To marvel at how overly optimistic/delusional some ebayers are?

[Tryharder]

I was browsing on Ebay yesterday looking for clothes for my DC. Now, surely the point of Ebay is to enable people like myself to get their hands on good quality second hand clothing at a (hopefully) bargain price? I also sell on Ebay from time to time but only really good quality stuff - Mini Boden, NEXT/GAP/MONSOON bundles, that sort of thing - no supermarket stuff or Matalan.

I was a bit to see how many sellers of children's clothes are listing individual items of clothing such as "Used Boy's T shirt by Cherokee Age 5 - 6" and then listing dozens and dozens of similar items all for 99p with about a £2 postage charge. Surely, I, as a buyer, can go to Tesco/Matalan/Primark/Asda and buy a bloody T shirt of similar quality NEW for less than £3. Who the hell in their right mind is going to buy something like this??

I know people just want to make a bit of money but surely all the crap/unsellable items/jumble sale rejects are clogging up the system and making it more difficult for buyers to identify the real bargains/good buys??? Selling on Ebay is also a real effort; what's the point if your items - realistically - are not going to sell? You might get lucky and get 99p for the odd item but by the time you've paid Paypal fees and Final Value fees, you end up with pence.

YANBU - I find that totally too!

What's the point but I guess someone must buy these items otherwise why would they bother to put them on?

YANBU and very well said too!

I also hate it on eBaby when they are selling shorts for example and then go on rambling saying "would look lovely with white sandals, or a lovely, wonderful flowery hat" I want the shorts, not tips on how to dress my child thanks

Maybe people in other countries buy them? I myself have seen some nice looking clothes on the Tesco website, but alas they do not ship internationally.

I miss H&M too

Oh so YAB(a teeny bit)U.

we've accidentally bought Tu stuff on Ebay (fleece sleepsuit, wellies), probably for more than to run up the road to get it.

I buy kids clothes on ebay as it's quick, easy & cheap.

I try to sell good stuff on ebay - not for the money as such. I try to sell because I just can't bring myself to chuck perfectly good clothes out. I end up with a few quid in my PayPal account, which buys the next round of clothes/shoes for DD.

But it is a hassle - I sell in bundles (would never list a tshirt on its own - nor buy one like that, but I would list shoes, or an excellent condition coat/jacket on it's own).

I agree postage forms the bulk of the cost usually, but it still works and we get gret clothes for a great price, including cost of postage. Some people are idiots though & charge too much postage - no one bids !

My next outgoing lot might just get listed on FREECYCLE or whatever it's called now as I can't be bothered with all the hassle & seriously need some speed decluttering.

YANBU but I think your view of what the point of ebay is, is maybe a tad rose-tinted or over optimistic.

I think you are absolutely right about it from a buyers point of view. However, I suspect from a (lot of) sellers points of view, it is to offload as much stuff for as much money as possible... They are not doing it to be altruistic and give you a bargain, if you get one then that is great for you, but because they want something out of it for themselves - be it money, clutter cleared etc

Hmm. Isn't it good that they're not chucking the stuff?

I always used to get sad working in Oxfam, because where I lived was a v. poor area and people brought in beautifully washed and ironed chainstore clothing that we couldn't sell for much at all. It seemed like such a waste of them taking the time to wash it, iron it and bring it in.

People who try to sell crappy clothes individually, and for an inflated price, are likely not to sell (unless they conceal the brand, or unless their buyer gets confused). I have had a few bundles and bits not taken up, and have had to accept that, and have learned from it!

The trouble with eBay is that it is not a real marketplace; there is a mixture of professionals and amateurs, and that skews prices and practices.

I've made good money on bundles of supermarket clothing. I wouldn't have the cheek to charge 99p per item, but I have sold, say 30 odd items of Cherokee stuff for £25.

Is that £25 including P&P?

Yep agree - but the UK is famed for it's great 2nd hand stuff and alot of it sells abroad. No idea why but it does.

I only sell good quality and in great condition stuff for kids and it sells in UK. My own stuff seems to sell to south east asia as I'm small, short with small feet. Had no complaints so far.

I bought DS a playmobil item BRAND NEW from an ebay shop, with free P&P and that week having been initially looking at second hand I had seen 3 go for nearly the same price, with P&P on top - one of them was more with the P&P than the brand new item - so why were these people buying, they were not getting the bargain they thought, but thats their problem!

people are odd, they think ebay = bargain without looking properly, or they think a buy it now cannot be the same bargain as winning an auction, the thrill of winning takes over and they forget about the buy it new price.

and yes, some people are trying to sell all sorts of crap at high prices

now, if only I had the nerve to sell all my sweaty old slippers to a pervert for silly prices, i could make my fortune. (i dare you to look!!)

PeedOffWithNits, I have seen people overpay so often! It is incredible. I was amazingly organised for my baby-supplies list, and had a spreadsheet of what cost what where, and it was really something to see the cellular blankets and bath support go for new prices - or more. I can only imagine that people got caught up in the auctions... though it's never happened to me! I always seem to sell for tuppence ha'penny above two pounds...

You sound like a right snob tbh.

Ok I agree that charging that amount plus p & p is pointless when you can go and buy something in the supermarket for cheaper, and new like you said. But your post comes across that you are so much better for selling stuff from Next etc, when others are selling "crap/unsellable items/jumble sale rejects". I have many bits from the supermarkets and Matalan and not one of them are jumble sale rejects. They are all in very good condition.

I don't (know how to) use ebay, but I am astonished that charity shops won't take chain store clothing. Bloody hell.

Not everyone has access to supermarkets or the other shops mentioned low income.

I have sold a few bundles of various childrens clothes on ebay before. (George, tesco, next, mini mode, m'care etc) and they were indeed snapped up by people in Romania.

Wouldn't think to sell seperate george (etc) tops though...