eBay and Beer Sales

Good points. I believe the secondary markets for artists has existed for so long that it is the expectation. This secondary market for beer is relatively a new creation and people are trying to prevent if from becoming what is expected.

There is no way to completely stop the secondary market, no effective way to enforce it. Many people have made statements along the lines of "they are just going to find another way so why even bother". If you believe in something strongly enough you fight for it, even if it is an uphill battle you will never win. I agree this is just beer, it has been a hell of a long time since I got bent out of shape or even bothered about missing out on a beer or felt an undeniable need to obtain a beer. I have a passion for the community, the beer and those who produce it. I want this community to improve and want to see more respect. I cannot enforce anything but I can share my opinion. Does my opinion carry any weight? Minimal at best but if I can at least provide a view point that helps lead to an improvement in the community then I have done what I can.

 

Just to change it up a little. . .

I think beer profiteers are proverbial 'losers'. Not because of any altruistic idealism and feel good kumbaya beer community notions. . . Just more of the work smarter, not harder thinking. . .

Really, how much $$ can you make reselling beer? All that travel, ebay fees, paypal fees, time waiting/listing, etc. . . what does that come out to? Probably a lot less than a minimum wage 40 hr per week job pays?

Couldn't you just like, get a real job, for better $$$ and self esteem? Don't you have anything better to do with your time (friends, family, outdoor activities) rather than make a few bucks on the side? Don't you have any friends or family that you would rather drink the beer with, or hook them up with the beer instead? Is a few bucks worth more than cracking that bottle open around the campfire, pool, tailgate party, bottle share?

 

Or people can just treat others with respect.

 

what about the local beer bars that charge 2-3x the retail value for harder to find beers? does this not ruffle HF and RR's feathers as well?

 

1. Do you really mean retail or do you mean the price other bars sell the same bottle for? Bars ridiculously high mark up is an industry standard.

2. Yes, I am sure it does.

 

Wow, this theme always gets the "hackles" up, and the soap boxes out!

Like many in this community I don't use ebay for beer, and I have traded (acknowledging that both have equal legal complications); however, banning the sale of beer on ebay will not accomplish anything.

If a true ban is imposed and enforced, a new black market will simply arise to replace ebay, to re-use the hackneyed "Jurassic Park" quote, "Nature (or in this case the market) always finds a way!"

As for the "People should do the right thing" argument, many people thought "Temperance" was the right thing as "Demon Alcohol" ruined "so many lives" so we as a nation had Prohibition, how'd that work out?

Again, where there is demand that exceeds supply, there will be a black market, whether it is named ebay or something else. All of the screaming, yelling, chest puffing, and moralizing will never change that simple fact.

 

Yeah, well, that's just like, your opinion, man.

 

Does anyone have any thought on whether it's important or realistic the BA community to develop a consensus on the pro- vs. anti-Ebay question?

The idea of consensus here seems farfetched, as even among beer lovers as we all are this issue is quite divisive. In the ISO:FT auctions and sales are prohibited, and traders seem to consistently rally against Ebay / Ebayers and profiteering. I didn't realize so many BAs support / condone Ebay until I read this thread.

 

I think many people believe in the free market, and by default (as to not be hypocrites), they're forced to include beer on eBay as part of their stance. Or not. I don't know....or sumpthin'...tsss....

 

Time to open a beer.

 

I'll take the over. Active and inactive.

 

Apparently.

Just because people sell things through ebay, does not make it legal. 99% of the time, ebay auctions list that you're bidding on the bottle and not its contents.

Also... again... just because it is not enforced does not make it legal either.

I'll give you an example....
You're from Nevada (or so your profile indicates).
This is Nevada's alcohol law:
http://tax.state.nv.us/documents/Wholesaler Info.pdf

...

That's not buying things through ebay.

There are infinitely bigger fish to fry, proverbially, but just because someone mailed you some beer you bought through ebay does not make it legal.

...and like it or not, the breweries and other pissed off parties that don't like gray-market beer sales & trades can use these laws to drive the market either away or further underground.

 

Wine.

 

Wine=beer?

 

I'm all for beer trading, and have done a little, but have never bought or sold beer on eBay. Just this weekend I was considering selling some of my cellarred Surly releases on ebay to help fund a new bicycle, but I see my timing is bad. Oh well, plan "A" was to throw a big beer tasting party, so it's all good.

 

I for one am quite sad. Without stuff to trade; eBay was one of my only options. Shaun is a jerk. Down with HF.

 

1. Regardless, bidding on the bottle brings you alcohol.
2. Actually, if a law isn't enforced, the act is no longer illegal. See adultery laws, then read up on due process.
3. That citation to is laughable in so many ways (namely a 5 page snippet of the entire NRS 369 chapter without a single definition). I practice law in Nevada. Do you? Or are you just in a fantasy attorney league?

 

<pushes entire stack of chips on the over>

 

That particular listing was reported to ebay (for being in violation of what .... ?) and was consequently removed, according to the seller himself. This response by ebay, well... my nose is starting to sting as a draft of pungent McCarthyism wafts.