I was just browsing around in Justbeads.com. I found a particular item that is up for auction for roughly $14. I went to one of the bead shops I order from and found it there for $3+.
I'm just curious - how many people actually look to see if they can get a commercial item for less? Or would you consider that it must be a decent price therefore I bid?
That depends on what you're talking about - some things listed at high prices are handmade art, so there is no commercial equivalent. I know I personally will sometimes buy from a particular seller no matter what the price if that person is someone I trust. On the other hand, if I am looking for something really commercially produced, like Swarovskis, I will look around for the best price before bidding. Knowing the seller does factor in to that too. What are you looking at, just out of curiosity?
It was a Swarovski component. I prefer not to give more details because I don't want to anger the seller if she/he happens to be a poster here. Everyone's been so kind and I'd prefer not to alienate myself. (That's why I said commercial as opposed to lampworked or polymer beads that are a one of a kind.)
Ohhhhh, well then personally I think it's a good idea to shop around. Especially if you sell your work - it's good to try and get the best prices. If you can find it somewhere else for less money and it is the same item, I say go for it. I think the seller will likely understand. :)
You can find that on any auction site. There are overpriced beads on Ebay also.
Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows
It kind of boggles me that someone would try to sell a currently available item for a terribly inflated price. Oh well, maybe PT Barnum was right........
On Sat, 1 Nov 2003 20:32:54 -0500, JL Amerson wrote (in message ):
I see Swarovski prices all over the place, from quite reasonable to outrageous. Make sure that the style numbers and sizes are the same, and that the expensive one isn't some kind of retired color. If it all checks out, definitely buy the cheaper one. Swarovskis aren't unique, they're a commodity item, and those Austrian workers make good wagess producing them.
Kathy N-V
There are many people who don't know what a "reasonable" price is, and there are also those who are kind of captive audiences...can't get out of the house, don't want to try to meet a minimum to buy online, don't have an LBS, etc. There are any number of reasons why people would bid on the item (has anyone bid, or is it just up for auction?)...and sometimes it's PT Barnum's reason.
There is one seller on there who I cannot stand for this reason. Rips everyone off. However, again, that is the way the world of retail is. People buy things and mark them up, then resell them. It is our choice to buy, or not.
Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows
Also, are you looking at the starting bid price, or what people have bid it up to? Sometimes a bidding frenzy gets way out of hand.... Kaytee "Simplexities" on
It was the starting bid. I know that sometimes a bidding war gets started and then people truly lose their minds. ;-)
True...unless the bidding/winning obsession takes over and one pays $9 for a hank of common seed beads....just because one wanted to win them! (One hasn't done that since...)
The Use of Foul Language in Written Communication: The Tiny Rumblings of the Ineffectual and Stunted Thinker. The Inability to Think Beyond The Obivious and The Crude. ~~~Henry A. Byrne
As a great woman once said: "HAW!"
If it was an outrageously high starting bid then I bet I know who it was, and she always prices like that. I can't stand her. LOL
Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows
I always try to do at least a minimum of research before I bid; I once saw a used piece of equipment on eBay that usually goes for around $200 up for auction with an opening bid of $1200.00! I assumed they had simply made a data entry error, so I emailed the seller to let them know... and they replied that it was not a mistake! I suggested they look at some of the other auctions for the same product before they relisted...
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