Group Buy for GE Color Effects at $33 each or less?

[Zeph]

The eBay seller who was offering 50-ct strings of GECE for $50 seems to have ended that.

However, he is offering them in batches of 50 strings of 50 for even less: $1648 or $32.95 per string - OR make offer.

The catch is - pickup only, in Orange Connecticut.

I'd like to get 6-10 strings at that price.

If I lived anywhere near CT, I'd offer to do a group buy or other format of bulk buy. It would involve testing, payments and shipping, but not part sorting! But I live on the opposite coast.

It occurs to me that somebody else in the group who lives closer or visits the area might be interested and willing.

The eBay listings says "more than 10 available" so if we had orders for more than 50 sets that might be available; he might even customize and take $2400 for 80 sets, etc.

Besides my own interest in getting some at an affordable price, it would be cool to have a lot more of those sets show up in our community.

Is this feasible? Is it a good idea?

(If somebody runs with this, sign me up!)

eBay URL:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-Color-Eff...item4cfe171b63

[pmcpa]

sounds do-able.... im tapped out now, so I don't even know what I would do with more strands, but then again, that would not be very DIYC of me! Shipping might be a bit high cause they are heavy!

[Zeph]

Her original ad on eBay asked $4.95/string for postage repackaged in USPS boxes. Does that make any sense, given the size and weight of the 50ct strings?

[pmcpa]

They MIGHT be able to be crammed into a Medium Flat Rate box without power supplies or any packing material... but they are now $11.35... I don't see any way they could be crammed into a small box (was $4.95, now $5.15), those are only the size of a VHS tape (remember those???)

[jrock64]

mine were crammed into medium flat rate boxes 14x12x4
50 lights, clips, power supply, and remote.
for the first 8 the flat rate boxes were placed inside a larger box and shipped ups.
for the next 4, the medium rate boxes were taped into one bundle and a ups label attached to the works.

Joel

[dougd]

Sounds like the bigger problem might be who lives near Orange, Connecticut.

[Zeph]

Got a reply from the seller.

She actually will ship. She gave an example of a case of 20 to California = $265 in shipping.

Wow, how heavy is one light set of 50, anyway? '

UPS ground for 150 pounds (7 pounds each plus a heavy box) to a residence is only $160.
Or $141 by Fedex Ground.
(would need to add some for insurance).

[dougd]

How much was she selling 20 sets for?

[CaptKirk]

Got a reply from the seller.

She actually will ship. She gave an example of a case of 20 to California = $265 in shipping.

Wow, how heavy is one light set of 50, anyway? '

UPS ground for 150 pounds (7 pounds each plus a heavy box) to a residence is only $160.
Or $141 by Fedex Ground.
(would need to add some for insurance).

That sure sounds like a shipping pirate to me... Some people insist on profiting (a lot) on the shipping as well as the product. Sucks doesn't it...

[Skunberg]

I'd be interested in 3 sets if shipping twice (to the group buy person then out to the members) doesn't kill it.

Brian