Maybe it's just me, but I think it's weird that some people will pay more for a used item on EBAY than to buy the item new from a catalog or store. Case in point, I've been trying for months to get my daughter an American Girl doll, I would have prefered Kaya, but any one would do. So anyway whenever I have the extra money to bid, I go looking. It never fails that I get outbid by huge amounts, because I'm not going to pay big for a used doll, no matter what is stamped on her hind end. But people will bid way more on these very used dolls than it would cost them to just buy one from the catalog, and some of them don't even have the clothes or anything, just a nasty naked doll with it's hair looking like it's seen a ghost all sticking out and stuff. I go to EBAY for a deal and if I don't get a deal, then I'm not going to buy it. Am I odd or what?

Tonya

I m not a big E-bay shopper. I don't even have pay-pal! It doesn't make sense to pay more for a used doll so I can't explain that. The only time I bought anything was when dd2 was into figure skating and I couldnt find cute dresses that were age appropiate, weren't too expensive, I didn't have to pay sales tax (its like 8.8 or 8.9% now) and I didn't have to drive two hours! Two Hours and I live 30 minutes away from Seattle?!
But even then I was amazed at what people would pay for used skating outfits! I still bought from actual stores but bought styles that were a year or 2 older and I still was paying less then people were paying for the used Go figure some jpeople have money to burn I guess

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Karen

My thought on that is that people have paypal funds they can spend on ebay since most catalogs don't take paypal. It could also be the convenience of being able to shop from home. I'm after a deal myself so this is just my therory

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Amanda
Mommy to Zack & Emily

I've noticed that too. Definitely could be the paypal thing but I also think people sometimes get caught up in the hype of bidding and forget to check elsewhere or think its too much trouble to go to stores, home parties, etc, or just think its a good deal. For instance, I was looking around thinking I'd list some Pampered Chef things that I had bought thinking they would revolutionize my cooking, but 2 years later were still in the box. I saw people bidding outrageous amounts on items they could get from a consultant for half that. I figured they either didn't know the price (as the little blurb said "new - great deal" with starting bid at .99) or else just didn't realize you could just call up a consultant and ask them to mail it to you. With shipping costs it still would have been cheaper than what some were bidding- but it was convenient I guess to be able to get clothes, kitchen, baby books all fromt he same site.

I don't know- my 02

I usually buy things on ebay that I can't find else where or I have a paypal GC or something. Like last year I was looking for a Thomas cake topper and I bought it off ebay. It was like $10 with shipping. I did go to an ebay store though and buy it for less then I could get it buy bidding. The bidding people were paying more....lol These were right on ebay too....

I always wondered the same thing. Like with gift cards, why wouldn't you just go get one from the store?

With gift cards, it could be just convenience or the place they want the gift card from is too far away. It is very true that with American Girl products,people sometimes pay more than what you can buy them for at AG online. But the paypal thing is a big factor. I will pay a couple dollars more for something out of my paypal account because it saves me money in the long run. My paypal account is a savings account that dh and I use for most of our frivolous buying. If I can't find it on Ebay at a reasonable amount, I do without.

Last night I saw a WM gift card for $28.82 going for $27.50 + $1.00 shipping. I thought that one was really odd!

Maybe people get caught up in the thrill of buying?

I think that some people aren't able to shop during normal store hours and so they can sit at their computer anytime and shop. Also some people don't live near the store or have a store that sell items they buy on ebay. For instance we just got a Hollister near us and my sons like the clothes there but I waited til the store came those clothes are so much cheaper in the store then on ebay. Also some people don't know how to shop thriftily they don't know to shop the clearance racks.
By the way Tonya I have your package ready to mail I know you'll love your great deal.
Phoebe (aka carolinaphoebe (ebay)

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Homeschool mom