Kindle 1 selling for outrageous prices on eBay

angelbleu · 11-19-2009, 08:31 PM

I've been waiting for a couple of weeks for Amazon to restock the $149 Refurbished Kindle 1.

Getting a bit tired of all this waiting, I figured that maybe I could get a used one at a cheaper price through eBay.

Imagine my surprise to see that they have been sold over the last 2 weeks at an average price of around $180!

I can see a single item that was sold for $100 + $8 shipping, and the next cheapest item was sold for $125 + $12.51 shipping. The rest of more than a hundred used Kindle 1's that have been sold over the last 2 weeks were actually sold more than $150!

In fact, I can see at least a dozen cases where it sold for more than $219, which is how much it costs to buy a refurbished Kindle 2 from Amazon.

Considering that Amazon had sold their refurbished Kindle 1 for $149 with free shipping (and would most probably do so again once restocked), I simply don't understand why people would pay such outrageous prices for a used one.

Is this simply a good example of how eBay sellers trick their buyers into paying more than they should?
Or do these buyers know something that I don't?

P.S Hmm... looks like the refurbished Kindle 2's have sold out too. Maybe this is what's driving the prices up?

desertgrandma · 11-19-2009, 08:36 PM

angelbleu, its greed, pure and simple.

They know some will buy at that price, so that s what they are selling them for.

I would wait. Amazon will get them back.

tselling · 11-19-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

angelbleu, its greed, pure and simple.

They know some will buy at that price, so that s what they are selling them for.

I would wait. Amazon will get them back.

Alot of them sell in a regular style auction for more than $150. Hard to call that greed... just what people bid.

Pushka · 11-19-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

angelbleu, its greed, pure and simple.

Greed or market forces - demand outstrips supply.

angelbleu · 11-20-2009, 02:30 AM

Yes, I understand that it must be that the demand really is so high, since many of these items have 10+ bids.

But it's hard to imagine what these bidders are thinking... I would be willing to pay maybe $100 for a used Kindle 1 (with around $10 for shipping), but no way more than that.

I mean, $200? For a used Kindle 1? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Keithd · 11-20-2009, 07:05 AM

No, it's profiteering.
Someone buys 20+ Kindles from Amazon, drying up the supply, then sells on ebay at an inflated price. I see it all the time with computer parts that go on sale.

At least that's my theory.

kindlekitten · 11-20-2009, 09:30 AM

some people just have way too much money and time on their hands

brecklundin · 11-21-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

angelbleu, its greed, pure and simple.

They know some will buy at that price, so that s what they are selling them for.

I would wait. Amazon will get them back.

Comments like this are beyond the pale...on one hand there is the DEFENDING the high prices of these readers at new retail, but that is OK when purchased from a "retailer". But let people make a few bucks or offer an product to people who otherwise might not have a way to buy and those small sellers are "greedy".

Last what business is it of YOURS what people choose to do with their money. In fact there is a chance these people prefer to buy from an individual and not some Wallyzon sort of place.

Never ceases to amaze me how readily some folks are to tag an someone without knowing ANY facts from the source...then again that is how we ended up with The Shrub.

desertgrandma · 11-21-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Comments like this are beyond the pale...on one hand there is the DEFENDING the high prices of these readers at new retail, but that is OK when purchased from a "retailer". But let people make a few bucks or offer an product to people who otherwise might not have a way to buy and those small sellers are "greedy".

Last what business is it of YOURS what people choose to do with their money. In fact there is a chance these people prefer to buy from an individual and not some Wallyzon sort of place.

Never ceases to amaze me how readily some folks are to tag an someone without knowing ANY facts from the source...then again that is how we ended up with The Shrub.

Amazon was offering these at a reasonable price.

Greedy people bought them and are trying to turn an easy profit.

How smart is it to pay more from a perfect stranger instead of staying with an established business with excellent customer service?

The op asked a question. Your flaming response is way out of line to the answer.

mtravellerh · 11-21-2009, 11:39 AM

Peace, people. Please don't get personal on this!

forkyfork · 11-22-2009, 06:45 PM

Have the Kindle 1's really been out of stock for a couple weeks? I wonder when they'll get back in.

Also, even if the refurbished Kindle 2s are OOS, you can still buy a new one. You can't buy a used Kindle 1.

fugazied · 11-22-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

angelbleu, its greed, pure and simple.

I think it's called capitalism normally!

Supply and demand determines the sale price. Greed and self interest also play a strong role in the growth of capitalism, so we get the good and bad eg. Enron, recent finance sector collapse, Kindle sellers on ebay, Apple's.

Personally I am waiting for a Kindle 3 before making a move to any new device. I'll check that out, check the nook out and check out any Apple tablet should it be available hehe

Katti's Cat · 11-22-2009, 07:42 PM

Doesn't everyone try to make money? Greed? Could be. If you don't like the price, don't buy. I just laugh at the silly people who bid on these things without checking how much they would have to pay elsewhere. But that's their choice.

Me, I shop around to get best price.

nomesque · 11-22-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelbleu

Yes, I understand that it must be that the demand really is so high, since many of these items have 10+ bids.

But it's hard to imagine what these bidders are thinking... I would be willing to pay maybe $100 for a used Kindle 1 (with around $10 for shipping), but no way more than that.

I mean, $200? For a used Kindle 1? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Maybe they're thinking, "FFS, Amazon, I want a Kindle, not an 'international Kindle' that I'll have to pay more for" or "FFS Amazon, if you won't sell to my country, I'll just buy on ebay!"

... ie, maybe this is partly due to international buyers.

That said, people often a) don't do their homework and b) get overexcited on ebay auctions. Check out popular gaming consoles and games - they often sell at a higher price secondhand than the cheaper electronics shops are selling them new.

People are odd sometimes. But then, maybe they consider the extra money a payment for the excitement of the auction experience *shrug*

SanAntone · 11-22-2009, 10:09 PM

I was surprised at what I sold my Kindle 2 for last week (I bought a DX). I sold it on ebay...listed as used.... for $252 dollars. $7 less than a brand new one. I was shocked, but pleased.

11-19-2009, 08:31 PM	#1
angelbleu Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Korea (South) Device: Blackberry Bold	Kindle 1 selling for outrageous prices on eBay I've been waiting for a couple of weeks for Amazon to restock the $149 Refurbished Kindle 1. Getting a bit tired of all this waiting, I figured that maybe I could get a used one at a cheaper price through eBay. Imagine my surprise to see that they have been sold over the last 2 weeks at an average price of around $180! I can see a single item that was sold for $100 + $8 shipping, and the next cheapest item was sold for $125 + $12.51 shipping. The rest of more than a hundred used Kindle 1's that have been sold over the last 2 weeks were actually sold more than $150! In fact, I can see at least a dozen cases where it sold for more than $219, which is how much it costs to buy a refurbished Kindle 2 from Amazon. Considering that Amazon had sold their refurbished Kindle 1 for $149 with free shipping (and would most probably do so again once restocked), I simply don't understand why people would pay such outrageous prices for a used one. Is this simply a good example of how eBay sellers trick their buyers into paying more than they should? Or do these buyers know something that I don't? P.S Hmm... looks like the refurbished Kindle 2's have sold out too. Maybe this is what's driving the prices up?

11-19-2009, 08:36 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 9,626 Karma: 55799 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Surprise Arizona Device: 1 Kindle1, and an Asus 1000HE!	angelbleu, its greed, pure and simple. They know some will buy at that price, so that s what they are selling them for. I would wait. Amazon will get them back. __________________ Freedom is not free........its always been paid for by the blood of our military. I'm just sayin'..... "And while they, the government, fervently upheld the principle of freedom of speech, they had to draw the line somewhere. As everyone knows, freedom of speech does not mean freedom to 'criticize'.......quote from "This Crowded Earth" by Robert Bloch. Outstanding story.

11-21-2009, 11:39 AM	#10
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 6,642 Karma: 22474 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: PocketBook 360°, Cool-er, Ipod Touch	Peace, people. Please don't get personal on this! __________________ Deutsches MobileRead Forum rocks! MM-Klub: PB360° owners unite!

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11-20-2009, 02:30 AM	#5
angelbleu Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Korea (South) Device: Blackberry Bold	Yes, I understand that it must be that the demand really is so high, since many of these items have 10+ bids. But it's hard to imagine what these bidders are thinking... I would be willing to pay maybe $100 for a used Kindle 1 (with around $10 for shipping), but no way more than that. I mean, $200? For a used Kindle 1? It doesn't make any sense to me.

11-20-2009, 07:05 AM	#6
Keithd Member Posts: 18 Karma: 438 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle DX, Sony PRS-505	No, it's profiteering. Someone buys 20+ Kindles from Amazon, drying up the supply, then sells on ebay at an inflated price. I see it all the time with computer parts that go on sale. At least that's my theory.

11-20-2009, 09:30 AM	#7
kindlekitten Wizard Posts: 1,501 Karma: 9853 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	some people just have way too much money and time on their hands

11-22-2009, 06:45 PM	#11
forkyfork Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 70 Join Date: May 2009 Device: It's a long story ;)	Have the Kindle 1's really been out of stock for a couple weeks? I wonder when they'll get back in. Also, even if the refurbished Kindle 2s are OOS, you can still buy a new one. You can't buy a used Kindle 1.

11-22-2009, 07:42 PM	#13
Katti's Cat Guru Posts: 818 Karma: 1432 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Doesn't everyone try to make money? Greed? Could be. If you don't like the price, don't buy. I just laugh at the silly people who bid on these things without checking how much they would have to pay elsewhere. But that's their choice. Me, I shop around to get best price.

11-22-2009, 10:09 PM	#15
SanAntone Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas! Device: Kindle DX	I was surprised at what I sold my Kindle 2 for last week (I bought a DX). I sold it on ebay...listed as used.... for $252 dollars. $7 less than a brand new one. I was shocked, but pleased.