I was looking for a set of decals for a Santa Fe heavyweight and found them at Microscale’s website for $6.50. Not bad. Just out of curiosity, I searched for them on eBay, and found a set of the SAME decals, only the seller wanted $12.15 for them.
Was it P.T. Barnum’s ghost?
Iv’e forgotten the latin, but in english- Let the buyer beware!
Flip
Caveat emptor
One thing I have learned about Microscale over the years is that just because it is listed on the site does not mean it is in stock.
As far as ebay goes… anybody can ask whatever they want for an item. It does not mean anybody has to pay the price for it. If it is over priced then pass and look elseware for it.
There are some unwary folks that don’t seem to know:
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the item in question is still commonly available
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the bids are exceeding the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP)
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winning an auction is not like winning a contest; if you overbid, only the house and the seller wins.
I think some people get so caught up in the idea of “winning” that they forget my third point above.
Marlon,
How much did the eBay seller want for shipping? Sometimes, with items that small and light, the shipping charges make all the difference. Perhaps, he offered free shipping.
I would also be curious what the shipping charge would be from Microscale.
Let us know.
Rich
Perhaps that $12.15 shipping fee help cover e-Bay and Paypal’s fees?
That’s the only thing I can think of since I’ve notice that on several items including a Athearn boxcar for $9.99(But It Now) and Shipping $10.00…Cost: $19.99 MSRP $16.95.
Even though it was a road name I been looking for I passed due to the shipping costs.
I have found that stuff on Ebay I can get for either the same price or less locally or online store. I especially like stuff such as detail parts at $2.99 plus $12.00 shipping! I can order the same thing from the LHS for just $3.00.
HO yardsale on yahoo groups is for modelers by modelers. No searching. If you are serious then post a want list and get the offers sent to you.
Pete
We are probably the exception with the light weight and get hit the hardest on shiipping. There are also sellers who don’t have any idea and mark everything “rare”. Basically as the buyer it our responsibility to know the fair price and set the limits.
YOU are absolutely correct. I have saved a lot of money on buying hobby things,but I did have to invest my time to recognize a good deal and what is a waste of money. As with so many things it becomes a matter of what you are willing to invest.
Just one of the many reasons I don’t shop Ebay.
And people complain about etailer and hobbby shop shipping AND handling costs!
A sheet of decals shouldn’t cost more than $1.00 for a bubble envelope to put them in and maybe $1-$1.25 postage? but gas for their car to drive to PO is $5,00 so we are at $7.25 for shipping and nothing for handling. $10.00 shipping AND handling doesn’t sound so bad for a Ebay item now when you look at it that way, does it? and don’t forget the $6 and change for the decals to begin with.
As with the prioce of everything, if you want it bad enough or can’t find it anywhere, you WILL pay the aasking price, if not you will pass on it.
One can hardly negotiate the price of a gallon of gasoline, now can you? but if you wnat it bad enough, or have trouble finding it, you will gladly pay $10.00 a gallon for it now won’t you? and you will wait in line to get it, right?
Unfortunately with ebay some get caught up in the “winning” of the product, they don’t sensibly pay attention to what they are really paying for the product. The site can be addicting to some, unfortuantely for their wallets.
Don’t have an LHS 
Just because some one sets a price for something they are trying to sell doesn’t mean anybody is obligated to buy it. On E-bay, if the starting price is too high or the shipping costs cost is excessive, chances are the item won’t move. An intelligent consumer will be aware of the “reasonable” cost of something and then decide whether or not to make a bid. Sometimes the circumstances are such that what you and I may think is a bad deal is perfectly acceptable to the person making the offer. There are reputable hobby shops out there that I will not patronize because I feel that their prices are above what I consider reasonable. I guess it just depends on the person.
Jim
I shop on ebay, but mostly I a looking for older equipment or OOP stuff that your LHS and online retailers can’t or don’t stock. But I also buy new equipment too and I compare price and shipping before I bid. I hav seen some items that I wouldn’t have given more than $5.00 for go fr $40+ example was an Athearn’s GP9 that wasn’t even a Genesis model. But the seller had a $12.00 shipping fee. I have found many sellers will state in their ad that they will refund an overpayments for shipping, they use a base line amount to make sure they have enough postage. I make a point to return to these sellers because of their honest shipping fees and they don’t tack on handling charges. Lets face it USPS still arrives at your door everyday mon-sat, so where’s the reason for any handling fees? I have gotten some hard to find Riverossi parts for my engines and passenger cars as well as OOP detail parts but it’s cheaper for me to go to my LHS for the new stuff, unless he can’t get it because Walther’s tells him they are out of stock.
It’s called capitalism, and you are free to buy or not buy, just as he is free to apply any price he chooses.
So, there is nothing wrong with Ebay, or the sellers, the only thing wrong is seemingly growing attitude that it’s bad for someone to make a profit.
It is also illegal to buy concert tickets at $75 and stand out side the concert hall on concert night and scalp the tickets for $250 a piece. That would also be your “capitalism”, and your “right to make a profit”.
It IS ilegal to “gouge consumers” and there are laws that DO protect against profiteering. SO much for your capitalism and Making a profit.
You can ask any price for anything, its not gouging.
However, if there is a shortage of essential stuff such as gasoline, food, water, etc., and you charge an excessive price, then this is gouging. There are usually laws to prevent profiteering on the misery of others.
Hobby items are not essential items. Therefore you can ask any price you want, on eBay, anywhere. You may never sell your items, but there is no law against being out of touch!
Concert tickets would be an example of Non-essential items, and it is still illegal to “scalp” them, or to “ask for any price you want”.
It is true you can ask any price you want, but taking advantage of some who will actually pay $10 for a gallon of gas when it sells for $3.00 elsewhere is still wrong, even if it is not considerd gouging.
BUT, If there weren’t enough “idiots” who pay exhorbitant prices asked for on Ebay, people wouldn’t be asking them, now would they? They couldn’t sell them at rediculous prices, but some poor slob will think they are actually getting a deal or will pay the low price of $5.00 for “winning” a retail $19.95 rr car, but will still pay the $16.00 “shipping and handling” for the $5.00 car and think they “won” a bargain.
Ebay’s fees also add to the charge of an item, and sellers want to get that back as well…so they rip off the consumer more with the high charges for “handling the item”. If a yard sale was held, sellers don’t add a "fee’ on to the price for “newpaper advertising charge” or “yard sale sign charge” or “table” charge, “gas charge to go out and put up directional signs” now, do they? SOmeone, this past year, actually paid for a newspaper ad to urge yard salers and garage salers to "not pass off your broken, partially working, missing parts
So true that it pays to do research before jumping on to an ebay bid!
I recently decided to look for and purchase an HO Walthers Commissary building. I looked on ebay and saw 3 kits up for bids. They were at the $40 price range. I then go to Walthers website and find this:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3173
On sale, brand new from Walthers at $26.98!!
Being that it’s listed as “Retired”, I called Walthers the next day and ordered one. I’ve learned my lesson about procrastinating (MIranda’s Bananas kit) and didn’t want to make that mistake again!