eBay is a thorn in the side of many in the industry with many consumers either buying potentially dangerous secondhand goods at inflated prices or buying new or apparently new products at ridiculously low prices. It is this latter area that concerns retailers. "If a product is available on eBay at prices less than we pay the supplier, there is no way we can make the sale. It doesn’t really matter that the colours are last year’s. All the consumer thinks is that we retailers are making a killing inflating prices. And this attitude can prevent sales of other products."

The site in question is the eBay Power Seller, BabyValue, which is operated by Dorel and has nearly 6000 ‘satisfied customers’. Naturally we asked Dorel about this:

"Dorel (UK) Ltd set up the Baby Value eBay site 18 months ago. The decision was taken because product returns, and products not wanted by the retail trade, were traditionally being sent by Dorel to clearance houses. It was found that these operations would then often sell the products on eBay without correct descriptions, safeguards or any controls, or alternatively, dump them in landfill. Baby Value has enabled Dorel to control very carefully the sale of returned or obsolete product and so protect both the consumer and the environment.

"Products are placed on Baby Value by Dorel using a very strict two-part policy: firstly, if they are customer returns that can be safely repaired or refurbished, and secondly, if they are obsolete stock that has been rejected by the retail trade, even when offered at substantial discount. Under no circumstances are used car seats ever sold by Dorel on the Baby Value site or through any other mechanism.

"Dorel (UK) Ltd is not in any way attempting to compete with the retail trade and has no plans to sell current ‘new product’ ranges direct to the consumer. Should a retailer want to buy any stock they see on Baby Value, then Dorel is always happy to remove it from the site and sell it to the retailer. Goods are not placed on Baby Value until at least two months after any retailer promotion has finished.

"All products made available on the Baby Value site have been inspected and checked by Dorel’s own engineers and are clearly labelled either: Ex-Demo (a product that has been taken out of the packaging and can no longer be sold as new); Used (a product that has been returned to Dorel and repaired so that it is in perfect working order); or New (a product that is from stock in its original packaging but has been rejected by the retail trade even when offered at a significant discount).

So what do our retailers think of this? "The site actively promotes the Dorel brands ‘at knock down prices’ and it facilitates other online and eBay sellers working from their front rooms to sell Dorel products. We understood the new Distribution Agreement was specifically designed to prevent this." And have retailers been offered these products? "Yes they were offered – but not at these prices!"

It is unlikely that Dorel is the only supplier using on line sites to reduce returns and surplus stock. So just how widespread is this practise? Let us know!

Do you have an opinion on any aspect of the nursery industry? Would you like to share your thoughts? If so, please call Cathy on 01582 762674 or email cathybryan@btinternet.com. Or write to The Editor, Nursery Industry, Datateam Publishing Ltd, London Rd., Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY

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