Beware of ebay

**DBLE ARROW BLADE** · 03-24-2009, 03:31 PM

Let me start off saying I have found some pretty good deals on the bay.

But . . . I was recently looking at a Maxam str8, "buy it now $10". I'd never heard Maxam, so I asked around and no one seemed to have used them--a couple people thought they were pakastani. Anyway, it came with a nice little case, and the scales looked pretty cool, so I was still considering it for the case and to possibly rescale another razor.

I looked one day, and the seller still hadn't sold and (I think there were like 15 for sale) and they had been up for about a week.

A couple days later same seller, same razors with case $55 buy it now. I can only assume that since they weren't selling in the $10 range, they thought people would think it a better razor if they raised the price.

The sellers ebay name is: mserica, and they have 100% positive feedback, so I don't really know what the deal is, but thought that was pretty weird.

**mretzloff** · 03-24-2009, 03:34 PM

I do not understand what the problem is here. If the seller wants to jack up the price, that is his/her prerogative. Stores, both in real life and on the Internet, do the same. The clothes you buy is marked up about 300%-400%.

**mmack66** · 03-24-2009, 03:55 PM

eBay says that user is no longer a registered member. Looks like there are plenty more of them cheap Maxam straight razors to chose from. If you are looking for an inexpensive straight razor, those Double Arrow ones from stamps222 get some good buzz. The scales are junk, but the blades are good.

**DBLE ARROW BLADE** · 03-24-2009, 04:22 PM

I do not understand what the problem is here. If the seller wants to jack up the price, that is his/her prerogative.

Yes it is their perogative, I was simply saying beware. Do your homework, and pointing out that this seller is selling a verying cheap razor for a high price.

I don't see the problem with pointing that out to possible buyers.

eBay says that user is no longer a registered member

sorry, the use name was: mserica84

those Double Arrow ones from stamps222 get some good buzz.

I have two of these. The scales are junk, may or may not come aligned, and are sharp, but not shave ready. But for $10 they are a very good blade, I've got some new scales coming, that were $20--so for $30/razor I will have two nice looking razors with nice scales. Stamps222 also used to have some good deals on wapis, he's definately worth watching if you are interested in one of these two razors

**erudolph** · 03-24-2009, 04:26 PM

To be careful when buying on eBay seems like advice that nobody can argue.

**Dalejr** · 03-24-2009, 05:56 PM

Your right, you should always beware. I just recently got my first Super Speed off ebay, I thought it was a good deal $15 total in Canadian dollars. However when it arrived yesterday I noticed shipping only costed the buyer $1.90 and they had charged me $6.81, they made nearly 5 dollars off the shipping. Also on closer inspection the razor is in working condition but it has lots of wear: uncleanable staining, 2 deep scratches, minor pitting and spots of microscopic rust. I have 2 more on the way, hopefully I got a better deal on those, if not I'm going new....

**Stubblefield** · 03-24-2009, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dalejr

Your right, you should always beware. I just recently got my first Super Speed off ebay, I thought it was a good deal $15 total in Canadian dollars. However when it arrived yesterday I noticed shipping only costed the buyer $1.90 and they had charged me $6.81, they made nearly 5 dollars off the shipping. Also on closer inspection the razor is in working condition but it has lots of wear: uncleanable staining, 2 deep scratches, minor pitting and spots of microscopic rust. I have 2 more on the way, hopefully I got a better deal on those, if not I'm going new....

Ahh, the "I'll offer a lowball price, but make money on the back end" eBay pricing scheme. Very common.

If a seller is charging what I think is a high price on shipping, I don't buy.

**mmack66** · 03-24-2009, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

Ahh, the "I'll offer a lowball price, but make money on the back end" eBay pricing scheme. Very common.

If a seller is charging what I think is a high price on shipping, I don't buy.

+1. Also make sure they shipped it using the method they advertised.

**Dalejr** · 03-24-2009, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

Ahh, the "I'll offer a lowball price, but make money on the back end" eBay pricing scheme. Very common.

If a seller is charging what I think is a high price on shipping, I don't buy.

Your right, I'll chalk it up as a rookie mistake, I won't let it happen again..

**Antique Hoosier** · 03-24-2009, 06:24 PM

I really suggest folks purchase shave ready straights on this BST or SRP from reputable sellers. Ebay is a crap shoot for straights. For DE's buy in bulk...large lots always did well for me.

**Hillie** · 03-25-2009, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

If a seller is charging what I think is a high price on shipping, I don't buy.

Just make sure the combined price is good. Proforma strops are quite affordable, also with the shipping in the US. Shipping to Europe is a fair bit more expensive. So expensive, it's not interesting anymore to buy.

**_JP_** · 03-25-2009, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Dalejr

Your right, you should always beware. I just recently got my first Super Speed off ebay, I thought it was a good deal $15 total in Canadian dollars. However when it arrived yesterday I noticed shipping only costed the buyer $1.90 and they had charged me $6.81, they made nearly 5 dollars off the shipping.

eBay sellers have been using shipping as a way to set the lowest price that they want for an item. I have seen many of the same item with varying prices and shipping rates set by different sellers. The lowest price often has the highest shipping cost and all of those items work out to have close to the same total cost when shipping is added.

How justified a shipping charge might be is a guess. The seller has the actual shipping rate plus packaging plus travel to the shipping location plus his time.

Shipping costs is the deal breaker for me with online purchases from many places, including eBay. I can often find the same thing locally for less or very close to the same price.

**jbcv** · 03-25-2009, 09:20 AM

I need to say something about myself here in order for my words to have any validity. My father worked for the US Postal Service for approximatly 40 years and only retired this year. Not as a letter carrier, he worked in the Rates Classification office in headquarters. As a young boy I grew up learning a lot about postage rates and how the US Postal Service sets rates.

In their languege on stamp is called a unit. Typically the rule goes one unit per ounce of weight with additional being charge for what they referr to as "oversized." All packages are classified as oversized. A typical double edge razor, I would estimate would cost four units. A straight, becuase of its size and heft would probably run I would expect six units.

Hazardous materiels cost an additional charge, probably three units. After shave is always classified as hazardous.

I would guess a double edge razor shipped alone from any where in the US to anywhere else in the US to cost approximatly $4 with packaging included. A straight I would guess at $6. Although the Postal Service has a strict policy of not transporting knives in any way and a straight would definetly be classified as a knife so one would have to package the razor before brining it to the neighborhood post office.

Gives you some idea of what sellers are making in postage.

**_JP_** · 03-25-2009, 08:02 PM

That's postage. There are other shippers, such as UPS and FedEx.

**Stubblefield** · 03-25-2009, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by jbcv

I would guess a double edge razor shipped alone from any where in the US to anywhere else in the US to cost approximatly $4 with packaging included. A straight I would guess at $6. Although the Postal Service has a strict policy of not transporting knives in any way and a straight would definetly be classified as a knife so one would have to package the razor before brining it to the neighborhood post office.

Gives you some idea of what sellers are making in postage.

Good points.

First class postage on a 12 oz package is $2.70. On an 8 oz. package it is $2.02 (minus any services). So as you point out, if a seller is charging $4 then their "cost" of materials is around $2. Given that most of my stuff from eBay private sellers arrives in recycled packaging, sellers are pocketing a buck here and there. Not a big deal. But when a seller is charging $7.95 on an item I know they will ship first class, I look elsewhere. I'd rather purchase from someone that has a reasonably priced item with reasonable shipping charges.

Better yet, I order from guys like John @ WCS who gives free shipping on orders over $75. Other popular vendors here (like Shaving Essentials and Lee's) have either reduced shipping or free shipping on a minimum.

**crocto** · 03-26-2009, 11:19 AM

threads like this are excellent reasons why you should just buy new off of classic shaving, lee's or shaving essentials.

**mmack66** · 03-26-2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by crocto

threads like this are excellent reasons why you should just buy new off of classic shaving, lee's or shaving essentials.

That, or just use some common sense.

**mmack66** · 03-26-2009, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by DBLE ARROW BLADE

Let me start off saying I have found some pretty good deals on the bay.

But . . . I was recently looking at a Maxam str8, "buy it now $10". I'd never heard Maxam, so I asked around and no one seemed to have used them--a couple people thought they were pakastani. Anyway, it came with a nice little case, and the scales looked pretty cool, so I was still considering it for the case and to possibly rescale another razor.

I looked one day, and the seller still hadn't sold and (I think there were like 15 for sale) and they had been up for about a week.

A couple days later same seller, same razors with case $55 buy it now. I can only assume that since they weren't selling in the $10 range, they thought people would think it a better razor if they raised the price.

If you actually go and carefully look at what this seller has listed, you will see the "buy it now $10" razors you initially saw are still there. The "buy it now $55" razor is actually a lot of 12 razors, which works out to be a better price than 1 razor for $10.