Mike Kucaba Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Taxed Enough Already ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) Ebay is actually FIGHTING the proposed federal government taxes on online transactions. And while it's true the fees have escalated over the years, it still works very well, and you're protected nicely, as a buyer anyway. Could the fees be less and ebay still make plenty of money? Yes, but it's the typical "how high can we go and people will still pay" scenario that is inherent in the free-market. Edited November 23, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelmartin Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 So what are the fees for selling at a swap meet? Gas, motel, food, table fee, etc, etc. All that for a few hundred people to walk past your table, sniff at whatever you have and then try to hammer you on the price even though it is reasonable to start with! Or E-bay where you can sell, buy in your pajamas anytime you want and can connect to anyone in the WORLD who is looking for that item. Ebay would still be a bargain if they doubled their fees tomorrow! Don't tell them that I said that though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Or E-bay where you can sell, buy in your pajamas anytime you want and can connect to anyone in the WORLD who is looking for that item. Absolutely! It's the one place where you only have to have that one item to sell, and you stand a real chance of selling it for a retail price. Let's say you have a $100 kit. On eBay after all is said and done, you may pay $10 in fees, netting you $90. Sell that same kit to a dealer and he'll offer you $50 because he needs to be able to make a profit on it. Ebay is actually FIGHTING the proposed federal government taxes on online transactions. I think we all know that this will eventually get passed in some form. Right now you pay sales tax for mail orders within a state (I recently paid sales tax on an eBay purchase from another guy in PA) or where a large company has a presence in your state (I paid sales tax on a book from Amazon when I lived in NJ because their fulfillment center was also there). The big issue will be what state gets the revenue? Will it be the seller's state? The buyer's state? Or half to both? That's more the issue that's being fought, rather than IF there will be taxes! One of the issues was, how would a small seller keep track of taxes and remittances to 50 states? The market will develop a solution that will be automated. Probably part of the Paypal services, and yea they'll add a fee on top of it! And it's not so foreign... most states have what they call "USE TAX". You are supposed to report any out of state or untaxed purchases you have made and pay the sales tax as part of your state income tax return! So it's already there, just widely uncollected. And some states are already chasing down their taxes. I know that NY state tax authorities were putting flyers on NY licensed cars parked in NJ shopping malls. (NJ doesn't tax clothing and necessities, NY does) And I know someone who got a $700 bill from the State of NJ for on-line cigarette purchases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingSix Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) Personally I love eBay, I've tracked down some hard to find stuff and to be perfectly honest I've scored some GREAT deals from people who apparently didn't realize the value of what they were selling ( or just didn't care ). I've even traded with some of the sellers on there ( outside of eBay of course ) . Not to say I haven't had some bad experiences on there, but you can have those anywhere ... If I find something I want, the first place I check is eBay to get a median value.. aside from a few dishonest sellers, I think it's great. Plus having the added security of eBay buyer protection and PayPal ( for those of us that use that option ) there's another level of protection. The only complaint I have are the shipping prices ( I know they a set buy the seller ) , but they are so "random" .. you really have to watch for those. They can turn a good deal sideways in a hurry ... Edited November 23, 2013 by KingSix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Smith Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 So what are the fees for selling at a swap meet? Gas, motel, food, table fee, etc, etc. All that for a few hundred people to walk past your table, sniff at whatever you have and then try to hammer you on the price even though it is reasonable to start with! Or E-bay where you can sell, buy in your pajamas anytime you want and can connect to anyone in the WORLD who is looking for that item. Ebay would still be a bargain if they doubled their fees tomorrow! Don't tell them that I said that though! There is no free lunch, so I agree with this... Why not try to open your own hobby shop? Or, better, list on CL so some meth head can steal from your garage while the other stinks up your living room... Personally I love eBay, I've tracked down some hard to find stuff and to be perfectly honest I've scored some GREAT deals from people who apparently didn't realize the value of what they were selling ( or just didn't care ). I've even traded with some of the sellers on there ( outside of eBay of course ) . Not to say I haven't had some bad experiences on there, but you can have those anywhere ... If I find something I want, the first place I check is eBay to get a median value.. aside from a few dishonest sellers, I think it's great. Plus having the added security of eBay buyer protection and PayPal ( for those of us that use that option ) there's another level of protection. The only complaint I have are the shipping prices ( I know they a set buy the seller ) , but they are so "random" .. you really have to watch for those. They can turn a good deal sideways in a hurry ... Shipping fees CAN be set by the seller, but really, most are just set by how much the seller estimates the package ways (plus handling fees is so desired). Some try to make up for the fees by adding a little here and there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 So let me understand this, people complain about a for profit company charging "fee's"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 So let me understand this, people complain about a for profit company charging "fee's"? Exactly! When you pull into the gas station, do you expect them to give you the gas at no charge? When you go grocery shopping, do you expect every item to be free? Ebay isn't a charity! It's a business, and like any business, the goal is to make a profit. Why would you expect them to host and maintain this huge website, with the enormous amount of "behind the curtain" work that's involved in providing the site and facilitating thousands of transactions every single day... and give you that all for free???? That's insane. Ebay has every right to charge fees in order to make a profit. Every auction charges fees, plus a big chunk of the selling price. Why would you expect ebay to provide you with this service for free? Calling it "feebay" makes as much sense as calling it "evilbay." Ebay provides a service. They charge for that service. If you think you can do better elsewhere, go ahead! As far as I'm concerned, there's no better auction site than ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 So let me understand this, people complain about a for profit company charging "fee's"? People were conditioned early on that everything on the Internet and all software is free. That was the tactic of many web sites, that is until they got to a certain level of volume, and then came subscriptions and fees. That early stuff was financed by venture capital pre dot com bubble burst! Now a days, somebody has to pay for the service to exist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshaver Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Weelllll, I guess I'm a curmudgeon , a cheep skate , a hold out . I pay no subscription fees, or other fees on the net . I'll go elsewhere fore I do too !!!!!!!!!!!!! E Bay, not from me kids ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Smith Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Weelllll, I guess I'm a curmudgeon , a cheep skate , a hold out . I pay no subscription fees, or other fees on the net . I'll go elsewhere fore I do too !!!!!!!!!!!!! E Bay, not from me kids ! Just out of curiosity, Ed, if you were going to sell something, say a rare old kit, where would you go that 1. Has the customer volume of eBay 2. Has the ease of international currency (Paypal) and 3. Is a completely protected marketplace (both eBay and Paypal have provisions for unscrupulous/illegal sellers and buyers)? Not calling you out or anything, I just don't see any other avenue that offers the service and exposure that eBay offers - and, since they employ people and maintain a business, charge money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kucaba Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Hey Ed! Get up a group of like minded people and start something on your own. You do it like the folks that trade skills and/or services instead of cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshaver Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Mike , I already trade out my services to a select few . Erik, I have been in Hemming's Motor news for years . I seldom have problems there . Hemming's is generally read by a lot of the people who have been in this business for years . You also can find me on the H A M B , an antique car board and Still Runnin.com E -Bay.................. NEVER AGAIN ! KRAK LIST............. yeah been burned ever time I did business there ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Zipper Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 I LOVE eBay !! Besides the fact that I live over 100 miles from a decent hobby shop which equals 200 miles round trip, hours of travel, gas money ect. I don't mind paying shipping and handling charges because it's always cheaper for me than going to a brick and mortar shop. Then this morning as I was looking at a few things on my watch list I noticed a 1967 Pontiac Bonneville brochure with a 'Buy it Now" price. Pushed a few buttons and made the purchase (while drinking coffee, still in my pajamas) Got the usual e-mails from Pay Pal and eBay that a payment has been made and the purchase info. had been sent to the seller. about a half an hour ago the house phone rang which is odd because nobody ever calls on that line any more. It was the eBay seller who informed me that they had gotten the payment and was getting the brochure out to pack for shipment when they noticed it had a crease on it, this lady had sent me a full refund-then she contacted some one else she knows that sells the same type of brochures -SHE bought the same one from them-and is having it sent to me. So I had to ask her who do I pay now ? She said it was her mistake and there will be no charge. Her words here- "Consider it an early Christmas gift" She also said she read thru all of my feed backs and saw that I had 100% rating- and she figured that a good eBay buyer should be treated fair and honest.........hint, hint-It's important to always leave feed back, Good or Bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FASTBACK340 Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 The only Craigslist transaction I had was last year when I bought my Camry wagon. It's a well-traveled second car we needed, and the seller reassured me it was start-stop-steer-heat transportation, all I needed. The seller met me in a supermarket parking lot as he didn't want strangers coming to his house! I told him if he was wasting my time they were going to find his body in that parking lot. I met him, left my car & friend with him & took it for a road test, handed him the money, and he pulled his 10 speed out of the back of the Camry and pedaled off to his dwelling. Strange people indeed. Crafty...but strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FASTBACK340 Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Right now I'm searching for an original steering wheel w/ horn ring & button for my Barracuda. I have a smaller diameter custom wheel and with manual steering it's becoming a PIA to park. Complete original wheels are stupid expensive, but on occasion one get's mis-listed and slips through cheap. That's the one I'm waiting for. I don't need it until spring. Unless someone on here has one they'd like to sell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 (edited) The only Craigslist transaction I had was last year when I bought my Camry wagon. I've done well on Craigs List. I bought our '95 Celica Convertible and 2000 Jaguar S Type from ads there. Both were local and of course, I bought them in person. The Celica was a private party, while the Jag was at a Rolls Royce dealer. Talk about different! I've also bought and sold antiques, car parts and old furniture. Never a problem in PA or NJ. Last summer I bought 4 small old chairs at a garage sale for $25. Got them home and decided I didn't want them so I took a few quick photos and posted them for $100. They were gone within hours. Someone in my neighborhood put 6 dining room chairs to the curb. I grabbed them and again got $100 for the set. One good use of Craigs List is to get rid of a junk item your trash company would charge to take away. Want to see your phone light up? Post a FREE ad! Man, you'll get 20 calls an hour. And it's a good thing to put stuff back to use than in the landfill. When we moved from NJ I gave away a 25 year old torn and stained couch and love seat set and a lawn mower that didn't run. At my PA house, there was a huge ancient wood swing set in the yard. I wanted it gone so I posted it for free, as long as you took it down and away. It was gone that day. The guy didn't want the two slides, so I posted them for $25 each and sold them! Edited November 25, 2013 by Tom Geiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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