600-ct Acrylic Bird Cages

checkm8r · #1 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 05:52 PM

Has anyone seen an on-line source besides ebay for the 600-count bird cage carriers like the one pictured below? I picked up four from a guy selling them on ebay, but he will only sell two at a time minimum. And, it would be nice to have some price competition. BTW, this is a great case, IMO. I prefer it to the 1000-ct carriers.

jamby · #2 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:12 PM

Did you buy from income5? I've had really good luck with this seller on the 1000 ct bird cages that I purchased. He's honorable, although he does that funky 'circumvent ebay by jacking up shipping and low-balling the price' thing that is all the rage now. Here's a link to one of his auctions for 600 ct carriers and it is for a package of 2: http://cgi.ebay.com/Poker-Chip-Chips...QQcmdZViewItem

I believe that if you work with him you'll probably be successful in negotiating a different package deal. He has an ebay storefront so all he needs to do is list something with a buy-it-now price that you both find agreeable.

Good luck.
jamby

Quads · #3 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:13 PM

As I understand it, from having an email conversation with the guy who is selling them on ebay, a) he's raping people for shipping. 30 buck for a case, but 60 bucks for shipping. Something outrageous like that. none the less, b) I learn through this conversation that most every one of those you see, 400 count, 600 count, etc. STARTED as a 1000 chip case. These guys are simply buying the broken cases that are shipped back and returned due to the edges cracking and getting a new one from the vendor. (see link for an image of a case that I received that was cracked. Took the picture from a different thread I was having over in Scott’s forum about the two different style cases, rounded top, and squared off tops) http://www.pcpotato.com/albums/poker/birdcagechipcase.jpg Most would send this back, but you can’t feel the crack, it doesn’t seem to effect the strength of the case, and at the end of the day, the chips don’t complain about the crack, so I’m OK with it, considering I paid 10 buck for it plus 10 shipping.)

So, a broken case is returned to the vendor, he sells it off to this guy who then takes it, chalks it up on the table saw (or saw of choice) and whack off the bottom portion that is cracked and bingo, you have a 600 chip carrier. You need to take the handle out (unscrew it) chop it down as well, red drill pilot holes for the screws and reinstall. About 15 minutes work (max). He is buying them from the vendors return scrap pile for pennies on the dollar. Per this Cat, folks like 5* who sell them don't go through the hassle of shipping them back to China where they are made to get credit for them. Their cost on them is so low, selling one, they can afford to give two away and bang UPS for the insurance on each item.

I've seen them, think it's pretty cool that someone is taking something that was once a "broken / non usable item" and making it functional again, but like I said earlier, selling something for 20 buck and charging shipping of 3X that is just plain asinine.

checkm8r · #4 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamby

Did you buy from income5?

Yes, it was from income5. I got good service on both occasions, just looking for a better deal if one exists (and the ability to buy just one vice two).

jamby · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:17 PM

If it's income5 we're talking about, that's not how he's pricing. I bought my 1000 ct carrier from him for .99 cents and paid $35 shipping/handling. His 600 ct carrier 2-pack sells for $1.99 + $49.99 shipping.Good luck finding a superior deal. I googled for a good month and kept going back to his overall prices as being the lowest.

Quads · #6 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamby

If it's income5 we're talking about, that's not how he's pricing. I bought my 1000 ct carrier from him for .99 cents and paid $35 shipping/handling. His 600 ct carrier 2-pack sells for $1.99 + $49.99 shipping.Good luck finding a superior deal. I googled for a good month and kept going back to his overall prices as being the lowest.

Yeah, because that's fair!
A dollar for a product and 35 to ship it. When you and I both know that it costs about 10 or so bucks to send it via UPS.

I do'nt agree with circumventing ebay for fees like that. I think it's cheap and sleezy. Which is an entirely different subject of course. Charge me a fair price for the product, charge me what it costs to ship it. How hard is that?

But, yes, I believe we are talking about the same people. I'd have to go back through my email, if I still have that thread.

-Scarface21- · #7 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:28 PM

i was going to buy it from to until he showed me the shipping prices to send em to australia..... $250 USD just for shipping!!!!!
i am not gonna pay that but i do need to find another source with reasonable shipping.

Quads · #8 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Scarface21-

i was going to buy it from to until he showed me the shipping prices to send em to australia..... $250 USD just for shipping!!!!!
i am not gonna pay that but i do need to find another source with reasonable shipping.

For that price I would expect he would hand deliver it and buy you a beer.

DDD424 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:37 PM

Are the ones that income5 is selling cracked or are they uncracked? His auction doesn't specify.

jamby · #10 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quads

I do'nt agree with circumventing ebay for fees like that. I think it's cheap and sleezy. Which is an entirely different subject of course. Charge me a fair price for the product, charge me what it costs to ship it. How hard is that?

Quads, I couldn't agree with you more regarding my distaste for this type of pricing. However, the bottom line is that the combined price is still cheaper than I can get it for elsewhere.

-jamby