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Fools on ebay

3K views 22 replies 22 participants last post by  Greedo 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Someone on e-bay just spent $426 plus shipping for a used Festool router that has no warranty. The same router, new and with a full 3 year warranty, sells for $470.

Things like this happen all the time on e-bay (for sellers other than me). OTOH, if you know what you are doing, sometimes you can get some great bargains.

The best Festool bargains on ebay tend to be tools that have no case (systainer) and/or tools that show some signs of wear.
 
#7 ·
I've had great luck with ebay but I've never used it for buying anything other than camera gear. Seems the rules are about the same for the best deal- something with no case, several years old, it's best if there are 3-4 more modern models available than the one you want (but not so old that it is considered "valuable" for its model).
 
#9 ·
I have seen more fools at auctions. They can actually see in person what they are getting and still way over bid. I have never bought used tools so cannot relate. Anything I have bought on E-bay, I have been pleased with my purchase and felt I got a good deal.
 
#12 ·
One thing I came across online once was that sometimes you see people buy an item like that on ebay because, for whatever reason, it can't be obtained via regular routes. You saw this happen when the iPad came out. LOTS of money to be made from overseas buyers.

Perhaps something like this occurred with the festool.

Then again, perhaps it was a Forrest Gump moment….. ;-)
 
#14 ·
A couple of years ago, I went to an auction offering a large selection of tools. Prior to the auction, I inspected the items, and found a couple of Craftsman circular saws and a what appeared to be a brand new Festool saw(with the systainer and the 55" guide). I decided I would bid on the Festool. Before the Festools came up the auctioneer auctioned off one of the Craftsman saws. The retail value of the saw $59 new, but sold at auction for $50. The second Craftsman went for $45. I was really disappointed thinking that if the Craftsman went that high, I wouldn't have a chance at the Festool. However, when the Festool was offered, only one other guy and I bid on it. I ended up with the winning bid of $45. When I went to claim the saw, I pointed out the the guide rail was part of the saw and they just gave it to me. I have been to many auctions, where bidders pay much more than an item is worth, i have probably been guilty of it myself, but have seen an equal number of items sold for much less than their value. I guess that is part of the fun in going to an auction. pkennedy
 
#15 ·
So many times egos do the bidding at auctions, including ebay. At one auction I was at they were getting rid of electrical service boxes. Like the ones that hold your circuit breakers, but bigger. Nothing else, no breakers, no wire, no conduit included. These two guys went and started their bidding with "I'm gonna win this." Ran the price up to over $2000! The next three went for $120 total-$40 each.
 
#18 ·
Yep…Like Kaybee an many others above said…sometimes folks let their ego's and the bidding frenzy get so frantic that they lose sight of what the actual value is of what they are bidding on….I've seen it alot on bowl blanks….I set a price in my mind for what I see and if someone goes over…I quit….I'm on Ebay to buy something for a decent price….I can easily overpay for an item at a boxstore…etc…and without having to wait for an auction to finish or a seller to ship.
 
#19 ·
ChiefK's story sounds about right. Back in the early 90's I went to a bunch of auctions here in Portland and what I discovered is that a lot of the bidders are just kind of filling their afternoons and seem willing to pay more than things are worth because they liked bidding. The best prices came from things that were unfamiliar to the bidders, not really part of the auction theme. For example an excellent 1960's saab at a plywood auction went for $150 while plywood went for probably 90 to 110 percent of its retail cost. I think ebay and craigslist are really becoming the place to fence stolen stuff which accounts for all the no case merchandise.
 
#20 ·
I have had great luck with bay. The key is to know the products and the prices. I have gotten some great deals. Just recently I picked up a 6 month old Delta 50-760 dust collector for $160.00. The guy used it a few times about a 1/2" worth of dust in the bag.
 
#21 ·
I think there are a lot of nuts at auctions. Several months i was at a estate auction.nearley everything went too high. But when it came to the house it brought nearly $8500.00 mor than a relator had it listed for about 8 months earlier. I belive when i am readey to sell my home i will have a auction.LOL
 
#23 ·
lol Rick!

i actually bought a Bosch router last week on ebay, and picked it up this sunday.
i admit that as soon as i saw it on sale i thought "i want this!" so i was prepared to pay whatever price would still be reasonably under the retail value.
it started at €150 and i got it at 247, my maximum bid was 350. i think it's a good deal, the machine is at least 7 years old, but it has actually never been used. retail value is close to €400, and there were a dozen of brand router bits with it, some never used. those bits alone are worth €400.

i couldn't be there at the auction end, so i set a high maximum bid. when i got home i saw there were 9 last minute sniping bids, but each time it was with small amounts so they didn't get the time to reach my bid.
guess they got burned at their own game.
 
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