i have an ebay idea = trouble

[bellulah]

so what do you think would happen if i put a stupid low "buy it now"
price on an item, and then some retarded amount of money for shipping? i'm not talking like, and excess $15 for shipping, either. i mean like this:

lion king dvd brand new
buy it now: $3.75
shipping will be $645 to anywhere in the US.
no international bidders, please.

i am certain someone would fall for it. "buy it now for $4? sure!" one click and they're locked in. then the total is $648, they e-mail me all pissed off. i tell them they didn't read the auction first. BAM! they owe me lots of money so daddy can buy a new toy.

the way i see it, it's no different than that guy who sold an empty xbox box. just the box - no console. and he said that in the description. two morons got in a bidding war and someone owed the dude like $300 bucks for this box. they didn't realize it until they got the box shipped to them.

oh, i'll deliver lion king all right. but it'll cost ya.

[YOUR KONG]

I used to see that when I prowled ebay for sample CDs. The CD went for $2, because nobody bid, but shipping was $12.99 (which is why nobody bid!).

Maybe the guy was legit and he just shipped the CD inside faberge eggs or something.

[cgarges]

the way i see it, it's no different than that guy who sold an empty xbox box. just the box - no console. and he said that in the description. two morons got in a bidding war and someone owed the dude like $300 bucks for this box. they didn't realize it until they got the box shipped to them.

The difference is that this guy was able to get his money first on what seemed reasonable. The way you're talking, the need to send you all that money in the first place for somethign they won't expect to be expensive. I think someone who stands to lose $600 is willing to put up with a negative feedback.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[sonikbliss]

This kinda thing is already a common practice on ebay just maybe not to the extent that you're talking about. I remember seeing a sm57 knockoff mic on ebay for $2.99 and getting excited until I saw that it was $70 shipping.

[bad_dude_69]

sure, why not contribute to the burgeoning population of slimeball lechers scheming their way to complete moral poverty?

[ubertar]

You're not really thinking of doing that, are you? That's just slimy.

[Huntlabs]

The world is already full of assholes..

Why even consider being yet another one?

Thats the kind of thinking that built Enron......Maybe if you need money that bad you could see if Enron is still taking job applications.

[bad_dude_69]

if not enron, maybe arthur andersen is...

[maz]

what? Lion King for only $3.75?!?!? I don't care what shipping is, that's a DEAL!!! where do I paypal?!? Or can I just do western union?

[Ivon]

A lot of Ebay sellers in China and Hong Kong use this tactic. The price on a DVD box set will be $1.50, but the shipping will be $50.00 - Honestly, though, for most that stuff (even with costly shipping) you're paying a third of what the US released version would cost. I get great deals on Anime this way.

What you're thinking of doing though...I don't know - It's a little shady. But really - who would be stupid enough to pay without reading all the instructions first?

[Girl Toes]

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK CITY, MOTHER FUCKER!!!!

[bellulah]

maz got it. i wouldn't really do this - shit, that's low. i saw something like it the other day and i thought of the most innocent and inocuous thing i could. sorry if i offended. i thought it was funny.

[bad_dude_69]

it's all good.

[Mr. Dipity]

It happens all the time - most frequently to be the 'best deal in town' on someithng. You'll see any item for something like $10-20 less than the next item, only with jacked up shipping.

Do you really think you could do something that shitty?

[swingdoc]

I think its a great idea. no need to apologize.

Sure I'll review your CD.

that'll be $40.