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Why do people want so much for second hand items ?

84 replies

overcovermultitasker · 18/10/2020 23:47

So I try to buy second hand/ used from eBay or FB to save money, but it seems people seem to be asking virtually the cost new minus a few pounds. I sell my good condition stuff on for about 10-20% of the original price.

I just sold some curtains in perfect condition from JL cost £75 new, for £12 for example on FB. Yet when I try to buy people want the mega bucks Hmm Just looking at playpens and people are asking £90 for ones that cost £110/ £120 new ! AIBU people can't be selling anything at these crazy second hand prices well I can't be buying I'm on a tight budget!

OP posts:
TheSandman · 19/10/2020 12:27

@DynamoKev

I have just replaced my coffee machine after 14 years. The old one still works but it's not great, and the model is no longer available.

Someone has been listing one just like my old (nearly dead one) on ebay for £175. The first couple of times it didn't sell - so their brilliant strategy is to relist again at £210.

I may list mine at 99p just to annoy them.

My parents used to sell antiques. (This was before internet.) If something didn't sell they'd move it somewhere else in the shop. if it didn't sell after that... they'd put it somewhere really prominent... lower the price... hide it at the back... If all else failed they'd put the price up. It was surprising how often things would then suddenly sell for more than they thought was a fair price.
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 19/10/2020 12:36

Because:

  • they price not on demand, but on what money they need
  • they price emotionally based on what they paid for it and can't handle the sense of crystallising a loss (despite having had the value of using the item themselves)
  • because they can only afford/justify buying things (eg expensive branded childrens clothes) on the basis they will sell them on for almost as much as they paid
FairfaxAikman · 19/10/2020 15:21

Even junk is overpriced.

I was after a galvanised watering can for an upcycling project.

Didn't need to be in usable condition for what I needed it for but even rusty ones with holes had price tags of £20 +

Did manage to get one free in the end

overcovermultitasker · 19/10/2020 16:21

@LindaEllen I've tried quite a few times making offers politely, I'm usually ignored. I see the items still kicking about.

OP posts:
MyShinyWhiteTeeth · 19/10/2020 16:53

@BlusteryShowers

If you've got something a bit unusual and you're not in a hurry to get rid of it then I see no harm in waiting for the right buyer. I am a bit Hmm when I see people trying to sell things that are really common for like nee prices.

I tried to sell a barely used Mamas and Papas Moses basket a few months ago and I couldn't give it away for free, but there were people there wanting £40 for theirs.

You can sell the seperate moses basket covers and hood quite easily if they are in good condition.
ButterflyCandy86 · 15/12/2020 10:54

Nope, you are not being unreasonable at all, you are absolutely SPOT ON with this post, and I am so GLAD someone wrote this, because I was just about to do the same!

Take for example, furniture/sofas - this has always been the case on Ebay, people thinking that because they paid £4000 for a sofa, that their emotional attachment to the stupid price they paid for it, is everyone else's emotional attachment. rolls eyes in disgust

Never mind the fact they've farted on it, probably spilled food, drink, kids vomited, wiped their snot and body fluids, as well as probably had SEX on it, yet here they are expecting the rest of the world to be emotionally involved on the same level as them price wise.

No, YOU decided to pay that much for your sofa, that was a conscious decision that YOU made, and was content with - whether it is still in good condition or not, your sofa does not come with warranty or a choice of different colours, so no I'm not going to give you £1400 for something you have had 6 years that is still in perfect condition (your idea of perfect), and only sat in your dining room used by guests 4 times - I will happily add the extra on top to get it brand new, and know that it is fresh out the shop. If your price is reduced significantly then I may re-consider. And furthermore, you could be lying about how many times it has been used.

Ebay is supposed to be a platform where you can grab a bargain, that was always the business model of it in the first place, but no, now it is full of greedy, self-absorbed, obnoxious twats that think highly of themselves and their goods. What happens is this, they pay full whack for something, then become ignorant within their own mindset wanting most of their money back, feeling hard done by, refusing to picture anyone else on their ^^amazing piece of furniture unless they get back most of their money for it - it's got nothing to do with the item holding it's value. The shop told you it was 4k, but guess what? Do your maths and ask yourself just how much it cost them even as a corporate company to buy/make - have fun with the results of your research 🙃

For example, there are 3 idiots on Ebay right now that I would refer to as none other than narcissistic sociopathic adults that must have had a real shit childhood. Why? I've added 3 links, Purple Iggy Sofa, Stella Sofa, and the capitalist flogging the George Smith sofas in his fake done up drawing room.

Take 'Mrs Optimistic' for example with her Purple Iggy Sofa - right, she has had this on there for over a month now, look at the state of it, the lip of the seat cushions all hanging over where they have been sat on and worn down so much, filthy, looking like it is either good for a charity shop, the tip, or a 'Buy It Now' price of £100 at the very most. She put it on originally at £1500 'Buy It Now', and £35 'Reserve Not Met' - no one pissed on it, and 2 people really took the piss putting bids of £35.20, £35.85 etc, you know, that indirect thing Ebayers do to show the seller that their item isn't worth what they're selling it for 🙃🙂

She has since got fed up, realised the Buy It Now is putting people off, and decided to leave it at £35, Reserve Not Met - she's gonna die waiting for someone to buy that, because if there is one thing I do know, no one will go near an item that has a Reserve, it's a guessing game, and also implies a strong emotional bond the seller has with the item that they do not want it to go for less than what THEY think it's worth. That is their prerogative, they have every right to do that, but good luck in making a sale!

Also, I don't trust things with reserves because I find they will also get their friends and families to put in shill bids on their behalf to drive the price up - another thing that pisses me off. I've had this before, where the idiot got his mates to bid on his behalf, I put £400, he put £410, outbid himself lol, then had the brass neck INSTANTLY to send me a 'Second Chance Offer' - I gave him some choice words told him what I really think about scum like him that frequent Ebay, and how glad I was I didn't win the auction! Result! 😊 it wasn't actually worth that much, I just slapped in a ridiculously high bid knowing no one would go over that in the last few seconds, and he played me at my own game and lost lol. Of there are no shill bidders, you will get it at the lowest price that was put in. You're
safe in that respect.

Something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it - the end.

Here is the link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Iggy-Sofa-com-Purple-Velvet-Sofa-/124480356903?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Secondly, you have 'Top Narcissist 1' - the STELLA CORNER SOFA listing - this guy has had this on Ebay for almost 4 years, plenty of watchers whom I assume are getting a giggle out of seeing this thing sitting there never to be sold. £2750 plus £95 postage, purchased in January 2014, covered in stains, worn down seat cushions etc - lol!

Right, BRAND NEW the LARGE sofa is £3179 lol, and this idiot clearly wants as close to 3k as they can get for a 7 YEAR OLD, dirty, worn down sofa that they used for 2 years, given the fact they are offering postage for £95, they are that desperate it seems they are also trying to get back the £50 they paid for delivery, and some. This is ignorance beyond all belief. If you purchased this sofa, you would save £334 from buying it brand new lmao, are these people for real? I think they're gonna die waiting. Clearly someone that has the money, thinks very highly of themselves, given the location of the sofa also, and the time it has been on there (listing fees), Jesus Christ, the narcissism is real. Smh.

Here is the link:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sofa-com-Stella-Large-Corner-Sofa-In-Grey-Brushed-Linen-Bought-January-2014-/153696485998?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

'Top Narcissist 2' is this twat, that has been selling used and brand new sofas from his made up drawing room for a few years now, and pisses me off simply because clearly he has got these off the back of a lorry, yet still trying to sell them for what you could purchase them for in the shop WITH WARRANTY, or not far off - he wants full whack for it. Sorry, but Ebay doesn't work like that, shouldn't work like that - the whole point of going on Ebay is to grab a bargain and be happy about it. There are people selling mattresses, USED but and in perfect nick, but because they bought it from 'The White Company, or some high end solid oak eds and furniture place on the internet, then the price they want for it is justified.

Yes, because I will sleep better at night on your spunk and sweat infused mattress knowing it came from a top store BEFORE it came to you, BEFORE you then sold it on to me. Jokers in every sense of the word. And overdoing it with the description as if that makes any difference, such as the cringy desperados who put a sofa up and put for example, '3 SEAT SOFA FROM NEXT, 'GEORGE SMITH/HOWARD/LAURA ASHLEY STYLE' - erm? Your sofa is not 'howard', 'Laura Ashley', nor 'George Smith', nor does it have the 'same style', hence the difference in price, the fact you bought it from Next, and further the fact you have to put all those descriptives in order to hopefully achieve a sale - to add George Smith sofas are HUGELY overrated, and overpriced. That whole site just pisses me off, and before anyone pipes up, I'm a Sofa.com pro, most of my sofas I have are from there (directly), but never have I paid full price, and I know exactly what they're worth.

Here is the link:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handmade-george-smith-sofa-designer-RRP-6900-still-selling-/333539420084?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Then you have other people following suit, seeing what they are up for, and thinking they can do the same such as this listing:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gorgeous-George-Smith-Signature-Sofa-Full-Scroll-Arm-6ft-sofa-/154013253255?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

I don't care if that is George Smith, it is a basic floral pattern sofa to me that you can find anywhere, and the filling isn't better than the sofa.com Isla or Snowdrop sofa, it is the exact same as I have sat on George Smith sofas, and there is nothing special about them. If I walked past this sofa in the window of The British Heart Foundation furniture store, I wouldn't look twice at it.

People are delusional.

Summerstorms · 15/12/2020 11:00

@ButterflyCandy86

Do you think maybe you are a little overinvested?

Also selling stuff for ridiculous prices doesn't make someone a narcissist

ButterflyCandy86 · 15/12/2020 11:09

@summerstorms, nope, far from, thanks for responding though. I dont know if you read the title of the post, try again maybe it? This is an open forum, a public platform where opinions are allowed to be had - that was mine. And please research and understand the meaning of a 'narcissist', before attempting to be condescending.

ButterflyCandy86 · 15/12/2020 11:15

And before anyone mentions Covid-19, this has been going on long before Covid. However since Covid, people have lost their minds with the amounts they are asking for things on FB Marketplace and Ebay. Whilst yes I accept and respect that many have lost their jobs and on the brink of despair, you still have to be realistic and ask for a realistic price for something, your mind may be elsewhere being broke, but you need to get with the real world, and ask for what you know people are likely to pay.

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