Random Vent about FS/FT - In General why is 90% overpriced?

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Originally posted by: Injury
That's an obvious answer. People want as much as they can get for an item, and the buyers always want people to knock the price down.

Price it a little bit higher, and when you knock it down, it's still a fair price.

QFT. I always add a couple more bucks to what I actually want, since all my items are always OBO.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Who pays tax for online goods? Besides californians, I mean. 😛

Ba zing! 😛

 

[Trevelyan]

I always undercut everyone on FS/FT by at least $10-$15. I end up selling my items within literally an hour, maybe two at the most.

 

[Captante]

I almost always price items a bit higher then I expect to sell them for because IME getting the original asking price is very rare ... an exception was my 6800GT AGP that I sold awhile back that went within hours of being posted @ my full price, but then I timed that sale very well & it was an exception.

On the other hand I never get offended by any offer, as I say in my FS/FT thread .... "worst that will happen is I say no!"

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Not easily offended, but got a little ticked off by someone wanting to get my NIB BFG 7900GTX OC for < $400. Searching around FS/FT, the cheapest 7900GTX (non-OC) was ~$400 shipped, cheapest on PriceWatch was a crappy PNY for ~$460 shipped. :|

 

[Paulson]

I don't do anything on here anymore because things I want to sell don't sell fast enough and there isn't a big enough market of people looking for what I'm selling (mainly ipod parts)

I always sell items as buy it now listings on ebay, simply because I know what price I'd like to get for it and I don't want to get screwed out of potential profit.

I accept offers as well on my listings, and most of the offers are incredibly low. I usually just insult the person who offered me such a horrible price, especially since they insulted me with such a lower offer.

The thing about this place or ebay is that the seller wants everything higher, and the buyer wants it for as low as they can get it.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Originally posted by: Paulson
The thing about this place or ebay is that the seller wants everything higher, and the buyer wants it for as low as they can get it.

As sellers, it's our "job" to strive towards a happy medium 🙂

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

opened is not new and is worth 20-25% less than retail. if it is used more than a month, it is worth .. maybe half.

Worth half if used for a month? That's a little ridiculous, don't ya think?

Depends on if there is a warranty involved, otherwise its a huge risk.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
opened is not new and is worth 20-25% less than retail. if it is used more than a month, it is worth .. maybe half.

Worth half if used for a month? That's a little ridiculous, don't ya think?

Depends on if there is a warranty involved, otherwise its a huge risk.

Any computer hardware that has been used AT ALL should easily drop by 1/3.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

I think I should have been clearer, and was in fact responding to your next post. I would rather have a lowball offer then to have someone pm me asking for a lower price on something I'm selling. Ask if I can take $10 off, or $20 off, or whatever you're thinking, but please don't expect a seller who already has to post a price and oblige by it to just drop the price with no basis. Tell me that my price is a little high, you're a little short, anything, but name the discount you'd like or the final price you'd pay and we'll talk about it.

In the F/S forum, I feel its better both sides get a little and walk away from the deal happy. I am fairly open to the condition of my items and would like the buyer to be open about their questions and concerns.

At least thats my take to it.

I disagree. Unless a seller posts in his thread that his prices are FIRM... then i think it is totally acceptable to PM them and ask if there is any leeway in the prices. It is a respectful question. It is an out in the open request. It is not a haggle, or insulting lowball offer.

As a seller, I would much prefer to have someone approach me in a serious, respectful manner than to just throw a lowball offer out there to see if i will bite and then play the haggle game.

I am not into the game playing. And I think if a seller is gonna drop an extra $10 or whatever, he will say so. But I would never expect a seller to drop $$$ off depending on excuse... I am short of cash... of whatever. If the seller asks me what I am willing to pay, then I will. Sellers are more interested in what they can get for something than in what I want to pay for it.

Then make an offer. Don't just ask what the lowest he'll sell it for is. You know how much you're willing to pay, tell him that and see if he takes it. Don't make him play guessing games. You sound like some yokel who goes into a car dealership and has no idea how to negotiate a price.

 

[brtspears2]

The prices are higher in FS/FT. Unwritten rule of secondhand sales: Seller puts out a high price to reel in a sucker, buyer must make an insulting offer.

 

[BD2003]

It cause its huge now. Back a couple years ago, it was small, and prices were lower cause it was more community-ish. Now its practically universal, and if something is priced the way it used to be, itll snap up in a second.

So things are naturally overpriced, and lowballing is the only way to get a decent deal - because if I wasn't looking for a deal, I'd buy it in a store.

 

[CTrain]

I used to be a big time trader there but I rarely go in there now.
I do concur that the majority of the stuff there are over priced.
All you have to do is look at some of the threads there with big ole list being bump 100 times over and over and over.

Recently someone wanted me to build him a computer and I ended up buying all the parts from online retail except for 1 part.

Example: I was looking to buy an Athlon 3000+ 939 and online was $104 shipped for retail. I didn't want to pull the trigger and by that time it went up to $109.
So I see someone finally selling a 3000+ for $100 shipped OEM, and I know that person already played with it(as in OC experiment). He would not budge.
Its like WTF, I could have bought a RETAIL CPU for $104, even at the current price $109, I get the full warranty and a HS/fan and protection.

Yes some people are clueless about pricing their used stuff which is why I don't even bother looking at that forum anymore.
I only check there for games now.

 

[Paulson]

Originally posted by: WhoBeDaPlaya

Originally posted by: Paulson
The thing about this place or ebay is that the seller wants everything higher, and the buyer wants it for as low as they can get it.

As sellers, it's our "job" to strive towards a happy medium 🙂

I realize that concept, but sometimes people just don't come together to find that happy medium.

 

[Red Dawn]

The idiots there want top dollar for their items but are usually only willing to spend pennies on the dollar for other's items.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: D22
4. These are USED products...your 2% cheaper than pricegrabber price is NOT impressing anyone.

That's the only thing that really bugs me, I think. But then, I just look for it from someone else or wait. Or offer what I'm willing to pay.

Often even 2% off is a good deal, because after you factor in tax and shipping, it comes out to be around 25%.

For example, $180 shipped vs $200 + $10 shipping and $20 tax. You save $50 total going used.

Who pays tax for online goods? Besides californians, I mean. 😛

In your example that is 10%, not 2% 😕

 

[CTrain]

This might sound comical but I swear that some people there trade just to build up their Heatware so they can be this big time trader.

 

[Old Hippie]

"I don't care if it sells or not." Well, that is your right, but can you see how that will make people stop even viewing FS/FT?

Yes some people are clueless about pricing their used stuff which is why I don't even bother looking at that forum anymore.

QFT. Exactly why I quit looking there.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Wait...wait...wait...

You all do realize that the majority of sellers EXPECT to be *lowballed* and at the very least, expect to receive a counter-offer to the price they are asking right?

I thought it was common knowledge on how negotiating works:

1. Seller sets optimal price
2. Potential buyer offers their opitmal price
3. Seller and Buyer hopefully work towards an agreeable target price. If not, then no deal is made...