Profiting off park hoppers on E-Bay

[hockey mom]

Originally posted by C.Ann
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And did you also send enough to cover her listing fee, final value fee, (extra photo fee - assuming she used the ebay photo option and included extra photos so you would be sure to know what you were getting), Paypal fee (if that's the method you used for payment) etc.? If not, it more than likely "cost" her money and she didn't even recoup what she initially paid.. Ebay and Paypal services are not "free" to the seller - like throwing up a yard sale sign on a tree in your yard.. Sure as heck wish that were the case, but it's not..

This was not off E-bay, it was done through PM's off the Dis site.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by hockey mom

Originally posted by C.Ann
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This was not off E-bay, it was done through PM's off the Dis site.

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Well in that case, it makes sense.. But it would not have made sense for this woman to do the same thing on ebay because she would end up losing money if she attempted to sell them for only what she paid..

A few months back, I sold 2 MVMCP tickets to someone here on the DIS for less than I paid for them - and the 3rd ticket that I had left for a child, I literally gave to someone else here on the DIS for no more than the cost of the registered letter to send it to her..

However, when I am selling items on ebay, it's an entirely different story.. Many times you have to start an item out at way less than it's value just to attract bidders and guess what? Sometimes it sells for that $2 opening bid.. Do you hear the bidders complaining then? Nope!

Bottom line is if people want yard sale prices, then they need to go to yard sales.. And if they don't know what they're doing, then they either need to learn how to make good use of ebay (and believe me, I did some AWESOME Christmas shopping on ebay for WONDERFUL prices) or they need to take personal responsibility for their own errors..

 

[oracle]

Originally posted by hockey mom
I have seen auctions for hockey tickets here in Toronto that state they will not be sold for more than the face value of the ticket price.

I think you may have misread this. The law is that the tickets cannot be sold to someone in Ontario for more than the face value. If you are registered as living in Ontario, Ebay will not let you bid more than face value. People from other provinces or countries are free to bid as much as they want. Trust me I'm well aware, since I recently bought tickets on Ebay to a game in Montreal, and paid almost double the face value. But hey, it was Leafs-Canadiens, what're you gonna do?

 

[hockey mom]

I can fully appreciate that you need to cover all costs involved with selling items and I have no problem with that. Like I stated my only problem is with the selling price of the park hoppers. If you did not use all the days and have no intention of going back then I would say the person buying it from you is doing you the favor in which all costs should be ate by you.

I also purchased a few things for Christmas. Rare items the Dh loved and I would not have known existed if it had not been for E-bay. I never once had a problem with any shipping prices or whatever because I was glad to obtain the item.

I guess botom line is that I am just a sap and with Disney already being very expensive I hate to see someone being taken for a ride.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by hockey mom
I guess botom line is that I am just a sap and with Disney already being very expensive I hate to see someone being taken for a ride.

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But that's just the point - the majority of these people are NOT being "taken for a ride" - they know exactly what they're doing - and if they don't, it's their responsibility to find out the value of those tickets before hand.. Good gosh - all they have to do is type "Disney" into their search engine and they could obtain the information from a gazillion sites!!!

And I have to disgree - no one who puts an item up for sale on ebay should ever have to "eat their costs".. That makes absolutely NO business sense whatsoever.. And yes - ebay IS a business - NOT a yard sale..

Yard sale = free to hold in your yard.. Ebay = not free, lots of associated fees and business expenses, hard work, and very time consuming...

 

[hockey mom]

Actually it does make total sense when it pertains to Disney tickets. You already paid and the money and it is gone. If everyone was a tad smarter and bought their tickets from Disney you would never be able to recoup the lost funds therefore any amount you could get for these would be a bonus. They would actually be doing you the favor as opposed to an item you have that is hard to find.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by C.Ann
And I have to disgree - no one who puts an item up for sale on ebay should ever have to "eat their costs".. That makes absolutely NO business sense whatsoever..

That's true - that's why when you put an item on ebay, you get to set the minimum price that you will accept for your item, either by the starting bid or the reserve price. If an item sells below your cost (once all expenses are figured in) that's your own fault.

And yes - ebay IS a business - NOT a yard sale..

While that's true of many ebayers, its not true of all. Some people use ebay to unload stuff that they no longer need and any money they get is basically found money to them. That includes folks who sell things for less than they originally cost, just like at a yard sale.

And I don't know how you do a yard sale, but when we do one we put up signs all around the neighborhood and run classified ads in 2 local newspapers, so there are costs involved in that just as there are with ebay.

Steve

 

[depplyinluv]

i definately agree w/ steve on the whole yard sale thing, sometimes ebayers sell stuff that they find is clutter

and other times they sell things to make a profit

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by hockey mom
Maybe it is the buyers fault for not doing the research but on the other hand the seller knows exactly how much these tickets are and where they could be bought and could inform the bidders of this.

Yeah, and my local Safeway could inform me when grocery items are cheaper at the Shoppers Food Warehouse down the street.

The fact that Disney's prices are so easily available from many sources makes it even more stupid for the buyers who are overpaying.

 

[Bob NC]

Originally posted by hockey mom
Do you think it is right that people are intentionally selling used park hoppers for more than the buyer would pay if they just got the ticket themselves at Disney. ..........it frustrates me to know end that others have no problem taking the money and not informing them they actually got ripped............. I just want to scream!

I think you are missing a very important point here. (Leaving aside the ethics of selling a ticket that Disney states is only to be used by the original purchaser).

Many people go to WDW for 1, or 2, or 3 days. There is no way for them to economically purchase admission media that would allow them to hop to all 4 parks, (I know there ARE some outlets for 3 day hoppers).

Someone making a 2 day trip, and wishing to visit all 4 parks, may very well be getting a good deal by buying partially used hoppers EVEN WHEN they pay more than they would to Disney for 2 single day tickets.

I could sell the 2 days remaining on my partially used 4-day hoppers for a great deal more than their 2 day "face value", and it would still be a GREAT deal for the buyer.

 

[drtpaper]

The value of the ticket sale lies in the resale of the FASTPASS and PARK HOPPER rights. You can not use FASTPASS without a multiday ticket and you cannot Park Hop without the multiday. Disney has a daily ticket, but it is good for one park only.

I am one who buys the multiday ticket hoping it won't rain me out but invariably I lose a day or 2 every year. I then sell the ticket at a profit on EBAY. Yes I pay fees, but I do not have paper tickets sitting around that might get lost or destroyed by my kids.

You have to look at the whole package, not at your version of face value. Many people feel more comfortable with an EBAY transaction than some anonymous web site.

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by Kismetdreams
The thing that makes me cringe are when they sell free things on eBay.

For instance, the planning videos from WDW, WDW Weddings, etc. You can recieve these absolutely free in the mail from Disney and I have seen them with opening bids of $4. UGH!

Just because something is listed doesn't mean someone is going to purchase it (I have listed MANY things that haven't sold). Isn't ebay about making a PROFIT?

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by depplyinluv
i definately agree w/ steve on the whole yard sale thing, sometimes ebayers sell stuff that they find is clutter

and other times they sell things to make a profit

And sometime there are those who are selling their junk/clutter to make a profit/money. I sell my junk on ebay because I don't want it any longer and it is just taking up space. But that does not mean that I am willing to take "whatever I can get for it."

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by disneychrista
And sometime there are those who are selling their junk/clutter to make a profit/money. I sell my junk on ebay because I don't want it any longer and it is just taking up space. But that does not mean that I am willing to take "whatever I can get for it."

There is a distinction between making money and making a profit. Certainly, both occur on ebay. And occasionally you may put a no longer needed household item up for sale and have it bring more than its original cost. Technically, that constitutes a taxable transaction which opens up a whole different can of worms.

And disneychrista is right, of course. Selling on ebay still allows you to set a minimum acceptable price for your items. My earlier point was just that some people are happy to get any money out of an item that has just been taking up space in their home.

Steve

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by disneysteve
There is a distinction between making money and making a profit.

Yes, you are correct. But to me (imo) any money I make on something I am selling after paying ebay/paypal fee's is profit. And since most of us to not keep our reciepts for every nicnak we own all money earned would be considered profit and taxable since we can't prove what we paid for it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by drtpaper
The value of the ticket sale lies in the resale of the FASTPASS and PARK HOPPER rights. You can not use FASTPASS without a multiday ticket and you cannot Park Hop without the multiday. Disney has a daily ticket, but it is good for one park only.

I am one who buys the multiday ticket hoping it won't rain me out but invariably I lose a day or 2 every year. I then sell the ticket at a profit on EBAY. Yes I pay fees, but I do not have paper tickets sitting around that might get lost or destroyed by my kids.

You have to look at the whole package, not at your version of face value. Many people feel more comfortable with an EBAY transaction than some anonymous web site.

The value of the ticket sale lies in the resale of the FASTPASS and PARK HOPPER rights. You can not use FASTPASS without a multiday ticket
That is often stated or implied in ads for tickets on ebay, but it's not true. you can use FASTPASS with any ticket that has been used for admission to a park that day -single day, park-hopper, AP.
Many of the ebay ads mention it as a "perk" and make it sound like it's only available to people with park hoppers. I expect some people who do know the price, but don't know that they could use FASTPASS with any ticket, do sometimes pay a premium price to be able to "get" the "perk" of using FASTPASS. I can't get the link to FASTPASS info on the DIS site, but here's a link to info on Deb Will's site indicating FASTPASS is available for any ticket.

 

[CajunDixie]

If you did not use all the days and have no intention of going back then I would say the person buying it from you is doing you the favor in which all costs should be ate by you.

Actually it does make total sense when it pertains to Disney tickets. You already paid and the money and it is gone. If everyone was a tad smarter and bought their tickets from Disney you would never be able to recoup the lost funds therefore any amount you could get for these would be a bonus. They would actually be doing you the favor as opposed to an item you have that is hard to find.

That makes no sense. Just because you already paid for an item you should be grateful for whatever you can get? If everyone was smarter they wouldnt buy their tickets from Disney.....they'd save money and buy them from discounted places. If I go to WDW and pay at the gate I'm paying more than if I ordered tickets beforehand.


Now for the flip side

Taken from the EBay site

The "face value" of the ticket includes the price of the ticket and any service charge and tax charged by the original ticket provider that is printed on the ticket

Florida
No more than face value plus $1

No sale of multi-day or multi-event tickets that have been used at least once for admission

So if an employee is given a 1 day hopper what would be the face value? If you're given a 3 day hopper from your employer to use while at a convention what is the face value. After all not everyone loves WDW

Obviously most auctions are in violation of FL laws but Ebay does not make it easy to report a illegal auction.