topic Re: Rip-off Merchants in Selling

Rip-off Merchants

clubesquire — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 03:44:07 GMT

“Rip-off merchents. I can get the ezact same XXXX from Armerica for $22 less.”

And that’s exactly how the spelling went 🙂

But, just to amuse myself, I did some checking and wow!! He sure can. $22 less exactly - in USD. Haha! Postage was $46 and that’s USD too.

I just couldn’t help myself this time, “Tell someone who cares”.

God it felt good. Sometimes you’ve just gotta give it back 🙂

Melina.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 04:51:35 GMT

And on your special list no doubt.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

clubesquire — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 05:26:14 GMT

Oh yes. Speshul lizts fer speshul peeple 🙂

Mel.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

dazzledayz — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 07:59:49 GMT

I had one a while ago who thought I was cheeky for selling a 30yr old mag at greater than original value.

I had to ask her what she thought the price of an original Dickens would be ... just couldn't help myself.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

digital*ghost — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 08:54:18 GMT

I never understood that mentality - by which I mean, if someone else is selling an item for eg $5, anyone selling it for any more than that is ripping off their buyers. I mean, I get that some buyers don't look (or think) beyond anything other than what they'll pay, but I find it hard to believe that someone doesn't even have the slightest grasp on what causes pricing differences (other than seller greed). I hear about it all the time in collectible categories (eg someone spots a piece in poor condition for $100, and tries to negotiate the same price from someone who has a mint condition version at $200 or so).

Also, I used to run auctions on (moderately) popular collector items when I first started - I would get messages asking for discounts, special prices on bulk lots etc, from people that I very quickly suspected contained intentional spelling and grammar errors. I found from a small bit of digging (much easier back in those days) that these people were often dealers / sellers themselves, and I suspect they wanted to make themselves look ~~dumb~~ less intenlligent that they really were, as if it would somehow make me more vulnerable to their otherwise non-existant negotiating skills.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

clubesquire — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 10:55:31 GMT

You’re absolutely right about collectibles Digi, we cop that very often. Buyers comparing lemons with sweet grapes - deliberately though I feel. And we’ve received lots of stories, “My most precious, now departed grandad had one the same as that. Oh, I want it in his memory so bad, but I only have $x. Can you please help me?” And variations of this, but generally around the same theme and some are heart Tuggers. It’s pretty bad.

Never gave that other angle a thought Digi. Is there no end to it? Honestly, I just don’t remember this sort of stuff from 10-15 years ago.

I’ve had a bit to say about a few bad sellers lately, but holy Dooley, some buyers seem to have it down pat, in much bigger numbers.

Ugh! Time to knock off and enjoy a glass (or three) of some nice spritzy wine I think 🙂

gnight all,

Melina.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

melbourneclearance — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 11:45:28 GMT

I had one who told me (with a picture attached no less) that she got the same item at a Hobart market for $5. When I told her the one in her picture did not look anything like mine she replied "But it's similar!". And after I ignored her a couple of days, she sent another message "So you're not going to reduce your price?". Really people, take up knitting or something!

Re: Rip-off Merchants

springyzone — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 13:58:07 GMT

Had to laugh at your reply.

I think it's fair enough to give a feisty answer if someone is rude like that.

Basically, the man had no reason to message you. If he wanted the item cheaper & could get it cheaper elsewhere, he just needs to go ahead & do it.

Your name's not Bunnings.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

clubesquire — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 20:51:11 GMT

I’m not usually like that Springy. In fact, far from it, but goodness me - fair sizzle of the ole sausage!

As someone said in here a while ago, I’m learning, I think 🙂

I’m slow at it though .... lol.

Melina.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

imastawka — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 01:27:05 GMT

“Rip-off merchents. I can get the ezact same XXXX from Armerica for $22 less.”

My answer to this type of message has always been -

Then you'd be silly to buy it from me, then, wouldn't you?

I was saying this at markets back in the 70's

They usually walked away, confused My care factor - nil.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

lyndal1838 — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 03:28:32 GMT

So you have always been a stirrer Stawks?

Once a stirrer always a stirrer!!

Re: Rip-off Merchants

digital*ghost — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 04:48:21 GMT

@clubesquire wrote:

Never gave that other angle a thought Digi. Is there no end to it? Honestly, I just don’t remember this sort of stuff from 10-15 years ago.

It didn't actually occur to me until a few months after I received a message about one set of items, the same buyer messaged about a new listing and it was virtually identical to their previous message - the most notable part to me (and perhaps strangely) is that "buy" was spelled "bye". It struck me as odd, because the member had several hundred FB, so they'd been on eBay long enough to see the word "buy" with the correct spelling countless times, and while I could see one unfortunate typo being made (I've made plenty - in context, the irony of misspelling "intelligent" in my previous post is not lost on me ), I thought it was odd they'd use the so-obviously-incorrect spelling twice in a row, but months apart, so I took a bit of a dive down the rabbit hole and found they were a long-time seller of the items I was listing, and seemed to be able to spell "buy" (plus many other words) correctly elsewhere.

I do (obviously) have a tendency to micro-analyze things and can wind up being way off base at times, but I felt like they were trying to make themselves just look like an unassuming, casual, private buyer looking to complete a collection and garner a little empathy, rather than a dealer trying to negotiate a deal, because the (supposedly) unsuspecting seller might be inclined to drive a harder bargain if they know they're selling to someone who wants to sell it themselves for more than they've paid (which obviously gives the game away that they're worth more).

Re: Rip-off Merchants

countessalmirena — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 12:45:09 GMT

@dazzledayz wrote:
I had one a while ago who thought I was cheeky for selling a 30yr old mag at greater than original value.

I had to ask her what she thought the price of an original Dickens would be ... just couldn't help myself.

Please send me the original edition of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, at the original subscription price, and of course include discount because it's unfinished.

Re: Rip-off Merchants

countessalmirena — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 12:57:00 GMT

One of the most ludicrous disguises, it seems...

Intentional misspelling is harder to pull off than it might seem. I know from experience - not that I'm the "Sell to me for a cheap price" sort of person, but rather from a "hide your identity" online Halloween day where forum members were encouraged to create a one-day-only fake ID, in order to create a virtual costume party... Prizes for anyone who managed to fool everyone until the unmasking.

It was outrageously hard to disguise myself to any degree.

With regard to collectables, I don't mind negotiating, but it has to be in good faith. Dirty shenanigans for a profit don't seem fair...

Melina, I'd probably have replied to your rude potential buyer with "Thank you for informing me. As the item in your link is $x more than my item when converted to Australian dollars, notwithstanding the postage cost from the US to you in Australia, clearly my price is too low, and I'm going to raise it right now! I'd never have known if it hadn't been for your polite communication! Thanks so much!

Best regard, etc., etc."

Re: Rip-off Merchants

clubesquire — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 00:45:50 GMT

Ah yes. Nice 🙂 that would have felt good too.

But but, but, ive been sooooo good for sooooo long. I just couldn’t help it 🙂 the devil in me wins out sometimes.

Not relevant to this, but only this morning we received an apology from a Russian fellow who had taken it too us because he thought an item was not from the era claimed. I did take the time to politely ‘set him right’, so I’m not a bad girl all the time .... lol. We actually do spend a bit of time with these sort of enquiries. But, it’s all part of it.

All good Countess. I’m back in my box 🙂

Melina.