Take something really random like [this disinfectant](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373020051428?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=o-XZsowTR3a&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=MGardFm8Q1y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY) *(okay not strictly a cosmetic I know)*. I’ve seen that in your average family hardware store for probably not much over a pound, yet it’s really expensive there.
Take a Dove soap bar. Price should range from 50-70p in Savers or your average budget cosmetics shop on the high st. [Ebay? £2.75-£3](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203951897518?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=G-u4rOxUT1u&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=MGardFm8Q1y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
Here’s another random one. Milk of Magnesia. I have bought this recently from Savers where it costs £3.50. Guess how much it costs on eBay? [TEN fucking pounds.](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234693625773?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=o-2N3boPQWG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=MGardFm8Q1y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
So this is by no means an exhaustive list but hopefully this demonstrates the situation pretty well. I’ve long known this to be a thing, what I can’t understand is why. There’s all sorts of things you can get for cheaper than anywhere else on eBay, and yet domestic and cosmetic items inexplicably always cost way more than the high street.
**NB I know that shops do this thing of putting up the price loads when it’s low in stock, but this is absolutely not the situation here, people just inherently charge way more than the empirical value of these items online?**
9 comments
Consider it a tax on stupid. Why you’d buy soap on eBay, I don’t know.
I could be wrong but is it to do with the postage? If royal mail won’t handle the item then you have to go through a courier that will handle it? Are these items which include p&p?
Weight
Profit margin, The costs of selling these items on eBay are relatively higher because eBay have fixed fees on top of the percentage fees.
Also 3PL costs, the average price for picking and packing 1 item is 90p – £1.20 including the cost of packaging
Then you have postage on top.
Simples!
They all have the postage/ delivery charge factored into the price. These things are bulky or heavy for their value.
Some things are just not economic to buy online in small quantities.
There are entire FB groups dedicated to Amazon and eBay resellers where they buy from supermarkets, home bargains, B&M, poundland, etc. and then resell online. Some people do this full time, just buying cheap shit and reselling it. Stuff that people want to buy but can’t be arsed to go to the shop and want the convenience of having it delivered.
Postage costs
Shipping.
People make a living off reselling this stuff. Walked into my friends room to see tons of bottles of shampoo and soap, thought it was a bit weird at first till he said all he does it get it and post it off for a profit.