The $75 Cupcake Maker

We’ve shown that selling things on ebay can be pretty astounding, but usually it’s because we make mad cash on a seemingly valueless object.  Sometimes though, ebay transactions are incredible for other reasons…

Last week at Target I saw this brand new Sunbeam cupcake maker hiding on a clearance shelf.  It was marked down to $11 and was an additional 50% off of that.  OK, so Target shopping isn’t the same as going to an estate sale, but bear with me.  

 

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These things normally retail for around $40, so I figured that buying it for about $5 left room for some good profit margins.  I listed it on ebay for $14.99 and a “Buy It Now” price of $24.99.  

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So here’s the deal.  I never offer international shipping on my auctions, unless my item is obviously desirable to foreign markets (i.e. jailbroken iphones and kindles).  I assumed that some nice mom in Arkansas would buy my cupcake maker so that she could whip up 6 cupcakes in less than 10 minutes, all while having an adorable appliance hanging out on her counter.

Instead, some person in Spain used the “Buy It Now” option and snatched up the little machine before any of the other 4 watchers could bid or buy.  Usually, international buyers will message me before they buy something and ask if I will ship to them.  I usually say yes.

In this case though, the cupcake maker is CRAZY HEAVY and CRAZY BIG.  The cheapest price to send it would be $50.  I was so frustrated when I figured this out because I assumed that the buyer would want to cancel their purchase.  Then I would have to relist the item all over again.

Turns out, my cupcake-crazed Spaniard friend was cool with that shipping price, which is SERIOUSLY asinine.  Do they not have cupcake makers in Spain?  Or Amazon.com?

This appliance will now cost $75 for this person PLUS whatever the import taxes turn out to be.  That is one high-priced souped-up muffin pan.  Is there a muffin/cupcake Prohibition that I am not aware of?  Will my little pink appliance be hidden away in a Spanish cupcake speakeasy?   

-Erin

  1. digthistreasure posted this