Zoverstocks

[RobertR]

Has anyone else come across these people when listing stuff on Amazon? They have the annoying habit of no matter what price you list your item at, undercutting you by 1p. Apparently, according to a google search they are one of the names used by Music Magpie to offload their cheaply gotten gains.

Its getting to the stage now where I am seriously considering if I come across them, listing the same item at a ridiculously low price, waiting for them to undercut me then removing the listing.

[Proc]

It makes perfect sense what they're doing - especially if they want to sell stuff fast.

No point under-cutting by something stupid like 50%.

And there's no point entering the market even a penny more expensive than your competitors unless it's a high-demand product.

They're undercutting you by a penny to now be the cheapest. They can only do this if you're already the cheapest; which presumably you are because you undercut the competition first?

So in short, they're beating you at your own game.

[RobertR]

Fair point, but it can be a bit annoying if you are a private seller looking to get rid of a few bits rather than a major corporate player.

The Tescos of the CD/DVD world, much?

[joanne d]

Hi RobertR.

The title of your thread caught my eye as i have bought from Zoverstocks quite a lot lately .

I use Amazon quite a bit and over the past few weeks have spent a fortune with Zoverstocks...i did seem to notice they were the cheapest.

To be honest i never seem to look down through the rest of the list at the other sellers.....

[RobertR]

Hi Joanne, they are without doubt the cheapest, and their feedback suggests the majority of buyers are happy with their service, but I did wonder whether anyone had an opinion on, or had experienced their somewhat "zealous" sales tactics.

Still, alls fair, as they say!

[qetu1357]

I've bought loads of stuff from Zoverstocks via Amazon.

All very cheap, always the cheapest and only had one problem with a faulty game. And they gave me a refund without having to return it within 24 hours.

[Kite2010]

They must use some sort of software to automatically undercut prices by a penny. They are a good seller, postage sometimes is a tad on the slow side.

[Jo_Mc]

I've used them a few times on Amazon, delivery is slow and on one occasion they sent me the wrong CD and it took five days and three emails from me before they got back to me to sort it out. I'd rather pay a little extra to a different seller.

[wuckfit]

I watched two different companies repeatedly undercut each other by a penny on one particular CD. in the space of a week it dropped by around 2.50, penny by penny. quite amusing to watch.

if they get something quite rare and pricy, creating a stupidly cheap listing to force them to undercut and buy it off them cheap would be one way of getting your own back, I suppose, but fraught with danger if somebody tries to buy yours and you don't actually have one to sell.

[squack]

I have noticed that one playtrader on there has got around Zoverstocks 1p cheaper policy by offering a "FREE 2p COIN ! I AM THE CHEAPEST ! yes, you will receive a genuine British two pence coin with this item! which you can spend in any shop!" lol

[frivolous_fay]

I had a transaction with them once - IIRC, they are selling off items that musicmagpie buy.

[ergonomically unsound]

Glad to have found this thread. I was starting to get a bit tetchy thinking someone was deliberately undercutting my listings by a penny to have a dig at me!!!

[nomoneytoday]

I used them via Play. Absolutely no issues. Product turned up on time, correctly packaged

[luciftian]

Hi have made many purchases from them both via Amazon and Play and found them not only cheap but also fast and with incredibly good customer services.
I would not hesitate recommending them.

[forgotmyname]

Makes business sense, If you open a new shop you rely on passing trade not repeat business and new
business from word of mouth, So it makes sense to open near you competitor and undercut them.

Once established you can charge the same and hope your customer service is better.

They are selling to make a profit, Selling private items should in theory mean you can undercut them.

[squack]

Originally Posted by forgotmyname

Makes business sense, If you open a new shop you rely on passing trade not repeat business and new
business from word of mouth, So it makes sense to open near you competitor and undercut them.

Once established you can charge the same and hope your customer service is better.

They are selling to make a profit, Selling private items should in theory mean you can undercut them.

zoverstocks must use some kind of pricing software which automatically sets the price one pence below the cheapest competitor, or match it if it's at the minimum allowable price. they can afford to do it because they pay a low price for items through their Music Magpie service. They rely on huge turn over of stock, thousands of items per day though Amazon and Playtrade i would imagine. I have found them to be pretty slow on delivery sometimes but overall a pretty good service. As a private seller on Playtrade or Amazon you can manipulate their software pricing system because if you are otherwise the cheapest seller of an item, they will always price 1p below you, so simply set the price you are happy with and offer a free 2p coin included with your item, hey presto, you are the cheapest!

[ergonomically unsound]

Best thing is to play them at their own game, but DON'T undercut them, as their software will just keep on going 1p under your price...and the price will just keep going down and down until it isn't worth your while selling due to postage and commission.

Simply match their price and you will be listed as the lowest price plus their computer software wont undercut you again until your price is lower.

....then let the customer decide who to buy off. You'll win some and you'll lose some but you'll get the satisfaction of giving Zoverstocks a gigantic two cyber fingers up!!

[squack]

Yes they will always go 1p lower even on a price match. Even if your item is listed as having the disc missing and the case has been stamped on several times. In theory you could list all your broken items for 1p or 2p then buyers would have a field day when zoverstocks slash their prices accordingly

[pmduk]

I suspect that as this is a moneysaving site, many users will have been happy to take advantage of zoverstocks.

[squack]

well lets face it zoverstocks is in the same league as the money for gold type people, their music magpie adverts on day time tv encouraging the terminally skint to flog their cd and dvd collections for a fraction of the original value, and re-selling each item for maybe ten times? the amount through various online market places, a good business model and very commendable for the recycling aspect but when linked with the undercutting of all other sellers on Play trade etc its not surprising that there is resentment out there, truly they are the Tesco of second hand cds and dvds