Ebay used item prices bonkers?

forgotmyname

I had a need for a gadget that has at least 6 variations with the same model number.  Spec changed over the fairly short production
run but the same model number, 2 obvious visual changes but the several options are only identified from the serial number label.
Originally £150 but they have not been made for at least 12 years and they are the sort of item that gets used daily until they break
or the user moves onto something smaller.

I bought one before Christmas with a best offer for £50, which was accepted almost instantly. I thought my offer was a little
high considering the auction values but it was local and I wanted one sooner rather than later.
It worked extremely well for my needs but being 12 years old I want to get a couple more as backups, one appeared for sale with a
BIN where I offered slightly more than the last one I bought because of the postage costs and they declined it. Their item so fair enough.

Oddly though when I checked online to see if they countered they had doubled the price of the item which was a BIN?  The only
other one for sale slightly lower than their current BIN price has been listed for the past 19 months and not sold.

When sold through an auction listing they fetch £32 to £38.  Maybe they are waiting for it to become an antique?

Is it me or are used item prices just bonkers currently?

GDB2222

I suppose these have some rarity value?  

 You mentioned that users can buy something smaller. Does that mean there are alternatives to this item still being made? 

molerat

Seller are bonkers.  Looking at an item the other day.  Cheapest was £10 BIN with some at £12 starting price, got it for £1.50 in Tesco sale !

Krakkkers

Buyers can be just as bonkers, listed a watch recently for auction but with a buy it now of £30, it went for £84

forgotmyname

GDB2222 said:

I suppose these have some rarity value?  

 You mentioned that users can buy something smaller. Does that mean there are alternatives to this item still being made? 

This exact type they stopped making them at least 12 years ago, the one the seller has is the very first type looking at the logo.
The build quality went up and down between changes, the items has LED's built in which fail often and the electronics are known
to fail also so rarity as a shelf ornament maybe if that is your thing but I bought one in excellent condition for less, seen a few
sell for sub £20 with failing LED's or for parts/untested.

The modern equivalent is cheaper and has less features and even worse build quality.  It just happens to work for something I
need and preferable to an unbranded chinese item.

Looking for something else along similar lines from a different manufacturer and although there are no LED's it comes with a screen
that fails.  Just typical that I am bonkers enough to want these items.

The one I bought before Christmas was nearing the end for it's listing time so the buyer may have been happy to sell it?

I will keep it on watch and see if they accept an offer from someone else or if it's still for sale in 2 years time..

rollingmoon

Can't say as I've noticed this across the board, but I will say there are a puzzling number of sellers asking higher than new prices for certain types of electronic musical instruments; ones which are still in production and in stock and available cheaper brand new.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Seems a very specific and limited example to be able to draw a conclusion that used prices on eBay in general are bonkers?

Seller probably saw the other listing at a higher price and matched it without taking the time to check if it's a valid price (blinded by the prospect of more money or a fear of losing out), they'll presumably come to realise they don't have a hope in getting a sale and will end up lowering the price. 

dinosaur66

not just ebay

i went to brentwood on saturday / there are about 7 charity shops on the high street

all shops bar none had signs in the window no donations wanted as they were all full

now brentwood is a quite posh town but there was not an item priced at £5 or over that could not be bought on ebay cheaper and there cabinet items were double ebay prices.

my mother asked to look at a handbag behind the counter / girl handed it to her and told mum it was £200 / shock when my mother did not buy it or that she did not need angina pill.

outside my mother who has been in rag trade since the 60s told me it was a turkish fake.that you could get in pitsea market for £30 which is where it probably came from.

FFHillbilly

sometimes sellers increase the listing price when they have no stock, or theres an issue with the supply

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

dinosaur66 said:

not just ebay

i went to brentwood on saturday / there are about 7 charity shops on the high street

all shops bar none had signs in the window no donations wanted as they were all full

now brentwood is a quite posh town but there was not an item priced at £5 or over that could not be bought on ebay cheaper and there cabinet items were double ebay prices.

my mother asked to look at a handbag behind the counter / girl handed it to her and told mum it was £200 / shock when my mother did not buy it or that she did not need angina pill.

outside my mother who has been in rag trade since the 60s told me it was a turkish fake.that you could get in pitsea market for £30 which is where it probably came from.

I think they hope people will pay over the odds because it's for a good cause. Location is probably a factor as well, here in sleepy Wales local shop in a small town (part of a national charity chain) gets sent stock from other shops that didn't sell, shirts marked with £60 price tag in the last charity shop are put on the rail for 3 quid....