Question:
Very true. I have seen out of print books go for $87 that are available thru a simple google search for $9.95, and I have sometimes seen items which sell on ebay for more than retail – marketing thing. Also, upon occasion bidding frenzy takes over and it becomes not about getting the item but "winning" the bid "war". Tread on ebay with caution. My belief is that there really aren’t very many good deals out there..
I couldn’t agree with you more. Before it really became popular, you could get some good deals, but there are so many people bidding that demand drives up the prices (not to mention those that just have to win at any price). Tim.
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Tim, I just bought some maple for an unbelievable low cost. WHen it gets here I will let you know how it came out. Jason – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Any of you’s out there bought any lumber from an Ebay auction? I see auctions with kiln dried walnut, cherry, cedar, etc that seem to be pretty good prices even when you add shipping. Tim.
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And the trick is almost "everyone" goes to ebay as their first source for junk. Not mention there is Yahoo!, Ubid, etc… If I want to SELL something, it is going to be ebay with no question. If I want to BUY something, then that’s where I am careful, making sure I know the brand new (or whatever) price is beforehand. Your comment below just makes me laugh! It’s like taking it back to the store years later and swap it plus they pay you for even thinking about doing it 
Chuck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My favorite was a Paslode framing nailer (used) that some bozo bought for almost $500, when a new one was maybe $350
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I’ve heard this argument many times, and it’d make a great debate for a business ethics class. The difference is that retail businesses buy wholesale, and mark up their prices to cover overhead & provide a profit. A direct retailer (like someone with a home ww shop) still has overhead, cost of materials, lobor, etc, and is looking for a profit. Reselling things bought at readily obtained retail (albeit on sale) with no overhead for a profit is a whole different ballgame. Is it wrong? Depends on your perspective. It’s certainly not illegal. Do you want to make money based solely on someone else’s stupidity or their lack of knowledge? Lots of people do. What’s the difference between this and being able to buy the same thing for different prices from different retailers? I guess what rubs me the wrong way is that the seller is assuming absolutely no risk, has no overhead to recover, and is depending solely on someone else’s O.D.-ing on dumb pills to make a buck. It isn’t larcenous, it’s just not how most people would choose to make money. BG – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Isn’t that the way all retail business works throughout the world? Buy something and sell it for more. I don’t understand the larceny in that. I think it’s just your perspective. I’m guessing you do not have a business that sells a product or you might view it slightly differently. I think in this case you know the person selling the item on eBay is selling it for more than he bought it for, however, all successful businesses do the same. The only difference is sometimes they buy their product in quantity and split the lot up for you/me. In this case part of what we pay for is the service they provide in distributing the product in smaller quantities. However, sometimes we just pay more than they did because we’re ignorant as to what the lowest price is we can obtain the product for (hence the eBay examples of people overpaying for products). — Larry C in Auburn WA This reminds me of the time the Harbor Freight band saw auctioned for almost $600.00 when they sell them for about half of that. All the person had to do was receive the money, mail in the order with the winning bidders address for shipment. I’ve seen a lot of HF stuff on e-bay – usually with an opening bid set at the catalog price. If you catch the sales just selling at the opening bid could turn a nice profit. I guess I just don’t have the right larcenous attitude to be able to do that sort of thing. Tim Douglass http://www.ida.net/users/tdouglss/
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Isn’t that the way all retail business works throughout the world? Buy something and sell it for more. I don’t understand the larceny in that. I think it’s just your perspective. I’m guessing you do not have a business that sells a product or you might view it slightly differently. I think in this case you know the person selling the item on eBay is selling it for more than he bought it for, however, all successful businesses do the same. The only difference is sometimes they buy their product in quantity and split the lot up for you/me. In this case part of what we pay for is the service they provide in distributing the product in smaller quantities. However, sometimes we just pay more than they did because we’re ignorant as to what the lowest price is we can obtain the product for (hence the eBay examples of people overpaying for products). — Larry C in Auburn WA
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This reminds me of the time the Harbor Freight band saw auctioned for almost $600.00 when they sell them for about half of that. All the person had to do was receive the money, mail in the order with the winning bidders address for shipment. I’ve seen a lot of HF stuff on e-bay – usually with an opening bid set at the catalog price. If you catch the sales just selling at the opening bid could turn a nice profit. I guess I just don’t have the right larcenous attitude to be able to do that sort of thing. Tim Douglass http://www.ida.net/users/tdouglss/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Very true. I have seen out of print books go for $87 that are available thru a simple google search for $9.95, and I have sometimes seen items which sell on ebay for more than retail – marketing thing. Also, upon occasion bidding frenzy takes over and it becomes not about getting the item but "winning" the bid "war". Tread on ebay with caution. My belief is that there really aren’t very many good deals out there.. Peace, Geoff I have seen purpleheart go for 17.00 a bf and locally it is usually less then 4.00
This reminds me of the time the Harbor Freight band saw auctioned for almost $600.00 when they sell them for about half of that. All the person had to do was receive the money, mail in the order with the winning bidders address for shipment.
Response:
This reminds me of the time the Harbor Freight band saw auctioned for almost $600.00 when they sell them for about half of that. All the person had to do was receive the money, mail in the order with the winning bidders address for shipment.
What I want to know is why does this only happen with items I’m interested in buying? It never happens when I sell anything. I saw an eBay auction a couple of days ago for a used Grizzly 15" planer – the one Grizzly is selling for $725. The opening bid was set for $700. What a deal! Caveat emptor, for sure. John Paquay "Building Your Own Kitchen Cabinets" — ordering info located at: http://www.members.home.net/jpaquay/shop.html With Glory and Passion No Longer in Fashion The Hero Breaks His Blade. – Kansas, The Pinnacle, 1975
Response:
I have seen out of print books go for $87 that are available thru a simple google search for $9.95,
My favorite was a Paslode framing nailer (used) that some bozo bought for almost $500, when a new one was maybe $350
Response:
This reminds me of the time the Harbor Freight band saw auctioned for almost $600.00 when they sell them for about half of that. All the person had to do was receive the money, mail in the order with the winning bidders address for shipment.
I’ve seen a lot of HF stuff on e-bay – usually with an opening bid set at the catalog price. If you catch the sales just selling at the opening bid could turn a nice profit. I guess I just don’t have the right larcenous attitude to be able to do that sort of thing. Tim Douglass http://www.ida.net/users/tdouglss/
Response:
Tread on ebay with caution. My belief is that there really aren’t very many good deals out there..
Please keep spreading this gospel. Makes it easier on the rest of us. Peace,
Uh huh… Keith Bohn
Response:
So, buying from eBay is fine and buying from these particular sellers is fine. The only question left is whether the wood these guys are selling is OK. Legitimate question – we haven’t seen many replies yet, but so far the one that answered the question said they were happy with what they received. BTW, when you look at what the wood (or anything on eBay) is "going for" you can’t look at an on-going auction. I’ve bought about 300 items from eBay and I’ve sold just about the same. Many, many, many auctions are decided in the last minutes. Therefore, the great deal you see today for $2/bf might actually go for $5 when it closes the next day. Be sure to look at completed auctions to see what the stuff REALLY goes for. I often see posts from people that discuss this great deal that’s on eBay, but the auction is still in progress. It only becomes a great deal if it ends at the low price.
The one that originally led to this question was one in which a bidder stepped in at the last minute and got the lot for the minimum bid because he was the only bidder. Your advice to check the ending price on others is a good idea which I will research. Tim.
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Any of you’s out there bought any lumber from an Ebay auction? I see auctions with kiln dried walnut, cherry, cedar, etc that seem to be pretty good prices even when you add shipping. Tim.
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I got some cedar about a year ago. Very nice stuff. I have not bid on any recently though.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any of you’s out there bought any lumber from an Ebay auction? I see auctions with kiln dried walnut, cherry, cedar, etc that seem to be pretty good prices even when you add shipping. Tim.
Response:
What do you want to know about buying lumber from eBay auctions? eBay is just a way to put you in contact with a complete stranger who has something you want. Is your question specific about buying off eBay, or about buying wood sight unseen (other than pictures), or about specific sellers on eBay? — Larry C in Auburn WA
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any of you’s out there bought any lumber from an Ebay auction? I see auctions with kiln dried walnut, cherry, cedar, etc that seem to be pretty good prices even when you add shipping. Tim.
Response:
I bough some white oak about 6 mos ago.
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I see many auctions from a few sellers. The sellers have pretty high satisfaction ratings, so I’m not afraid of them taking my money and running. The people in this group seem to have a higher satisfaction quotent than your ‘average joe’ woodworker and I was wanting to take advantage of that here. For example: the walnut I was looking at was going for about just under $2 a board foot when you figure in shipping. You can’t get near that on any online hardwood site that I’m aware of. Of course, you’re confined to the various lengths and widths that are being offered. Tim. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What do you want to know about buying lumber from eBay auctions? eBay is just a way to put you in contact with a complete stranger who has something you want. Is your question specific about buying off eBay, or about buying wood sight unseen (other than pictures), or about specific sellers on eBay?
Response:
So, buying from eBay is fine and buying from these particular sellers is fine. The only question left is whether the wood these guys are selling is OK. Legitimate question – we haven’t seen many replies yet, but so far the one that answered the question said they were happy with what they received. BTW, when you look at what the wood (or anything on eBay) is "going for" you can’t look at an on-going auction. I’ve bought about 300 items from eBay and I’ve sold just about the same. Many, many, many auctions are decided in the last minutes. Therefore, the great deal you see today for $2/bf might actually go for $5 when it closes the next day. Be sure to look at completed auctions to see what the stuff REALLY goes for. I often see posts from people that discuss this great deal that’s on eBay, but the auction is still in progress. It only becomes a great deal if it ends at the low price. The only completed eBay auction I found for walnut boards was this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1298807926 There were many for little pieces of walnut, but this is the only one with any real boards. It didn’t sell and he was trying to sell it for $2/bf plus shipping. — Larry C in Auburn WA
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I see many auctions from a few sellers. The sellers have pretty high satisfaction ratings, so I’m not afraid of them taking my money and running. The people in this group seem to have a higher satisfaction quotent than your ‘average joe’ woodworker and I was wanting to take advantage of that here. For example: the walnut I was looking at was going for about just under $2 a board foot when you figure in shipping. You can’t get near that on any online hardwood site that I’m aware of. Of course, you’re confined to the various lengths and widths that are being offered. Tim. What do you want to know about buying lumber from eBay auctions? eBay is just a way to put you in contact with a complete stranger who has something you want. Is your question specific about buying off eBay, or about buying wood sight unseen (other than pictures), or about specific sellers on eBay?
Response:
I have bought quite a bit of burl, birdseye, fiddleback, etc. I have been completely satisfied. Have fun! Rob
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So, buying from eBay is fine and buying from these particular sellers is fine. The only question left is whether the wood these guys are selling is OK. Legitimate question – we haven’t seen many replies yet, but so far the one that answered the question said they were happy with what they received. BTW, when you look at what the wood (or anything on eBay) is "going for" you can’t look at an on-going auction. I’ve bought about 300 items from eBay and I’ve sold just about the same. Many, many, many auctions are decided in the last minutes. Therefore, the great deal you see today for $2/bf might actually go for $5 when it closes the next day. Be sure to look at completed auctions to see what the stuff REALLY goes for. I often see posts from people that discuss this great deal that’s on eBay, but the auction is still in progress. It only becomes a great deal if it ends at the low price. The only completed eBay auction I found for walnut boards was this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1298807926 There were many for little pieces of walnut, but this is the only one with any real boards. It didn’t sell and he was trying to sell it for $2/bf plus shipping. — Larry C in Auburn WA I see many auctions from a few sellers. The sellers have pretty high satisfaction ratings, so I’m not afraid of them taking my money and running. The people in this group seem to have a higher satisfaction quotent than your ‘average joe’ woodworker and I was wanting to take advantage of that here. For example: the walnut I was looking at was going for about just under $2 a board foot when you figure in shipping. You can’t get near that on any online hardwood site that I’m aware of. Of course, you’re confined to the various lengths and widths that are being offered. Tim. What do you want to know about buying lumber from eBay auctions? eBay is just a way to put you in contact with a complete stranger who has something you want. Is your question specific about buying off eBay, or about buying wood sight unseen (other than pictures), or about specific sellers on eBay?
Response:
Any of you’s out there bought any lumber from an Ebay auction? I see auctions with kiln dried walnut, cherry, cedar, etc that seem to be pretty good prices even when you add shipping.
I have found a few good deals but check around first and calculate bf before you buy. I have seen purpleheart go for 17.00 a bf and locally it is usually less then 4.00 — Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions. To subscribe to my good deals/beta testing/seconds email list send a email to
Response:
Very true. I have seen out of print books go for $87 that are available thru a simple google search for $9.95, and I have sometimes seen items which sell on ebay for more than retail – marketing thing. Also, upon occasion bidding frenzy takes over and it becomes not about getting the item but "winning" the bid "war". Tread on ebay with caution. My belief is that there really aren’t very many good deals out there.. Peace, Geoff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have seen purpleheart go for 17.00 a bf and locally it is usually less then 4.00
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