Could someone please explain a situation to me about ebay. For example i see a whole bunch of auctions for model airplanes that are under 10 bucks, and have no bids. For example this one... [link=http://cgi.ebay.com/60-91-RC-Sports-Plane-Ultra-Easy-Stik-Airplane-ARF-Kit_W0QQitemZ190305492092QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRadio_ Control_Vehicles?hash=item2c4f175c7c&_trksid=p3286 .c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318 |301%3A1|293%3A18|294%3A50#ebayphotohosting]Click here[/link] How does it work out, will the seller actually let the plane go for such little money? or do you think he has another account and bids on is own auctions to keep them for going too cheap?

you have two days to go on this it will go up also check the shipping $29.00

Most of my Ebay wins have been by submitting a fair upper limit and letting the automatic bid take care of it. Many people will come in at the last second and "snipe" the auction. If you really want it, you need to keep a close eye on it at the very last second. Then again, if times are tough, perhaps no one will be bidding and you'll get a good deal. That's the beauty of E-Bay.

Of course now that you've let everyone on RC Universe know about it, you won't get it for that price. Unless of course you're actually the seller and are trying to drive up the price... Hmmmm, now I get it!

Brad

one thing to look at is right under "current Bid", if it says "reserve not met", then no, they don't have to sell it, otherwise, yes they have to, "or suppose to"

Those won't end up any where close to the price shown. They have these items on all the time and they all end up going for about what you would pay for it at the LHS. Remember on this item it is $29 shipping. So, with 2 days to go it is already up to $50 shipped. I am on Ebay all the time and you will see these repeat planes often.

Metallica,
He won't be bidding on his own inventory.
If he does then he will have to pay ebay their commision since it appears sold.
They start low to get attention and watch it get bid up.
Most have a reserve that protects them from a loss.
The high freight is for their profit since they don't pay commision on that.
They can then sell the product for cost and make $15 on the freight.
I've known brick and mortars to do this just to get their volume up with suppliers.
Then at the end of the year they get a volume discount refund from the supplier.
Lots of games played on ebay.
Just make sure you add in the freight and sales tax when doing price comparing.
Then factor in the risk involved in dealing with an unknown seller versus a known seller.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

If I was selling this plane, that probably would be the actual shipping cost. The box for an arf is oversized and heavy when priced for a walk in person like myself. I shipped out an arf box and it cost me around 20 bucks at USPS, and they're the cheapest. It was only a 25 size stick too.

True that a lot of people make money on their shipping charges, especially Amazon.com, but sometimes it does cost that much to ship something.

I have had a policy of not bidding on items with excessive shipping. However a favorite engine came up, one that I always bid on if I get in quick enough. I bid on it and got it for less than my bid, shipping included. I have scored two other engines in a similar fashion. So I have readjusted my principles.[8D]

I don't have a problem with them charging high shipping, I just always calculate it into my total and make my appropriate bid.

You also have to take into account the materials for packaging as well as the time to actually ship the product when talking about shipping charges. When I sell on Ebay, (which is not very often) I charge enough so that I can go out and buy a box, good packaging material, and cover my time and gas to drive to the post office, as well as the base charge of just shipping. Just remember that it is not only the actual shipping charge you are paying for, but the total cost of shipping an item, which is higher than most people realize.

thanks for the replies now i get it

Brett,
Your point is well taken.
However, he is a power seller with over 800 sales in less than 2 years.
If he doesn't have an account, and there are considerable discounts given
if you do, he isn't a very smart business person.
I bet he has one.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

I shall resist the temptation to buy another airplane. But I had to take a look. Ebay is where I found a seller by the name of Omni Models selling a U-Can-Do 46 for a little less than what Tower sells them for. Duh! Omni is Tower, but OK. I've had just as good luck with Omni as Tower. That same seller has quite a few interesting RC airplanes and things. I think he even had two of those "Stiks" posted. Watch it closely, hope you get a good deal.

I often list items on ebay with a 1 dollar starting price no reserve and free shipping. There is usually enough interest for the item to reach its fair value. On the occasions where the buyer gets a steal I'm happy for them. Interestingly, the buyers who end up getting a nice item for a buck with free shipping are usually the least friendly. I have no idea why.

the auction ended at 63.88+28.73 shipping for less than 100$. its a good price for a stick arf, but quite a bit more than the 10$ starting price,these sellers Omni,Hobb-e-Mart there inventory dumpers, and dammaged goods sellers for the major distributors thats all they can afford to sell items below retail because there still meeting the bottom line cost.

starting prices for items never end up sticking there is always some one watching a item if your lucky you get a item cheaper than retail, shop smart and you will find a deal , shop stupid and throw your money away, there's plenty of buyers who throw away there money and buy items that can be had for less from the retailers like www.towerhobbies.com because they didn't do there research first, and decided they had to have that item no matter what the cost.

Yeah, and most of the time I think its just better buying it from a brick and mortar store like Tower. It'll be brand new, never opened and probably complete. A year ago I bought an Avistar from some guy on Ebay, probably saved at the most $15. It was missing the manual, and some of the pushrods. Fortunately I had the manual from an earlier build and it's available online, and I easily came up with a pushrod from my lhs. He did throw in a prop and some glue, but if I did it again, I would have rather just ordered it from Tower or Omni. So buyer beware from Ebay purchases. Oh, and I completed the Avistar build. I looks good. Made it a taildragger and it has a GMS 47 on it. Should be a good sport aerobat.