Why are so many duffel bags on eBay?

Leezestarr313

This bag was the only merch item I was interested in this time around. We had tickets for two shows - Chi 2 and Indy, and in Chicago, they said indoors they had six bags in total and today in Indy I arrived at the outside merch stand at half past noon to a massive line and no more bags, flags or stickers even (I walked up to the front and asked one of the security guys who protected the merch van to ask the salespeople). Now I just took alook on eBay, and it is full of these bags. Yes, I could buy one off eBay but I already found the $80 steep and am not willing to pay double and more. Why can't we have the nice things? Does it all have to be about freaking profit and ripping off?

Kwieneke

I struck out at 3 shows as well. One show they even sold the last one  to the person in front of me. They must be very limited 

TheBeardedFellow

I think people like to 'fund their trips' with flipping the low-stock high-demand-items-of-the-tour like bags and basketballs...and posters, historically.  

THETONYCLIFTON

TheBeardedFellow said:

I think people like to 'fund their trips' with flipping the low-stock high-demand-items-of-the-tour like bags and basketballs...and posters, historically.  

This. 

Leezestarr313

They did not check the parking lot today, so anybody could have stood in line and gotten merch. Oh well, maybe they decide to take the wind out of the sales of these people and just make more of the bags available online.

Lost In Ohio

Leezestarr313 said:

They did not check the parking lot today, so anybody could have stood in line and gotten merch. Oh well, maybe they decide to take the wind out of the sales of these people and just make more of the bags available online.

This happens at every show. There's a ton of local people who couldn't name one Pearl Jam song, but are attracted to the merch simply because eBay.

"Pearl Jam? Oh, I couldn't name his big song now, but you should see what this stuff fetches on eBay!"

There's always a ton of "Yeah, I'll have that entire box and I don't care what's in it" type people too.

There was a special/unique show...it was possibly the Mad Season Seattle Symphony show...some jacknut was booed when he walked away with a stack of posters.

Leezestarr313

Lost In Ohio said:

Leezestarr313 said:

They did not check the parking lot today, so anybody could have stood in line and gotten merch. Oh well, maybe they decide to take the wind out of the sales of these people and just make more of the bags available online.

This happens at every show. There's a ton of local people who couldn't name one Pearl Jam song, but are attracted to the merch simply because eBay.

"Pearl Jam? Oh, I couldn't name his big song now, but you should see what this stuff fetches on eBay!"

There's always a ton of "Yeah, I'll have that entire box and I don't care what's in it" type people too.

There was a special/unique show...it was possibly the Mad Season Seattle Symphony show...some jacknut was booed when he walked away with a stack of posters.

That just stinks, and I hope karma gets them at some point.

Sarava

It kind of fits the bill of a flip-heavy item. Likely small quantity, little to no use for most people, but looks kind of cool...

Bentleyspop

Leezestarr313 said:

Lost In Ohio said:

Leezestarr313 said:

They did not check the parking lot today, so anybody could have stood in line and gotten merch. Oh well, maybe they decide to take the wind out of the sales of these people and just make more of the bags available online.

This happens at every show. There's a ton of local people who couldn't name one Pearl Jam song, but are attracted to the merch simply because eBay.

"Pearl Jam? Oh, I couldn't name his big song now, but you should see what this stuff fetches on eBay!"

There's always a ton of "Yeah, I'll have that entire box and I don't care what's in it" type people too.

There was a special/unique show...it was possibly the Mad Season Seattle Symphony show...some jacknut was booed when he walked away with a stack of posters.

That just stinks, and I hope karma gets them at some point.

DragonsAfter3or4

Bentleyspop said:

Leezestarr313 said:

Lost In Ohio said:

Leezestarr313 said:

They did not check the parking lot today, so anybody could have stood in line and gotten merch. Oh well, maybe they decide to take the wind out of the sales of these people and just make more of the bags available online.

This happens at every show. There's a ton of local people who couldn't name one Pearl Jam song, but are attracted to the merch simply because eBay.

"Pearl Jam? Oh, I couldn't name his big song now, but you should see what this stuff fetches on eBay!"

There's always a ton of "Yeah, I'll have that entire box and I don't care what's in it" type people too.

There was a special/unique show...it was possibly the Mad Season Seattle Symphony show...some jacknut was booed when he walked away with a stack of posters.

That just stinks, and I hope karma gets them at some point.

Daaammm😂 The merch situation beyond outta control.

Leezestarr313

Bentleyspop said:

Leezestarr313 said:

That just stinks, and I hope karma gets them at some point.

Disgusting.

Kwieneke

Lots of people support this to “offset costs of touring”. Shitty excuse if you ask me

Sarava

Kwieneke said:

Lots of people support this to “offset costs of touring”. Shitty excuse if you ask me

You're probably right. But the band has the power to make this flipping/merch situation better, and they choose to leave it as is.

Leezestarr313

Sarava said:

Kwieneke said:

Lots of people support this to “offset costs of touring”. Shitty excuse if you ask me

You're probably right. But the band has the power to make this flipping/merch situation better, and they choose to leave it as is.

The security at the merch stand today talked about how people walked away with piles worth lots of money. This is just an overall nasty situation. Maybe they should stop doing merch outside the venue. Or maybe they enjoy this.

Sarava

Leezestarr313 said:

Sarava said:

Kwieneke said:

Lots of people support this to “offset costs of touring”. Shitty excuse if you ask me

You're probably right. But the band has the power to make this flipping/merch situation better, and they choose to leave it as is.

The security at the merch stand today talked about how people walked away with piles worth lots of money. This is just an overall nasty situation. Maybe they should stop doing merch outside the venue. Or maybe they enjoy this.

I think it's just a huge money maker for 10C and they prioritize that over making things easier for the fans. It is what it is.

drfox

Happens all the time unfortunately, not just with Pearl Jam. Not sure if you follow the various poster groups but there was a well talked about incident on the recent Dead & Co show in Indy where one guy bought 100 posters to flip. At least PJ limits items to 1-2 per person. 

on2legs

Most of it are other collectors.  People buy multiple of items to trade for other items they need for their collections.  Only a small portion end up on eBay. 

Loujoe

Story I told before.. a fan inside venue at telluride shouted from further back in the line to the head of PJ merch. "I want 50 posters will pay cash!"  I was in front of him. I said "No way he's going to flip them!" Head dude smiled a bit and allowed him to buy 10. There were no set limits at this show in 2016. Not sure why. 

mcgruff10

Kwieneke said:

Lots of people support this to “offset costs of touring”. Shitty excuse if you ask me

This excuse cracks me up.  If really is shitty.  

lastexitlondon

It's 100% what happens. You either care about your fellow fans or you don't and if you don't it funds more shows for people. Just how it is. The only way is to stop wanting 

mace1229

You'd think cancelling a show would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everything is already paid for, except you have to refund the tickets or do it all over again. But looks like they probably made up for the cost by keeping the merch booths open. 

Weston1283

mace1229 said:

You'd think cancelling a show would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everything is already paid for, except you have to refund the tickets or do it all over again. But looks like they probably made up for the cost by keeping the merch booths open. 

Not judging those who go for it, but personally, I’ll never ever understand the desire for show specific merch for a show that didn’t happen.  

Kearn5y

Its because its too soon to flip them in Lost Dogs as its not spring cleaning season.

gotthebottle

Weston1283 said:

mace1229 said:

You'd think cancelling a show would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everything is already paid for, except you have to refund the tickets or do it all over again. But looks like they probably made up for the cost by keeping the merch booths open. 

Not judging those who go for it, but personally, I’ll never ever understand the desire for show specific merch for a show that didn’t happen.  

Well....I was at Sacramento last year in merch line in sun when they canceled.  Since I'm native Californian I loved the bear design and green is my fave color.. so I bought one. 

elvistheking44

on2legs said:

Most of it are other collectors.  People buy multiple of items to trade for other items they need for their collections.  Only a small portion end up on eBay. 

500+ listings for “Chicago Pearl Jam poster” on eBay right now. That’s not a small portion.

ceska

Weston1283 said:

mace1229 said:

You'd think cancelling a show would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everything is already paid for, except you have to refund the tickets or do it all over again. But looks like they probably made up for the cost by keeping the merch booths open. 

Not judging those who go for it, but personally, I’ll never ever understand the desire for show specific merch for a show that didn’t happen.  

It's a cool looking shirt with someone's favorite band name on it. Also,the show-specific shirts are usually more interesting than the regular stuff in the 10C shop anyway.

People also buy vintage shirts of concerts they didn't attend, or weren't even alive for. Is that also a no-no?

eeriepadave

they really need a limit on all of the merch items.

mace1229

on2legs said:

Most of it are other collectors.  People buy multiple of items to trade for other items they need for their collections.  Only a small portion end up on eBay. 

This is what I don't get. People look down on flipping, but buying excess to trade is okay. I really don't see the difference. If you buy it and don't plan to keep it, its flipping. You're either trading it for more money than you paid or trade it for something of higher value than you paid.
I don't have a problem either way. I'm not standing in line more than about 15 minutes for merch, so flipping is the only way I'd get most of it. I'd rather live without it or pay a slight mark up than wait hours in line.
I just don't get why selling is looked so down on but trading up is accepted.

Horse2345

Flipping has been going on since the beginning of time. Seattlebatman and Ninersfan started it paying people to stand in line.

on2legs

mace1229 said:

on2legs said:

Most of it are other collectors.  People buy multiple of items to trade for other items they need for their collections.  Only a small portion end up on eBay. 

This is what I don't get. People look down on flipping, but buying excess to trade is okay. I really don't see the difference. If you buy it and don't plan to keep it, its flipping. You're either trading it for more money than you paid or trade it for something of higher value than you paid.
I don't have a problem either way. I'm not standing in line more than about 15 minutes for merch, so flipping is the only way I'd get most of it. I'd rather live without it or pay a slight mark up than wait hours in line.
I just don't get why selling is looked so down on but trading up is accepted.

Agreed.  Buying extras to trade is flipping.  But as long as people are buying within the limits of the merch stand I really don’t mind if they are trading or selling the extras.  People going up multiple times to circumvent the limits is taking advantage and not fair to the other fans.  

keeponrisin

No limits in Indy after the cancelation likely has something to do with it as well.