An interesting subject and one that brings up some interesting concepts and thoughts. I guess really the seller's value add is that they have gone to the effort of finding what you wanted and listing it at a price that is acceptable to you with free shipping. Is it honourable and integral?
Well it all depends how you look at things, you could argue the same about people who come up with an idea, patent it and then make money from the 'intellectual rights' by licensing that idea to manufacturers. You could argue apart from thinking about it they've done nothing material to deserve the reward they get. Doubly so if the actual development of the idea is carried out by the manufacturer to turn the idea into a product.
I guess where I would have a problem is if the seller has found an item, doubled the price and then drop-shipped it. If they haven't you have to ask yourself just how little are they making out of the deal once you take into consideration all the ebay seller fees etc... There is also a possibility these guys could come un-stuck, Amazon is constantly reviewing and changing prices and an item that is say 50% off and therefore a bargain may only be that for say 24 hours. What if these drop shippers offer it at 75% of the original price and in between the listing and the drop ship order the price has gone back to its original price? Then they will actually be out of pocket unless they cancel your order and eBay won't put up with that too often from one seller...
Well it all depends how you look at things, you could argue the same about people who come up with an idea, patent it and then make money from the 'intellectual rights' by licensing that idea to manufacturers. You could argue apart from thinking about it they've done nothing material to deserve the reward they get. Doubly so if the actual development of the idea is carried out by the manufacturer to turn the idea into a product.
I guess where I would have a problem is if the seller has found an item, doubled the price and then drop-shipped it. If they haven't you have to ask yourself just how little are they making out of the deal once you take into consideration all the ebay seller fees etc... There is also a possibility these guys could come un-stuck, Amazon is constantly reviewing and changing prices and an item that is say 50% off and therefore a bargain may only be that for say 24 hours. What if these drop shippers offer it at 75% of the original price and in between the listing and the drop ship order the price has gone back to its original price? Then they will actually be out of pocket unless they cancel your order and eBay won't put up with that too often from one seller...
Happily collecting things all my life...