I am confused....

[littlebiglane]

...and the housing market, and the art market, and....

And the financial market......

ouch...you just added to your list above and robbed me of punchline

 

[sapper1]

Surely if someone is prepared to pay me £10 for something I have then it really doesn't matter how much it is worth or cost.
That person thinks it's worth £10 and are happy to pay for it so it is now definitely worth£10 ,no more and no less.

 

[Martyn]

LOL - now we know how much trouble we are all in because of unchecked freemarket capitalism! Sub-prime mortgage anyone?

We'd be in a helluva lot more trouble if everything was price-fixed.

 

[Martyn]

Surely if someone is prepared to pay me £10 for something I have then it really doesn't matter how much it is worth or cost.
That person thinks it's worth £10 and are happy to pay for it so it is now definitely worth£10 ,no more and no less.

eggggsakerley.

Making a profit through trade is not a crime or even ethically questionable, it's the economic foundation of our species and the reason we all live so comfortably. If you dont agree with that model, then I'm sure China or North Korea would welcome you.

 

[littlebiglane]

We'd be in a helluva lot more trouble if everything was price-fixed.

Now we're talking!

 

[littlebiglane]

eggggsakerley.

Making a profit through trade is not a crime or even ethically questionable, it's the economic foundation of our species and the reason we all live so comfortably. If you dont agree with that model, then I'm sure China or North Korea would welcome you.

I don't think making a profit through trade is morally questionable but I would say that making a profit at the expense of people's health, happiness and liberty might be....After all I think there is enough demand in the world from kids to feed them as many sweets that will make them fat and sick. And good money to be made out of supplying it. Whether that's a good thing peddling obesity to people who don't know any better for shareholder value is entirely another......

Oh yes..."the economic foundation of our species"?......it IS the reason why massive sections of our society DO NOT live comfortably.

 

[Dougster]

...as an aside. I watched a presentation today which included a picture of an American college kid with a laptop on which was typed:

'This laptop costs more than most of the people on the planet earn in a year.'

Who gives a stuff over that extra tenner?

 

[JonathanD]

Sorry, I think I was misunderstood. I was referring to my own personal ethic when selling. Ethic as in 'closely held value' and not necessarily moral stance. What I personally see as fair action on my part and what I use as a broad starting point when I sell something. I was not commenting on ethics in general. Indeed I have not opinioned what other people should do (the market, as you have stated, decides) but have purposely steered away from what others should do. I hope you don't mind me clarifying what I said.

I have also made caveat to such items that have a more special value - I would include custom knives in this - where the uniqueness, skill and often the dissproprortionate hours (to amass the skill or) to make the item AND the intrinsic value or demand of the item means it should be an exception when pricing it. I would extend that to other bespoke items requiring skill and ingenuity. For example....some of the knives you own and sell.

Sorry if I did not explain myself well.

As far as the person's right (as a seller) to ask whatever price they wish then I cannot disagree with that as a fact. If everyones judgement (both seller and buyer) was perfect then the right deal for the seller and the right deal for the buyer would be instantly struck. Alas none of us are blessed with perfection, so sometimes there is a minor niggle on price. I think when it comes to pricing it is good to have a seller that sees it as partly their responsibility to price things fairly and keep within the spirit of this site. I have not recently seen evidence of anyone who hasn't.



LBL

My apologies for getting it **** end about

 

[littlebiglane]

My apologies for getting it **** end about

 

[demographic]

Don't buy it if you think its too expensive.

I won't charge you for that advice, its for free

 

[kimbo]

Don't buy it if you think its too expensive.

I won't charge you for that advice, its for free

that's all well and good but what's it worth????

 

[JonathanD]

that's all well and good but what's it worth????

Nothing to me, I already knew I didn't have too

 

[demographic]

that's all well and good but what's it worth????

If people paid extra money for "Worth" Rolls Royce cars would go out of business and Clippers would be more expensive.

 

[rik_uk3]

There was a thread on another forum about postage costs, rip off sellers etc especially on eBay, but as others here have said, if you don't like the price don't bid or buy, its that simple.

 

[Martyn]

There was a thread on another forum about postage costs, rip off sellers etc especially on eBay, but as others here have said, if you don't like the price don't bid or buy, its that simple.

...and if you do like the price, then go ahead and buy it. Freedom to choose in the free market economy is the economic definition of democracy. Any attempt to control economic contracts between individuals, is an assault on free will. And I totally agree Rich, it really is that simple.

 

[Mikey P]

This whole thread is pointless. An item is worth its market value, ie, what someone is prepared to pay for it. This market force operates regardless of moral and ethical values. End of argument.

 

[Tadpole]

Good question. These are my 'personal' ethics/rules for selling items - it works for me and I have sold plenty of kit over the years:

If I had bought something new and then want to sell it (in new condition) then I expect to be able to sell it in the region of 60 - 40 % of the new price. It does not matter if its a day or a year and a day since I bought it. Its essentially second hand but 'as new'...but its still second hand.

There are two exceptions to this I have found.

1) Custom knives and artisan-made products of limited or unique existence.

2) If I have bought something second-hand (as new) and am selling it third-hand (as new) I often think the initial retailer mark-up/profit margin has been removed in the first 'cycle' of the sale so I might expect that item to still sell at 60 - 40 % of its new value but will be prepared to negotiate down off of this if the item is not budging.

At the end of the day......all things will sell at the right price. The right price will be what the buyer perceives its value to be...not the seller.......

Anyway...these are my humble thoughts.....

LBL

In 1904 my house cost £104 3shilling and 4 pence halfpenny, its had 6 owners, so what do you say £60 would be a fair second (seventh hand) price?

 

[littlebiglane]

Okay. I apologise. You're all right. And I have been responsible for making this thread pointless.

 

[Mikey P]

I'll give you a quid for it!

 

[Wayland]

Caveat emptor.....