Ebay Hong Kong Sellers $0.01 stuff w/free shipping? Esplane

[EvilRyu2099]

I bought a Saturn USB pad from a Hong Kong seller on Ebay once... It's was mediocre but I got what I paid for which was like 8 bucks... The shipment speed wasn't that bad either...

[ExedExes]

From one of those linked auction pages --

One fee for all We use the handling charge to cover all our shipping department cost

I like to see where the "handling charge" comes in... 1 cent item free shipping

Y'all can do your HK auctions -- 14-21 days to get my item, no thanks

[AppleQueso]

The most obvious assumption to make is that the items are stolen, so any sale yields a profit, even if it's .01 USD.

it wouldn't matter if they're stolen or not, paypal and shipping fees alone make that .01 unprofitable.

[mjmjr25]

^This isn't a thread about HK sellers vs US sellers, please read the OP. Just wanting to know the catch.

@hobie, yeah some stores do it as startup deal to gain interest in their "store" (but with so many doing it, I can't see that actually working).

...however, there are some sellers who have thousands and thousands of feedback and that couldn't be there goal any longer.

As for shipping - i've never been asked to pay additional shipping or got hit with another charge. And in most cases - these aren't items you have to have that day, its typically replacement items and cheapo things at that, as stated, SD card holders, etc. And with that said, shipping is typically 7-12 days, there are many times i've ordered from HK and US on the same day, and the HK stuff makes it quicker. Many times.

[brunoafh]

The most obvious assumption to make is that the items are stolen, so any sale yields a profit, even if it's .01 USD.

it wouldn't matter if they're stolen or not, paypal and shipping fees alone make that .01 unprofitable.

Valid point... but, there is obviously something unscrupulous going on somewhere along the line of transactions here.

[o.pwuaioc]

How many yuan does .01 USD yield?

[brunoafh]

How many yuan does .01 USD yield?

It's actually a loss, which makes the situation even more perplexing.

[CRTGAMER]

Maybe its a legit "Bait" sale? A customer buys the penny item and also buys other products from the seller's online store?

Some links? I might be interested in some of the deals.

I've been buying things like this on ebay for years and i've always been baffled by "what the hell is the catch". Just the time to handwrite each customs form can not justify a penny.

Not once have I been pushed toward an online shop, though any emails most likely would've gone straight to junk.

In regard to them being "defective" - nope, everything has been new / good shape. The screen protectors in fact were HORI brand, sealed.

Even at that - the paypal fee would wipeout the "penny profit."

I've boughten DS screen protectors, styluses, plush slippers (mario) ($0.99 free ship on the plushes, surprisingly "ok")

Thanks. Does seem to be the impulse buy see what else is for sell, or as Hobie pointed out to pump up the star rating. See nothing wrong here for the consumer to take advantage of.

[Jontendo]

A lot of interesting ideas and speculation on that very question here:
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/topic/Buildi ... 6?start=24

Suggestions such as:
* It's at a loss, but high volume sales = better exposure (via "Best Match") of pricier items.
* Shipping small items from China is free for them.
* They're hoping the very low price will encourage bulk buying.

All sound pretty plausible to me.

[vlame]

Maybe its a legit "Bait" sale? A customer buys the penny item and also buys other products from the seller's online store?

Some links? I might be interested in some of the deals.

lol post of the year!