Value of second-hand goods

[wemorgan]

Recently I've been looking for quite a few things to buy; furniture, hedge trimmers, TV, PS3, trailers (the exciting life I lead!) I've noticed how some second-hand goods look really expensive to me. Old but good quality hedge trimmers 60% of new RRP, PS3 60% of new RRP. I just feel I'm better off buying brand new with quality and warranty assured. But furniture and TVs are excellent depreciators, from a buyers perspective. Why the disparity? Supply/demand for sure, but somethings just don't make sense to me.

A 3 yr old Ford Focus is worth only 40% of new RRP, an E-class maybe 50%. That's good value IMHO.

So many goods on Ebay just looker over-valued to me.

Where are the good deals to br had these days? Or am I just being a bit tight?

Oh, if anyone knows of a fully working PS3 for under £100, please let me know

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I think it boils down to the fact that people are tending to purchase strong products that can be maintained, instead of this throw away culture that has reared it's ugly head in the past decade or so.

 

[Benzowner]

A 3 yr old Ford Focus is worth only 40% of new RRP, an E-class maybe 50%. That's good value IMHO.

3 yr old focus £4500 a 3 yr old E Class double the price at minimum £9k. If you had £9k to spend you would get a lot newer Focus

 

[nick mercedes]

So many goods on Ebay just looker over-valued to me.

That's because there's far less listed on ebay these days, and the few people left on there tend to be chancers.

 

[Mercy1]

That's because there's far less listed on ebay these days, and the few people left on there tend to be chancers.

Really?? That surprises me. I seem to be meeting more and more people who are discovering this incredible source of purchasing. Personally, I buy loads of stuff at a fraction of the price I would have to pay elsewhere. Very rarely let down.

 

[finisterre]

I bought our BMW on ebay, sight unseen, it was okay. Some tiny dings that would deter a dealer but mean not a lot to me. The seller was slippery but as I paid glasses average I knew I could shift it at auction if there was something amiss.

Some people are barmy though. I saw someone buy a Boden handbag for twenty quid more than a new one. Whenever I have sold stuff it has been excellent value for the buyer. So prices are generally okay but individual sales tend to the random.

 

[A210AMG]

^ I find it very good also,

You have to watch when things finish carefully or badly put together adds.

You can get some great deals.

I will admit though it takes some searching and you have to know what your looking for and know the price of the item.

Local papers when I look through them often seem to have some good buys and being 'local' you should be able to collect.

 

[Cabe]

Sort by Distance is a boon for things like cars and larger items. When they put local pick up only it means the buyer pool shrinks significantly.

 

[verytalldave]

Certain items on Ebay have a reputation of attracting the criminal underclass. Its an area where goods of a dubious origin can be passed on easily and converted into legitimate cash.

Its the modern day equivalent of buying a TV off a bloke in a pub.

Just be aware that this can and does happen.

 

[Mercy1]

True, you have to be careful - and selective - on Ebay. But my wife, bless her, has recently completely refurnished our lounge in Chinese Rosewood for a fraction of the new cost - tv stand, nest of tables, coffee table, display cabinet, corner cabinet, and the real jewel, a rosewood dining room suite easily worth £2,000 in store, for £261! No way could we have afforded this lot new, and we have sold on our own stuff to offset the costs.
Other great deals have been garden furniture set (£600 in John Lewis, £70 on Ebay auction), camera lens, designer sunglasses, various clothing items, sports equipment, trainers, boots, phones, batteries, etc, etc.
And I sold my caravan on Ebay Classified.
It is essential to fix in your mind the price you want to pay = and stick to it. Some you win, some you lose - but never pay over the odds.

 

[nick mercedes]

Really?? That surprises me. I seem to be meeting more and more people who are discovering this incredible source of purchasing. Personally, I buy loads of stuff at a fraction of the price I would have to pay elsewhere. Very rarely let down.

Compared to a few years ago ebay is a shadow of it's former self.

 

[Movi-Star]

Ummm Id disagree with you there, Ive been on there since 2000, Im a top-rated power seller and things from a selling point of view are as good as they've ever been, even in this recession.

The site is amazing if used with common sense, loads of bargains to be had, lots of hard to find stuff often turns up on there, plus the chance to sell stuff and get top prices, i.e I sold a rare ****nal shirt the other day for £315 VINTAGE ****NAL 1995 NIKE 3rd PLAYERS FOOTBALL SHIRT XL on eBay (end time 26-Jun-11 22:40:08 BST) no were in the world could I have got that without eBay.

Compared to a few years ago ebay is a shadow of it's former self.

 

[Colin_b]

That's because there's far less listed on ebay these days, and the few people left on there tend to be chancers.

Scary how often the second hand tat on ebay sells for more than amazon sells for brand new.

ebay is becoming a niche for specialist stuff or pikey product. Used with discretion its OK, but don't do it drunk

 

[Mercy1]

Compared to a few years ago ebay is a shadow of it's former self.

Just Googled 'Is Ebay in decline', and it seems you're right Nick in the sense that site visits numbers were down, at least it was around 2009. And yet it remains a vast shopping medium by any standards, thousands of trades every minute of every day.

 

[wemorgan]

Another example from last night. I'd like a new mobile. I'm currently on Orange PAYG. Orange website has a Sony Ericsson Spiro for £40, but I get a £10 discount for being a loyal customer. So that's now £30. Ebay BIN price from powersellers £50!

I recently bought a new TV from my local Sony Centre because the price was the same as the cheapest online shop, plus I had very good customer service.

It looks as if the High Street is fighting back. The retailers just need to lobby the local council to make parking cheaper and it'll be like 1990 all again (but with smaller mobile phones)

 

[nick mercedes]

Another example from last night. I'd like a new mobile. I'm currently on Orange PAYG. Orange website has a Sony Ericsson Spiro for £40, but I get a £10 discount for being a loyal customer. So that's now £30. Ebay BIN price from powersellers £50!

Sellers on Ebay in general rely on buyers being a bit dopey and assuming that just because something is listed on Ebay it must be a bargain.

Given the endless charges Ebay makes it's no surprise sellers have to charge over the odds.

Amazon seems a much better place to shop these days.

 

[nick mercedes]

Just Googled 'Is Ebay in decline', and it seems you're right Nick in the sense that site visits numbers were down, at least it was around 2009. And yet it remains a vast shopping medium by any standards, thousands of trades every minute of every day.

But back in the day Ebay was full of UK people flogging all mannner of things.

These days it's full of Chinese sellers flogging poundshop tat via buy it now auctions.

 

[davidjpowell]

Currently tracking low value cars due to a stag-do for my brother involving various top gear type challenges.

It's amazing how many of these are relisted

What i do not know is whether this is because the buyer is a flake or the car a dog....

 

[wemorgan]

These days it's full of Chinese sellers flogging poundshop tat via buy it now auctions.

Even if I click UK Only I still find the odd Chinese seller creeping in. Quite annoying really.

My mother loves it though. She buys Monogilan cashmear for a fraction of the UK retailer's price.

Winners and losers.

 

[neilrr]

As with any other venue, shop or site a buyer can simply not buy something on ebay if the price, conditions of sale, P&P, seller's feedback or whatever else are not to their liking.

I think Ebay is great. If you don't like it, shop elsewhere. What could be easier?

For the vast majority of buyers & sellers it works just fine.