.00.   Does anyone have a solution?

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Quit listing items you're not supposed to.

[treasures-4less]

I can understand the N95 mask issue, but It depends what the item is. Not all these items are a essential need more of a want or luxury. A bar of soap verses hand gel.  Toilet paper verses wipes . If it were water or medicine that would be different.  If someone wants to buy a handmade face mask they should be given the right to decide what their willing to spend.   There's lots of things on ebay that are over priced but 99 percent are not must have items. I myself have passed on many. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@dealwix wrote:

That is complete **bleep**. I had an item (toilet paper) listed for a penny, and I am a price gouger?

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Yes, you knew what would happen when you put it on a auction, just like the toilet paper you have on auction now.

[treasures-4less]

Agree. If I want to pay three or four times the price so I don't have to drive to store, wait in line, spend my time, etc. I should be able to purchase or not purchase. 99 percent of items listed you can live with out or substitute period. Ebay should be looked at as a convenience. 

[coolections]

@kensgiftshop 

I tried reporting but as it has been a couple weeks now and it still says enter item number but nowhere to put the item number. The person is also violating listing practices by saying only certain states can bid.

[mesodude]

“exactly, the fees and packing supplies plus most boxes have to be taken to post office (gas), etc. it adds up quickly, buyers don't realize.“

I know, right? Buyers who don’t enjoy being grossly overcharged are so annoying. But seriously, somehow there are still lots of TP sellers on eBay who aren’t charging ten times as much as it would ordinarily cost. Weird, huh? What’s their secret? Anyway, if you can’t afford to sell an item without price-gouging, maybe you should find something different to sell?

“I think if someone is willing to pay extra they should be allowed to.”

You’re missing the larger picture. If something we both need for health or sanitation or safety is in short supply due to circumstances beyond our control and you could only afford these items at their regular price, would you honestly think it was fair that I could always afford to spend enough to snatch it away from you?

“There are lots of items way overpriced, but just don't buy then.”

Except we’re not talking about “lots of items”. We’re talking about items that are hard to find because of a pandemic.

“Ebay should be considered as a convenience not a must purchase site.“

I get it. eBay should only be for buyers with extremely deep pockets. If you’re a bargain hunter or someone without lots of money willing to help you make a living, they should just close their account and go away? Wow

[mesodude]

“Agree. If I want to pay three or four times the price so I don't have to drive to store, wait in line, spend my time, etc. I should be able to purchase or not purchase. 99 percent of items listed you can live with out or substitute period. Ebay should be looked at as a convenience.“

Well, that’s not selfish or self-serving at all. LOL  I think you should write to eBay mgt with your wishlist.

[kensgiftshop]

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@coolections wrote:

@kensgiftshop 

I tried reporting but as it has been a couple weeks now and it still says enter item number but nowhere to put the item number. The person is also violating listing practices by saying only certain states can bid.

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I reported a couple of the listings.

Usually if it says to enter an item number, the listing is already being removed.

I noticed that also.