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

[mjmjr25]

Does anyone know the logic behind the Hong Kong ebay sellers who sell things for $0.01 with free shipping?

Like DS screen protectors and SD camera card holders among other things?

I am at a complete loss on this. At a bare minimum there is a paypal hit of $0.30 (maybe less for businesses, but still...), plus an ebay listing / sale fee (though i'm not sure how much on a $0.01 sale). Then the cost of the actual product, mailing supplies, postage, and the manpower to list, pack, and ship.

I used to think maybe it was a way to establish their "5 star rating" quick and easy - but there are some sellers who do this and have 100,000 feedback already, so it can't be that.

Then I thought, maybe it is a phishing deal, but i'm not sure how it work - outside of address information, paypal / ebay do not give anything out. The address information on most of us is available for free online, so it can't be that.

So does anyone know for certain why these sellers sell items at a clear loss on each sale?

[ExedExes]

I will NEVER, EVER, deal with Hong Kong sellers on Ebay, no matter how cheap or better of a deal they seem. They seem to corner the market on every little electronic doo dad you'd ever need though, it seems. Stuff like cell phone chargers, computer vacuums, and anything you can think of. Their stuff is always listed first, and I always bypass them to do business with sellers here in the USA. The shipping may be cheap or free, but LONGER, obviously too.

[mjmjr25]

That's all good ^

...but I don't really care about any of that - just wanting to know if anyone knows why or what the catch is. There is a catch - does anyone know it?

[retrosportsgamer]

Hmm , I've ordered things for $0.99 before like my black iphone case (and they were really big on getting positive feedback) but $0.01 doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

[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.

[AznKhmerBoi]

im assuming its the defected ones. I still dont get the prices though because Hong Kong is a pretty expensive city to live in.

[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.

[Opa Opa]

The only logical way I can see this working out legitimately is that the seller has a huge discount on bulk shipping. A discount in which the seller's shipping cost is under a penny per item. If the item & shipping costs combined were still under a penny; they would be turning a profit.

[mjmjr25]

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.

Here is one I bought last night.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300640383873?ss ... 329wt_1037

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")

This item just ended - 1 stylus, $0.01 free ship from China.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Stylus-To ... _500wt_922

And another (there are hundreds of them)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-1-X-T ... 3a6e53d169

Why not get 2!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-White-Touch- ... 500wt_1287

Ok, and here we go:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Screen-Prot ... 940wt_1270
SEALED / HORI DS screen protectors, the ones for $3.99 at gamestop.

[Hobie-wan]

From the SDcard auction:

Free shipping on orders for a limited time

Promotion Product, to prompt our store at USA!

Yeah, so looks like trying to pump their star rating before selling other pricier stuff.