Thread crapping?

[Uncle Erik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by analogbox /img/forum/go_quote.gif How about this? Just be consensus and price the item appropriately then we won't have any of these problems.

Easier said than done. You have to consider the condition of the item. Would you pay the same price for a HD-650 in good shape as one with a torn headband pad and dirty earpads? Clearly, the prices will vary. What if the seller is including a second pair of bowls with his Grados? How do you value those? The possibilities are endless.

There is one solution that would probably work. Maybe have the Administration put up a sticky/FAQ with a headline telling people to always research prices before buying. Inside the sticky would be a list of ways they could go about researching the price of an item. Researching prices of obscure audio gear is not something newcomers would know, so it would be helpful.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by analogbox /img/forum/go_quote.gif How about this? Just be consensus and price the item appropriately then we won't have any of these problems.

Who decide what is an "appropriate" price?
Headphone gear don't cost the same around the world, which then reflect in the used price. Take Grado as an example, which as new cost twice over here compared to the US..
The price also varies about depending the items condition.

A certain price would be appropriate to some, and "insane high" to others.

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbriant /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi, I'm new here, but someone told me this would be a good place to sell some old headphones. My dad recently passed away and my mom asked me to help her sell some of his stuff. I'm selling one set of Grado HP1000 headphones that look brand new .... like he never even used them. In fact, they are still in the original box and my mom doesn't remember ever actually seeing him use them. Even though they seem to work fine and there isn't a mark on them, they're metal and appear to be very old .... like the kind radio operators used in WW2. $50 or best offer. Now be honest. With a show of hands, how many "champions of justice" would come to this poor newbie's rescue and let them know what the Grados were really worth? Or would you be frantically sending an "I'll take 'em" PM as fast as you could type? And while you were praying you were the first to respond and anxiously awaiting a reply to your offer, how happy would you be to see some price-policer post: You do realize that those headphones often sell for over $1,000.00, don't you? While the above may be an extreme example, if you've EVER snapped up an item you knew was being sold at an obvious bargain low price without first telling the seller they were "cheating" themselves, IMO, it's hypocritcal to price police in ANY situation.

LOL, I nominate jeff.h as sole moderator for the FS forums.

-Ed

 

[Budgie]

Jesus H. Christ Ed, do you realize you have over 18,000 post's?

 

[analogbox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Who decide what is an "appropriate" price? Headphone gear don't cost the same around the world, which then reflect in the used price. Take Grado as an example, which as new cost twice over here compared to the US.. The price also varies about depending the items condition. A certain price would be appropriate to some, and "insane high" to others.

I'm totally aware of international issues and current exchanges so whenever I talk about price most likely I'm not talking about international sellers/buyers. I appologize if I wasn't clear about that. I meant more like whenever you're trying to sell, take like 10%-30% off from the price you paid for, depending on condition of the item. NOT sell it at the price you bought it, or worse, adding more. Of course, it won't apply to the items that are highly on demand and hard to get. But for the most part it's highly do-able. I understand it's totally up to the seller whatever he/she feels like to price and it's not my business unless I'm really interested in buying one but I think everyone would benefit from this.

 

[analogbox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Easier said than done. You have to consider the condition of the item. Would you pay the same price for a HD-650 in good shape as one with a torn headband pad and dirty earpads? Clearly, the prices will vary. What if the seller is including a second pair of bowls with his Grados? How do you value those? The possibilities are endless. There is one solution that would probably work. Maybe have the Administration put up a sticky/FAQ with a headline telling people to always research prices before buying. Inside the sticky would be a list of ways they could go about researching the price of an item. Researching prices of obscure audio gear is not something newcomers would know, so it would be helpful.

Of course, if you have an extra set of ear pads, an after market cable or a custom wood work, etc. you will have to charge more for the extra items that are included. But I'm talking, in general, just be reasonable. Price items appropriately depending on quality, quantity and rarity but not over price them. That's not too hard is it?

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by analogbox /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm totally aware of international issues and current exchanges so whenever I talk about price most likely I'm not talking about international sellers/buyers. I appologize if I wasn't clear about that. I meant more like whenever you're trying to sell, take like 10%-30% off from the price you paid for, depending on condition of the item.

So lets do an example, since this is an international forum.
I go out an buy a Grado GS1000 in the local store for NOK 12,750 (USD 2,550), and use them lightly for some months. Then I take off 30% (the max value you mentioned) from the price I paid and announce them for sale for USD 1800.

Thats reasonable, right?

 

[mbriant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood LOL, I nominate jeff.h as sole moderator for the FS forums.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/pai...0-ebay-202767/ Good memory Ed. I actually thought I was giving an exaggerated example.

 

[Baines93]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braillediver /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's extremely rude to interfere with a buyer and a seller anywhere. Go to a car dealer and in the middle of a transaction step up and tell the buyer they can get a better deal some where else. Is the internet really any different?

Couldn't agree more....

I hate it when people do this.

I prefer advertising the sale in my sig only (no link, just text) and dealing via PM.

Yes, it was a TC.

Matt

 

[boomana]

Okay, here's an example of when I "thread crapped" in someone's FS thread awhile back:

I'd remembered reading a long thread in the headphone forum about bamboo earbuds, and then how some folks were picking them up for great deals on ebay, and then the usual questions of authenticity, shoddy quality, etc. starting appearing. I also remember a certain individual posting about ordering those earbuds from the questionable ebay seller. Jump ahead a few months, and he's now selling two pair, but without mentioning he got the ebay ones, and even provided info about and pricing for the real ones on audiocubes as, I assume, an example of what a good deal he was offering. iirc, he priced his earbuds for about the same as the ebay price at the time. I felt he was being dishonest or misleading at best, and jumped in to say so. Our exchange wasn't exactly polite.

I personally think members can/should be able to charge whatever they choose and folks should leave comments or opinions regarding pricing choices out of public threads. Buyer and seller beware and all that. But, here's a question: I chose to publicly expose my knowledge of the seller's items so others, who might not have followed a long, boring thread in another forum, wouldn't unknowingly purchase possibly fake earbuds, when the seller chose to hide this possibility. He claimed he didn't follow the original thread after ordering his pair, and never learned that his were maybe fakes. Would it have been better to just pm a mod? Hard fast rules don't always serve. I'll admit, his ad pissed me off to want to do some public shaming, but maybe that wasn't the best choice. Looking back, I really don't know.

 

[funniecow]

Well if we're not going to set a price, are we able to step forward if we think it's a scam, or to just for warn people? I mean what if they "could be fakes" but the seller ignores the pm?

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by funniecow /img/forum/go_quote.gif I mean what if they "could be fakes" but the seller ignores the pm?

Then it's their fault for not taking heed. If you have evidence that the person maybe a scammer, report it the mods.

 

[PFKMan23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by funniecow /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well if we're not going to set a price, are we able to step forward if we think it's a scam, or to just for warn people? I mean what if they "could be fakes" but the seller ignores the pm?

IMO, that's one of those hard to define things, as most ads are legitamate. Moreover, a clause like that is very easy to abuse and otherwise undermine legitimate ads. I think people just need to be smarter consumers, ie: using google, ebay and other resources to check pricing. It seems to me that a lot of people just want to be spoon fed and could be simply allieviated by willing to check pricing and other policies on other sources, in addition to HF.

 

[analogbox]

I was mostly speaking in defense of noobies(including myself) who has trouble finding out market price for used goods here on head-fi but like a lot of you mentioned, I research and research and research before making any plunge on anything. There's no better way to protect yourself than protecting you by yourself. (what??!!)

 

[Baines93]

Fakes and scams should be noted publically, but i think prices is wrong...

I set the price i want/need, generally as i need the cash for something, so its planned, but the proce always drops a bit in private messages after.

Matt