BallReviews
General Category => Online Proshops => Topic started by: charlest on December 27, 2016, 09:05:24 AM
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For the past few ( to as many as 10) years, virtually every new (NIB), current ball offered for auction on EBay is NOT offered for auction, but on a "Buy It Now" basis, for the exact same price as anyone can purchase it from any decent internet store, like Buddies, BowlerX, BowlingBall, etc.
So, in practice, these balls are not being auctioned, the normal Ebay mode, but are just being offered for sale at a fixed price. Of course, no one is going to increase a bid over the stock internet price, as long as they are aware of it.
Prior to some point, 8-10 years ago, most of these new, current balls were offered for auction, starting lower than that offered by the good internet sellers.
So, for the most part, it makes almost zero sense to buy such new, currently offered balls from Ebay. The internet seller with whom you usually do business (if you do so) offers guaranteed pins and top weights and service that is often lacking from an Ebay seller. (Yes, some of them are very good, but not all. Many do not even guarantee pins and top weights.)
I wonder if this situation is because most manufacturers have chosen to enforce their MAP (Minimum Advertises Price, I think that's the abbreviation.) or because the Ebay sellers do not want to sell their product without some profit margin.
Or is there some other factor of which I am missing or just not aware?
I've stopped even looking for any new ball on EBay; I only browse for older new balls or for balls, for whatever reason, are not available through normal channels.
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I personally only look for older equipment on eBay. I'd rather buy current equipment from either the pro shop or buddies.
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Some sellers do "or best offer". I believe they have to list it at the MAP like you said but if they do or best offer they can sell for significantly less. One seller in particular usually sells around $30 lower than MAP.
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I just won a nib grudge pearl for $91 shipped....they are out there
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I bought a Venom Cobra with very good specs. for $83 shipping included and a Octane Burn again good specs. for $100 shipping included.
I did not buy, but I saw some NIB Storm Fight's with good specs. going for around $85 with shipping included.
For the most part the OP statements are correct, but there are deals on current production balls with good specs., if you search them out.
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Speaking of old balls on ebay, I keep waiting for a 15lb black urethane Turbo...............
As for new stuff, I never buy from ebay unless it is old discontinued stuff you can't get anywhere else.
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Speaking of old balls on ebay, I keep waiting for a 15lb black urethane Turbo...............
As for new stuff, I never buy from ebay unless it is old discontinued stuff you can't get anywhere else.
I keep waiting for a 14 lb. Pink Hammer NIB. One can always fantasize. :)
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Speaking of old balls on ebay, I keep waiting for a 15lb black urethane Turbo...............
As for new stuff, I never buy from ebay unless it is old discontinued stuff you can't get anywhere else.
I keep waiting for a 14 lb. Pink Hammer NIB. One can always fantasize. :)
Dream big my friend, dream big.........................................
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Speaking of old balls on ebay, I keep waiting for a 15lb black urethane Turbo...............
As for new stuff, I never buy from ebay unless it is old discontinued stuff you can't get anywhere else.
I keep waiting for a 14 lb. Pink Hammer NIB. One can always fantasize. :)
Dream big my friend, dream big.........................................
It's truly not even a dream any more; it's pure fantasy!
There was no better dry lanes EVER.
Even my beloved Visionary Blue/Green Centaur can't compete with a Pink Hammer.
(There's a lefty in one of my leagues who still uses one for his 7 pins. I drool every time he throws it.)
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I buy nib balls from ebay because they use the global shipping program . I live in Norway and getting a ball shipped from a online store is very expencive. :-\
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"I wonder if this situation is because most manufacturers have chosen to enforce their MAP (Minimum Advertises Price, I think that's the abbreviation.) or because the Ebay sellers do not want to sell their product without some profit margin."
Well it is both, as some companies have a person who goes though the online shops and Ebay to look for this.
Ebay charges about 8% for the sale, add another 3% for Paypal and add shipping which runs about $25.00 for a 15lb ball from west coast to east cost.
So if you were to sell the highest priced balls online on Ebay after everyone takes their cut your profit is less than $5.00.... woopie!!!
You have to place the sale on ebay, pick the pin and top, box it ( the box and tape costs also), create a shipping label, deal with the shipping company and deal with any customer issues.
Knowing the cost of a ball, the sellers are making virtually NO profit selling on Ebay.
The days of the bowling ball wars of yesteryear to get eyeballs to your site are long gone.
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"I wonder if this situation is because most manufacturers have chosen to enforce their MAP (Minimum Advertises Price, I think that's the abbreviation.) or because the Ebay sellers do not want to sell their product without some profit margin."
Well it is both, as some companies have a person who goes though the online shops and Ebay to look for this.
Ebay charges about 8% for the sale, add another 3% for Paypal and add shipping which runs about $25.00 for a 15lb ball from west coast to east cost.
So if you were to sell the highest priced balls online on Ebay after everyone takes their cut your profit is less than $5.00.... woopie!!!
You have to place the sale on ebay, pick the pin and top, box it ( the box and tape costs also), create a shipping label, deal with the shipping company and deal with any customer issues.
Knowing the cost of a ball, the sellers are making virtually NO profit selling on Ebay.
The days of the bowling ball wars of yesteryear to get eyeballs to your site are long gone.
Ebay now charges 8%??? Wow!
That makes me wonder why people post balls there at all, except in utter desperation. I understand what it takes to sell a ball there, or anywhere. I know about PayPal also. When I try to sell used balls, I warn people about that factor.
Thanks for your professional viewpoint.
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Ebay is great for a buyer, and can be expensive as a seller. I'm very selective when I do sell balls on ebay because of the fees.
I love using ebay for new and new old stock equipment. See a lot of people listing new releases for say $0.99 plus shipping and letting it sell for whatever it goes for. Great way to catch a new ball for less then most online sites.
It's also funny considering many of the larger online sites/distributors have one or multiple ebay accounts they sell under. Distributors cutting out the proshop to make profit. The bowling industry is very shady in that aspect.
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It's truly not even a dream any more; it's pure fantasy!
There was no better dry lanes EVER.
Even my beloved Visionary Blue/Green Centaur can't compete with a Pink Hammer.
(There's a lefty in one of my leagues who still uses one for his 7 pins. I drool every time he throws it.)
I've still got mine too. It's heavy, but I still use it on occasion. And I agree, the BEST dry/short oil ball ever known to man.