Asking prices on eBay that are WAY TOO HIGH!

[pannoni1]

Hello. I ought to think of this thread of "recent rip-offs" as the counterpart to "recent steals", as not buying wisely can really serve to bust your wallet unecessarily. I hope this thread can serve as a guide to what I feel are items that are considerably overpriced, even among some rarer items. Perhaps we can find a trend and find sellers notable for their high prices. I just don't want anybody to fall into a trap on their collecting journeys!

I'll start with a no stripe April (she's our "Antique shop" person, so we'll start with her as that "a" word will become increasingly used to our figures over the years) that is described MOC, with a grade of an 85. Where does that 85 come from? A service called the AFA (action figure authority), basically the equivalent of what CGC is for the comics. If more people learn about this system, your collections may be come more valuable as more people get "educated" about this hobby. Action figures are a young hobby as unlike coins (since ancient times), stamps (Renaissance), comics (19th century) and even musical records (late 19th century), action figures are an item with a history of not even 50 years since they became popular. With some education feeling that coins/stamps may be too "old fashioned" for some and more people getting into this, action figures are definately collectibles of the future as wave after wave continues to be made.

Sure it is scarce, but $400 for an item not even of the gold level? A bit too much. $50 will do it for me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=160661850797

Well, parents may have criticized in the beginning that Fred Wolf was simply using the show to sell figures, but it may be more important than ever in the long run! Too bad I can't turn back time, grab a bunch of unopened figures and then travel back to the present!

[pannoni1]

While I'll concentrate on eBay, please feel free to post "The Big Rip-Offs" from other shopping sites, online and off-line.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Teenage-Muta...item564100b4ec

Baxter may be worth around $25 here, Splinter on a Skateboard $20, and the Shredder around $15, but the rest no more than $10. Here is another buyer you should avoid. Art dealers seem to have little knowledge of how many of these were produced and sadly overcharge them; not even giving Best Offer options.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190558731075
$650 for a lot that's worth $200 at the most here (around $120 for the Krang unopened box and $20 for each of the unopened packs).

This is something I can't swallow as I don't know how a game that goes for around $10 loose can go for so much sealed (I imagine $100 tops here).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TMNT-III-Nin...item2a10f5158f

Even a REPLICA of the TGRI prop from SOTO for $200 is asking for a lot here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NINJA-TURTLE...item23149a60e0

[turtles_kolektor]

Originally Posted by pannoni1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TMNT-III-Nin...item2a10f5158f

Even a REPLICA of the TGRI prop from SOTO for $200 is asking for a lot here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NINJA-TURTLE...item23149a60e0

Hmm, I saw somebody here on techno forum making and selling exactly the same canisters.

[Samhain]

Welcome to the secondary market.

[Roseangelo]

This is all a big "So what?" to me. Just because a price is too high according to you doesn't mean a person can't list something at that price. I list a lot of stuff for sale (not necessarily TMNT-related) for prices higher than I know I have any chance of getting because it's not worth it to me to sell them for any less. But all it takes is one person willing to pay that price to make the sale. Pretty much all of my books are listed for sale on Amazon.com at prices that vary depending on what it would take for me to let go of that book.

[tmntgoldcoin]

I agree with roseangelo. People are free to charge what they want, even if its considered high. For example, my michangelo moc error wont sell for $275, but try to find another one.

[Zachatello00]

and no one is twisting your arm to make you bid. I see where you're coming from though. Sometimes I see the prices that people list for things on ebay and I just shake my head.


I once bought a no stripe april for less than ten bucks. She's got a little wear, but oh well.

[Powder]

Something you need to realize is that a lot of people only list items at ridiculous prices to bring attention to them.
More often than not, just below the BIN is a "Make Offer" tab.

[I Crave Pizza No More]

I don't know as though this subject needs its own thread, but I am surprised at how many people have posted in it just to thread-crap. I'm also surprised at how non-chalant people are about listing things at admittedly high prices. I've been watching figures for 6 months that keep ending without bids and yet are relisted at the same price. I've made fair offers on a number of these figures, and yet continue to be turned down. My philosophy has always been to let the market determine the prices (i.e. start bidding at one cent) or to list at already low prices. For example, for awhile I was selling sets of 5 TMNT the movie bumper stickers for a couple of bucks, plus a couple of bucks for shipping. I sold a TON of them, and probably could have raised the price, but figured that selling them regularly was ultimately more valuable than selling higher priced ones less often.

And while I'll concede that each person rationalizes their business differently, I am having trouble understanding the idea of listing something at a price so high that you know no one will buy it, especially when you don't budge on the price. It seems to me that if you take the time to list it, you must want to sell it. Otherwise, why bother?

[Powder]

Originally Posted by I Crave Pizza No More

For example, for awhile I was selling sets of 5 TMNT the movie bumper stickers for a couple of bucks, plus a couple of bucks for shipping.

When you say TMNT do you literally mean the film TMNT, or the original? If they were from the '90 flick, I think I bought some off ya.

[I Crave Pizza No More]

Originally Posted by Powder

When you say TMNT do you literally mean the film TMNT, or the original? If they were from the '90 flick, I think I bought some off ya.

Haha, yes it was the original film. I made it a point to include a 6th sticker in every package just in case one became bent/folded during shipping.

[Jester]

Why does this thread remind me of this:

[mysterycolor]

i dont know why some sellers start items at such high prices- but it is only their loss if it doesn't sell. I know a lot of people have starting prices that are the same as my buy-it-now prices and i can't imagine what they are thinking! but as Roseangelo pointed out- many times it has to do with some type of sentimental value... there is a minimum to what they are willing to give up their collection for and that is totally understandable. an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay at that moment, so if someone takes the bait on a high priced auction, i say good for the seller.

[turtles_kolektor]

Originally Posted by mysterycolor

i dont know why some sellers start items at such high prices- but it is only their loss if it doesn't sell. I know a lot of people have starting prices that are the same as my buy-it-now prices and i can't imagine what they are thinking! but as Roseangelo pointed out- many times it has to do with some type of sentimental value... there is a minimum to what they are willing to give up their collection for and that is totally understandable. an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay at that moment, so if someone takes the bait on a high priced auction, i say good for the seller.

Also there is often some kind of discrimination on ebay, like for example NOT shipping international. But the worst thing is that sellers often dont even want to anserw a simple questions sended by email or even here by PM. For example You Mysterycolor, i asked You TWICE for a price and shipping costs cause i wanted to buy some toys from You but You did not anserw my question in the thread and You did not anserw my PM either. I am writing this because sometimes seller will not find a buyer for high price in US but somebody from a diffrent country could buy his stuff. For example Star Wars polish figures bootlegs from 80's that costs here just couple of bucks are selled on ebay sometimes for hundred's of dollars. So it works both way in my opinion

[mysterycolor]

Originally Posted by turtles_kolektor

Also there is often some kind of discrimination on ebay, like for example NOT shipping international. But the worst thing is that sellers often dont even want to anserw a simple questions sended by email or even here by PM. For example You Mysterycolor, i asked You TWICE for a price and shipping costs cause i wanted to buy some toys from You but You did not anserw my question in the thread and You did not anserw my PM either. I am writing this because sometimes seller will not find a buyer for high price in US but somebody from a diffrent country could buy his stuff. For example Star Wars polish figures bootlegs from 80's that costs here just couple of bucks are selled on ebay sometimes for hundred's of dollars. So it works both way in my opinion

wow, i am really sorry that i hurt your feelings i definitely responded in the thread- however i did miss the PM... honestly- i dont check my drome messages enough or even return to threads often... however i check my eBay messages all day long so that is the best way to get in touch with me about any items you are interested in. It isnt about discrimination, it is just that I only do international orders on a case-by-case basis- but I am always glad to work with fellow dromers. if you message me on eBay- just include your drome name so I know

[pannoni1]

$9.99 + $5 shipping for only ONE episode that was given away as a mass promotion at Burger King is high. I would have to say that when Nick comes back and if the series is a hit, a lot of people will assume that these items are really worth that much, only to find out that they aren't really worth that much. $14.99 may have been face value for the FHE tapes back then, but given how many are still around, don't buy it!

Honestly, I wish somebody could publish "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Second Time Around: The Complete Price Guide to Collectibles and Memorabilia". I could have some people on the board do a different department analyzing the buy, sell, and garage sale trends of various items in different departments (comics, action figures, animation cels, DVD/movie releases, and an "everything else" category for items such as video games, party accessories, lunch boxes, board games, and much, much more. Prices would be compiled through a mean survey of eBay results, garage sale prices, antique (dare I say that word yet?) stores, some quotes from the Buying/Selling section of this forum, prices listed in certain comic book price guide publications, as well as other online retailers. I would love to get a few contributers and a publisher and when TMNT comes back and is a hit, cash in and provide a valuable resource for turtle collecting.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TMNT-VHS-TAP...item1e675fe40a

Then if you look here, you'll notice not only Invasion of the Turtle Snatchers, but the Great Boldini for nearly $5 less! Sometimes it's important to shop around so you can avoid being gipped!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Teenage-mu...item25676c92ed

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by pannoni1

$9.99 + $5 shipping for only ONE episode that was given away as a mass promotion at Burger King is high. I would have to say that when Nick comes back and if the series is a hit, a lot of people will assume that these items are really worth that much, only to find out that they aren't really worth that much. $14.99 may have been face value for the FHE tapes back then, but given how many are still around, don't buy it!

Who are you to determine that an item is not worth that much? If that's too expensive for you to buy it, then don't. But I don't get why you get so upset at people selling at prices you don't agree with.

[TMNT-Leonardo]

Who really cares? If it's too high, don't buy it.

[Ninja_Shoe_Repair]

maybe I'm the exception to the rule but I do pay high prices for things that are rare or just in really good shape that is normally hard to come by in that particular shape. I'd have no problem spending $80 for an Archie comic if it's hard to come by and really good shape. I also don't ship international so my apologies as I do know it's a growing trend on ebay.

[Candy Kappa]

People want to make money off their Ebay items? Preposterous!