Buying / selling - whats wrong?

[_Lee_]

Guys,

Firstly guys, this isnt meant as an inflammatory post. Just purely a question of opinions.

Just saw a comment in a sales thread about some guy selling some trilogos, and it was insinuated that he was being greedy. Without sounding disrespectful here, i dont have any problem with that and if someone wants to further their own collection or get the best for what they have where is the problem? Buying and flipping has been going on in this hobby since day one, and i myself have done it many times in the past - although not now, as i dont get stuff that i want to move on.

As an example i bought a vhs TPM video a while ago that had been badly listed. So whats with that? Well it just happened that when i read the description the seller was chucking in a free Natalie Portman signed slip. Hence, i got it for 99p. I listed it for sale and sold that for £145 IIRC, which helped me to get both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on my signed poster.

Buying and flipping has been around for as long as can be, and itll never go away. Its how many people build their collections, and i dont see a problem with it. No one has a god given right to own anything, and if you want something you need to pay to get it. I can guarantee that many have found bargains that could have sold for 10 times the amount they paid, but it sits in their collection as a great find.

I know the selling ethics of this forum is that we looked after each other as friends but we cant go around shooting people down just because they want to use some good fortune to extend what they have. Ill help anyone i can if i know they are a good guy, but not everyone thinks like that.

I know you get the odd twat ( that RS guy for example) but lets give people a chance to have their time when they stumble upon something that can really help them.

Lee

 

[jackabina]

If you buy and item off someone at an agreed price, once it's yours you are free to do with what you want. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. The only way that would be wrong, is if the seller was conned by the buyer into thinking that it was a treasured piece, ie, the last MOC to complete a run, and therefore let them have it for a cheaper price. If that then ended up for sale, I'd be pissed.

 

[palitoyjunky]

I had that happen many years ago, some twat from Bolton(won't mention names) wanted my Tri-logo carded Fett. He went on and on how he used to have a few years ago and really wanted a carded example back for his collection. He tried it on at first offering £400 and I laughed in his face and told him I wanted 1K which he did end up paying. Couple of days after I'd sent it I saw it up on ebay starting bid £1700 :lol: Now what I got for it at the time was top dollar because it had considerable bubble damage. Anyway needless to say he had no interest and that was that.

Know what your selling and you won't go far wrong :wink:

 

[edd_jedi]

Yes you're right that to some extent everybody is a hypocrite and will gladly buy something cheap and later sell for a profit, can't deny that I've done that many times in the past. But as mentioned there are ways to go about it.

If somebody lists something badly on eBay (wrong category, spelling mistakes, no photo etc) I think it's fine to congratulate somebody on getting a bargain. The same goes for buying bulk lots and splitting, that's how dealers have always made their money.

However claiming you need something for your own collection, targeting newbies asking for advice who have no idea about values, or any other dishonest/unethical tactic should be frowned upon IMO. That Eric guy on RS was a prize bell end on every level, the hobby doesn't need people like him.

My personal gripe with the thread you mentioned was that the seller wasn't willing to do an off-eBay deal unless there was extra profit in it for them. I haven't encountered that before in 15+ years of buying on eBay, usually sellers jump at the chance of selling their item without eBay getting the 10% fees.

 

[PGowdy]

About the thread in question: Personally i think one of the good things about this forum is when someone comes on here being a dick or has no respect for the hobby, the forum or it's members and is purely out for themselves, they get called on it. If you wanna sell things for 3 times the market value, that's fine. Just don't do it on here. It's ****ing insulting. Take it to ****ing RS or eBay where people don't care how little respect you have for their intelligence.

 

[benny100]

You've hit the nail on the head Pete, it's the lack of respect coming to an established forum trying to peddle your items for way over market value.
It wouldn't do any harm to spend a little time looking over the forum, gauging the tone and also the prices offered for items here before posting you're own things with flippant comments about love for fellow members.

 

[sith-smith]

If it's someone's item, they can charge what they want for it. There's nothing right or wrong about it and people will either pay it or not. People do get greedy and sometimes this can push them into dishonesty in the attempt to get more money out of people. That to me is the bigger problem.

That's one of the advantages of being part of a collecting community, as there is always the support there to be used when unsure about pieces on sale. And it seems that someone on here may have got called out over their prices.

If it's the guy/thread I'm thinking of, I think one of the big issues was the reason/arguments given for charging ridiculously high prices. That's what got to me!

 

[Robstyley]

I've noticed since being on here that if something doesn't sell quickly and it's still for sale two weeks later with no replies/pm's it's prob overpriced - or nobody is after that item right now. I too think people should charge what they want. I don't see the need to make negative comments on someones sales thread, send a PM. If the price is too high(for you) don't buy it. It's not rocket science. Maybe it's hyperdrive science?

 

[jedisearcher]

If it's someone's item, they can charge what they want for it. There's nothing right or wrong about it and people will either pay it or not. People do get greedy and sometimes this can push them into dishonesty in the attempt to get more money out of people. That to me is the bigger problem.

That's one of the advantages of being part of a collecting community, as there is always the support there to be used when unsure about pieces on sale. And it seems that someone on here may have got called out over their prices.

If it's the guy/thread I'm thinking of, I think one of the big issues was the reason/arguments given for charging ridiculously high prices. That's what got to me!

Of course it's ok for them to charge whatever they want, but I like it on here because people can comment whereas on RS they can't.

I do think people should back it up with evidence though, so instead of just saying "it's overpriced", they should point to an ebay link, or some history they have of previous sales like some of the guys on here do when they help out on Valuation threads.

And yes, as Pete says, if you're taking the piss take it to ebay. This isn't the place for dealers.

 

[sith-smith]

Totally. And I think that's what has happened on here.

Pieces were overpriced and were pointed out.

Where things became more of a problem was with the seller's justifications of the price. Laughable at best :?

This was also pointed out.

 

[tiefighterboy]

About the thread in question: Personally i think one of the good things about this forum is when someone comes on here being a dick or has no respect for the hobby, the forum or it's members and is purely out for themselves, they get called on it. If you wanna sell things for 3 times the market value, that's fine. Just don't do it on here. It's ****ing insulting. Take it to ****ing RS or eBay where people don't care how little respect you have for their intelligence.

and I totally agree. If you come on here thinking you are going to over charge for items......then expect some piss takes. This is not RS and has no rules of stay on topic or none of that non-transactional comments shite.


I will add that if something is way overpriced..you typically just see the sellers sales post grow dust as no one is gonna bite. :wink:

 

[edd_jedi]

On that point, the reason I don't have such a rule on here is because on other forums I've seen that enforce it (not only Star Wars forums) despite the reasoning is often to stop price driving, in my opinion the ban on discussion actually has the opposite effect and helps prices spiral out of control. Most of the items we collect (apart from the uber-rare stuff, which contrary to this seller's belief he doesn't have) come up for sale regularly so have fairly stable market values.

So if somebody lists something for two or three times market value, I don't see the problem in pointing it out because as a community rather than a business I don't want to see people over-paying for stuff. Price discussion is not banned on here so if people don't like it, don't sell here, simple as that.

 

[_Lee_]

Chaps, i wasnt pointing any fingers at anyone just wanted to see if the days of buying to flip were still in fashion :lol:

Anyone want to buy a ROTJ Palitoy Klatuu for £400??

 

[Bootyhunter]

I've seen several of my all MOCs flipped by members here for profit.
Really annoying when you think you are doing someone a favour!
That reminds me I haven't seen Keity on here lately :roll:

 

[beginner]

i think someone can do with a item what they want to do. It doesn't matter what anyone says or thinks, but respect should be present in any case.

I feel myself in a team here :!:

 

[theforceuk]

Never sold a Star Wars item.

Don't have a problem with people making money out of flipping, but have a problem with stupid increases.

I've watched items sell and get relisted for 50%, 60% more for BIN.

I remember about 3 years ago missing out on a Luke 12 back for just under £300. The winning bidder relisted it for £450 BIN or best offer, offered him £350 for it and he told me it was worth at least £450. :roll: Ended up paying about £380 for one in much worse condition. :roll: