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Original poster

To think it's cunty to buy up popular toys then flog em on eBay for several x the price??

222 replies

GaryShitpeas · 30/11/2014 20:32

There are a few things my dc want for Christmas that are sold out everywhere. So I've looked online and I've seen them all on eBay (on buy it now) for loads more than they cost in the shops

I think it's grabby, vile and morally reprehensible. Cashing in on children. wtf

Mind you I also blame the manufacturers to some extent as I suspect they deliberately don't release new stock to create hype. And also the parents that are blithely handing over their money to these cunts are dipshits as well

OP posts:
Original poster
GaryShitpeas · 30/11/2014 23:20

Nickifury Shock

That's awful

OP posts:
temporaryusername · 30/11/2014 23:28

Buying things with the intention to sell them on at a profit is called retail, surely? Everything you buy is being sold with the aim of profit. Including toys. Toy retailers aren't charities because, you know, it's children. The profit margin on things you buy in store is huge. The retailers bank on exploiting a child's desire for a certain toy. Children are a big economic force.

People will obviously do what they are able to do to make money. I doubt any of you will be going to your employer and saying 'you know what, I could do this for less...let's pass on the saving'. I do agree that individuals buying products from stores at RRP and then selling them on without being subject to regulations/paying taxes etc could be distorting, but I'd say the onus should be trying to regulate that, not blaming individuals.

temporaryusername · 30/11/2014 23:29

ps. I've never bought anything on ebay or from any non-official 'seller' either so I admit I don't have many examples to go on!

LaurieFairyCake · 30/11/2014 23:31

This threads a bit harsh. I've just gone to check the must have Elsa singing doll thingy and there's plenty in Argos for £35 and the cheapest on EBay buy it now is £36.

So actually I feel a bit sorry for the desperate people hoping to pay for their own Christmas by trying really hard to earn that £1.

It's supply and demand, there's always going to be people with plenty of dosh who can afford to buy that Hidden Orange Heston pudding for a fiver more or a teletubby at a 100 quid.

I can't feel sorry for anyone daft enough to spunk a 100 on a teletubby - no one needs a teletubby Hmm whereas people do need to make a couple of Bob out of desperation

At no point have I ever needed to overpay for something on EBay - because I'm not an eejit sucked in by capitalism

BOFster · 30/11/2014 23:32

Mintyy, to be fair, there is an infinitesimal difference between obliged and obligated, to the point where they are practically interchangeable. To be obligated holds more of a legal compulsion, whereas being obliged has more of a moral sense, but apart from the perceived Americanism, it's not something to split hairs over.

Theoretician · 30/11/2014 23:32

Haven't read the whole thread. I have no problem with people trying to profit by selling overpriced goods, that's just free market at work. It means the original sellers have screwed up by selling them to cheap. I would judge the people who buy the stuff at those prices though.

I actually saw some twat selling Argos reservations for Snow Glow Elsa dolls on ebay the other week. You paid them £25 and they sent you the reservation number for whichever store they had managed to find stock in.

Genius!

duchesse · 30/11/2014 23:34

One of the major reasons why it's abhorrent is that a few resellers are buying up entire stocks of something at the RRP, thereby creating a shortage of that thing and artificially driving up the prices. The only solution if you find it problematic is for people not to buy these things from them. If it didn't work, they wouldn't keep doing it. The problem with it in my view is that it highlights something many people don't like in themselves, namely the desire to have something that everybody else wants- people who can buy the thing at the inflated price have "won" in their own eyes, as have the people who snaffled up all the things to resell. It's basic acquisitiveness and naked capitalism joined together and people don't like to feel they're at the bottom of the pyramid.

Backtobedlam · 30/11/2014 23:35

Yes we are paying over the odds in the first place, but a major difference in my eyes is that the toy retailers employ people, they buy toys from manufacturers who also employ people, who buy raw materials from companies that also employ people. They pay tax and help keep our economy going. The individuals on eBay are totally different.

duchesse · 30/11/2014 23:36

Surely those Argos reservations aren't everlasting? If they have any sense, they'll only stay in existence for a day at most, else the shop would have useless taking up room in the warehouse.

ChristmasSparkle · 30/11/2014 23:36

Hmmm.Not read all the replies, but I'm torn. If someone sees (for example) a Frozen product in their local Poundland for (obviously) a pound.
Why shouldn't they buy the item and then put the item on Ebay for a starting bid of a pound? They've paid the market value.If people are willing to pay out stupid amounts then more fool them.
Not done it myself, but can see why people do.

ChristmasSparkle · 30/11/2014 23:40

There is a £30 quid doll going for £150. Pure greed.

No idea to where you're referring to, but why is a £30 doll going for £150?! That's just ridiculous. If you want something that badly, why not just buy it earlier in the year as opposed to the run up to Christmas?! Confused

jellybeans · 30/11/2014 23:44

It is horrible and selfish. Sadly it is the way of society and most people these days.

HerrenaHarridan · 30/11/2014 23:46

This thread is making me lose the will to live never mind my christmas goodwill.

I'm going to hide it and try to forget it.

*sticks mistletoe in ears, downs egg nog and runs of the the cheerful christmas tree thread

caroldecker · 30/11/2014 23:52

Suppliers do not know what the must toy will be and need to make the quantity descison early in the year. They are not set up to make more supply now. Buyers will bulk buy, not knowing the demand, i am sure many of these people bulk buy stock that is not in demand and lose money on items.

Darkesteyes · 30/11/2014 23:58

Fucking vile The Black Friday ruckas and all this is NOT what Christmas is about FFS!

It makes me feel incredibly sad. I sometimes wish i could whizz back in time and experience a 1980s Christmas again.

When you didnt have all this crap.

BMW6 · 30/11/2014 23:59

Exactly caroldecker - It's a gamble and sometimes they lose big time. Experienced Purchasers for the big chains and stores choose stock months and months ahead. Some will be big sellers, other lines not and end up in the sales.

For individuals the trick is to buy asap while stocks are in..... and don't feed the Ebay sharks!

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 01/12/2014 00:00

People selling have to make a profit though don't they. I'm afraid that's the way the world is. Most 7 billion of us are cunty and selfish, and that's fine. It's called survival!

fatlazymummy · 01/12/2014 00:06

iliveinalighthouse speak for yourself. It's not 'fine' to some of us.

LaurieFairyCake · 01/12/2014 00:06

Lol at 1980's Christmas

My dad spent over a hundred pounds buying that tennis electronic game in 1981 when it first came out - from a shifty bloke in the pub

Along with a golden Labrador

And a gold chain

All dodgy as fuck/fallen off the back of a lorry

''Twas ever thus Grin

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 01/12/2014 00:38

FLM.
IMO it is fine to be selfish. Where would we all be if we put everyone before ourselves.
The grabbing hands grab all they can.

Darkesteyes · 01/12/2014 01:12

Everything counts in large amounts.

Andrewofgg · 01/12/2014 03:13

Garyshitpeas You say I'm all for people being entrepreneurial and making their own money etc. I'm self employed myself. But IMO buying up loads of stock in shops purely to sell on at vastly inflated prices just isn't right

The trouble is that those two opinions can't both be right.

As for tickets to sporting and musical events: ffs. If you can't get a ticket you can't go. You won't die over it. More fool the organisers for not setting the price at market-force level in the first place.

aurynne · 01/12/2014 03:25

If no one paid for the inflated prices, it would just not happen.

It may be "cunty", but to actually make a big deal of it, or even worse, spend 5 times the price just so your precious child has the latest "cool toy" is just pathetic. If anyone is so intent on having this toy, the logical thing to do would be to wait until after Xmas, it will come back in stock and will be much cheaper.

MokunMokun · 01/12/2014 03:36

Yes, the consumers are to blame and I do wonder how many people will be stuck with loads of Frozen tat that they bought to sell on EBay but no one wants. It's a big risk.

I bought my kids presents on Amazon as they have free shipping. I did have a look at used goods on eBay as DD wants Sylvanian Family stuff but when you add in the P&P it's often cheaper and easier to buy new.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 01/12/2014 03:50

When Beanie Babies were the thing I bought and sold them for profit. We hadn't been married very long and I was a SAHM with a baby and we were scraping the barrel money wise. We made ends meet, but only just. I would buy them and put them on ebay, but I would start each one at what I paid for it. Often people would get in a bidding war and push the price up but I also sold a few at no profit at all.

It paid for us to have a holiday in the US. We stayed with friends and spent very little money but we got to go away, there is no way we would have done that otherwise. While we were away DH was able to interview for a company that ended up employing him and paying for us to move abroad to a city and people that we love. That was about 15 years ago. I have no regrets.

It isn't the same as milk or other things necessary for life. Toys are not a necessity, your child will not die if they don't get the latest and greatest, it might actually end up being good for them, maybe no, but who knows, it was for my kids. Especially Christmas toys, it isn't a big surprise that Christmas or birthdays come around the same time every year and if your kids will only love and appreciate one mass marketed toy then your problem may not be the person who is making a profit.

I refuse to feel even slightly bad about it.

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