eBay - Buyer Beware. Bit of a Gripe

jeolefmo on 05/05/2025 - 10:21

I've been in the market for some rear rotors and pads recently, and I was browsing eBay to see what deals were around. I noticed I could use the code APL20 to get 20% off, which seemed like a decent offer at first.

But since I keep track of what I’ve paid for parts in a spreadsheet, I knew that even with the discount applied, the rear setup was still more expensive than what I paid for my front rotors and pads a while back, so I decided to hold off.

Here’s the kicker: the very next day after the APL20 code expired, Sparesbox suddenly dropped the price of their rotors from $308.95 down to $231.71. So effectively, the discount wasn’t really a discount at all. It was just a marketing trick to make people buy quickly.

It's pretty annoying to see this kind of pricing manipulation. I know sales and pricing change all the time, but it feels like eBay (or sellers like Sparesbox) are just playing games with buyers.

All I can say is keep track of all prices before you pull that trigger!

General Discussion

Related Stores

eBay Australia
eBay Australia
Marketplace

Comments

  • Wiadro on 05/05/2025 - 10:30
    +10

    jack was working then

  • MS Paint on 05/05/2025 - 10:37
    +20

    You must be new here. Welcome.

  • jv on 05/05/2025 - 10:39
    -8

    I've been in the market for some rear rotors and pads recently

    Can't help you with rotors, but have you considered adult nappies?

  • Protractor on 05/05/2025 - 10:41
    -1

    Crikey, where have you been hiding?

    Also check out Automotive Superstore pricing.Their prices are often competitive.(no affiliation)

    • Dr Phil on 06/05/2025 - 08:00
      -1

      Agreed

      One should look for the best price
      Not the best discount

      • Protractor on 06/05/2025 - 09:35

        and value is more than just price. Convenience,support,shipping,stock levels and quality,product knowledge, benefit of several items from the same place etc (ebay stores come & go ). And fleabay is a multi layered shitfest when things go wrong

    • skillet on 06/05/2025 - 14:12

      I often source my parts from Automotive Superstore. Their pricing is fair they also have discounts regularly. If it's listed in stock it will be delivered. Dispatch time is also extremely swift. Goods are well packed. I also source my iridium spark plugs from them as I trust them. Plenty of fake NGKs.

      • Protractor on 06/05/2025 - 15:10

        Last lots of iridiums I got from Rockauto. But best to stock up on other stuff per order, to justify the killer postage.Even if it means sharing an order with a few mates. You can get better quality more choice on a lot of the WAY overpriced parts in Straya.(Not sure how the tariffs impact)
        But home grown places ASS seem to be Ok for all the other reasons mentioned above.

  • Downvoter on 05/05/2025 - 10:49

    EBay? Yuck

    • DoctorCalculon on 05/05/2025 - 20:32
      +1

      After Catch, just waiting for the day eBay announces they are shutting down…

      • Protractor on 06/05/2025 - 15:11

        Who will launder money then?

    • topherboi on 06/05/2025 - 08:28
      -2

      I have sourced car parts from eBay exclusively for over 15 years and are generally the cheapest 9 times out of 10.

      If you can suggest a better alternative, I'm open to trying somewhere else.

  • Ellene on 05/05/2025 - 11:09
    +11

    Last week's sale was 50% off. This week's sale is half price. Next week is buy 1 get 1 free.

  • brad1-8tsi on 05/05/2025 - 11:09
    +4

    I bought a Lift Kit off Sparesbox Ebay store in Feb 2022. $1052 down to $895 with the code ($157.94 off). I checked the Sparesbox website and the eBay price was the cheapest. 2 days later I discovered it was "on sale" on the Sparebox website for $53 (something like that) cheaper.

    I sent an email expressing my disappointment at the price difference and asked for a refund of the difference between the eBay code price price and the Sparesbox sale price ($53). They refunded $210.59, the difference between the full price and sale price. I contacted them and their reply was "Too much work to fix up.".

    To top it off I received my lift kit in April after multiple "where are my goods" messages and received a 2nd kit in November.

    • Protractor on 05/05/2025 - 12:46

      Is the lift now twice as high? What car?

      • brad1-8tsi on 05/05/2025 - 12:57

        Pajero Sport.
        +40mm
        King Springs
        Raw 4X4 dampers

        • Protractor on 05/05/2025 - 12:59

          Well done. Are all Kings springs still Aust made?

          • brad1-8tsi on 05/05/2025 - 13:13
            +1

            @Protractor: I believe so but I didn't check. The last time I dealt with them they were in Milperra(???) but that was when they first started and maybe it was just a warehouse. Instead, I bought Selbys for the Capri and I think they are gone (as has the Capri).

            As an absolute newbie at the time that was setting a vehicle up for a half-lap it was probably "minimum good". Have done about 45000km of quite harsh treatment and they still perform OK but performance is commensurate with price. If I had a decent budget next time I'd look at Dobinsons but how much money do you want to throw at a car when there are so many other places to waste money…

    • ATTS on 08/05/2025 - 10:15

      Oh nice, disnt know can get refund after purchase already

      Btw do u still use sparesbox or switch retailers

      • brad1-8tsi on 08/05/2025 - 15:27

        I haven't made any major purchases since then.

        I'd use them if the price was right and it wasn't a time critical job.

        • ATTS on 08/05/2025 - 16:38

          I c thanks

  • loropy9 on 05/05/2025 - 11:47
    +1

    Sparesbox Ebay can be slow to deliver, but I've been getting pretty good discounts through them. E.g. front rotors pair for under $150 delivered while the next cheapest elsewhere was $200+. Same rotors are currently $176. Last week I got a couple of Toledo torque wrenches at almost half price compared to anywhere online and in store. I always take the time to research current and past prices for larger buys, so wouldn't blindly trust any discount codes or sales.

    • jeolefmo on 05/05/2025 - 13:37

      How much did you get the torque wrenches for?

      • MS Paint on 05/05/2025 - 13:48
        +5

        You'll never find out. They're all torque.

      • loropy9 on 06/05/2025 - 21:10
        +1

        $120 total for 3/8 and 1/2

  • plmko on 05/05/2025 - 12:38
    +6

    Incredible people keep blaming Ebay. Why title it like that, clearly as you said Sparesbox is doing this, so why let them get away with it.

    Ebay provide a category wide code, sellers are choosing to abuse it.

    • Protractor on 05/05/2025 - 12:48
      +1

      Whilst ebay is pretty feral across the board, in this instance I think you have a valid point.

    • eccaz on 05/05/2025 - 15:29
      -1

      He also accessed eBay via a Dell laptop, so I think they should shoulder some of the blame also.

  • joka on 05/05/2025 - 12:56
    +3

    This is no different to the government giving grants to first home buyers. Prices go up.

    • tenpercent on 05/05/2025 - 20:37

      Which something something solves the housing crisis, duh.

  • qtr pounder on 05/05/2025 - 20:21

    Isnt this just Marketing 101? Convince the customer to buy now for max profit?

  • ATTS on 08/05/2025 - 10:12

    I think sparesbox was cheap at the beginning then somewhere along the way increased prices so stopped buying from them

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join