Parts question - price seems too good to be true - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: btipton
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 05:58:54 pm
content: I've got a few hobbyist-type projects that would be nice to have LCD displays on, but I've always been turned off by how much cost it would add. I looked on eBay today, however, and saw this:http://cgi.ebay.com/HD44780-1602-16x2-LCM-Character-LCD-Display-Module-New-/200562289086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb271a9be$1 per display seems *really* cheap, even compared to other eBay stores - is there something I'm missing? At this price, I'd probably order 30 or so just to make sure I'd always have an LCD handy.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 06:11:53 pm
content: shipping: not available to malaysia! check out the shipping cost. beware, some sellers will put some of the "item's price" in the shipping cost.

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 06:13:55 pm
content: I would guess that bet that most people, like you, would buy 10 since the price is so cheap. However, the shipping charge is PER DISPLAY, so ten displays would cost about $25 to ship to the US.

author: Longhair
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 06:30:12 pm
content: I always ask for a combined shipping total before bidding / buying anything from ebay.If they refuse to do it, then I look else where.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 06:37:36 pm
content: I think shafri's analysis is correct, the real pricing would probably be $2.50-$3 for the displays and $1-$0.50 shipping. But they have to pay eBay fees over the item price but not (or less) over shipping costs, so it's profitable to shift as much as possible to shipping. It also lists higher when sorted by price, and people may not notice the shipping price.They explicitly state that they can't combine shipping with a bullshit excuse (max volume/weight? really? for a few displays?). Any costs they have: transport, packaging, handling, shipping will be less for combined shipping, so they probably make more on one order with ten displays compared to ten orders of one display. I would just treat them as $3.50 displays with 'free' shipping, and see if that's a good price for you. The dishonest behavior would also make a bad impression on me, if they're willing to cheat eBay to save a few cents, how are they going to treat their customers?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 06:48:01 pm
content: to be honest I "shift" a little (but not a lot generally the ebay and paypal fess) on items i sell to shipping to stop the price spiraling out of control, ebay are becoming more and more expensive to the point that it might be cheaper for me to go self employed (while keeping the daytime job) and run my own website and pay tax on the little I'd earn profit.I hate ebay with a passion but it is the only one that has the volume of buyers and seller so have to "live with it"

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 06:50:27 pm
content: they don't ship to the UK either apparantly, sounds like they don't know what they are doing, "all sellers ship to the UK"

author: btipton
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 11, 2011, 07:23:09 pm
content: I completely missed that the shipping was per unit, regardless of how many you ordered. Thanks for pointing that out!

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2011, 06:05:39 am
content: Quote from: btipton on January 11, 2011, 05:58:54 pm*Some* sellers transfer the item cost into the postage charge to cover themselves in case of a Paypal dispute - the seller doesn't have to refund postage in the case of a refund. Usually the more dodgy ones.If you need some LCD modules I have had only good experiences with Sure Electronics (http://www.sureelectronics.net/), and you can still use Paypal.

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2011, 06:49:18 am
content: I've always been happy with the things I've ordered from Sure Electronics on ebay. I bought a number of 2x16 LCDs in various color combinations just to judge which I like best and a number of other products. Many of their auctions have free shipping, so there's no surprises....

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2011, 07:03:25 am
content: I have had dealings with Sure Electronics on there eBay store and website. I cant say anything bad about them. Never had a bad item and there packaging is very good.Regards

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2011, 12:16:01 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on January 11, 2011, 06:50:27 pmProbably one of those dickheads that once had a problem with someone in a particular country and assumes everyone is the same.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2011, 05:01:21 pm
content: I think Dave has one or two to shift (in fact desperate to get rid of if the amphour #27 is to be believed) Drop him an email and he may do a deal.