Ebay'ers dropshipping from Officeworks?

Janko on 24/06/2014 - 17:17
Last edited 24/06/2014 - 19:59 by 1 other user

I just ordered a 4TB external drive on ebay's 15% off day on this listing, got them today but was a bit surprised it was delivered by an Officeworks van with an Officeworks receipt.

On Officeworks' site, the same unit costs $185.00, with free postage.

All up this seller charged $180 including postage, which is the lowest I could find it anywhere after a decent search, even disregarding ebay's 15% off.

So is this seller price matching at Officeworks, bulk buying from them, or do Officeworks have affiliates? Something else? It doesn't bother me, just intrigued by his model.

Edit: Also noticed the receipt had a purchase price of $199, with me listed as the Business partner name and they've given me a business partner number (?). Is that normal for Officeworks' receipts?

Also said paid by visa (I paid visa via PayPal to a person).

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Comments

  • snappy1234 on 24/06/2014 - 17:23

    4 TB

    • Janko on 24/06/2014 - 17:44

      Thanks - edited.

  • PissLUR on 24/06/2014 - 17:24
    +2

    Interesting..

  • shadow131 on 24/06/2014 - 18:10

    Could have been an officework van owned by a private courier.

    • Janko on 24/06/2014 - 18:31

      The receipt's from Officeworks.

      • backpaqer on 25/06/2014 - 08:32

        is it the original receipt? if so…if he's claiming on tax and gets audited…

        • backpaqer on 25/06/2014 - 08:32

          with that said…I simply scan all my receipts rather than having boxes of paper lying around.

        • Janko on 02/07/2014 - 00:58

          Yes, the original. It came straight from Officeworks - he wouldn't have even seen it.

  • toristo on 24/06/2014 - 19:10
    +3

    Purchased on a corporate card and then sold privately for cash? Could be a very dodgy scam if a Manager somewhere is approving a direct report's expenses and they're splitting the profit knowing Officeworks is unlikely to flag as an unusual expense.

    • Janko on 24/06/2014 - 19:17

      Further noticed the receipt has the purchase price of $199 - maybe you're right

      • eatwell365 on 25/06/2014 - 05:03

        OMG. How creative people can be when it comes to making money. +1 for toristo.

    • Davo1111 on 25/06/2014 - 05:42
      +1

      Officeworks wouldn't flag it anyway, provided it's paid for, that's the limit of their worries.

      I think your hypothesis is right though. Although if they get caught, or the tax man has a look at their ebay history, there could be some serious criminal repercussions.

      • toristo on 25/06/2014 - 21:18
        +1

        Tax man would be the least of my worries. I'd be worried about losing my career plus god knows what charges for fraud related offences

        • Davo1111 on 26/06/2014 - 01:01
          -1

          You bought something off ebay. You have the advertisement, it was a reasonable price. That's not fraud.

        • Tal_Shiar on 26/06/2014 - 02:00

          It's not that simple either assuming the seller is scamming someone

        • toristo on 29/06/2014 - 20:48

          I meant fraud = employer.
          Anyone know whether this would be an issue like dealing with stolen goods (because they are paid for, however, the money used to pay for them is stolen, or could the goods be seized- unlikely I realise but hypothetically they are affected by proceeds of crime)

  • Aceboy884 on 24/06/2014 - 21:07
    +5

    maybe he ran out of stock and got you one from ow

  • cuteduck on 24/06/2014 - 21:37

    May be for TAX deduction??

  • sparkles on 24/06/2014 - 22:32
    +2

    So close to end of financial year and it could be a way to increase expenses or avoid tax. Money comes direct to persons paypal, but "expenses" then all allocated to business. If it's done on a large scale it could be lucrative. They would profit on your item the company tax rate for the amount of your purchase. Completely dodgy though.

  • Associatedsummutha @ Officeworks on 25/06/2014 - 10:13

    There is a legitimate site: http://stores.ebay.com.au/officeworks

  • Third_Gear on 26/06/2014 - 02:07
    +1

    This exact same thing happened when a mate of mine bought a ps3. Except it was shipped by Harvey Norman.

    5 months later he received a phone call from the police and apparantly an employee of hn had been shipping stuff all over Australia via eBay.

    You should contact the seller and find out what the go is.

    • lisss on 29/06/2014 - 21:55
      +4

      I don't think the OP is complaining or whinging, it's just a weird situation and I'd want to know what others thought too.

      So is this seller price matching at Officeworks, bulk buying from them, or do Officeworks have affiliates? Something else? It doesn't bother me, just intrigued by his model.

      No one is suggesting dropshipping is illegal either.

        • Tal_Shiar on 30/06/2014 - 01:53
          +3

          Going on forums to get a small investigation going is pathetic.

          Just like your reply …

        • Tal_Shiar on 01/07/2014 - 00:19
          +1

          Wow, you're a real schmooftie aren't you…..

  • HN Professional on 01/07/2014 - 16:42

    Thanks for posting this, am completely intrigued with how it all turns out. This is the part that freaks me out: "with me listed as the Business partner name and they've given me a business partner number"

    • Janko on 02/07/2014 - 01:03
      +1

      I don't expect to there to be a resolution - I'm not investigating anything or ringing Officeworks, just intrigued, that's all. Officeworks may simply create a business partner number for everyone receiving goods. Well hopefully I don't get a call from Officeworks or the police, especially for a hard-drive that I'd have to buy another one to transfer over everything if it was seized.

  • hj0809 on 07/07/2014 - 22:26

    It could be, that the person has an Officeworks gift card?

  • Janko on 23/07/2014 - 16:12

    Interestingly the ebay selling is "no longer a registered user". Would have liked to know what that one was all about.

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