How can a BiG bullion dealer sell for less on eBay,,,,
GRANDAM
Posts: 8,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
Than on their own web site?
Example: I found a 2022 1 oz raw Platinum Eagle on eBay from one of the biggest bullion guys out there. eBay price is $1060 and you can buy with credit card at that price. On their on web site price is $1085 and if you use a credit card price is $1131.
They have to pay some selling fees on the eBay sale so tell me how they do it?
Why isn’t a direct sale from their web site cheaper? You have to be a fool to pay more on their site. Buy on eBay cheaper and get credit card cash back dollars.
I guess what they lose on ebay sales they make up for in eBay volume,,,,,,, NOT!!!!!!!
GrandAm 
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I have no idea, but running your own website does has costs, processing fees, and lots of labor.
But they already have the web site
bigger purchase, bigger discount and a website?
The company likely views ebay as an advertising platform to introduce the company and its products to new clients. If they price items too high on ebay then they risk not having those eyeballs look at their items and risk losing the additional exposure. However, if they selectively reduce their margins on certain items then they are playing the longer game and hoping these ebay eyeballs turn into regular client eyeballs. Regardless, the company was not hurting on that sale.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
They are 'casting bait' in a big pond..... Hoping to catch some longer term clients. And likely not losing on the sales they make there... just thinner margins. Cheers, RickO
They could be making money both places. There are other factors than simply cost that determine pricing.
Loss leader as I remember was the old school term. Get em through the door and hopefully other items catch their attention. It’s also part of the advertising budget if so desired.
🎶 shout shout, let it all out 🎶
Yes, a "loss leader." Get their name and contact information. Then try to sell them stuff.
When I was still working on a coin shop I did an appraisal on an estate that had about a million dollars worth (per invoice prices) of slabbed U.S. gold that the deceased had taken money out of his IRA to buy, so the estate owed income taxes on that, and my offer to buy came in at under $400,000.
The invoices also showed that the original purchase was a BU 1/10th ounce gold eagle sold at melt. That was the "loss leader."
I always hate to hear stories like this.
Ouch!
I would think they would be higher on eBay. How the big boys make money a mystery to me and don’t have time to worry about it. Just go for the deal best for you. Maybe he has better retail buyers from the online store or cost structure different.
Many revise their selling price on eBay with a computer program tied to current cash market. Look at revision history and sometimes see asking price change every 7 minutes. I doubt they adjust their websites that often so when price is down that day, looks cheaper on eBay.
There's some famous examples of bot wars on Amazon. In several cases, the bots were designed to be 1 cent cheaper, so they battled the price down to 1 cent. In an even more interesting battle, they were designed to be slightly more expensive and a common book ended up priced at 6 figures.
Another example involving Walmart.