Buyer Insanity:Typical GBA prices close to retail

[YoshiM]

I don't have specific links but the last few days I've been looking at GBA SP's on eBay. I ran into a few that were new in the box with no games and as they approached the end of their auctions their prices kept going up. Most of them ended just shy of $95 including shipping, about $5 away from being retail price.

Even though it was late my brain piped up and said "WHY?!!!!!" Why go through the wait and hassle just to save $5? If it's a color you want the local store doesn't have, why not just order for a store? Shipping may be less or free for going with a slower shipping method. This way you know it really is "new" and fully warranteed.

Is this just odd or am I just missing something?

[Lady Jaye]

I know what you mean! After I decided that I really wanted my new SP to be a pink Japanese import, I shopped around online, including ebay and Lik-Sang. I finally went for a NYC-based company that not only sold it at a reasonable price (before shipping, it was barely more than the price of a North American model), w/shipping via UPS. Since the distance between Montreal and New York City isn't that great, shipping was pretty fast (receiving the delivery was a whole different story, but that's UPS' fault, not the NY wholesaler).

So, yeah, aside from the people who are selling their own personal SP, too many sellers have a starting sale price (or a BIN) that's pretty high, compared to retail price. And when it is being sold at a decent price, it's the buyers who drive the prices through the roof.

[tholly]

yea, i noticed that too, and never really understood, but i guess to some ppl, saving $5 is a big deal to them and they can wait the extra time for an ebay shippment to arrive instead of going to a store and getting it right away

[spoon]

When I used to work at a new/used store, we used to sell used DVDs on e-bay like crazy. Most would end very closely or higher than retail price. We had one buyer that would bid on our stuff like crazy. Always willing to pay over retail price. When we asked him why, The buyer said it was easier for him to get them off e-bay than drive 3+ hour drive to a stoer with a decent selction and price.

I would also think that that five dollars means a lot to some people. Also, take into account the number of people who: Don't like to/never leave their homes,disabled/sick, or just plain idiots.

[esquire]

There is also this possibility - the bidders can't order from an online store because they don't have a major credit card. By buying on ebay they can send a money order or personal check, usually not an option with online stores.