Just amazes me....E-Bay....

[shawn stonbraker 2]

I know this gets beat to death every year around this time but now my kids are old enough to want some of this stuff that is in high demand during the holliday season and just went Christmas shopping this past weekend.



My daughter and son both want those Tekno Dogs for Christmas. No problem right? Well they are just about sold out every place you look. Luckily we were able to find the Dalmation Version (only sold at Toys-R-Us and in limited quantity) and the Beagle Version. Both were only like $40 each. They are on E-Bay for Buy-It-Now at the low price of $81 plus like $17 shipping. It just surprises me what some people will do to make a buck. (the same goes for the PS3 consols, not enough of them made just to get the crowd in a lather when released)



The same thing goes for the "Shake and Go Racers" for the Cars movie. No store has them but you can get them off E-Bay for $20 + shipping. They sell for $11 from most stores. Of course, no store has them, they are "sold out".



I know it's not illegal to do this, but damn, it really makes a hard time for people to get things that thier kids want when the money is already tight this time of year then to have to go and get ripped off because some schmuck got there first and bought a bunch of them to sell at 100% mark up. I personally don't think I could do something like that. Just me though.



Just had to rant. Thanks.

 

[Boodrodon Dykes]

I work at Toys-R-Us and we have plenty of the Tekno Dogs, we mostly sell out of the Robo Raptors and Reptiles. But it is crazy out there, and it amazes me how many people I hear from that say they were looking online and the item they are getting was almost twice as much then at the store.





boodro

 

[Todd Z]

Don, I think you need to get 2 of them and box them up to ship to Stone ......



Todd Z

 

[joey reed]

I would love to see peole boycot Ebay during the last 2 weeks of christmas just for the people doing that!!

 

[Aaron Yarbough]

Yep, the Law of Supply and Demand at it's best. Hey, i'm proud of myslef, I actually remember something from my economics class back in high school

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Todd, I got the ones I was looking for. (Luckily) We called around and the Toys-R-Us in Wilkes Barre had one of the Dalmation ones. My mother-in-law lives out there so she went and picked it up. All the stores out here don't have any Techno Dogs at all. They have a butt load of the Raptors and such, just not the dogs. Thanks for the help though Z-man!!!! You always have my back!!

 

[Dave S 2]

OK, Stonemiser. I hear what you are syaing but.....



It's all supply and demand. You want it, we got it but you're gonna pay. No different than Auto dealers selling hot vehicles at a 30% - 50% makrup.



My son got really really pissed when I scored 4 PS3's. He told me that I was denying other kids their chance of getting a PS3 for their use. Like I told him. If they really wanted one, he would have stood outside in the cold like I did for 42 hours just for a freakin pre-sale.



That said, I also told him that if any kid actually saved $600 for a PS3 and I took that buying oportunity away, I am sorry but what " midle class kid" has $600 for a console sans games? Although possible, it would be a rarity.



I'm not saying or even trying to justify my 3x mark up on them but, if a parent can afford $1500-$2000 for a GAME SYSTEM for a kid (as a gift!!!), they they are WAY better off than I. I'm just chipping away at the dream while they are going full bore. My profit will benefit my children this Christmas morning. Allow them a visit to their Grandparents house during the Holiday (800 mi away) and may even provide them steak on a night that otherwise might bring soup and grilled cheese.



In my opinion, very few kids will wind up with a PS3 this Christmas. I envision "money is no object to keep up with the Jones" yuppies will display them with glee and the rest will go to celebrities, rappers and overpaid athletes that just have to have them in their Hummers, Lexus's, and in their MTV crib.



Yes, I do have children and they will get what I can afford to fulfill their wishes the best that can be.



I know I'm rambling a bit but I remember as a child having all kinds of wants but even though they weren't realized on Christmas morning, let alone the rest of the year, I grew up happy and content that my parents did the best they could. Even though they didn't get me that Red Rider BB gun and transistor radio I so desperately needed.



Sorry if you are offended in anyway with this post but I really am tired of some who label eBay sellers as being greedy bastards, while I am one myself. It's all in a days work while chasing that "American Dream"



One more thing if you will. Others are creative beyond my imagination and do quite well for themselves with it. When I saw this on eBay, it blew me away. I wish this person alll the luck in the world and hope the creativity displayed in this listing raises their level of standing both outside and within their realm of life. If I had it, I'd give em a $mil for creativity.



May you and your children be wrapped with Peace, Joy and Hope during this Christmas season.



Forgot the link...

http://cgi.ebay.com/not-ps3-POOR-STATION-3-HAS-ARRIVED-gaming-system-NR_W0QQitemZ170054389549QQihZ007QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Dave, regarding the PS3s, no rationalizing needed, you're a scalper, plain and simple. Not that that's a bad thing.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Dave, no offence taken. This is a free country and if you want to teach your kids it's ok to rip people off, just so you can get what you want, no problem. I hope you're not getting offended.



I saw all the news coverage of places where people sat out early in the morning to get the PS3 and the stores only had 23 or so for the houndreds that were waiting. Now if you bought 6 of them, yes, you took one out of the hands of someone who wanted to buy one, just so you could mark it up outragously to make a buck. That to me is ripping people off. May not be the "kids", but you are doing it to the "parents". What kind of gifts are you getting for your kids if you are selling them to people who can (I quote this from your post) "afford $1500-2000 for a game system for a kid"? I'm sure you keep the "shipping and handleing" down on those to, right? You only charge what it would cost you to box and ship it.



Maybe I'm wrong, but ripping people off just isn't my idea of the "American Dream". Of course that could be what is wrong with people these days. That is thier version of it.

 

[Travis Munday]

I think stone didn't quite get it...



Stone, go to the eBay link.



Besides, no store would let you buy more then one unit at a time, due to the extremely limited supply (which, BTW was a real delay, not a imaginary one as you suggest).



If people are willing to pay a premium for anything, then where is the harm in selling it for that much? It's only a rip-off is you don't have the money to afford it. Business stay in business by selling for profit. Did you know that Sony loses anywhere from $250-$300 PER console sold? I'm sure you woulda LOVED to have bought your ST for $7,500, or about half of the cost of production, but you can't, you were ripped off. You overpaid by WAY to much. But you wanted the ST, so you were willing to pay the price to get one. Still are, actually, since there are much more economical rides out there.



A rip-off is all a matter of perception; those willing to pay, and those wishing they could.

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

Wow, angry sarcasm....I hope you are not offended.

what it would cost you to box and ship it.

They call it shipping and HANDLING. Put a per hour dollar figure on his time and see what he is charging - handling is part of it. It's not just the cost of the box, the wrapping and the postage. Just because it looks like he is a one man shop and may work out of his house does not mean he can't be paid a wage for menial work. If he had 1000 employees and one of them packed and shipped, they would receive a wage.



Tiger is correct on the markup - see http://www.betanews.com/article/PlayStation_3_Loses_as_Much_as_307_Per_Unit_Sold/1163688668



They make it by taking your arms and legs for games.



This is America and as others have mentioned it is economics at work. You would have to say it is part of what makes this country great (preying on others greed....). If some fool is williing to part with their $, then so be it. I think those w/less money have always been happier because they have to find ways to entertain themselves rather than have it handed to them.



Personally let's see, the first thing I bought for my 7 year old for Christmas...was it a toy that he could sit inside and veg in front of the tv and get hardly anything out of it (maybe a little hand eye coordination)? Nope. I bought him a wooden baseball bat so he can go outside, play baseball, learn how to really hit (with wood, instead of aluminum). Then later when he signs a baseball contract for millions (note the average salary is currently over 2.4 million), he can buy his own PS28 and I will go to his house and play. If he doesn't make it at least I did my part. Hell maybe he will just get a college scholarship, then I can spend his 529 savings on a new 2018 Sport Trac. Also, I've never heard of anyone "going pro" in PS3.



Kids have forgotten how to play. The best Christmas presents you could give a kid would be a can (for kick the can), a kickball, a baseball glove, a bat, some balls, a football, a basketball, and directions on how to play hide and go seek. Do not forget to teach what "Ollie, Ollie, oxen free" means as well. See link below if this is Greek to you.



Enough of this diatribe. And it's like 'they' always say, "if you have ask what it costs, you can't afford it anyway."



JT#14

 

[Dave S 2]

Stonemiser...



"This is a free country and if you want to teach your kids it's ok to rip people off..."

I belive you need to review Econ 101...

Damn Sony is ripping off the population. I'm mean really, it's only a game system.

And then tere's TRU, WalMart, Target & EB games (of which I got the 4). How dare they rip us off!!!!!!!!!!

How much did Ford put out to build your ST? Think you got a good deal. Google the #'s but you better take a seat whilst doing so...

And no, Stomemiser, I really don't want another rebuttal because you mind was made up a long, long time ago.



"I'm sure you keep the "shipping and handleing" down on those to, right? You only charge what it would cost you to box and ship it".

Actually, I charged $5.47 less than actual ship charge....



"I hope you're not getting offended".

You hope is in vain....



TJR - Point taken...Ever wish you could witness a Super Bowl in person?



Tiger....What can I say...Enjoy your Sport Trac.



Alas, Stonemiser, again, may you and yours have a joyous Holiday Season

 

[Nelson Atwell]

One thing interesting about the PS3. They sell for $600, but have the capabilities of a Blu-Ray DVD which costs $1500 normally. There may be some out there that never intend to play a game on the system, but bought it only for the HDTV Blu-Ray capability.



Our free-market economy allows folks to profit for short supply items such as the PS3 and other toys in this thread. I find it to be more fair than what exists in many of the other countries around the World, where the dictator or king gets all the high demand items to divvy out as he pleases. If North Korea had a few PS3s delivered where do you think those would go? I figure Kim Jung Il would get every one of them for himself and his cronies.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Tiger, no I got it. Perseption or whatever, to me it's still ripping someone off.



Travis, I understand your point also. Not that I agree that the "packers" would be making $15 an hour.



Didn't mean to stir up a bees nest on this one. Just needed to vent on what I saw with the toys that I was looking at.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Dave, my appologies if I offended you in any way. I was off mark by my comments and don't want to proclame you as a rip off artist. I'm sure you would be someone I would sit down and have a beer with any other time. Again, my appologys. Sorry.

Back at you with the Hollidays.

 

[Dave S 2]

Ahh yes Nelson...BluRay...Those who can, have been snaping those players up @ $1000+ a pop. How many have you afforded for yourself? I thought so, none, just like myself. Although, with the 4 PS3's I sold, I ought to be doing so according to OP.



Like I eluded to, those who need do and those who want, can't

 

[Dave S 2]

Now we're talkin Stone...Sit down and have a beer...The stories we could tell...



I too just wanted to vent on the opposing side as a seller fed up with the "percsption" of eBay sellers.



Peace Bud...

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Peace out man....

 

[Jeff C]

I bought my Xbox360 last Xmas. Guess when I ordered it; May, 6 months in advance, and I saved those 6 months so that I could buy the premium system, 4 controllers and games. There were people at the store offering me $1000 for everything and I turned them down. I put it on eBay for a bit but when my reserve was not met and the auction ended, I opened it up and played and I still enjoy it to this day. People have known for months about the PS3; It's not like Sony came out 2 weeks ago and surprised everyone. Everyone knew they'd be in short supply because it's like that every time a new system launches. Economics 101. I have what you want, and I have a price at which I'm willing to let it go; with my 360, no one reached a price where I felt I could let go, so I didn't.



I for one say Go Dave! All of you who are upset, are you mad because you didn't think of it, or because you want one and somehow did not anticipate supply and demand for these things?





Money can't buy happiness but it sure can make misery easier to deal with

 

[A K]

Todd, I got the ones I was looking for. (Luckily) We called around and the Toys-R-Us in Wilkes Barre had one of the Dalmation ones.

Where's the mother in law from in W-B? Just curious, as my folks live in the W-B area.