eBay

silvae · ‎03-06-2020

So I listed an extra box of N95 masks I had sitting around, auction style, and started it at 99 cents for a three day auction. eBay then cancelled my auction with a stern warning to not relist any more N95 items.

I get that they want to stop price gouging, and I am 100% on board with that. Taking advantage of desperate people at an emotional time is not cool.

But it infuriates me that eBay is using broad and indiscriminate restrictions. Starting an auction at 99 cents is NOT price gouging as I am not dictating the sale price (it could sell for 25 dollars and I lose money). Also, this broad sledgehammer approach restricts access to items like N95s where eBay is often the only avenue to acquire such items for many people. As a consequence, a medically fragile person may not get the N95s they need to avoid getting sick, literally putting their life at risk. By shutting down every N95 auction, including ethical ones like mine, eBay could be putting people at risk.

I would have preferred if eBay instead restricted N95 sales to auction-style only, starting at a nominal price like 99 cents. This avoids unscrupulous price gouging and people who medically need masks can get them. Without the price gouging sellers, the overall market price for masks would drop and everyone wins (and lives).

ilikeschtuff · ‎04-02-2020

Especially if the market is not allowed to send price signals that incentivise new manufacturers.

Just more government intervention in the market screwing over the little people.

ilikeschtuff · ‎04-02-2020

Or I could sell them if the government was not picking winners and losers.

ilikeschtuff · ‎04-02-2020

Price gouging laws cause scarcity, because if there is no incentive to increase supply, then there will be no increase in supply.

ilikeschtuff · ‎04-02-2020

Price gouging laws cause scarcity, because if there is no incentive to increase supply, then there will be no increase in supply.

ilikeschtuff · ‎04-02-2020

Price gouging laws cause scarcity.

Because if there is no incentive to increase supply.

Then there will be no increase in supply.

antique-keys · ‎04-03-2020

I agree 100%. I purchased a box of 120 3M N95 masks years ago for allergies. I decided to keep a few and list the others to allow people the opportunity to protect themselves. I also started the listing at .99 and decided to let the market decide. eBay removed the auction. So now the masks are sitting in the closet, helping no one. Someone suggested that I "donate" them, but no. I once worked in the medical world and I know how it works. There is a system. Medical facilities will generally not accept masks from unknown sources and they often horde or resale items themselves. Also, has anyone ever received a bill from a hospital? They would charge you $20+ for the same mask, and they will charge someone the same price now -- for the masks you gave them! I can see listing masks for $100.00 each as gouging, but allowing the market to determine the value is the way to go.

vietcoinscollection · ‎04-03-2020

@albsmu_0 wrote:
I am also infuriated with ebay's policy to stop all sales of N95 masks. I did not have an auction style listing but my buy it now price was well under what these masks are being sold for. I now have masks that nobody can use.

Take them to hospital. They will be happy to take them.

vietcoinscollection · ‎04-03-2020

@silvae wrote:
Well, I agree with you that unscrupulous profiteers are a problem. But eBay is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The single box of N95s I have in my home for the past year isn't, by my ownership of it, depriving others like medical staff, but eBay's restrictions are preventing medical staff from obtaining it. If hospitals can't stock the masks to protect their employees, then the employees will look on eBay to grab some to protect themselves. eBay's reactionary and ham-fisted approach hurts the very people they are trying to help.

So I'll hang onto my masks and they'll collect dust in my attic, instead of being used by someone who actually needs them.

Give them to a hospital for crying out load!

ainpie-10 · ‎04-03-2020

This is not fair!! I want to buy masks as now it is recommended that everyone should wear them or something like them but I am unable to buy them anywhere! There are thousands of ebay sellers sitting on plenty of masks to sell to go around but can't do it! I can't find them anywhere! Everyone being made is going to the hospitals (as they should) but we the people have no way of getting them. I get the whole price gouging, but some of us want the products and everyone else thinks it's better that no one gets them. It's not like the stores are going to be stocked anytime soon with these items. They are all going to the hospitals. Maybe instead of banning them Ebay should set a fair price to both the sellers and the buyers and if the people that have the masks agree upon that price then they should be allowed to sell them up until stores are beginning to get stocked again. Just set a fair price for everyone and the people who sell above the maximum amount get reported instead of everyone just sitting around all day reporting people. I have zero sewing skills so no I can't make them nor do I really want to. I just want to purchase some.

antique-keys · ‎04-03-2020

Like I said, give them to the hospitals and they turn around and charge you or the insurance company $20.00 for the mask you gave them for free. The market should set the price.

vietcoinscollection · ‎04-03-2020

I hear ya. You can use a scarf with the same effect. Wash it after use. If you wear a face covering it will hopefully hold back your germs and prevent you from spreading them into the open. If everyone did that it would reduce the spread of the virus.

N95 masks are disposable masks. Essentially single use. If anything gets on them you need to dispose of them.

It protects the wearer but it is not meant to be reused. Also a poor fitting mask offers no protection and removing the mask has its own risks if not properly done.

Same is true for gloves. They pick up every germ like a magnet. You use them when with a patient to protect them from your germs and if you touch them it will protect you from their germs. Once you are done, remove, discard and wash with soap, etc. I see people going into the grocery with gloves on. They pick up stuff, touch surfaces with the gloves on. This can transfer the virus from one surface to another. They may be protected but they can spread the virus to every surface they touch.

In a grocery you can use their plastic bags over your hands. Pick something up and place it in the cart. Discard the plastic bag and use a new one. Place a plastic bag(s) in the bottom of cart so the items you buy don't touch the cart (which is probably very dirty anyway). Plastic bags are great when picking loose fruit or veggies. Once home you can clean the surfaces of the items you bought. No gloves at home, take extra plastic bags home. Leave your shoes outside. You never want to walk inside the home with shoes worn outside. Also once home remove all your clothes and wash them, take a shower and put on another set of clothes.

Just my thoughts.

antique-keys · ‎04-03-2020

If eBay allowed N-95 masks to the sold via auction format, without limits, the prices would drop dramatically as the supply would overwhelm the demand. The idiots listing masks for $1,000 would disappear as the market took over. It's economics 101. Not allowing masks to be sold is their decision and you have to respect it, but you have to ask if it is saving lives or endangering people.

vietcoinscollection · ‎04-03-2020

@antique-keys wrote:
If eBay allowed N-95 masks to the sold via auction format, without limits, the prices would drop dramatically as the supply would overwhelm the demand. The idiots listing masks for $1,000 would disappear as the market took over. It's economics 101. Not allowing masks to be sold is their decision and you have to respect it, but you have to ask if it is saving lives or endangering people.

During a national emergency it is against the law to price gouge. Economics 101 has been suspended.

Selling at inflated prices is wrong. I realize this is an eBay issue here, but what about the grocery stores selling toilet paper for $100 a roll. Do you wait till the price goes down?

It is a time to try and help each other.

moon0508 · ‎04-03-2020

This same thing happened to me. My wife picked up hand sanitizer the same day I did so I have some extra bottles. Listed them at .99 cent start for 3 day auction and was hit with a price gouging as well.

moon0508 · ‎04-03-2020

If they let everyone with extra product list, the market would flood, and prices would go down. They're allowing "authorized sellers" to list which is limiting supply and allowing their auctions to skyrocket. But since they're authorized, it's okay. eBay is keeping the demand high for authorized sellers on purpose.