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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: Quendil on 22 February 2018, 06:51:48 PM

Title: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Quendil on 22 February 2018, 06:51:48 PM
I was browsing the wargaming section on ebay when I noticed some odd sales so I changed my view to see the most expensive first and was shown items for crazy prices.  For instance a pot of paint for nearly £500  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citadel-Base-Khorne-Red-by-Games-Workshop/253320048066?epid=27010820756&hash=item3afb0d2dc2:g:snUAAOSwB4BaONuC (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citadel-Base-Khorne-Red-by-Games-Workshop/253320048066?epid=27010820756&hash=item3afb0d2dc2:g:snUAAOSwB4BaONuC)

Now they are not the only seller doing that and they have multiple items for sale at these strange prices.  So can anyone tell me whats this all about?  It appears not to just be wargaming stuff but even things like 99p kids stickers listed for £300?
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: shandy on 22 February 2018, 07:14:27 PM
Could be automated pricing by algorithm - this is something that can be seen on second hand book market places like Amazon and others. It can be absurdly expensive to get some out-of-print academic books due to this.
Here's an article on how it works (or not) with books: http://www.michaeleisen.org/blog/?p=358 (http://www.michaeleisen.org/blog/?p=358)
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: FionaWhite on 22 February 2018, 07:18:34 PM
Checking into the obviously bargain-priced item I see that the "People who viewed this item also viewed" tab had a "Metal Gothic Dwarf figure" item there, except that the image for said item had a scantly clad live human lady in a rather compromising position. Now I've seen quite a few things and I kind of think that's not how the miniature actually looks.

I conclude my investigation by stating that eBay must've finally gone entirely bonkers.  lol
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Elbows on 22 February 2018, 07:45:20 PM
Yep, there are loads of eBay bot run prices.  Even something as simple as a $30 box of plastic figures which will be listed dozens of times...and then one is just randomly listed at $59.95.  eBay bot prices are basically garbage.
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Diablo Jon on 22 February 2018, 09:01:23 PM
I just did most expensive first on eBay UKs wargames section there are some crazy prices there

£2,642.38 for a 6th edition WHFB book  lol

£14,000.00 for a DUNE CHRONICLES OF THE IMPERIUM roleplaying game  :o

£1,495.00 for 10 old style plastic Lizardmen Saurus New in a Box Games Workshop  ???

https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Wargames-Role-Playing-Games/16486/bn_1842051?_sop=16&LH_PrefLoc=1

I wonder if this stuff ever sells...
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: AWu on 22 February 2018, 09:53:28 PM
O WOW
This is gem

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/No-longer-available/272809419675?hash=item3f84b5639b:g:otwAAOSwpoxZlckb

999.999 :P

I wonder if those people check their prices sometimes :P
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: TheBlackCrane on 22 February 2018, 10:37:26 PM
Now they are not the only seller doing that and they have multiple items for sale at these strange prices.  So can anyone tell me whats this all about?  It appears not to just be wargaming stuff but even things like 99p kids stickers listed for £300?

Being the suspicious chap I am, my immediate thought is some kind of money-laundering...
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Daeothar on 23 February 2018, 08:13:49 AM
O WOW
This is gem

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/No-longer-available/272809419675?hash=item3f84b5639b:g:otwAAOSwpoxZlckb

999.999 :P

I wonder if those people check their prices sometimes :P

Meh; I'll sell you mine for €10,- less if you're intersted... lol
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: dadlamassu on 23 February 2018, 08:21:31 AM
Being the suspicious chap I am, my immediate thought is some kind of money-laundering...

You are probably correct. 
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: beefcake on 23 February 2018, 08:22:41 AM
O WOW
This is gem

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/No-longer-available/272809419675?hash=item3f84b5639b:g:otwAAOSwpoxZlckb

999.999 :P

I wonder if those people check their prices sometimes :P

Well the title says, "no longer available" so I'd say they have either sold it elsewhere or want to keep it. I've never sold on ebay but does it cost to remove a listing?
If someone buys it I'm sure they will try to sell them a copy.
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Daeothar on 23 February 2018, 08:31:03 AM
Well the title says, "no longer available" so I'd say they have either sold it elsewhere or want to keep it. I've never sold on ebay but does it cost to remove a listing?
If someone buys it I'm sure they will try to sell them a copy.

I only have sold a few items ever, but it costs you to even list an item, especially if you want the trimmings. And then you pay them a percentage over the sale as well...
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Andrew May on 23 February 2018, 08:48:23 AM
I've seen quite a lot of sponsored listings lately for double the retail price. I assumed they're just relying on suckers that just click on the first item that they see.
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Kommando_J on 23 February 2018, 03:33:25 PM
I've often wondered about that myself, I sometimes see for example, overpriced warlord games stuff and i'm tempted to point out to them that you can buy then new from warlord for half the price, had no idea about bots.
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: AWu on 23 February 2018, 03:47:55 PM
For money laundering to work there would have to be transactions on those items..
We wouldn't stumble upon them by accident.

I am suspecting bots :)
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Quendil on 23 February 2018, 03:53:33 PM
I just did most expensive first on eBay UKs wargames section there are some crazy prices there

£2,642.38 for a 6th edition WHFB book  lol

£14,000.00 for a DUNE CHRONICLES OF THE IMPERIUM roleplaying game  :o

£1,495.00 for 10 old style plastic Lizardmen Saurus New in a Box Games Workshop  ???

https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Wargames-Role-Playing-Games/16486/bn_1842051?_sop=16&LH_PrefLoc=1

I wonder if this stuff ever sells...

Last year the same seller had the Dune one at £50,000.  I made an offer but never got a reply
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Diablo Jon on 23 February 2018, 04:22:58 PM
Last year the same seller had the Dune one at £50,000.  I made an offer but never got a reply

I guess your offer wasn't to near the 50K mark  ;) but now it's down to a measly 14K you might be in with a chance  :D
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Quendil on 23 February 2018, 04:26:11 PM
I guess your offer wasn't to near the 50K mark  ;) but now it's down to a measly 14K you might be in with a chance  :D
:D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Odd Ebay sales
Post by: Bloggard on 23 February 2018, 06:31:47 PM
given a question of mine that was answered by the seller implying what Humatkt says above, I'd say that's the case at least some of the time.