Replacing price with SOLD - Page 2

It's never bothered me.  If I am in the market for something or getting ready to sell something I watch the FS Forum for a while.  I browse the FS Forum(s) more than enough.  I typically have an idea of what things go for.  As suggested, items don't always go for what was asked.  Lastly, I have sent people a PM if they marked the price as SOLD to get an idea, and never had anyone turn me down.  People have PM'd me as well.  Just my 2 cents.  Also, I mark the price SOLD once completed.

While we were at work in the field once, a colleague who I rarely work with (he works when I'm off and we met this time because I was working an extra week) had his check-in bag lost on his way to work so he got to work literally with the clothes on his back. He doesn't carry his credit card to work and had very little cash on hand. He asked if he could borrow some to buy a couple of sets of clothes, and some stuff like toothpaste and toothbrush to tide him over for the next two weeks. I had about $40 so I willingly gave it to him. He then told me that he didn't know how he'd pay me back cause we wouldn't work together for a while and he didn't trust the other guys to remember so he offered his watch as payment. The particular model was available in a couple of stores locally and selling for about $55. An Amazon search of the same watch (and similar style watches by the same company) showed an MSRP of $600-$500). I agreed to the trade only as long as he felt it was a fair trade because I knew that he must have paid at least $55 or more for the watch and he told me he didn't like it as much as he though he would and felt he had wasted money so he was fine with it. I personally, would have still accepted it as justified payment if I had loaned him $75 or so. So all that said, how much was the watch really worth if I was a seller looking to sell it? $35, $55, $75, $500? How much to ask for the watch and how much to pay for the watch became functions of how much the 'giver' and 'receiver' are willing to mutually accept as agreeable. The transaction between two such individuals may not apply to two other individuals dealing with the same item or similar item.

As krmathis has mentioned:
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis 

* Because the price may only valid for that item, and not to be used some years down the road.

Just because two individuals have decided that, in their circumstances, and item is worth a certain amount does not mean that two other individuals in a similar transaction have to agree. A seller should always be able to sell an item for as much as they feel it is worth and a buyer should only have to buy an item for what they feel it is worth. The final worth of an item will always change because of peoples' opinions.

But it would make it harder for the membership to be coned if the prices stayed. Being able to sell an excited noob something for "audiophile" prices increases the opportunity to take advantage of initiates.

So two issues, is it the business of the forum to have an open exchange of information to set prices (no), or risk the fleecing of inexperienced beginners. (not my coin)

What's more important for the community?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling 

Who the hell considers doing a search on the internet "research"??

99% of all high school and college students, unfortunately.

PS - I'm a teacher

I should have gone into sales seeing that today's generation of young consumers are totally blind and more

gullible than any previous generation.  Thinking and inquiry skills today are pretty well non-existant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling 

Who the hell considers doing a search on the internet "research"??

Me. For all kinds of items. Ebay is probably the most helpful for basic info and pricing. Then I look at collector websites like Vintage Asylum, Audio Asylum and Headfi. I buy and sell used stuff, and it can be hard to tell whats worth something and what isn't. I have a laptop with wireless in it so I can get on the web when I'm out at yard sales and thrift stores. It'd be much slower and more difficult without web info. Amazon can be good for evaluating too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moontan13 


<quote>

Me. For all kinds of items. Ebay is probably the most helpful for basic info and pricing. Then I look at collector websites like Vintage Asylum, Audio Asylum and Headfi. I buy and sell used stuff, and it can be hard to tell whats worth something and what isn't. I have a laptop with wireless in it so I can get on the web when I'm out at yard sales and thrift stores. It'd be much slower and more difficult without web info. Amazon can be good for evaluating too.

Likewise. I'm not really sure how I'd ever know what to sell things for online if I didn't search online beforehand. I'm not really sure why anyone wouldn't consider that research, it's not like I can go down to the library for a book or call up all of those local hi-fi swapshops to get any pricing info.

Knowing what something actually sold for is invaluable. Anyone can speculate and voice an opinion, but the nitty gritty is when money and goods change hands. Even though sold may be stamped over the price, if the item sold is of interest then there was an opportunity to watch the sale. Underpriced items sell fast, and that needs to be known too.

Is this sold thing an option, or does it happen after every sale is completed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moontan13 

Is this sold thing an option, or does it happen after every sale is completed?

It is up to the seller of the item.
 

I hate this practice. It makes it harder to figure out the fair market value of an item and easier therefore for a Head-Fier to get ripped off for lack of information.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling 

Who the hell considers doing a search on the internet "research"??

The same people who defined the word 'research' it would seem.

In relation to the OP, I couldn't agree more. It's a very frustrating practice, but sadly, won't change.

What is a "fair market price"?  It is totally subjective.  So much these days is grossly marked up as people often only see something as valuable if they paid a lot of money for it (such as fashion) regardless of its material value.  Take the Sony R10s.  Someone with no interest in headphones might value them only at a couple of hundred dollars, but someone addicted to audio gear upgrades might pay $7k for them. Which is fair?

As for trying to protect people from making stupid mistakes, overdoing that results in a society of more idiots IMO. If people are lazy (to research etc), that is their fault, but that's going off-topic somewhat. 

The same thing works for and against a seller. I frequent yard sales, and I hope they have no idea of what they have.

It's pretty hilarious sometimes what people think their stuff is worth, especially old computers and laptops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmanGeorge 

I hate this practice. It makes it harder to figure out the fair market value of an item and easier therefore for a Head-Fier to get ripped off for lack of information.

Yes, this is the reason the sheep should stop following each other by posting SOLD over the price. 

I saw a guy pay $450 for a set of "rare" Sennheiser Charleston headphones. If some dolt hadn't put SOLD over the same item 2 years earlier, that buyer would have seen the fair market value for these cans is about $80.