Reply 360 of 1005, by TrashPanda
Shreddoc wrote on 2022-02-26, 22:53:Now imagine that I win a lucky $20 ebay bargain from Backwater Ohio. (*not that I ever can, because I would be competing against […]
cyclone3d wrote on 2022-02-26, 22:05:I live in one of these "big populations" but retro/vintage gear is not really available locally. […]
Shreddoc wrote on 2022-02-26, 20:36:I only buy off ebay once or twice per year. But when I do, it's always BIN. There are many reasons why. They all boil down to: it's the best (and sometimes only) way to efficiently and reliably get what I need from there, to me on the other side of the world.
I'm not using BIN because I'm an idiot. It's because, once all factors are considered, it's the smartest option for my situation.
People who live in the midst of big populations with endless retro gear sources and cheap instant shipping, will never understand how that is.
I live in one of these "big populations" but retro/vintage gear is not really available locally.
And the parts I am generally looking for now very rarely, if ever" pop up on eBay or any other site.
I had been looking for an ATI Mach64 VLB and an AWE64D / AWE64 PCI for a few years. The Mach64 VLB would pop up every once in a while on eBay bit the prices are always absurd. Finally found one that was included with a computer and ended up bidding and winning that auction for 1/3 to 1/2 of what the card itself normally goes for. Kicker is that the system is in an XT style case which I have been wanting as well.
Sorta the same for the AWE64D. It was in a "scrap lot" auction with some other good stuff. Paid a pretty penny for that auction but I contacted the seller and asked if he could package stuff to avoid damage in shipping. Might keep one or two other items from that lot, but hoping to make back most / all of the cost by selling stuff off separately from that lot.
The lower priced stuff that is available in the US eBay is generally lower end stuff that I have no need for. Sure there is lots of it, but it is of no use to me.
I've got around 100 saved searches on eBay and the pickings of good parts that aren't extremely overpriced is becoming very slim.
Now imagine that I win a lucky $20 ebay bargain from Backwater Ohio. (*not that I ever can, because I would be competing against people like you, who have comparatively no postal + import costs).
...Then manually message the seller, to muck around figuring out shipping costs to Tinysville New Zealand. Hope they agree, or that I have specially arranged it in advance.
...Then they must packaging it up for international shipping for me, which they were not expecting to do.
...Then they must deal with $40 shipping money for a $20 sale. (side note: with 15% import duties, the final $ cost to me of this "$20 bargain" is now $69....)
...Then seller must going to the Post Office for a special trip, asking for, and filling out, the necessary Customs forms to attach to the box for me.
...And signing declaration, giving all their details, phone number, etc.
It just doesn't work like that. Most sellers aren't willing to do it, with a quick cheap sale. It is an inconvenience for them. And for me, it's a chore to spend my life looking and asking, just for the odd occasional Yes.
Generally, it's only the inflated BIN auctions that have all that taken care of already, and offer it as an option. And that is why, on the rare occasion I buy from ebay, I tend to just save myself an extended headache, and grab a simple BIN which has international shipping all ready and set up to go. It may seem like inflated prices and stupid to use BIN to some people in other circumstances, but fact is, when you're in a niche situation there is no other practical choice. Millions of us around the world live in similar niche situations.
I live in Rural nowheresville Australia I know how you feel, nearest major city to me would be Adelaide and even the postal service considers that still a rural area cause ya know not being in the Eastern States.
So when I see the 70 dollar postage costs for international items to where I live I just accept it as part of being able to actually source the items I want since there is no other option.
I also accept that it can and sometimes does take 2 - 3 months to actually get the item I bought, especially from Europe. (Germany is the worst for some reason, Ukraine 1 -2 weeks, Russia 4 weeks, Germany 2 1/2 months !)