Proof that CPF saves you money!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

If not for CPF, I would probably be bidding on this:

E2e Body + KL1

E1e Body + KL1

I guess most people would not know you can order the E2e ($65-$70) + KL1 ($38) cheaper than ebay if not for CPF.

 

[geepondy]

Wow! Just looking at the current ebay bid of the E2e + KL1 at $153, that is higher then the what you could buy the items for direct from Surefire. Why would someone pay so much? I guess there is money to be made at these auctions.

Edit: Anybody know anything about the seller? From the site, quote "These are so new that every dealer I called said they won't be out till next year."

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I read that and I actually started laughing! Hmmm....Like the SF catalogue states: Lies Damn Lies (in advertisement)

 

[Darell]

It must be somebody from around here. How else would the seller know about an Arc SLS? It isn't like you can buy those from Wallmart.

I'm actually surprised that there is a market for these in the "real world" of Ebay. Amazing. I thought only us crazy people at CPF would consider spending $150 on a flashlight.

 

[vcal]

Originally posted by geepondy:
Wow! Just looking at the current ebay bid of the E2e + KL1 at $153, that is higher then the what you could buy the items for direct from Surefire.
Edit: Anybody know anything about the seller?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I also looked at that auction and noticed that the seller is darkgear (CPF member). Randy

 

[geepondy]

I have never bought anything from ebay and don't know how to give sellers ratings but I would give this particularly one a negative. To say things like this is the ultimate LED light is one thing and obvious opinionated and the buyer can make his own conclusions but to say such blatant lies like "Every Dealer I called said this won't be available until next year" is a blatant lie.

 

[Darell]

The only way to give eBay feedback to a seller is if you're the buyer.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Maybe he only called one dealer. In that case, every dealer he called would be true. LOL. What constitutes "Ultimate"? BMW says their cars are the Ultimate Driving Machine.

And this auction is for E2e BODY and KL1. You don't even get the Original head. Wonder what he did with it.

The fine lines of advertising.....

 

[darkgear.com]

Heh I guess I never make enough noise here.

Truth. Every dealer I called did tell me it won't be out till next year. Only dealers here on CPF had them. I walked in to a couple dealers here in town and they wouldn't let me leave until I told them where I got the KL1's from. "I'm a dealer and can't get these. Just wait till I talk to my surefire rep tommorow.." was the common response.

Yes, there is lots of money to be made on eBay for any type of new or popular technology. Example, you can go to dealtime.com and buy a Canon G2 and sell it on eBay for more that you bought it for retail+shipping on dealtime.com

eBay people get crazy when it comes to winning a bid.

As far as Arc stuff. Search for seller xhawaii He has been selling Arc SLS's on eBay for more than 4 months now and for how much? The lowest bid on an SLS was over $100!! and he's not the only one.

Yes, all of eBay is about wording and opinions. If you are looking for truth in advertising don't look to eBay. Please remember that as a part of CPF you are the Flashlight Elite! To the average eBayer (or well... anyone) the KL1 is the best they will ever see.

Here is where the E1 head went

Okay KL1 auction ends in 15 minutes. Any bets on how high it'll go?

Best regards,
Randy

 

[geepondy]

I see your points although personally I don't agree or wish to follow your strategy. It reminds of the time I was 20 years old and buying my first car. I had a job but thought for sure I would have to have a co-signer for a loan. The first dealer I went to said that "We like to give young people a chance and so here you don't need a co-signer." I paid list price for the car. Truth was most dealers would have given me a loan as no credit wasn't the problem as long as you didn't have bad credit which I didn't. Live and learn I guess.

 

[darkgear.com]

For that auction I would have gladly lost money on it. The 850+ hits that auction got is worth $$$ in advertising. Heh my normal auctions get about 10 hits each if even that many

Best Regards,
Randy

 

[Sean]

While I don't condone misleading information, I have sold many things on ebay for more than what they are worth. No one is stopping these ebayers from shopping around. You've got to wonder what makes people buy from ebay and pay so much, not knowing who they are sending thier money to.

BTW, Your Arc LS auction picures sure look familiar

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Thou art disparaging eBay. I have done alot of shopping via eBay and have never gotten screwed. The only flashlights I got on eBay were 2 Lightwave 4000s. I have used eBay to research motherboards. I have a seller's account there, but have never listed anything. If I did, I would be honest in item description. I just recently bought two 3 LED bulbs (PR flange), rated for 3 volts. Turned out they are 3.6 volt Nichias and I am keeping them as last resort bulbs. I informed the seller with the details on what I found, as well as other data, including a link to CPF. He told me that he got the bulbs from LEDtronics.

I feel he got duped by LEDtronics. Just cause an LED barely lights at 3 volts, doesn't mean it is for 3 volts. He is now in a better informed position to serve his customers much better.

When one lists an auction on eBay, one hopes to do as well as this one above (KL1) did, though you expect less.

 

[Glow Bug]

I've sold and bought hundreds things on Ebay. I have lost money on auctions as well as made money on there. I bought a case of 24 old cereal bowls once for 27.00. and they brought 500.00. That bidder was very happy as well as ME! No one makes a buyer press that (Place Bid) button but themselves. If they are too lazy to do their research, it is their own fault not the sellers.

As far as advertising, if you think there is a possibility it is untrue, don't bid or do a little research yourself. If you got money to blow and don't want to investigate, bid and don't grumble when something doesn't turn out exactly as you expected. Checking the seller's feed back should help you decide whether to bid or not. I personally have well over 200 feedbacks with no negative or neutral ones.

When you do finally get took, as it seems geepondy as well as most of us probably have or will get sometime, it will allow us to be more vigilant when we deal with others. That is not neccessarly a bad thing

 

[GADGETOMETRY]

Yes darkgear I have sold arc Ls's but did not misrepresent my items.

I bought my first Ls on Ebay and was told it was a 2nd edition and not a factory 2nd.

I later found the site and began selling them at a starting price of $1 but got too much for them. I then sold some of them for a lower price at a buy it now but was still not satisfied with the pricing.

I am a big fan of ARC and think Ebay is a good place for the company to get exposure. I am now a dealer and will not sell any ARC products above the list price. The only exception are auctions that start at a dollar and exceed that amount...the dollar thing is not to make more money but rather to give people a chance at a good deal.

I have done over a thousand auctions and have a excellent reputation.

I am very grateful to Peter for the opportunity to sell his great products and will be using this opportunity to keep the prices on Ebay from getting too out of it.

Aloha

 

[Sigman]

One has to be an informed consumer, there are folks who walk onto a car lot and pay sticker price. A good deal is one where the buyer and seller are both happy. The last two vehicles I bought here in Anchorage, Alaska both had a $3000 dealer "preparation/delivery/something or other" markup fee. Ha! The first thing I told the salesman was that we weren't even going to embarrass ourselves discussing that...they agreed and said as I have...some folks walk in and never bat an eye. I don't have that sort of money. Yes, I've made a few "foolish" purchases in my life, (even recently for torches

)...but I try to learn a lesson from that...Awwwww capitalism, gotta love it!!

 

[geepondy]

Upon further thought, I agree with the posts that nobody makes you press the bid button, I was just initially surprised at how high these items went for. I do look around EBAY and am amazed at how high some of the prices get even for relatively common items still currently in manufacture such as digital cameras. In most cases the scant savings over buying the item used is not worth purchasing when the same item is available to buy new.

Yup Sigman, when I bought that car a 1985 Ford Escort, I was estactic at the time because they would give me credit and also thought I was getting a deal because I only had to pay the sticker price and not the "additional dealer markeup." We wont talk about the rustproofing and "extras" I paid for.

 

[Sigman]

Side note re: "extras" paid for...

Everyone tells me (including Consumers Reports), don't buy the additional vehicle warranty. That additional warranty has saved me several times and paid for itself! It's an "insurance policy" for me, I believe in them. However I must say that factory warranties are getting better and longer all the time..or so "they say"

 

[shooter08]

I can't agree more it seems someone gets on e-bay
and loses whatever common sense he had. I had a
couple of bids on streamlights the got bid up above the retail on them. I go to e-bay for deals
just like I go to garage sales and flee markets.
E-bay is overrun with ignorant bidders that do not
care how much they pay as long as they beat the other guy.

Dave

 

[darkgear.com]

I don't believe it is ignorant bidders as much as it it ignorant computer users. I work in the computer field and there are many people who sign up for AOL just to get on eBay(or just for email and nothing else). They do that just because a friend told them how great eBay is. Many people bid on eBay and don't shop around mainly because they don't know how to shop around on the internet.

Not only are all of you Flashlight Elite...most of your know your way around a computer and the internet pretty darn well. You all are the exception and not the rule when it come to internet users.

eBay never ceases to amaze me. I once saw a "collectors edition", "out of print" Harry Potter AOL cd sell for $10... OR there is a guy selling virtual card protectors for your online card games (Magic: the gathering online).

eBay is the place to lose common sense. I do it all the time. My son want a K'nex big ball factory and I paid way too much for it. Heh while all of you paid $55 including shipping for your Mr. Bulk LGI... I paid $65 + shipping for mine on eBay(but I got mine first before anyone else

) My wife always has to remind me that "you are not WINNING on eBay you are BUYING. If you win, you get it for free." So "honey I WON another flashlight" doesn't fly in this house

hehe

As for this auction I think the bidder did very well. E1e-HA (~$70) KL1(~$40) Shipping (~$7) No sales tax. So The bidder bought a light for about $30 above retail and got something that most dealers are out of and so new and hot that we on the CPF have well over 1000 posts about. Oh and I am going to include the E2e incandescent head... it's a surprise, don't tell

If someone offered an A2 on buy/sell/trade today how high above retail would it go for? I know I'd be taking out a loan to get one right now

I'm just stupid that way when it comes to new toys!

The great thing about eBay is I get to invite all my bidders to join the CPF. Many of my bidders are flashaholics without a home or budding flashaholics... This auction will probably bring another member from Hawaii... So GADGETOMETRY, Mr. Bulk, Big Honu et all... Keep raising those flashaholics out there in Hawaii nei

Best Regards,
Randy

PS I've bought (like many of you) ALOT of flashlights I never knew about before joining the CPF. I am going broke saving money on CPF