To continue the discussion of how eBay is affecting the used IT Hardware marketplace, I’ve undertaken the following case study.
I performed a “title and description” search for the phrase:
ws-c3524-xl-en, which is a very commonly traded Cisco Switch Feature.
More precisely, it is a 24port 3500 Series Cisco Switch.
Here is the raw data:
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Search: ws-c3524-xl-en
Results: 39
Listings by professional network resellers: 7
eBay Buy-It-Now Range: $229 – $5500
Median Buy-It-Now Price: $349
Non-eBay Wholesale price: $325
End-User Used Price range: $350 – $400
Original Retail List Price: $2995
# of Sellers named “A Sauceful of Secrets”: 1
# of Sellers featuring a dancing “Taz” in their listing: 1
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Observations:
1) Used Cisco isn’t far off of eBay Cisco
Even at the low-end of the range (and keep in mind that is in Europe),
you aren’t saving that much money to buy from an often unknown source. A
used switch will be professionally cleaned and tested and come with a
90-day to a 1-year warranty.
2) Professional / traditional Cisco resellers are trying to leverage eBay
While there are professional resellers listing here, they don’t stand
out because their prices are so middle of the road. One company isn’t
even close, posting at almost 20 times the median price! Perhaps
professional Cisco remarketers would do well to better promote their
quality advantages in listings to gain an edge. I’m sure many buyers
want to make sure they are buying legitimate, quality hardware.
3) eBay Amusement = Distrust?
There’s probably a time and place for spastic Taz icons and names like
“A Sauceful of Secrets” as amusing selling advantages, but it starts to
look unprofessional when you’re slinging high-end networking gear.
I give Taz a thumbs down for being overly cheesy and the word
“secrets” in a used Cisco switch sale makes me a bit weary with all of
the counterfeit junk flying around. Ancient Cisco plant secret, huh?
(Article 2 of 5 in our eBay article series.)