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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at profit hungry ebayers?

138 replies

woopdiedoo · 27/10/2012 22:27

Grrrr!!!! I am doing some shopping online for Xmas and DDs 2nd birthday which is Xmas eve. She is mr tumble mad so I was really pleased to ding they did Mr T toys exclusively in tesco - except, they are currently out of stock.

Had a quick look on EBay and there are dozens and dozens of the same toys for sale at massively inflated prices! I know everyone has to make a living but I'm really upset by this!

I'm not sure what to do. Money is tight especially with a birthday and Xmas but I know DD would LOVE these toys. Do I just buy them off eBay and get them less or hope that tesco gets more in and I'm lucky enough to but one before the eBay vultures descend?

I feel like emailing the sellers and telling them that they are out of order. A few quid more I could accept but they are doubling and tripling the price in some cases. Sad Angry.

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Original poster
woopdiedoo · 27/10/2012 23:43

Thanks hocus pocus. It's daft but I got all excited when I spotted the toys thinking of how happy she would be when she opened them only to have it dashed Sad. Then I got mad so I came on here to have a good old rant about it Grin.

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LineRunner · 27/10/2012 23:48

But I just googled ebaY and there are My Tumble toys on private auctions starting at 99p.

There are some nice ones bidding at £1.95 and £2.99.

Nuttyprofessor · 27/10/2012 23:48

I have plenty of cash for christmas because I sell on eBay. It is an easy way to turn a profit for a small investment. A lot of the people who continually moan about being skint could make their lives much easier if they tried it.

If I bought stocks and shares you would expect me to try and sell them at a profit. eBay is about supply and demand so you buy what you know will be in demand. Provided I describe it acurately, pack it well and send as promised I don't think I am doing anything wrong.

Original poster
woopdiedoo · 27/10/2012 23:51

I agree cahoots, hence my dilemma. I don't want to pay their prices but I want to get DD presents she will love and make her happy.

Good point being - I'm guessing that the seller in question had a bit of money considering the number of this toy alone they are selling. It's clever because they are creating the demand by making the thing honour of stock in the first place. Very clever tactics.

Thanks for the advice Kelly. I always promise myself we will start early but I've found that what they like/want at the beginning or during the year often changes come Xmas so I try to save up and get them what they really want as they don't get a lot so I would rather it be things they have asked for iyswim.

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BeingBooyhoo · 27/10/2012 23:53

i agree nutty professor. people could do this if they wanted to and make sure they have a bit of money for xmas next year with a bit of planning. and it really doesn't take lots of money to start.

MissKeithLemon · 27/10/2012 23:57

I think its an awful practice too Whoop and LBE. I refuse to buy from e bayers trying to cash in on trends in kids toys, tickets etc. I've Thought about making a spreadshit before and noting down some of the worst offenders and dobbing them in to hmrc who also have a bugbear with this kind of black market trading Wink can't be bothered really but i wish someone would!

Original poster
woopdiedoo · 27/10/2012 23:57

I will have a proper look at some point linerunner, I just realised that the lack of stock was due to ebayers so got annoyed and came on here.

Fair play nuttyprofessor. I do actually sell our unwanted things on eBay such as baby clothes etc but it takes a lot of time and I don't make much. I have considered doing this with next sales but its just finding the time as DD still isn't sleeping through and I'm lucky if I even manage to get housework done at the moment .

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BeingBooyhoo · 28/10/2012 00:00

actually i think i might do this to save for next xmas.

misskeith i spend a bit of time on the MSE forum and quite a lot of people on there buy and sell on ebay to save for xmas. from what i've read most of them declare their profits to HMRC.

ilovesooty · 28/10/2012 00:00

I don't see why buying and selling on Ebay to make a profit is worse when it's children's toys.

LadyEvilBeagle · 28/10/2012 00:01

Hmm, KeithLemon, I've never thought about the HMRC, but I bet your'e right.

Original poster
woopdiedoo · 28/10/2012 00:01

That's a good point misskeithlemon. I don't know, there's just something that feels underhand in it all and taking advantage. If they don't declare the earnings then it is obviously illegal too.

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BeingBooyhoo · 28/10/2012 00:05

dont earnings only have to be declared if it's over a certain threshold?

Original poster
woopdiedoo · 28/10/2012 00:05

Ilovesooty - I guess it isn't worse in practice but from my point of view they are taking advantage of parents who want to get their children nice presents that they want and will like. I know that people can just say well I won't buy it then but if its something your DC has asked for then out of love and parental guilt you will do whatever it takes. And they are taking advantage and making massive profits.

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BeingBooyhoo · 28/10/2012 00:06

it's not any worse ilovesooty. it's just some people get sentimental about toys they dont even own yet.

Original poster
woopdiedoo · 28/10/2012 00:07

I don't know being but there is a guide on eBay itself. I stumbled upon it when setting up my account as you can select business seller and there was a note about HMRC under that option.

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Original poster
woopdiedoo · 28/10/2012 00:08

I don't think I'm being sentimental - just trying to do something nice for DD as I want her to be happy.

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LineRunner · 28/10/2012 00:09

On ebaY, if you buy something to sell it on, you immediately in theory become a business seller and have to register with HMRC. You migh earn so little that you never actually pay tax on it, but you are officially required to declare yourself a business seller.

That includes buying at a charity shop for re-sale.

EbaY now supplies HMRC with trend data so it can pick up obvious cases. But for ebeyars selling on, on a smaller scale, if it's not reported, it'll probably go undetected.

ilovesooty · 28/10/2012 00:09

If you're in business buying and selling I don't think that other people's financial circumstances are your concern, other than ensuring they pitch prices to ensure sales. It's life: people's capacity to spend money varies.

I don't think this massive guilt about not being able to afford commercialised tat existed years ago either.

BeingBooyhoo · 28/10/2012 00:09

they cant take advantage if you dont buy from them! seriously, a request from your child is not law! children do not suffer from not getting exactly the thing they want. people get so ridiculous and put themselves into so much debt over this mad idea that children must have whatever they ask for. it cracks me up. and then people complain when their child discards the gift on boxing day in favour of the toy they got fromm their xmas meal cracker.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 28/10/2012 00:11

Op the exact same bag (I think) is listed on amazon at £32, maybe the sellers did their comparison there::

www.amazon.co.uk/MR-TUMBLE-SOMETHING-SPECIAL-SPOTTY/dp/B009P41FEC/ref=sr_1_2?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1351379007&sr=1-2

ilovesooty · 28/10/2012 00:11

I don't see why, at 2 her happiness will be compromised by not having the latest trendy toy.

BeingBooyhoo · 28/10/2012 00:12

thanks linerunner.

MissKeithLemon · 28/10/2012 00:13

BeingBoo, well then they would be fine. Me, I'm sceptical that the mass profiteering from kids toys is all fully taxed. Like I said though I haven't the time or inclination... but I wish someone would.

Also, not 100% sure but Mr Tumble toys are probably heavily licenced by the BBC too....

I know that companies such as Clarins and other luxury items have people regularly pulled from e-bay for this type of thing.

Good riddance I say! Capitalism is all very well but a level playing field it is not regarding things like this.

LBE - I AM right! If anyone wants to have a go at recording/reporting any shameless profiteers I'd be perfectly happy to point them in the right direction with HMRC Grin

ilovesooty · 28/10/2012 00:14

It's not surprising that children become so possession/brand conscious so early now. And it's where a lot of school bullying is rooted.

Original poster
woopdiedoo · 28/10/2012 00:18

They are taking advantage in the sense that they know people will buy the stuff out of love and guilt. I know nobody is forcing me to buy it but I have no option as they've made the toys honour of stock in the only shop that sells them (according to tesco). I believe the amazon bag will also be a private seller as on eBay but I haven't checked that out.

Her happiness won't be compromised but it will make her happy to have the toy, that's why I want to get it.

Are people seriously saying that they don't get a pang of guilt, even if they don't act in it, when their DC makes a reasonable request for something and you can't get it for them for no other reason than you can't afford it? Must just be me then.

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