E-Bay Strategy

[WeApOn]

Just wanted to get peoples thoughts on a good strategy on selling PS3 on E-Bay.

- When do you think is a good time to sell? Right at launch, or wait more towards Christmas where people may be more desperate?(but risking the early advantage, as most people may buy earlier)

- Use Reserve price, police the auction well, just let it go?

I myself am not selling the pre-order I have, but if I get my hands on another one somehow, I may try to sell one. I've seen a bunch of auctions on e-bay but I'm not sure if they are actually going through or not(someone with a 0 feedback ending up buying the one I looked at.. so it could be an alternate name just boosting the price).

[shido]

No offense, but what you're planning to do is exactly what gave me a lot of headaches when I bought my 360. I couldn't even find one until February because everybody and their mom was camping outside most major retail outlets everyday, snapping up a new 360 to sell on ebay. You're free to do what you want, but just know that there are a ton of people who are gonna try to make a quick buck off the PS3 on ebay, and that's just going to make the shortage of consoles worse.

[partridge]

Here's a plan, buy a PS3 and plug it into your tv and play games and watch movies on it. Leave the other consoles in the shop so that someone else can buy it at retail price and enjoy it too.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by partridge

Here's a plan, buy a PS3 and plug it into your tv and play games and watch movies on it. Leave the other consoles in the shop so that someone else can buy it at retail price and enjoy it too.

Why not do both?

Again: No one has a gun to anyone's head forcing them to bid on any auction.

Don't like it? Don't bid on it.


It's going to be a nasty free for all excercise in free market and capitalism.

The only reason PS3's are going to go for insane prices is because impulse and impatient buyers are going to be blowing auction prices up.


But here's an irony:

Unlike the 360 shortages, people have had MONTHS to plan and prepare for PS3 shortages.

Imagine if the Ebay aftermarket is actually oversaturated for a little while, because you had all these folks buy extra PS3's to put them out there?

That right there could keep the values down to Earth. Imagine if that happens long enough for Sony to meet the rest of the demand.

It's possible.



But honestly: I'm tired of seeing the whining on this subject it comes up around here. It's just pathetic.


For the vast majority: Whoever puts a PS3 up on Ebay or other auction site legitimately paid for that PS3 out of their own pockets first. They're free to do whatever the hell they want with the product they bought.


If people are impulsive and dumb enough to get into a bidding war and blow that product up to a crazy figure: That's their problem.

If I'm a seller and I put that thing out there and I start the bidding at MSRP and let 'er rip and those fools blow it up to two grand? You bet I'm going to take that money with a clean conscience and big on my face.

That's on them. Not me.




Personally, I can only float buying one PS3 and I really want it.

But guess what? It's staying sealed for a while when I get it here.

If I see $1500 a pop going left and right? You better believe I'm putting mine up. I'll gladly wait another month or two for an easy pay day like that.

[takezo]

Exactly! I mean if people are that desperate to get Ps3 at launch they have to pay the piper. Either you reserve it in retail stores or buy super inflated auction prices.

If you were smart, you would just wait till It becomes readily availible. Your not going to die if you wait.

In fact waiting will do me good. I will use my 2007 tax returns to get PS3. The rate i am working now, I should beable to buy the 20GB model and a a few Blu - ray movies, maybe a game, if there is any good ones out by then.

Besides all launch games don't even intrest me. All Blu-ray titles released now will probably get cheaper too. Win, win situation.

Plus i will be having too much fun with the Wii. ("my" just sounds too weird )

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by JTK

Why not do both?

Again: No one has a gun to anyone's head forcing them to bid on any auction.

Don't like it? Don't bid on it.


It's going to be a nasty free for all excercise in free market and capitalism.

The only reason PS3's are going to go for insane prices is because impulse and impatient buyers are going to be blowing auction prices up.


But here's an irony:

Unlike the 360 shortages, people have had MONTHS to plan and prepare for PS3 shortages.

Imagine if the Ebay aftermarket is actually oversaturated for a little while, because you had all these folks buy extra PS3's to put them out there?

That right there could keep the values down to Earth. Imagine if that happens long enough for Sony to meet the rest of the demand.

It's possible.



But honestly: I'm tired of seeing the whining on this subject it comes up around here. It's just pathetic.


For the vast majority: Whoever puts a PS3 up on Ebay or other auction site legitimately paid for that PS3 out of their own pockets first. They're free to do whatever the hell they want with the product they bought.


If people are impulsive and dumb enough to get into a bidding war and blow that product up to a crazy figure: That's their problem.

If I'm a seller and I put that thing out there and I start the bidding at MSRP and let 'er rip and those fools blow it up to two grand? You bet I'm going to take that money with a clean conscience and big on my face.

That's on them. Not me.




Personally, I can only float buying one PS3 and I really want it.

But guess what? It's staying sealed for a while when I get it here.

If I see $1500 a pop going left and right? You better believe I'm putting mine up. I'll gladly wait another month or two for an easy pay day like that.

Exactly right! Nothing more to add to this post.

[JTK]

Now to the original point of the thread:

Originally Posted by WeApOn

- When do you think is a good time to sell? Right at launch, or wait more towards Christmas where people may be more desperate?(but risking the early advantage, as most people may buy earlier)

Complete gut call.

Starting on launch day, watch the auctions and specifically: Watch the "completed items" area and make sure you're looking for legitimately won PS3's, not sabotaged and blown up through the roof auctions.

Pay attention to the consistently high price and that gives you an idea of where the market is.

Consider using a Buy It Now at that price you see at that time or a closely rounded average.

You lose nothing with the use of a BIN tag.

- Use Reserve price, police the auction well, just let it go?

Reserves suck. They're a turn-off. People see that and keep on moving.

You're better off just being honest and putting a number right out there in the open.

If you don't want to be the target of hate and sabotage, I recommend you start your auction at the MSRP/what you paid for the PS3, including tax, because let's say in the very unlikely event your PS3 doesn't sell or goes low? You cover your Ebay fees, Pay Pal fees, and the rest of it.

Don't start your bidding any higher than that.

If you really want to make it inviting, start it at either $499 if you have a 20GB PS3 or $599 for the 60 Gig PS3.

Consider the Buy It Now option as I described or just let 'er rip. Let the market dictate the value.


I can guarantee you right now you will have impulse buyers emailing you offers to try and end the auction early. If you see something you like? Go for it, but get that person to commit to that price and tell them you are going to put that price as a Buy It Now on the auction and link them to it. You can always add things like BIN's to auctions at any time.


Time that auction to an end during a time of day you know you will be around, but yes, you will need to police the hell out of that thing.

Remember the golden rule: Put it in writing.

Have terms in your auction clearly spelled out like:

- All sales are final.

- Bidders with less than 100 percent or 99 percent positive history: Don't bid.

- Bidders with any negatives and/or less than three months of history on Ebay: Don't bid.

^^
Stuff like that. Spell it out. You can't be too anal and too specific on Ebay. There's no such thing.

Have at least one really good picture of the PS3 and make sure the title says Factory Sealed or MISB, which means Mint in Sealed Box.



Ebay is all about the buyer. The seller has very few rights and protection so understand the risks you take and cover your ass. Ebay is so heavily weighed in favor of a buyer it's a joke.

I hate Ebay.


Most likely: I want the PS3 bad enough that I probably bother with this unless I really see a safe, guaranteed, knock my socks off pay day.

Again: I hate Ebay.

[thunderhawk]

Good advice JTK. Thanks

[JTK]

Originally Posted by thunderhawk

Good advice JTK. Thanks

I'll be waiting for my Pay Pal'd consultation fees from everyone.

[WeApOn]

JTK- Great. Thanks so much. That helps me out so much. I agree with alot of your ideas there. I guess the best idea(if i manage to get another PS3) is to watch for a day or two, and then sell the second PS3 for a BIN for around that high price it's selling for.

Worst case scenario and I decide I'd rather not bother with e-bay, I've got the sealed PS3 and reciept and I can just return it to the store... Then some lucky person will magically find a PS3 available at retail price.

Anyway, thanks alot for the help.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by WeApOn

Worst case scenario and I decide I'd rather not bother with e-bay, I've got the sealed PS3 and reciept and I can just return it to the store... Then some lucky person will magically find a PS3 available at retail price.

Yeah, but regardless of all this. Don't you want a PS3 yourself?

[theknub]

if he doesn't, ill take it happily

[thunderhawk]

Originally Posted by JTK

Yeah, but regardless of all this. Don't you want a PS3 yourself?

If he doesn't need it that moment, why not sell it and make some profit?
If you buy a PS3 for $599 and sell it for, let's say $799, that's $200 profit (Ebay fees etc not included).
And if he then waits for a month (or two) and is able to buy a PS3 (when there are no shortages anymore) for again $599, then his month (or two) waiting made his PS3 $200 cheaper.

Why not do it if you can wait?

[movies3]

if your planning on selling on ebay you have to follow there new rules link below...

Only one of each console can be listed per eBay account prior to the launch of the console (PS3 is expected to be available on 11/17/06, Wii on 11/19/06).
The seller must only accept payment through PayPal, and have at least 50 feedback with a 98% or greater positive rating so that they qualify for PayPal Buyer Protection.
The pre-sale item must be listed in the 3, 5, 7 or 10-day formats, and cannot use Buy It Now.
The listing must include a photo of your pre-order receipt in the description.


here is the link: http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200610....06-10-24174743

[WeApOn]

Originally Posted by JTK

Yeah, but regardless of all this. Don't you want a PS3 yourself?

Oh, I certainly do. That is the most important thing. ONLY if I luckilly get my hands on another one I will sell it. Otherwise, I will surely be keeping mine, because if I sold it I would probably end up buying another one off ebay myself for some ridiculous price. Having one is my top priority.

[Rob Tomlin]

I certainly want one too, especially since I still plan on using it for my BD player until 2nd gen units come out.

That said, if these things really do go for crazy prices of $2000 or more, consider it sold! For that kind of profit I could buy the Pioneer Elite player!

[theknub]

and a ps3 in a few months...

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by theknub

and a ps3 in a few months...

Exactly!

[ay221]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

I certainly want one too, especially since I still plan on using it for my BD player until 2nd gen units come out.

That said, if these things really do go for crazy prices of $2000 or more, consider it sold! For that kind of profit I could buy the Pioneer Elite player!

I had saw when the preorders first came out that one sold for $3500. Whether it was legit, I don't know.