Very disappointing when TBers try to make more than they should on a sale

SBassman · #1 12-30-2012, 04:51 PM

I get very disappointed when I see fellow TBers try to make Much more than they should on a sale.

When a sale happens at TB, it should be like selling to family.
Meaning, giving a superb, almost-give-it-away price.

Any time I have sold things here, I have sold them at Far Less the price I paid. It's the only way I know how.

I see people here occasionally buying something, and then trying to flip it for the original purchase price, or, sometimes, more than it. N.G.

ugly_bassplayer · #2 12-30-2012, 04:53 PM

you've noticed that also.

**mjac28** · #3 12-30-2012, 05:00 PM

I have always sold things far below what they are worth but that's my choice I don't have a problem with people making money on what they sell not everyone is in the position to lose money think about the young student with no money trying to get decent gear if they buy something that doesn't work out why would they lose money on it?

IronLung1986 · #4 12-30-2012, 05:01 PM

I'm not sure I'd agree with the "almost give it away" part. I don't see anything unethical about trying to get a fair price on TB, not too low and not too high. Deliberately ripping off an ignorant buyer is pretty bad though.

**mjac28** · #5 12-30-2012, 05:04 PM

If you sell it cheap it's "your" choice don't get mad at someone else for making money and if you think the items you sell off site are only being sold on Talk Bass for higher prices I have a bridge you can buy but it's called free enterprise and people can use the net to determine if your item is worth it?.

Epitaph04 · #6 12-30-2012, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

When a sale happens at TB, it should be like selling to family.
Meaning, giving a superb, almost-give-it-away price.

Really now..

nortonrider · #7 12-30-2012, 05:07 PM

I don't know you, we just happen to have found the same website on the world wide web.
why would you think that deserves any special consideration on a business transaction?

People ain't in the gear flipping biz to break even or lose money.

**mjac28** · #8 12-30-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

Really now..

+1 SBassman let me know when you have something for sale.

CopperheadLXXIX · #9 12-30-2012, 05:16 PM

If someone is willing to buy it at whatever price is listed by the seller, then they aren't trying to "make more than they should". The buyer obviously wants the item bad enough to pay that amount for it. Just so long as the item received is the same as the description, it is an honest transaction. Period.

vishuddha · #10 12-30-2012, 05:17 PM

Unfortunately, we are in a free market. People will flip gear all day long for a profit. Ideally, OP's "family sales" scenario would be AWESOME, but that's not how it works. When I sell something, I sell it dirt cheap. Generally end up letting things go for 25-50% of what I paid for them, even in good condition. But I see people all the time trying to get 95%+ of new value and that's ridiculous to me, but if it sells, that's more money to them.

The only way you can combat this is to refuse to buy things that aren't a reasonable deal, but people with money are going to make your effect marginal. Greed is human nature, and even great places like TB get afflicted by it sometimes.

Kmonk · #11 12-30-2012, 05:19 PM

For me, gear falls into two categories.

1) Gear I want to keep and use
2) Gear I want to sell for a profit

I haven't sold anything on TB but have sold on Craigslist and Amazon. My philosophy has always been to accurately describe what I am selling and price it according to what similar items are selling for. I don't believe in selling anything for a "give-it-away price" but I do listen to reasonable offers. Everything is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Last year I bought a Carvin LB75 for $250 and sold it one week later for $750. I also had a bass that I paid $750 for and traded it for a 1977 Precision which I then sold for $1,500. The buyer was happy and I was happy. Why should I lose money?

SBassman · #12 12-30-2012, 05:22 PM

Many of you very quickly demonstrate exactly what I'm talking about.

Yeah, I went too far with my "give it away" words, but that doesn't change the fact that we should be treating each other here as members of the same community. This should not be a place to rip every penny from our fellow TBers that we can.

If you think that's ok, great. It Is a free world.
And I'm free to think you're not much of a person for thinking that way.

**mjac28** · #13 12-30-2012, 05:30 PM

So if I'm a poor High School or College kid I should give a "family" discount that I can't afford because it looks good? I'm retired and I have money I sell my things very very cheaply but it's my choice but I wouldn't let a mint 62' P got for $500.00 because I wanted to look good for you or anyone else?.

nortonrider · #14 12-30-2012, 05:30 PM

OK I edited my post to keep from offending any overly sensitive communal hippy types here on the forum.

Lonesomedave · #15 12-30-2012, 05:31 PM

hmmmm....and so i should sell my stuff for way below market, because if i don't, YOU will think less of me?

boy, that's a tough one....

i tell you what, you do as you think fit and i'll do as i think fit....and we can both use the resource of TB as we mutually see fit....'K?

ugly_bassplayer · #16 12-30-2012, 05:35 PM

What peeves me off is people flipping stuff for slight profit on TB.

SBassman · #17 12-30-2012, 05:37 PM

Forget the way below market. I'd be happy if I saw the end of:

- People with plenty of disposable income, buying frequently, then quickly flipping - adding to the original cost.

- People buying when there are blow outs, then selling later at the original non-blowout price.

If you can sleep at night doing things like that, great for you.

eyeballkid · #18 12-30-2012, 05:43 PM

The only thing I get disappointed about is when TB'ers are misleading or "forgetful" about the condition of things. I buy and sell on TB because I EXPECT it to be a refreshing change from the craiglist circus or the ebay great swindle. A higher level of integrity and humanity is my only expectation here. I also look here for unique gear that doesnt show up on places like ebay. people can price things however they want, and they will or will not sell for that price because thats how markets work. I have no "bond" with 99% or the 213,000+ members here, but I have in the past and will in the future give special "buddy prices" to certain members who I have an affinity for. I dont try to get every penny I can out of whatever I sell, but I do sell things for a price I think it will sell for in a reasonable time and current values. That price is normally less on talkbass than if I were to list it on ebay (because of the fees) or if I were to list it on craigslist (because of the idiots!), but a little more than what I would sell it to a close friend for. I have bought gear over the years from multiple sources for killer deals. Some Ive passed on the good deal, some Ive sold for what they were worth because I was only selling it out of need, but even if it wasnt out of need that is still fine to do because I, like many of us, finance my gear purchases with gear sales. I do have a personal ethic that if I get a sweet deal on TB and I eventually resell it at its true value for what would be a profit I sell it elsewhere. If I sell it on TB I sell it for what I purchased it for. I only buy gear I want to actually use, Im not a "commercial flipper", and I tend to avoid sellers that seem like they are. Some gear I have for a few weeks and realize its not for me, some for years. Some things go up in value in that time, some go down. The important point is that the true condition of each thing is fully and honestly disclosed... Im still sore about a few members who failed to disclose obvious flaws, or completely understated them, or were downright misleading and didnt have the inclination to even address it. THAT should not ever happen here.

handofseven · #19 12-30-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

The only thing I get disappointed about is when TB'ers are misleading or "forgetful" about the condition of things. I buy and sell on TB because I EXPECT it to be a refreshing change from the craiglist circus or the ebay great swindle. A higher level of integrity and humanity is my only expectation here. I also look here for unique gear that doesnt show up on places like ebay. people can price things however they want, and they will or will not sell for that price because thats how markets work. I have no "bond" with 99% or the 213,000+ members here, but I have in the past and will in the future give special "buddy prices" to certain members who I have an affinity for. I dont try to get every penny I can out of whatever I sell, but I do sell things for a price I think it will sell for in a reasonable time and current values. That price is normally less on talkbass than if I were to list it on ebay (because of the fees) or if I were to list it on craigslist (because of the idiots!), but a little more than what I would sell it to a close friend for. I have bought gear over the years from multiple sources for killer deals. Some Ive passed on the good deal, some Ive sold for what they were worth because I was only selling it out of need, but even if it wasnt out of need that is still fine to do because I, like many of us, finance my gear purchases with gear sales. I do have a personal ethic that if I get a sweet deal on TB and I eventually resell it at its true value for what would be a profit I sell it elsewhere. If I sell it on TB I sell it for what I purchased it for. I only buy gear I want to actually use, Im not a "commercial flipper", and I tend to avoid sellers that seem like they are. Some gear I have for a few weeks and realize its not for me, some for years. Some things go up in value in that time, some go down. The important point is that the true condition of each thing is fully and honestly disclosed... Im still sore about a few members who failed to disclose obvious flaws, or completely understated them, or were downright misleading and didnt have the inclination to even address it. THAT should not ever happen here.

Two thumbs up! This is my feeling as well.

**mjac28** · #20 12-30-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

The only thing I get disappointed about is when TB'ers are misleading or "forgetful" about the condition of things. I buy and sell on TB because I EXPECT it to be a refreshing change from the craiglist circus or the ebay great swindle. A higher level of integrity and humanity is my only expectation here. I also look here for unique gear that doesnt show up on places like ebay. people can price things however they want, and they will or will not sell for that price because thats how markets work. I have no "bond" with 99% or the 213,000+ members here, but I have in the past and will in the future give special "buddy prices" to certain members who I have an affinity for. I dont try to get every penny I can out of whatever I sell, but I do sell things for a price I think it will sell for in a reasonable time and current values. That price is normally less on talkbass than if I were to list it on ebay (because of the fees) or if I were to list it on craigslist (because of the idiots!), but a little more than what I would sell it to a close friend for. I have bought gear over the years from multiple sources for killer deals. Some Ive passed on the good deal, some Ive sold for what they were worth because I was only selling it out of need, but even if it wasnt out of need that is still fine to do because I, like many of us, finance my gear purchases with gear sales. I do have a personal ethic that if I get a sweet deal on TB and I eventually flip it for a profit I sell it elsewhere. If I sell it on TB I sell it for what I purchased it for. I only buy gear I want to actually use, Im not a "commercial flipper", and I tend to avoid sellers that seem like they are. Some gear I have for a few weeks and realize its not for me, some for years. Some things go up in value in that time, some go down. The important point is that the true condition of each thing is fully and honestly disclosed... Im still sore about a few members who failed to disclose obvious flaws, or completely understated them, or were downright misleading and didnt have the inclination to even address it. THAT should not ever happen here.

+1 Hey Kid I think we just bonded sir you are preaching the gospel. I'm still missing a pedal I bought on Sept 1st it's in the shop getting fixed it was supposedly in new shape only used a couple of times......