Big Lots vs Ethics 101 - Tiki Marketplace

J joefla70 Tiki Socialite Fort Lauderdale Joined: Jan 17, 2005 Posts: 368	J joefla70 Posted posted on Fri, Mar 31, 2006 12:06 PM On 2006-03-30 17:22, Chip and Andy wrote: AND! You can have your very own for only $39.95. To do a buy it now for $150 is, to me, an insult. Hooray for captialism! But, still insluting. I don't even think it costs $39! I think the price at big lots was about the same price as the seller is charging for shipping! Maybe he started to paint it for himself, then did not like the way it was coming out, so he went back to Big Lots to get another one to paint -- and figured that he would just sell the unfinished one online for a big profit. I've seen this happen before with other items. I own a silver plated cocktail shaker that I got from Restoration Hardware for less than $60. I saw them online for over $100 advertised as "unique" or "one of a kind." I actually emailed the bidders to let them know that they could get the same product at Restoration Hardware for way less money. I have no problem with sellers who truthfully advertise their products, nor do I have a problem with people making a profit. If the seller wanted to put a price of $500 on this auction, that's fine. Buyer beware. But for this seller to advertise this as a "truly unique" item is dishonest and misleading. To call this item "unique" gives the false impression that it is either a one-of-a-kind item that cannot be found elsewhere, or that it is very rare. The fact that you can walk into Big Lots stores throughout the country and buy one of these items for the same cost as this seller's shipping charges means that this item is in no way "unique." I have no problem saying this and thereby risk insulting or offending the seller if he/she happens to be a TC member. By the way, the seller is also auctioning off the 3 planters for a starting bid of $50 (shipping costs $20) and has one bidder so far. http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Planters-TIKI-Totem-Pole-Bar-Statue-Tribal-Garden-Art_W0QQitemZ4451752915QQcategoryZ36025QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem He/she is also auctioning the other tiki statute for a $99 starting bid and buy it now price of $150. http://cgi.ebay.com/TIKI-Totem-Pole-Bar-Statue-Sculpture-Tribal-Garden-Art_W0QQitemZ4451742773QQcategoryZ36025QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

On 2006-03-30 17:22, Chip and Andy wrote:
AND! You can have your very own for only $39.95. To do a buy it now for $150 is, to me, an insult. Hooray for captialism! But, still insluting.

I don't even think it costs $39! I think the price at big lots was about the same price as the seller is charging for shipping!

Maybe he started to paint it for himself, then did not like the way it was coming out, so he went back to Big Lots to get another one to paint -- and figured that he would just sell the unfinished one online for a big profit.

I've seen this happen before with other items. I own a silver plated cocktail shaker that I got from Restoration Hardware for less than $60. I saw them online for over $100 advertised as "unique" or "one of a kind." I actually emailed the bidders to let them know that they could get the same product at Restoration Hardware for way less money. I have no problem with sellers who truthfully advertise their products, nor do I have a problem with people making a profit. If the seller wanted to put a price of $500 on this auction, that's fine. Buyer beware. But for this seller to advertise this as a "truly unique" item is dishonest and misleading. To call this item "unique" gives the false impression that it is either a one-of-a-kind item that cannot be found elsewhere, or that it is very rare. The fact that you can walk into Big Lots stores throughout the country and buy one of these items for the same cost as this seller's shipping charges means that this item is in no way "unique." I have no problem saying this and thereby risk insulting or offending the seller if he/she happens to be a TC member.

By the way, the seller is also auctioning off the 3 planters for a starting bid of $50 (shipping costs $20) and has one bidder so far. http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Planters-TIKI-Totem-Pole-Bar-Statue-Tribal-Garden-Art_W0QQitemZ4451752915QQcategoryZ36025QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

He/she is also auctioning the other tiki statute for a $99 starting bid and buy it now price of $150. http://cgi.ebay.com/TIKI-Totem-Pole-Bar-Statue-Sculpture-Tribal-Garden-Art_W0QQitemZ4451742773QQcategoryZ36025QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Post #224225 by joefla70 on Fri, Mar 31, 2006 12:06 PM