[UK-CONTEST] EBay Scams

[Bob Henderson]

I don't know which UK retailer is involved but what you refer to is common
practice among ebay retailers.  Frankly, I see nothing at all wrong with it,
unless they are bidding on their own offerings, which is a definate no-no.

Offering a reel of RG213 at a starting price of £28 seems a very reasonable
price to me.  If, as you suggested in your initial mail, it doesn't sell,
then someone missed out on a very good deal.  If it does sell below the
retailer's normal selling price, then someone got a good deal.  After the
sale, the retailer makes folks aware he has plenty more at the regular
price.  Why not?

Auctions are always dangerous places for folks who suffer from bid fever.
It's that which causes stuff to be traded way over its reasonable market
value.  If you have any doubt about that, just ask my wife next time you see
her about the delightful Austin Allegro I bought for her from the motor
auctions back in 1982. :-))  The old advice is the best advice:  Decide
before you start bidding, what is the maximum the item is worth to you and
never exceed that figure.

Anyway, enough, enough, enough!  This is not an ebay forum.  I say that
before 100 observers points this out.

Over and out.

73  Bob, 5B4AGN


----- Original Message -----
From: "G3SJJ" <g3sjj at btinternet.com>
To: "Bob Henderson" <bob at cytanet.com.cy>; "UK Contest Reflector"
<uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 6:56 AM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] EBay Scams


Yes I appreciate that Bob, but in this case I felt there was an ulterior
motive, in that, the first reel was sold as a loss leader, or maybe even
sold back to the company. Others who were bidding but lost were then guided
to the batch at a higher price.

I understand the risks but felt that this auction was more than just one
reel. More a case of "reeling you in!"

Chris G3SJJ


-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Bob Henderson
Sent: 15 July 2005 04:00
To: G3SJJ; UK Contest Reflector
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] EBay Scams


It's an auction, Chris.  That's the way auctions work.  The seller takes a
risk that he only gets one bid and that's at a price, possibly below his
cost.  He takes that risk in the hope of getting many bids and selling at a
profit.

Dear oh dear, this is a very old game.  You only need to play if you want to
:-))

Bob, 5B4AGN


----- Original Message -----
From: "G3SJJ" <g3sjj at btinternet.com>
To: "UK Contest Reflector" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 9:40 PM
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] EBay Scams


Not exactly a scam but a worrying trend using Ebay for ham radio gear,
although I am sure there are plenty of other scams on Ebay.

I noted a well known UK retailer had put a 100m reel of RG213 up for auction
starting at £28. This was ideal as we had identified we needed this
additional amount for our GU8D effort in the IOTA Contest and could collect
en-route to the ferry, saving delivery charge. It went up to £32 quickly but
then stayed there until the last 2 minutes when in innocence I started
bidding. "Out-bidded" reports kept being returned until time ran out and the
item went for £46. Then, of course, "See our other items" comes up and there
is another 9 reels at £55.

My conclusion is that :

1 - They and other major retailers see this as a useful marketing ploy,
almost advertising on the cheap. I guess the others are doing the same
trick. Cheaper than several column-inches or indeed 2 pages in Radcom.

2 - They put up a batch of ten reels with one as a "loss-leader" if in fact
it is sold at all.

3 - The rest are sold at say 10 quid under normal price. £90 to £100 for the
outing, good VFM.

4 - I don't like being manipulated by big business, but I guess that is real
life these days.

Chris G3SJJ
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