ECF- The wild west of classifieds

[Goldenkobold]

Is it just me or do the classifieds sometimes feel like people are intentionally scamming for extra money, if it was a website selling a kr808 for 270% more than every other website we would not hesitate to call them out for it but I abide by the forum rules, even as I cheer the people who call sellers out, when people posts some insane prices.

I like the classifieds, even when I have no intention of posting in ECF I jump over to the classifieds to see what is going on but in the past month I have seen people sell items for 300% the retail price, or bundle juice up into a "bulk sale" that when you actually look at it is more than the juice would cost if you just went to the main supplier and bought it. I am not even sure if this is good for the normal suppliers, I saw someone posting some Company X juice for more than it would cost at Company X due to a Halloween sale that it emailed out to its old customers.

Sometimes I think I am overreacting , buyer beware, its there fault for not doing the leg work to look for better prices and no one wants to see the classifieds turned into a argument over the merits of a device or juice....but then I wonder how is that any different than these websites that sell l88r's for 150 bucks a starter kit, they both operate under the same "a sucker is born every minute" business model.

 

[Shilo]

I have thought the same thing when I look at ads here-- why would I pay more or the same for a used item with nicks scratches and wear when I can get a new unused one for the same price (minus the PP fee markup)---not for me. Its nice that this service is available for those who don't care about the price and just want something now.

 

[cskent]

I see the same ads and think the same things. But if they get what they're asking for the stuff that's between the buyer and seller. I'll pay what I think is fair and skip those that I think are not.

 

[Loveridden]

Yea, I see ads sometimes where something is overpriced. Or the item is only minimally reduced even tho it's used. For the most part tho there are a lot of deals that are good.

 

[oldsoldier]

While the classifieds are meant to be a place to find bargains there are cases where supply versus demand make it a place where rare mods can fetch a premium price. In the end it is a matter between the buyer and the seller. If something is Overpriced, it won't sell. If it does sell then it wasn't "overpriced", at least not to the buyer.

Personally I despise the price gougers, but I support the current policy that the ECF mods cannot become the "price police".

 

[fsroq]

Goldenkobold expresses very well wat is going on at the classifieds, and I agree totally.

 

[rolygate]

If there were some way we could restrict prices to 75% or less than the cheapest current retail, then we would. But if you think about it, there isn't any way we can do that.

We have enough staff to close down the scammers but not to operate a 'this is a fair price according to our research' policy. We'd need a bunch more people to do that, and we have a lot more important jobs.

People need to research the market before they buy. We just can't hold their hands while they make every decision. Unless of course you are volunteering to be the Classifieds Section Current Retail Price Research Advisor?

 

[Goldenkobold]

. If something is Overpriced, it won't sell.

That is not inherently true, over priced ecigs sell all over the internet all the time, but I agree. I am not really commenting on people selling out of stock, out of production models of mods for twice what they are worth. My main concern was with someone selling IN STOCK ejuice for more than the company itself was currently asking for it. The problem is without the discount code sent out in the old customer mass emails you might think it was a deal but with the discount code it was obviously not a good deal. In cases like that I wish I could just post a link to the original seller including the discount code.

I know if someone came on the device review page and posted an ego device for $200 dollars everyone would be posting links to where you could get the same device for cheaper.

Someone selling there ali'i for 300 bucks? Oh well they are no longer made and its a sellers market but when someone makes a post like this:
"
Alien Visions- 555- 24mg 30ml
Alien Visions- Boba's bounty- 24mh 12ml
Alien Visions- Gorilla Juice- 18mg 12ml
Vaper Room- Ry4 -18mg 30ml
Vaper Room- pumpkin spice- 18mg 30ml
Vaper Room- Keoke Coffee- 24mg 15ml
Dekang- RY4 - 24mg 30ml
160ml for $75 shipped ! Buyer pays pp fee"

It looks like a deal, but if you take into account known ecf discounts (and unknown discount codes sent out via email) it actually turns out you could get the above for 60 bucks brand new straight from the original merchant and you would end up getting more free samples than if you bought it in the classifieds.

 

[RippleInStillWater]

I have gone round and round in the GG subforum on this -- its what the market will bear and that sets the price. I would pay more for items that are no longer made as well as would a number of other fanboys, the fact is is that some are pieces of art to us and the fact they will never be replicated sets the value. This is no personal slam, GK, but I know you don't like the GG line and this and the premium VV mods are the ones that have appreciated in price and rarity. I wish people would stop thinking this is a commune sometimes because no matter what you do, not everyone will ever be on board with that so the illusion should be dismissed IMO.

And y'all know I love the classys!!!! I rarely buy new!!!

 

[RippleInStillWater]

That is not inherently true, over priced ecigs sell all over the internet all the time, but I agree. I am not really commenting on people selling out of stock, out of production models of mods for twice what they are worth. My main concern was with someone selling IN STOCK ejuice for more than the company itself was currently asking for it. The problem is without the discount code sent out in the old customer mass emails you might think it was a deal but with the discount code it was obviously not a good deal. In cases like that I wish I could just post a link to the original seller including the discount code.

I know if someone came on the device review page and posted an ego device for $200 dollars everyone would be posting links to where you could get the same device for cheaper.

Someone selling there ali'i for 300 bucks? Oh well they are no longer made and its a sellers market but when someone makes a post like this:
"
Alien Visions- 555- 24mg 30ml
Alien Visions- Boba's bounty- 24mh 12ml
Alien Visions- Gorilla Juice- 18mg 12ml
Vaper Room- Ry4 -18mg 30ml
Vaper Room- pumpkin spice- 18mg 30ml
Vaper Room- Keoke Coffee- 24mg 15ml
Dekang- RY4 - 24mg 30ml
160ml for $75 shipped ! Buyer pays pp fee"

It looks like a deal, but if you take into account known ecf discounts (and unknown discount codes sent out via email) it actually turns out you could get the above for 60 bucks brand new straight from the original merchant and you would end up getting more free samples than if you bought it in the classifieds.

This falls into caveat emptor, dude -- people have to be smart on their own........

 

[Goldenkobold]

People need to research the market before they buy. We just can't hold their hands while they make every decision. Unless of course you are volunteering to be the Classifieds Section Current Retail Price Research Advisor?

No thanks, the Marine Corp taught me a few lessons but one of them was never volunteer for anything.
However I would be perfectly willing to point out examples of overpricing compared to in stock dealer prices if forum rules allowed. I think something being "out of stock" automatically means the seller can charge whatever they want because they are the only game in town. But if someone wanted to post

Juice Lot AVE, Want2Vape, others

Alien Visions- Boba's Bounty- 18mh 30ml VG
Want 2 vape - Ry4- 18mg 15ml VG
Want 2 vape- Eco Berry- 15mg VG
Good Prophets- Mango - 18mg 30ml VG
90ml of juice for 50 dollars! Buyer pays PayPal Fee

I would love to be able to point out that 30ml of AVE with shipping is 20.70 the want2vape would cost 18 with shipping and the Good Prophets is 6.99 meaning buying new this should only cost 45 shipped

 

[GIMike]

I don't ever look at the classifieds because you can't ever really know what condition an item is truely in, and I only buy juice from well known vendors. Anybody could add anything to juice and resell it. You'd have no idea what you're really truely getting. I'll stick with registered suppliers who have a brick and mortor store and employees for their business. Not that I don't trust you guys, but, well, I don't trust you guys

 

[denali_41]

i live in the philippines and they do the same thing there !!! sell it used for more then what it would cost to import it new

but what really pi**es me off when they put "conus" only...WTH does Alaska and Hawaii get treated like that ??

retailers never limit themselves like that !! they want to sell their items

 

[oldsoldier]

i live in the philippines and they do the same thing there !!! sell it used for more then what it would cost to import it new

but what really pi**es me off when they put "conus" only...WTH does Alaska and Hawaii get treated like that ??

retailers never limit themselves like that !! they want to sell their items

Mostly because they fear increased shipping costs. I guess they don't understand flat rate boxes cost you the same to ship across town as they do to Alaska and Hawaii.

 

[BuddyGoodness]

Is there a classified section for people to sell their extra stuff? I have 2 AW P17670 3.7V 1600mAh batteries and charger that I got when I bought my prodigy V3.1. I don't really use them (I use it as a 6V all the time), maybe used one four times and the other one once, and they are just sitting here collecting dust.

 

[classwife]

LOL ! ummm yep...here ya go:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/classifieds-swaps/

 

[bjannr]

As far as pricing goes, I have learned a lesson in buying and selling horses. That is "an item is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay". I have gotten some good deals off the classifieds. Some prices, especially for mods are close to what the item would be brand new. But for some mods, just like used vehicles, they hold their value no matter how old they are.
If you don't like the price, don't buy. Keep looking, sooner or later you will find the item listed at a price you are willing to pay.

 

[boz]

A computer forum I habit has a classified section and they have a great rule there. If you reply to an overpriced item with a better retail price, you must include a link to the product with the better price. It works really well and keeps the prices at a realistic level.