Flipping a good deal from a Polkie for a profit

mmadden28

heiney9 wrote: »

mmadden08, if you could care less, why even bother to comment?

H9

I meant that I could care less to 'really need to know who the buyer was'. Meaning that I really didn't have a great desire or determination to find out who it was (for whatever purpose) yet I was able to figure it out with relative ease.

heiney9

Conradicles wrote: »

Why not, is it better to talk about the person behind his back now?

We're not really talking about a person, but rather a situation. If the buyer feels the need to comment, fine. If not, fine. This is more about the functioning and continued goodwill in our very own FM.

H9

heiney9

mmadden28 wrote: »

I meant that I could care less to 'really need to know who the buyer was'. Meaning that I really didn't have a great desire or determination to find out who it was (for whatever purpose) yet I was able to figure it out with relative ease.

Ah, got it. Sorry I misinterpreted your post.

PSOVLSK

blakeh wrote: »

Obviously you can't tell someone what to do with their private property. They own it, they can do what they want with it. That being said, I think it is in very poor taste for someone to buy an item here on the FM and then flip it for a profit. There was a time when we thought of ourselves as a community here. Many of us still feel that way. And because we feel like part of a community, we sometimes price items below the open market value because we want to foster a sense of good karma and sharing among members. Plus most of us have been the beneficiaries of other members' kindness at some point and feel that we should pass that on to other members.

I understand that no one is making a seller offer his item up for a reduced price, but isn't it just good form to not take advantage of it? I mean it's pretty simple; if you buy an item on CP and want to sell it (especially if it's a week later), just offer it up here first. If there are no takers in a week, then sell it to whomever you want at whatever price you want. Is that really too much to ask?

I'd like to post my own original opinion, but this states my thoughts exactly.

Also agree that no one needs to be outed. We should all be able to figure it out if we choose to do so.

mmadden28

On discussing how the forum operates...
...I'm curious about opinions on this fictional scenario--Let's say somebody offers up for sale an item on CP starting at $1000 (let's say current market value) and it doesn't sell, and each week or whatever continues to drop the price (instead of trying the 'gon, etc) until somebody finally buys it, lets say at the final price of $500. Then a week later if the buyer chooses to sell it again, would they be wrong to try to sell it again at $1000 whether that's here or elsewhere?
*EDIT* Would the original seller be wrong to have started at such a high price to begin with when selling to fellow Polkies considering they were willing to come down so low?

What if a sale is posted at CP and elsewhere at the same time? Whether that be for the same price or slightly less for CP. Does that chaneg anything?

What if the same item is bought and sold on CP all the time and the market price varies greatly from sale to sale?

heiney9

The unwritten rule on the forum has always been if you buy something from a Polkie that is a good deal when you go to sell it you should sell it for close to what you paid. Not make a profit and sometimes you even may loose some money. Pay it forward, etc. (on the forum)

Now, that's not a "rule" of the forum and anyone can do whatever they want. There are plenty of "fly-by-nighters" who come in here to buy and sell stuff. But if you are a contributing member, participate I still think it's in poor form to take something that was a good deal and run over to Audiogon in less than a week and try to more than double your buying price.

PSOVLSK

mmadden28 wrote: »

On discussing how the forum operates...
...I'm curious about opinions on this fictional scenario--Let's say somebody offers up for sale an item on CP starting at $1000 (let's say current market value) and it doesn't sell, and each week or whatever continues to drop the price (instead of trying the 'gon, etc) until somebody finally buys it, lets say at the final price of $500. Then a week later if the buyer chooses to sell it again, would they be wrong to try to sell it again at $1000 whether that's here or elsewhere?
*EDIT* Would the original seller be wrong to have started at such a high price to begin with when selling to fellow Polkies?

What if a sale is posted at CP and elsewhere at the same time? Whether that be for the same price or slightly less for CP. Does that chaneg anything?

What if the same item is bought and sold on CP all the time and the market price varies greatly from sale to sale?

1) I don't think they'd be wrong in that scenerio. In this case, the seller would seem to lowering the price to sell the item, not necessarily to "give a Polkie discount." Edit answer: I don't think a Polkie is "wrong" for asking fair market value.
2) I've always been of the opinion that if it is listed elsewhere, the Polk price should be at least a little better deal.
3) That's a little different, but I don't think I would sell it for more than I paid. Although I don't think it would be bad form to ask a price that is more in line with current pricing.

mmadden28

What if a seller on CP, won't ship, but offers an item for sale at a reduced price simply because they want a quick sale, and the buyer buys them with the intention of reselling them, but IS willing to ship. Is that acceptable? An upcharge for the trouble? or Selling at Market elsewheer because the original seller didn't want to bother?

I don't know-I think sales are quite dynamic here, and one unwritten rule can't apply to all sales. I understand the intention of the unwriteen rule and I agree with its premise, but I can't see how it can be policed in anyway.

wz2p7j

This sounds like a whole new business model worth exploiting, er, exploring. Buy stuff cheap from Polkies and start an eBay store or something. Get rich quick and spend some time on the beach. Write a classic "get rich quick" book and make even more money. Gotta get going - I need to call my publicist! :D:D

Chris

Just funnin' you guys

steveinaz

H9
I agree. The purpose of the FM is to pass on good deals to other members, not to see how much you can make off an item that someone sold to you at a great price.

Like always, pick and choose who you buy from, and sell to---well, if you give a damn. On the few occasions when I have sold things, it has been very, very good prices; but I always make sure a Polk veteran gets first crack at it, for that reason.

blakeh

Those are all good questions, mmadden. However, I think they're a little outside the scope of this particular discussion. The only tenet that I have been made aware of over my years here at CP is this:

If you purchase something in the FM from a CP member and decide to sell it because it doesn't suit your needs, offer it back up in the FM at the same price so that you can recoup your money and pass on a good piece of equipment to a fellow polkie. If there are no takers after a week or so, feel free to sell it anywhere you'd like at whatever price you'd like.

I know there's a Dodd preamp that floated around at least five members before landing in my lap and each of us paid the exact same price for it (a couple hundred bucks below market value) because no one wanted to profit off a fellow member. And I can guarantee that if I ever sell it, I will offer it up for the exact same price here in the FM. That just seems neighborly to me. Now any one of us could've turned around and sold it on Agon for a profit, but that just didn't seem right.

mmadden28

heiney9 wrote: »

... I still think it's in poor form to take something that was a good deal and run over to Audiogon in less than a week and try to more than double your buying price.

If that was the buyer's intention then I would agree that it was Bad Form, however we still don't kow what the buyer's intetion was--its oly speculation at the moment.

Lets say the buyer decided the item wasn't for them, and was in need of money. Wouldn't it be even worse form if they tried to resell it to a Polkie at a higher cost? Thus selling it elsewhere to non Polkie higher was actually the better decision. Of course we're still speculating intentions here..But yes I agree, on simple sales keeping priceing real fro polkies is the right road.

Damn, looks like I have a problem with the 'n' key on my keyboard...

blakeh

I don't think intentions really matter if you follow the "golden rule" that most of us operate under when using the FM which I outlined above. Whether you need money or not, I think selling something back to the group to recoup your cost is the right thing to do rather than selling it for a profit somewhere else.

heiney9

mmadden28 wrote: »

If that was the buyer's intention then I would agree that it was Bad Form, however we still don't kow what the buyer's intetion was--its oly speculation at the moment.

Lets say the buyer decided the item wasn't for them, and was in need of money. Wouldn't it be even worse form if they tried to resell it to a Polkie at a higher cost? Thus selling it elsewhere to non Polkie higher was actually the better decision. Of course we're still speculating intentions here..But yes I agree, on simple sales keeping priceing real fro polkies is the right road.

Damn, looks like I have a problem with the 'n' key on my keyboard...

You're right it is speculation. If it were me (speaking strictly for me) I would have contacted the original seller and explained why I was doing what I was doing. But that's me and I truly believe in the karma, goodwill, and 'family' like environment the FM has always tried to convey. I mean come on it's barely been over a week.

mmadden28

blakeh wrote: »

I don't think intentions really matter if you follow the "golden rule" that most of us operate under when using the FM which I outlined above. Whether you need money or not, I think selling something back to the group to recoup your cost is the right thing to do rather than selling it for a profit somewhere else.

Yeah I hear ya-I know I had my eye on it originally and might have taken a crack at it, had it been posted again. Then again I might wonder what was so bad about it that people are trying to get rid of it so fast...

Whoa-"crack at it" kinda sounded like "crack addict". Hmm I guess this hobby is similar huh?

blakeh

mmadden28 wrote: »

Whoa-"crack at it" kinda sounded like "crack addict". Hmm I guess this hobby is similar huh?

Ha! So true. Though I have yet to see an episode of 'Intervention' where the focus of the show is an audiophile. I'm half expecting my family to call me into a room and start reading their letters!

"Blake, your addiction has affected our relationship in the following ways..."

Jstas

Whoa! It's like dejavu all over again!

SolidSqual

Yeah, let's call that person out. (because somehow ownership is less than full her at CP . . . man I must have missed that somewhere in the forum rules you have bookmarked)

Here's the link: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accsrack&1258998729&/Dodd-Audio-Levitator-Free-Ship

What I do with my purchases is my business. I challenge any one of you to challenge my contribution to this forum and the members who know me best here.

Furthermore, this purchase was not made with the intention of selling it right off. Perhaps there's something going on in my life that requires a quick sale to cover expenses. And, that something is not anyone's business. This is the most unnecessary item in my system, and I am debating selling it as insurance so I don't have to hit my savings.

To those of you who would wish ill on my system, thanks for casting the first stone.

Face

At least Mike ships his goods out without having to file a claim.

TECHNOKID

While I never had the chance to benefit from the opportunities of the FM, I still would like to share my views on such touchy subject.

thuffman03 wrote: »

I have not bought or sold anything on this forum. But I see no issues with the fact that if someone buys something that they have the right to do with it what they will.

I understand that the item was sold below market value but that was up to the seller to give a discount. Bad Karma could entail to the reseller but the seller got the price they asked for and the buyer can do what they want with it.

While i feel it is lame I fully agree people have the right to do whatever they want with what they own no matter where it comes from.

nooshinjohn wrote: »

...Perhaps outing this individual would discourage such a thing from happening again?...

This is simple back stabbing...

WilliamM2 wrote: »

It may be poor form, but the new owner can do whatever he wants with it, he owns it now.

+1

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Names... link to the A'gon listing?

Again, looking for some back stabbing...

Conradicles wrote: »

Who is this HE?

Why is name of such of importance? What would this change except for creating one's a bad reputation? As pointed out, the seller had the price he was asking for, is this so hurtfull to see someone making a few bucks? Has the OP or anyone else loosing out on this? The fact is no one knows the reason behind the prompt resale... someone may have realized they couldn't afford and realized they made a poor decision and decided to make the best out of their mistake by making a few $$.

mmadden28 wrote: »

Personally I don't see how this situation deserves an 'outing'. If anything outing for this would be bad form IMO. Outing somebody for a significantly bad deal is a different story.

Vent and discuss about it being bad form and all is fine but I think everybody that reads this thread will get the idea.
As has been said, we don't know any details about the decisions the buyer made to resell and why or why not to the CP first.

If you really must know, then take the info you were given above and research it yourself. I figured it out in all of 3 minutes and I could care less.

+1

Conradicles wrote: »

Why not, is it better to talk about the person behind his back now?

Why back stabbing someone? Is there any reasons what so ever for anyone to talk behind anyone's back? What the reason for people to be so itchy about someone being wise and making a few $$$?

Don't get me wrong, I do think it is lame practice but not wrong in it self. I do realize this is a family and the sense of protection kicks in but when you think about it, when people sell it is not usually to do someone else any favor but simply trying to get back in their investment and this is all fine. Being in Canada, I was never fortunate enough to get deals from the FM but if I ever could have, I would have done my research and bought/sell in accordance to the pricing my research would lead me to believe the gear is worth. If I heard anyone could get a good deal out of selling some I sold them well, who knows I might even be happy for them as I personnally would have got what I wanted for my sell. I just feel there is a line between caring/protecting fellow members and going on gang vandetta when one disagree with one members.

Cheers!
TK

heiney9

SolidSqual wrote: »

Yeah, let's call that person out. (because somehow ownership is less than full her at CP . . . man I must have missed that somewhere in the forum rules you have bookmarked)

Here's the link: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accsrack&1258998729&/Dodd-Audio-Levitator-Free-Ship

What I do with my purchases is my business. I challenge any one of you to challenge my contribution to this forum and the members who know me best here.

Furthermore, this purchase was not made with the intention of selling it right off. Perhaps there's something going on in my life that requires a quick sale to cover expenses. And, that something is not anyone's business. This is the most unnecessary item in my system, and I am debating selling it as insurance so I don't have to hit my savings.

To those of you who would wish ill on my system, thanks for casting the first stone.

Never said it was a rule. It's just good form, goodwill, etc. You can do what you want, it's your item. But I think it's a pretty sh*tty thing to do based on all the goodwill that is spread in the FM.

H9

treitz3

In the good ol' days, a pistola would have taken care of this issue.

Pauly

heiney9 wrote: »

Never said it was a rule. It's just good form, goodwill, etc. You can do what you want, it's your item. But I think it's a pretty sh*tty thing to do based on all the goodwill that is spread in the FM.

H9

+10000000

I see it as taken advantage of what we have here IMO. But to each their own. Some see it as a fun hobby, some see it as $$$$$$

Thats all i will say

Pauly

nooshinjohn

never called for backstabbing as you put it. I was only wanting to have an honest discussion about this and not knowing what the item was and who was involved prevents such a discussion. Solid is ok in my book and always has been, and knowing this upfront would have led to me making a different comment. I still think it is poor form, but his reputation and standing in this community afford him more than a benefit of the doubt here. I am willing to bet that most if not all would have had a different take on this if that information was known up front. Solid... I give you props for stepping up man. I hope that all is ok and looking up. Please accept my appologies for speaking without understanding the facts, and best of luck with the sale:)

BTW.... Is there a CP discount?:p

SolidSqual

Actually, everything is fine, just a bump in the road. I got all my ducks in a row. I'm just trying to line them up nice and tight. I'm not set on selling the thing because frankly I value if for more than $220 and I like it. But, I wanted to see if someone valued this thing more than me.

Yeah, FACE gets the CP discount at $215. We discussed this weeks ago.

Polkitup2

deleted

nooshinjohn

deleted

Serendipity

????

tonyb

I say send Cathy over with her bat,ring the dudes bell,clober him,and confiscate the item while dropping the cash he paid for it on the floor. Sounds like a plan to me.

Very suspect behavior btw,and is not what this clubs FS section was intended for.

TECHNOKID

Pauly wrote: »

+10000000

I see it as taken advantage of what we have here IMO. But to each their own. Some see it as a fun hobby, some see it as $$$$$$

Thats all i will say

Pauly

It is a fun hobby that however implies $$$