Author Topic: Classified ad pricing (Read 606 times)

Old Syko · « **on:** November 09, 2011, 05:03:32 AM »

I can't believe the prices some folks put on things. Not just the classifieds here but everywhere including yard sales and other venues. I see prices much higher for pre-owned or used items than I can buy them new and in a lot of cases the inflated price doesn't include shipping costs. To top it off, people are actually buying at these prices. I just don't get it. Are people just ignorant or actually just too lazy to research before they buy? My money came too hard to gift it to someone I don't even know. I often wonder if some folks haven't had it too easy and since they have money in their pocket just don't care. No wonder so many are in the shape they're in.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2011, 05:07:48 AM »

I used to love yard sales and flea markets, but now I can't afford them.

luckily, books are still cheap because nobody reads anymore.

Brett · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2011, 12:01:18 AM »

The short answer to your questions is Yes. Many people are ignorant and too lazy to educate themselves. Like Buckeye, I used to love flea markets and yard sales. Sellers usually asked reasonable prices and were even willing to dicker with you on the prices because they just wanted to move their unwanted stuff. Now it seems folks are trying to get rich by selling their junk.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:31:48 AM »

On the classifieds I wonder sometimes if they do it to try and bump their add a lot? I have noticed a lot of them that start out pretty high plus shipping, then they get bumped a lot for price reductions and eventually sale at a normal price with included shipping for the most part.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:35:10 AM »

Quote from: Bugflipper on November 10, 2011, 01:31:48 AM

On the classifieds I wonder sometimes if they do it to try and bump their add a lot? I have noticed a lot of them that start out pretty high plus shipping, then they get bumped a lot for price reductions and eventually sale at a normal price with included shipping for the most part.

I have never bought from the classifieds for that very reason.
if they accepted that high price from a fellow member, they're not being very ethical.

Old Syko · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2011, 02:47:27 AM »

What prompted me to start this thread is that in recent days I've run into a lot of items that are priced above new retail price and at least one of them is on the classifieds here. The item here is nothing expensive, under a hundred let's say, but the price is $12 more than I paid a local retail merchant including 7% sales tax. This local merchant sells them everyday for this price. Locally I came across a used tool box, identical to one I already own. The listed price was $950. I called a dealer who had one new and the price was $839 +tax. I called about the one listed thinking the price had to be a misprint for his 5 year old used item only to be told I obviously wasn't wealthy enough to live in his world. I just agreed with him and hung up. Didn't have the heart to tell him it wasn't a matter of money so much as it was a matter of intelligence.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2011, 02:58:16 AM »

Some people develop an attachment to certain items, and feel that since it was worth a lot to them. They feel that you should pay what they think it's worth. Part of the blame should go to buyers who pay more than an item is worth, this just drives prices up.

This thinking also applies when shopping at stores like Costco, people feel that since it's on sale at Costco it must be a good bargain. My wife points out that the local supermarket has better prices, she's really good at spotting the higher prices in "discount or outlet" stores.

Me, I don't shop the way she does, I find a good price in a sales circular, I go to the store, and buy that one item and leave.

Quote from: BUGEYE on November 09, 2011, 05:07:48 AM

luckily, books are still cheap because nobody reads anymore.

It's a shame isn't it?

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:18:45 AM »

That's interesting. We've got a garage sale coming up, and this post gives me the idea that I should double the prices I was going to charge. I'm not joking. If that's what the market will bear, why not charge it?

Old Syko · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:35:26 AM »

Bugeye, I bought a box of books at a yard sale 2 weeks ago for $5. Must be well over 100 in it. I've read 3 1/2 so far and haven't even looked through all of them yet.

Quote from: OldSchoolRanger on November 10, 2011, 02:58:16 AM

Part of the blame should go to buyers who pay more than an item is worth, this just drives prices up.

A very large part indeed. This is what I preached during the latest gun, ammo and component fiasco. Too many aren't on the ball enough to plan ahead and when it's too late they merely add to all our problems.

Quote from: Conan The Librarian on November 10, 2011, 03:18:45 AM

That's interesting. We've got a garage sale coming up, and this post gives me the idea that I should double the prices I was going to charge. I'm not joking. If that's what the market will bear, why not charge it?

Ahhh, the mentality of greed. I'll do it because I can. After all if others are getting away with it it must be the right thing to do.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:41:38 AM »

Quote from: BUGEYE on November 09, 2011, 05:07:48 AM

books are still cheap because nobody reads anymore.

Maybe that can explain why our nation is in the shape it's in today!

BUGEYE · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:52:31 AM »

Quote from: Blackhawker on November 10, 2011, 03:41:38 AM

Quote from: BUGEYE on November 09, 2011, 05:07:48 AM
books are still cheap because nobody reads anymore.

Maybe that can explain why our nation is in the shape it's in today!

could be. I'll take a good book over this computer any day.
Ga. schools no longer emphasize reading and have done away with cursive writing.
I wonder how kids will be able to read old historic documents?

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2011, 04:29:35 AM »

Book and magazine sales are enormous in this country. Reading is more popular than ever. A lot of the people who are identified as non-readers actually read a lot of material related to their professions. They just don't read conventional recreational or educational material. After a point, reading is a waste of time because it makes more sense to do and build things, or perform other creative activities. I have a lot more respect for the man who works at reloading, wood working, home repairs, disciplined target shooting, hunting, fishing, music, art, writing letters, gardening, etc than anybody who reads instead.

Americans have been brainwashed into thinking that an appreciation for literature and reading somehow makes a person superior. That's bunk. Literacy and the ability to learn are important. But reading for its own sake is mostly just for fun.

As for cursive, good riddance. It was outdated when they tried to teach it to me 50 years ago. It was a waste of time then and is an even bigger waste of time now.

Old Fart · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2011, 04:55:02 AM »

Off topic a bit, but since you guys brought it up.
I wish I had my Kindle (e-reader) back when I first started buying books.
It would have made our recent move so much easier.
I had no idea how many books I've collected over the years.

Unfortunately most will be sold at a garage sale because they are no longer appropriate to keep.
I'm thinking I'll donate most of my Engineering books to a library if they don't sell.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2011, 05:15:34 AM »

Quote from: Conan The Librarian on November 10, 2011, 04:29:35 AM

Book and magazine sales are enormous in this country. Reading is more popular than ever. A lot of the people who are identified as non-readers actually read a lot of material related to their professions. They just don't read conventional recreational or educational material. After a point, reading is a waste of time because it makes more sense to do and build things, or perform other creative activities. I have a lot more respect for the man who works at reloading, wood working, home repairs, disciplined target shooting, hunting, fishing, music, art, writing letters, gardening, etc than anybody who reads instead.

Americans have been brainwashed into thinking that an appreciation for literature and reading somehow makes a person superior. That's bunk. Literacy and the ability to learn are important. But reading for its own sake is mostly just for fun.

As for cursive, good riddance. It was outdated when they tried to teach it to me 50 years ago. It was a waste of time then and is an even bigger waste of time now.

and you're the one that suggested that I should sell my guns and quit hunting because I couldn't afford to buy one for steel shot. most of what you said here is crap.

Old Syko · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2011, 05:16:14 AM »

Around here we have used book stores that are willing to trade 2, 3, 4 or whatever to 1with no money changing hands. I buy up yard sale books for cheap and trade them either when I'm done reading them or sooner if they're something I don't care about.

Conan is right about the need to implement what you've read about in order to continue to learn. Probably 10% of my reading nowadays is to gather info and the rest is merely for my sanity.

Old Fart · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2011, 05:24:11 AM »

Thanks for the idea Old Syko.

There's a couple of them near here.
I'm sure they have something I could trade for.

mdwest · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2011, 06:14:58 AM »

Ive found that there are still great bargains to be had a yard sales, estate sales, and even the classifieds here and other places..

the difference is these days you have to exert quite a bit of patience and muddle through dozens of not so good opportunities and deals to find the one good one that is still out there.. you also have to know what it is you are looking at, and know what its real value is.. it didnt used to be that way back in the day when everything at a yard sale or flea market was typically priced cheap..

as a general rule I HATE yard sales.. mostly because I lack the required patience..

my wife on the other hand loves them.. as a result, every now and then I get drug out to go digging through other peoples "stuff"... normally I just drink coffee while she looks at everything, and ends up buying nothing..

the last two times she has talked me into this.. I have walked away with a couple of GREAT deals though..

about 3 months ago we stopped on the side of the road (werent even intending on doing yard sales.. she just saw one while we were driving and asked if we could stop) and I found a pair of hiking poles.. the aluminum expandable kind that normally go for $30-$50 each.. I had been thinking about picking one up for probably a year.. we like to hike in the mountains.. and my old knees arent what they used to be... I just couldnt get past paying $50 for a stick..

I bought both of those poles.. for a total of $5...

while I was there I also noticed a nylon gun case laying in a box of other miscellaneous "stuff".... wasnt anything super well made.. but it was in good condition.. and it looked like it would be a perfect fit for the .44 mag handi rifle I had just finished putting together for my son.. I paid $5 for the case...

walked out of the yard sale paying $10 for three fully functional items that I would have easily paid $90-$120 for new...

2 weeks ago she talked me into going to one of those "neighborhood" yard sales where 20 or 30 houses all get together and do a yard sale together.. even with the recent success under my belt.. I wasnt too excited about it.. I definately didnt want to muddle through 30 different peoples "stuff" for hours on end..

as we drove up to the first house I noticed there was a pretty nice looking compound bow sitting out front in the lawn.. I immediately got excited.. but told myself that a) they are going to want to much for it.. and b) Im a lefty.. there is no way thats a left hand bow..

I was wrong on both counts.. it was a left hand, PSE bow.. fitted out with nice sights, dampeners, counterweight, a forearm protector, quiver, etc.. it was 2 years old and had almost no wear on it.. the owner had just gotten something new that he liked better and was letting his wife sell it..

I paid $40 and went home with my new toy.. I didnt even bother to try to do the garage sale haggle with them.. I am sure they would have sold it for alot less.. but I recognized the good deal and was more than happy to pay the initial asking price..

mdwest · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2011, 06:16:52 AM »

Quote from: Old Syko on November 10, 2011, 05:16:14 AM

Around here we have used book stores that are willing to trade 2, 3, 4 or whatever to 1with no money changing hands. I buy up yard sale books for cheap and trade them either when I'm done reading them or sooner if they're something I don't care about.

we have a huge used book store near here that does the same thing..

I hadnt thought about snatching up garage sale books and using them for trade in value though.. thats a great idea!

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #18 on:** November 10, 2011, 06:44:07 AM »

Another option is the Guttenberg Project books. They've scanned a huge number of public domain books (like most of the classics) into e-book form. You can download them and read them for free if you have an e-reader. There's also a lot of free material at books.google.com.

Old Syko · « **Reply #19 on:** November 10, 2011, 07:00:01 AM »

Yard sale bargains are still out there if ya don't mind diggin through all the crap which I hate. I bought a nice slightly used 16" bandsaw a couple years ago for $40. My wife just picked up a new in box 8 place setting dinnerware set for $10 with a tag that was marked $149. My problem is with folks who ask new price for items that are no longer new.

I love to have a yard sale and have done it 3 times. Things are marked cheap and hardly nothing is left over at the end of the day. Anything that is goes straight to Goodwill.

Yep there's a lot of free books available on the web and I read some once in a while but it just isn't as convenient or satisfying for me.

spikehorn · « **Reply #20 on:** November 10, 2011, 08:44:15 AM »

At least on the classifieds here if its priced high it just sits there. There was a gentleman here that had an add and I made him an offer he said no to my ofeer and i found another item I wanted. his last reduction was less than my offer.

ratdog · « **Reply #21 on:** November 10, 2011, 11:12:30 AM »

lets face it the dollar isn't worth much every body seems to try to rip each other off. placed a ad on gb didn't relize that to ship dang barrel cost 30.00 dallars you don't make much.to send a gun in for a new barrel will cost you 150 dollars plus shipping. barrels cost alot more other places but won't pay that ill buy a used complete gun.my house value has droped aleast 40 thousand and they raise my property tax i am really pissed. i am paying for a dieing horse.sorry guys i know you fill the same way just venting.