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So what?!?!?

gregmon79

gregmon79

Dec 20, 2012
27,397
19,561
46
Chicago IL
#1
I don't understand why so many people have to talk smack about us players who tend to buy gear that we hear of on TB and flip it a week it two later. What is the big deal?! All were going is trying new things and seeing if its for us. It's the same thing as going to a store and trying something out. So we have to pay a freight charge both ways, so what. What we do with our time, gear and money is no ones business but our own. Who ever said it was against some unspoken rule to drool over pieces of gear and pounce on it the first minute you can. I just don't get why people have to be that way...... The only reason I'm saying this is because I've seen people denounce other people's habits here on TB and the last couple days, one particular case in point, I've seen it more and I have been personally attacked by someone for the habits Im speaking of. Maybe it's time you get off your high horse. Maybe some others feel the same as I do. Please post here if you do. And for those of you who feel you need to back up the naysayers, I'd like to hear good reasons why you give people such a head time for trying out different pieces of gear and flipping it a week or two later.

Rant finished.
 
#2
I think they're talking about the people who buy something and then sell it for a profit (usually ranting about how they need to clear out some basses but still accepting trades), usually people like you would add something like 'I just wanted to try it out but it's not for me'
 
#4
bass12 said:
To me it's one of the great things about Talkbass (the opportunity to try out different equipment, not the criticizing :D)
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This is exactly why I buy/sell/trade gear on TB. I can find things on here that I cant find in stores around me and I can usually get it a little cheaper than I can new online. I think its a great resource.

And yes, to the above statement, I am usually one to say that it wasn't for me. Although I don't seem to think that SOME of the people who seem to have an issue with guys flipping or buying gear on TB have an issue with the trying to make a buck in the context I've seen it. Its like they are annoyed or something. I mean, I'm sure that some people just trying to make a profit is somewhat frowned upon but that is not what I'm talking about at all. I was just referring to guys like myself who see a pedal, head, cab or bass and we want to try it out because we like the sound of it and think it may be for us but then we find out its not so we sell/trade it off.
 
#5
gregmon79 said:
This is exactly why I buy/sell/trade gear on TB. I can find things on here that I cant find in stores around me and I can usually get it a little cheaper than I can new online. I think its a great resource.

And yes, to the above statement, I am usually one to say that it wasn't for me. Although I don't seem to think that SOME of the people who seem to have an issue with guys flipping or buying gear on TB have an issue with the trying to make a buck in the context I've seen it. Its like they are annoyed or something. I mean, I'm sure that some people just trying to make a profit is somewhat frowned upon but that is not what I'm talking about at all. I was just referring to guys like myself who see a pedal, head, cab or bass and we want to try it out because we like the sound of it and think it may be for us but then we find out its not so we sell/trade it off.
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And it's not just about selection. I find Talkbass to be a pretty "safe" place to buy/sell/trade. It really is like a community of sorts and that's pretty special. Pretty sure a lot of what you're talking about comes down to sour grapes and envy on the parts of those who would criticize.
 
#6
bass12 said:
And it's not just about selection. I find Talkbass to be a pretty "safe" place to buy/sell/trade. It really is like a community of sorts and that's pretty special. Pretty sure a lot of what you're talking about comes down to sour grapes and envy on the parts of those who would criticize.
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Yes, that is the way I feel too. That is part of the reason I'm on here all the time, and I am on here all the time and post often. It's because I can learn a lot from TB and all the other players on here. And I do. I get sour because I see guys get slammed for things they do like buy and flip gear with the quickness.
 
#9
Here's my take: People are free to buy and sell as often as they want, at whatever price they want. It's a free market after all.

Now personally, I think above a certain number of sold items per year (maybe 50?) a user should probably have to pony up for Gold supporting membership, but that's not my call.

I do give flippers a little grief on occasion, but I try to do it in a lighthearted way. And I really only do it if they proclaim a piece of gear is the best they've ever used or they say they'll never sell it, only to flip it soon after. It's really bad when they start threads that way and then dump the gear quickly; it's almost like they're pre-advertising it in other forums.

I think a reduction in this type of activity--the praising-then-flipping, not just flipping itself (again, no problem IMO)--would reduce the amount of BS people have to wade through when they're researching a piece of gear on TB. But that's not gonna happen, because it would be impossible to establish any rules about it and the mods here have a big enough job already. So over time, one just has to learn whose opinion to take seriously and whose can be disregarded.

I don't believe the above is "backing up naysayers". because I don't know who they are or what's been said. But YMMV.
 
#10
GregC said:
Here's my take: People are free to buy and sell as often as they want, at whatever price they want. It's a free market after all.

Now personally, I think above a certain number of sold items per year (maybe 50?) a user should probably have to pony up for Gold supporting membership, but that's not my call.

I do give flippers a little grief on occasion, but I try to do it in a lighthearted way. And I really only do it if they proclaim a piece of gear is the best they've ever used or they say they'll never sell it, only to flip it soon after. It's really bad when they start threads that way and then dump the gear quickly; it's almost like they're pre-advertising it in other forums.

I think a reduction in this type of activity--the praising-then-flipping, not just flipping itself (again, no problem IMO)--would reduce the amount of BS people have to wade through when they're researching a piece of gear on TB. But that's not gonna happen, because it would be impossible to establish any rules about it and the mods here have a big enough job already. So over time, one just has to learn whose opinion to take seriously and whose can be disregarded.

I don't believe the above is "backing up naysayers". because I don't know who they are or what's been said. But YMMV.
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I see you're point. And I do agree with you about the 50 a year comment and maybe a gold membership. My whole thing was about guys talking smack about others who do flip something a week or two after they got it. I'm just saying guys who go through a few pedals in a couple months time or something like that ya know.
 
#11
True story: Years ago, my grandfather bought and sold so many cars in one year that the state told him he'd have to get a dealer's license if he made one more vehicular transaction that year.

The whole buying and flipping thing isn't my bag - and I say that as a dude who likes to test out gear - but to each his or her own.
 
#12
The only problem I would have if these members that might be using TB as free advertising for their business, and really aren't doing private sales. There probably should be some kind of limit past which you must pay standard advertising fees.
 
#18
I'm a drummer first and I flip drum gear..or at least I used to. I've cooled it in the past year or so and since deciding to not play out for a while, it's gotten even less frequent. But I have friends who will give me grief about how often I'm buying and selling. Most of it is lighthearted but I have one friend in particular who gets jealous and says "I've had the same kit for the last 10 years because I can't afford to get something new.." He even compares our situations. We're both on disability (we both have cerebral palsy) except I live in the U.S. and he lives in Australia. He makes less on disability than I do and the cost of living is substantially higher. Every time I buy a new piece of gear or flip something it's a guilt trip "Must be nice to be able to afford it. I wish I could but I'm struggling.." It does nothing but serve to make me feel bad.

I think anyone here who has a problem with someone flipping gear all the time has a problem simply out of jealousy. Why else would they care? A lot of us like to try different things either to find what works for us or out of curiosity and there's nothing wrong with that.
 

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