Why do E-Bay allow sellers to advertise goods at ridiculously high prices , ripping people off. one

[kevstewart2011]

Why does E-Bay allow posts for goods at unrealistic prices that give buyers false information and leads to buyers being coned out of money.

One example 2016 U.K "battle of hastings 50p coin, fact the coin is only valued at abeing advertised for £50 up to thousands of ££'s , when in fact a used coin is worth no more than £1 the site is full of them. 

This sort of thing is  giving E-Bay a bad name.

[rusticrye · Accepted solution]

It's a free market - people can charge what they like for their coins.

And buyers have free will - no-one is forcing them to pay high prices for these coins, least of all Ebay.

This isn't giving Ebay a 'bad name' in any way.  Most folk - unless they've recently arrived on Earth from Zog - are fully aware that Ebay can have no control over coin-pricing, and that every coin-listing is the entire responsibility of the seller. They know that if a buyer is stupid enough to pay an inflated price for a coin, then that is the buyer's choice. Ebay isn't here to save fools from themselves, although their 30-day Money Back Guarantee helps.

@kevstewart2011 

[arkwebus]

At last some sense about "used current coins" not being worth much more than their face value!

If buyers think it is worth more then a "fool and his money are soon parted"

EBay allows sellers to set a price as they see fit!  In my view it gives the sellers a bad name ...

@kevstewart2011 

[red_magpie]

EBay isn't going to scrutinise every one of it's millions of listings to decide whether the price is realistic. In any case, sellers can ask whatever price they want - no-one's obliged to buy.

The puzzle is why they do it. If it's a joke, it's a very risky one. If you look at completed listings, these coins have been listed for up to £5k. One supposedly sold for over £600, so assuming the purchase was a wind-up the seller will now have to open an unpaid item case to get their final value fee credited back.

Some overpriced purchases, especially for vouchers or anything that can be turned into cash, are probably to liberate cash without partners or HMRC HMRC knowing about it. But where's the benefit in listing a £1 item for £5k?

[flydrive2020]

I'm afraid you have to use and exercise discretion when you witness this ... Yes it leaves me fuming too and I f*rt in the general direction of everyone who brings the car-collecting world into disrepute and shame by adopting this practice!

But amazingly there are mugs around who will part with copious amounts of money for what turns out to be nothing. I call it getting 'DIDDLED' and unfortunately since I began to make purchases relating to collecting cars on E-Bay I have soon learned the importance of two GOLDEN and very protective rules:

1] If in doubt: DON'T!

2] If it seems too good to be true then it's more than likely to be!

There are unfortunately unscrupulous individuals everywhere these days but thankfully they still form the minority in all cases. But by adhering to golden rules like the ones suggested is the best way to ensure that you stay laughing at these individuals and what they think they can get away with ... and being reduced to tears because of the rubbish they can get away with selling you.

Unfortunately me placing an advert for the latest 'Boonies Bomb with all the widgets / gizmos and nicknacks four wheels can give you IN THE NOW! Scene!!!' For GBP £99,999 ALL IN!!! Doesn't violate any E-Bay selling laws so long as the idiot who pays me receives something in return. It also doesn't violate any 'compensation or hire' laws on face value: Though Trading Standards are going to obviously have a very different view of the matter if all the unsung idiot received in return is a model car! However even approaching Trading Standards can be a bit dodgy - quite often there has to be a minimum value attached to the item before they take any interest let alone any action against an unscrupulous seller! Last time I had reason to contact Trading Standards in the UK I was told that my order was for goods under £25.00 so I was probably best just leaving it: So the theiving b*****ds basically could rip me and countless others off of low value transactions whilst basically Trading Standards couldn't be bothered to look into why I had reason to contact them over 'Goods Not Received' ... This is why so many now swear by PAYPAL usage by the way. I certainly now do because at least they obtain a result.

But casting all jokes [because that's all our Leftie Trading Standards in the UK are] aside unfortunately there's nothing preventative which E-Bay can do because of grey areas / loopholes in the laws of many lands which allow this practice to just seemingly go ahead. You have to rely upon your own discretion and common sense: People like this are there. Sadly they are real but so is the growing number of fools we have to run away from every day ... Well if you are like me whose already popped his sneakers [or training shoes] on for today you'll buy a decent pair with the proceeds of what you save by exercising your discretion and not suffering the consequences of what these people rely upon for their unscrupulously bad excuse of an existence ...

Stay safe and I hope this helps. More importantly stay in pocket. Not out of 🐵

[1902elder]

The value of anything is what someone is willing to pay for it. If a price is too high, no one will buy. Ebay cannot dictate what sellers can ask, and no one is being "conned", it is up to buyers to make their own decisions. It is certainly not giving Ebay a bad name.

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