tremtech:Some one out there has to fill me in on the logic of the E-Bay auction section no reserve. Why would anyone pay more $$$ for a used item such as fins that you can buy from places such as Liesurepro or Scubatoys for less money. 1st Example: used Scubapro Jet Fins they are listed an one of those sites for approximately $63.00 (new )plus postage usual $4-$5 dollars .The auction I was watching ended 2 hours ago with someone bidding 55.00 plus 15.00 shipping and handling for scratched up fins what a bargin,my first thought was this is some newbie but this person has purchased several scuba items over the last year. I have bid an several items over the years and never won. 2nd Example :al 80 tank 1993 numbers used I bid $70 plus the $20 shipping. The guy who won the auction paid $139.00 plus$20.00 shipping ,about the same price or more as a new al80.Wow this person also has 278# and 99.7 rating so this is no new guy .There are several more but you get my point So someone ease my simple mind
Big Budd and AWAP - you guys are right on.
There is also a lot of international bidding going on. I buy and sell zillions of things on eBay every month (a lot of it Scuba gear) and I can tell you within a few bucks what something is going to close for.
Almost all of the Scuba stuff I sell that closes for wacky prices are bidders that are out of the country. These guys either can't get the stuff or have money in their PayPal account - so its "found money" or "House Money" as they've rolled something else to fill the account.
Also - you're not considering one more thing: The Schil Bid. A LOT of these wacky prices come from the Seller or the Seller's buddies bidding on his stuff to drive up the price. Don't believe me? Check the feedback records.... Schil bidding is easy to spot if you know what to look for.
I've made many, many tens of thousands of dollars buying attractively priced or mislisted stuff off of ebay and flipping it. Each year, I make a little less as it gets harder and harder - as the marketplace matures, as sellers get smarter, as buyers become more educated, as eBay's pricing policies become more combative, as eBay's tools become more friendly for others, etc.
The Internet is the biggest thing to happen in my lifetime, and eBay is the biggest thing to happen to the internet - but after 10 years on ebay, its still the first place I go to for everything I buy (from shoes, to sunglasses, outdoor expedition wear, scuba gear, pro audio, music, photo, wine, all manner of electronics, pens, cell phones, CD's... everything!) but treasure hunting for resale is becoming expensive and less attractive, less profitable and more time consuming.
---
Ken