mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
@pebmets wrote:
And ebay is profiting from the sale of these price gouged items, (posting and selling fees). They can prevent fire arms from being sold, why not toilet paper since it is a basic necessity? They may be removing 10s of thousands, but more are adding then EBAY is subtracting.
That is what Ebay does. It is their purpose. They are a site that offers services to sellers so they can sell their items. So yes they profit off of sales, just as sellers profit off of sales. That isn't a dirty little secret. It is why ALL sellers are here.
It is just that we have some that are misbehaving at a time it just shouldn't be tolerated or accepted. The answer to that problem is not to damage millions of sellers the ability to feed themselves. That is no answer at all that is yet another tragedy.
While it is clearly your opinion that Ebay isn't doing enough, that doesn't mean it is true. It just means that in your opinion they aren't moving fast enough for your liking. But instead of asking Ebay to punish everyone because of this, get out there and report listings as you find them. That will help Ebay to fight this battle. Instead of working against the good of the many stop advocating for the damage of many to punish a few and report listings as you find them. It does have an effect.
Speaking for myself only. I spend a few minutes a day reporting these listings. By the time I come back the next day they are gone. And many I click on to report Ebay has already found and the listing is not viewable much less could be purchased.
We well be much better and stronger if we WORK TOGETHER instead of working against each other!!
eBay is largely the reason people are rushing to clear store shelves of basic necessities during a crisis purely for greed both from the seller and likely eBay which is why they are barely lifting a finger to stop it.
Where did you read that? Please share a link.
What don't you understand about the fact that people are suffering because of this. The elderly, the sick, the needy, pretty much everyone can't even find toilet paper in a store largely because people thought they could hoard it and put it up on eBay and make some money.
That is a HUGE assumption on your part and you have absolutely no way of knowing that to be a fact. I can tell you for sure it is pure fiction.
Regardless of whether they are price gouging or simply putting it out for bid to see how much they can get for it it still depletes supplies from people at the worst possible time to be short of basic supplies. It is also putting peoples lives in danger, lack of masks, sanitizer, wiped, etc. Our hospitals and first responders don't have enough and here you are trying to be like, oh it's fine can't blame people for taking advantage blah blah blah.
I don't disagree with any of that nor have I said that I do. On these points we absolutely agree. It is your solution I disagree with.
eBay should be shut down during national emergencies, that would stop all this and make sure people have access to basic necessities and first responders have the supplies they need.
This I completely disagree with as this is no solution and will harm millions and millions of families around the world. Not just sellers, but buyers too. There are many other things sold here that people depend on in their everyday lives. And for many, not that they are trying not to go to the stores any more than they absolutely have to, it could be their only option for purchasing such items for now. So in an effort to punish the few sellers that are misbehaving, your solution would create a whole host of other issues. Serious issues.
@gussharp68 wrote:Really, maybe ask some of those people clearing the shelves of those items what they intend to do with it, I guarantee you their answer will be SELL IT ON EBAY
Some will likely say that. I don't think that is a surprise. But between Ebay and its members that continue to report such listings, they are risking ever being able to sell here again. Ebay has said they are taking away selling privileges for those multiple offenders.
I'm with you. The practice of price gouging is so deeply offensive, morally and legally wrong. And we must fight it. I'm trying to do my part by reporting listings as I find them. It has resulted in them being removed within a reasonable amount of time. That has been my experience.
Ebay is NOT the only place price gouging happens nor is it the solution for why we have depleted supplies of certain things across the nation. But again you are correct. If we can stop the price gouging it will improve the situation.
Maybe you would find this an interesting read.
https://fortune.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-economic-relief-gig-economy-self-employed/
@bubby22l wrote:I wonder if ebay is purposly allowing some of these to stand if they are auctions? i just typed in 3m masks and tabbed to auctions in USA and i see 1 box of 20 masks is up to $380.00 from 33 bids and still has several hours to go. the seller is a long time member with good amount of sales and 99% aproval..they started the listing with no reserve... so im not sure if this is considered gouging when you consider the fact that folks have bid it this high. so maybe thats why ebay hasnt removed it ?
I have to agree as I've seen auctions stick around longer that I certainly would like. BIN listings seem to be getting removed within hours of reporting them. Or at least that is my experience. I've just recently started watching some of the auctions I've reported to see how they play out.
