Sellers on IIS

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

I have noted that there are some IIS members who seen to be regular sellers of astronomical equipment (no names mentioned), yet they are not declared dealers.
I have no objection to their doing so, in fact I have made some great buys off these members in the past.
My question is, do they have some special inside arrangements to access a treasure trove of stuff to sell, (if so I want to know where!) - or do they just frequently turn over their gear?

As one who almost never sells anything I am just curious.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi John,

I have noticed the same thing, people who seem to be always selling some high end scope, or even a cheapie, who seem like they wouldnt own that or somehow are selling on behalf of someone else or perhaps some shop somewhere (alledgedly).

Its only my observation of the frequency and range of equipment that is always "near new" or bought x months ago and never used. If these items were bought to test out, considering their high turn over rate, wouldnt the seller be burning money? The items are never full retail price....seems silly and suspect to me.

I'm not denying some items are attractive to buy at reduced prices, yet it always feels like some people are conducting businesses here without declaring themselves doing so (in violation of the T&C's?). I know of others who are completely up front about their affiliation and have it in their signature (but dont ever sell their wares here)....

I have brought my suspicions to the attention of the moderators once or twice, but they assure me that it all checks out, and I believe them.

Still doesnt stop me from wondering why and how often some people buy thousands of $$$$$ of telescope equipment and then immediately offload it?

hmmmm, makes you wonder....

Cheers

Chris

[renormalised (Carl)]

I wonder that sometimes too, Chris. What really gets me is where are they getting all the money from to buy this equipment!!!. Like, how often can you put your hands on the money to buy an EdgeHD scope...of any size!!!!. Or, a top of the line CCD camera. What's more, unless you have some arrangement to test out equipment for some store/organisation, why would you want to part with good gear like that anyway???!!!. Not after a few weeks!!!. Geez, if I could get my hands on a 14" EdgeHD or Meade ACF, and a FLI Proline or SBIG camera of any decent size, I'd lock it up and throw away the key so far as selling it goes!!!!. You have to wonder about it, though. Pointless to buy something one week only to sell it off the next because you've "changed your mind"??!!.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Some people are just very fortunate, I guess.

H

[multiweb (Marc)]

Some compulsive buyers I reckon. More interested in buying and selling than actually using the stuff?

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Dont get me wrong, it benefits the buyers here who pick up a bargain or two.....

Something just doesnt seem right about it sometimes....ebayaholic or not....

Cheers

Chris

[bartman (Bart)]

I must admit it has crossed my mind as well. I see some sellers selling stuff bit by bit over a period of time.
And yes H, some are fortunate, and that does give us an opportunity to have a bit of their fortune.
Let sleeping dogs lie?

[Ric]

I just wish I could be able to afford one of those CCD cameras that pop up from time to time.

Always just out of my price range.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Yeah, there's been some beauties turn up in the classifieds.

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Some compulsive buyers I reckon. More interested in buying and selling than actually using the stuff?

I think the government should do something to help this minority group.

Maybe have a licensing system for everyone to be able buy and sell anything, that way they can keep track of the shopaholics and protect them from themselves, maybe a pre-commit limit attached to it.

[Saturn%5 (Graeme)]

As long as they keep selling i will be happy, In the market for a complete new set up very soon.

[iceman (Mike)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Some compulsive buyers I reckon. More interested in buying and selling than actually using the stuff?

This is quite true I think. Some people love the technical/equipment aspect of the hobby rather than actually using it.

And some people buy things on special, get "extras", and then sell the extras.

Chris is right, it has been raised a few times and I've checked it out and its legit. There's no 'dealers' acting in this way.

[GrahamL]

I've lost out over $1000 buying and selling on high end eyepieces over the years, I've even bought and sold orthos twice because I don't like the eye relief

In light of recent events here I'd be more concerned about the number of times an item has been sold or if it exists at all rather than any long standing member selling on fairly new gear , I can think of a mod here
who in a past life likely got x-mass cards from the freight companies the amount of gear they'd regularly move on

[5ash (Philip)]

I have observed some notable members consistently selling/reselling quite expensive gear , and by this means improving their equipment over a number of years . Good luck to them , in many cases it is the only way to afford high end equipment. Only wish I had the gumption to follow their lead.
Philip

[Jules76 (Julian)]

If it's not against the T&C's, I don't see the big fuss. Besides, it means more bargains for those who can't afford to pay retail.

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

Originally Posted by Jules76

If it's not against the T&C's, I don't see the big fuss. Besides, it means more bargains for those who can't afford to pay retail.

There is no fuss Julian, I was just curious to know if there is a great treasure trove of gear out there that I do not know about!

There is so much good gear out there at decent prices these days, I agree that these members are only doing a good service if they are acting as conduits to move stuff on.

Todays generation do not know how lucky they are. Back when I was 16 I had worked for two years to save the $150 to buy my Royal Astro 3" refractor (2nd hand at that)!

[AstralTraveller (David)]

One regular saleman has told me how much he has lost selling near-new stuff second hand. Yet I notice he still does it.

Originally Posted by 5ash

I have observed some notable members consistently selling/reselling quite expensive gear , and by this means improving their equipment over a number of years . Good luck to them , in many cases it is the only way to afford high end equipment. Only wish I had the gumption to follow their lead.
Philip

I think the most cost-effective way to improve equipment is to buy quality and buy it once. You may have to wait but you won't lose money on the resale as you incrementally step up and you won't want to replace what you have. When I upgraded my ep collection (from the stuff I had in the 70s) I worked out what I wanted and checked the classifieds several times every day. Eventually most of what I wanted appeared and I got good-as-new for ca. 75% of new price.

[Hagar (Doug)]

I for one am a fairly regular seller on this site and can assure you I am not a dealer, at least not yet. I usually buy new gear only to find for one reason or another that it doesn't suit the use I wish to put it to so thus another sale. I would have thought that everyone would be jhappy with the huge amount of gear that is for sale on the site and the often rediculously low price a lot of it gets sold for.
Most of the gear I sell is near new and priced at well below market price just to move it on.

Should at some stage I become a dealer you can rest assured the prices I am selling at will jump quite some and I will also inform everyone of my status.

Keep gear moving everyone. I for one appreciate the low prices.

I still maintain a dealers forum on the site would be a welcomed addition where deallers can offer gear at special prices and let us all know about new gear. I see absolutely nothing wrong with deallers providing some service on the site. Some already advertise on the site, possibly for a fee or maybe not but a service to us all is just another bonus of belonging to a community like this.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Would you rather someone sell their high-end gear here, available to all at a lower price, or that they trade it in and the dealer makes the profit when they re-sell it?

Most Astro companies don't take trade-ins anyway, so they have to be sold privately.
And I know of no 2nd hand Astro shops.

Let em sell as much as they want in here. It ends up helping us

Yeah, I agree with Doug. A Dealers section would be good

[richardda1st (Richard)]

[QUOTE=Hagar;

I still maintain a dealers forum on the site would be a welcomed addition where deallers can offer gear at special prices and let us all know about new gear. I see absolutely nothing wrong with deallers providing some service on the site. Some already advertise on the site, possibly for a fee or maybe not but a service to us all is just another bonus of belonging to a community like this.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that Doug, I was going to say the same thing. What's wrong with dealers selling on IIS?