eBay gone wild!

[firearmsunlimited]

We all know that pricing on specific grips styles has severely gone up in the last couple of years. Unfortunately, several sellers on eBay are taking pricing to new levels. I don't believe any one has a problem with seeing inflated prices as there is always the option to merely pass and wait for a more palatable deal. However, I recently scrolled through the N frame grips up for sale on fleaBay and find that there are some pretty beat up sets with horribly high starting prices. In particular there is a guy from Indianapolis that used to sell boxes, owners manual, cleaning rods, etc. at fair market value. He now has delved into the grip sale market and is placing opening bids on some relatively used-up sets at sky high prices. In particular there is a set of Cokes with an opening of $499.99. The bottom edges are dinged up, nickel plating is worn off of the medallions, the rear outside lower chip area looks as if it were repaired with roofing tar, the inside top area has finish completely gone. Then there is a pair of unreleaded diamond targets with starting price of $350.00. Clearly they have been refinished as there are cross grain sanding marks in several places, they do not fit together at all - possible 2 grips from different origninal sets, the bottom of the butt area is wasted. Finally there is a pair of full relief targets from the late 70s + with an opening bid price of $125.00. Both grips are missing the washers and look as if someone tried to fit them to a specific frame using a hatchet! Based on the fleaBay prices a good set of Cokes should start a $1K, unreleaved targets at $700 and full relief targets at $250 - Are you kidding me? Looks like S&W collectors are being discriminated agains. Isn't discrimination illegal?

 

[truckemup97]

Thanks for the heads-up. I have some grips to sell!

 

[Andy Griffith]

Maybe it's the Chinese and Japanese that are buying them, since they can't own the guns...they own the parts they may.

That's just a guess... I pulled this reason out of my....posterior.
Anyway, I read they used to pay big bucks for old Levis...

 

[smith17]

I can't really blame someone for pricing something as they sit fit. The market usually determines if it is acceptable; there have been several items recently that were priced high to begin with and never got a bid. I see the same thing at every gun show I go to.
One thing I have seen on Ebay is the couple of guys on this forum (same handle both places) who insist on busting the Buy It Now option by bidding 0.99 for a starting bid at about 2am after the auction gets posted, never going higher. For what purpose? So a willing bidder doesn't have a chance for a quick purchase?

Ed

 

[sigp220.45]

If they price them too high, they just won't sell. If they do sell, then I guess they weren't too high.

When I sell on eBay, I usually just start at .99 with no reserve, and let the good times roll.

As a seller, I've given up on the Buy It Now option, for the reason stated above. Inevitably someone will pop in with the minimum bid and knock out the BIN option. If it was free, I'd keep doing it. But since it costs to put a BIN price I just don't bother anymore.

 

[buser]

It's an auction site. The buyer will determine the price. If the starting price is too high, it won't sell. If it does sell, the price wasn't too high for someone.

 

[kennyb]

i dont see where discrimination enters the picture...the market always has a few with sky high pricing...various auctions,gun shows,anywhere you look...nothing new there...it's certainly nothing unique to ebay

 

[Duke426]

Yep, and all those sets of stocks have been, and will continue to be, relisted over and over again with no takers. There have been several sets of factory combat grips on there at $250 for over a year...you would think the seller would get the hint but apparently has not. The market is speaking but he/she ain't listening. Let 'em rot.

 

[Strato]

Did Ebay change the rules? I've bought many items by clicking "buy it now" even though there were several bids.

 

[mkk41]

I recall during the 70 and 80s , ya could walk into most gunshops and find a big box of S&W take off grips , magnas and targets , for $5 a set. Nobody wanted them. Everybody was replacing them with aftermarket grips.

 

[smith17]

Strato:
I think if the seller has set a reserve, the Buy It Now option stays in play up until that point.
Ed

 

[Brett248Vista]

I recall during the 70 and 80s , ya could walk into most gunshops and find a big box of S&W take off grips , magnas and targets , for $5 a set. Nobody wanted them. Everybody was replacing them with aftermarket grips.

Kind of like when a guy brought home his shiny new Muscle Car back in the day, the first thing to come off was the beauty rings and center caps.. Now a days you pay a mint and a half for those items for old cars!

 

[Strato]

Strato:
I think if the seller has set a reserve, the Buy It Now option stays in play up until that point.
Ed

Oh ok thanks. Now it makes sense

 

[m1gunner]

Some of the wierd pricing seen on ebay is money laundering and drug deal payments.

A fairly easy way to move money around, even use a credit card to buy contraband.

With the political clout ebay has with the current administration, no one is going to go snooping into their transactions.

 

[kennyb]

I recall during the 70 and 80s , ya could walk into most gunshops and find a big box of S&W take off grips , magnas and targets , for $5 a set. Nobody wanted them. Everybody was replacing them with aftermarket grips.

i agree...first thing we did was pop on some new pach's now the pach's bring nothing and everyone is looking for the original grips..

 

[firearmsunlimited]

i dont see where discrimination enters the picture...the market always has a few with sky high pricing...various auctions,gun shows,anywhere you look...nothing new there...it's certainly nothing unique to ebay

I was just being sarcastic with the discrimination comment.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

I can't really blame someone for pricing something as they sit fit. The market usually determines if it is acceptable; there have been several items recently that were priced high to begin with and never got a bid. I see the same thing at every gun show I go to.
One thing I have seen on Ebay is the couple of guys on this forum (same handle both places) who insist on busting the Buy It Now option by bidding 0.99 for a starting bid at about 2am after the auction gets posted, never going higher. For what purpose? So a willing bidder doesn't have a chance for a quick purchase?

Ed

I agree with you, the market will eventually level itself out. My point was that I hate to see sub standard items being listed for top dollar prices. Ya, that it certianly free trade but it certainly isn't very ethical - I guess it's just being opportunistic. The 99 cent gig certainly is just to spoil the chance for a quick purchase by someone else. Unfortunately it isn't the only silly game currently being played.

 

[smith17]

It probably doesn't apply to the seller to whom you initially referred but there is a lot of stuff hitting the auction due to the economy. More and more folks are having to raise some extra cash in order to make ends meet and many don't have the knowledge of the items. I follow old ammo boxes and I have not seen before the very common and recent items that are claimed to be rare, with starting prices around $29. Most won't sell for a tenth of that.
On the flip side, some of the prices realized have been abnormally high for S&W items. Within the last couple of months, a small red Chiefs Special box with Helpful Hints brochure went for more than $450. Buyer might have had the original gun but...
I think some buyers are convinced astronomical inflation is just around the corner and are getting what they want while they can afford them. Just my theory.
Ed