Thoughts on buying and selling

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I have often noted in the buy/sell forums people panicking if their item for sale doesnt attract interest in a few days after posting.

I always look at it this way. There are always two prices levels that an item for sale for could sell at.

First is the price that someone would pay if they were already planning to buy that item, and second is a price that someone would buy it at because its too good a bargain to pass up and so they then justify to themselves a reason for having it.

The fact is that there isnt always someone planning to buy widgetXYZ right at the time you are wanting to sell yours.
My advice is if you have patience to wait for a buyer, you can usually get a good return.

I have sold a 27mm panoptic, and an ED80. I set what I considered to be a fair price, and in both cases had to wait about a week for a firm buyer. Such expensive items often have potential buyers pondering their decisions for a while anyway. Clearance prices are another matter and of course will attract buyers quickly.

In short, dont panic !!

[iceman (Mike)]

Good thoughts, Geoff.

I guess the more specialist or the more expensive the item, the more patient you'll have to be. I'd consider a 3.5mm eyepiece fairly specialist, which means a buyer won't come along very often unless a) they were in the market for the item already, or b) it's offered at bargain basement prices.

I've had mixed results with my sales, some have gone very quickly, others not at all (the tamrac camera bag), which was expected, because it was a specialist item.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I heartily agree with the above statements...

The Laws of Supply and Demand will always come into play...and since I believe that most of our "specialist" gear has fairly inelastic demand curves you will likely see behavior described as above...few unexpected buyers and steep discounts to create additional demand

I would counsel patience for sellers (because I am not in the market for anything at the moment...if I was then I would be urging "panic" to encourage a better price )

Cheers!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Agree Geoff. Even my as new 13mm T6 which you'd think is a high demand EP took a couple of weeks to sell at 3/4 retail price.

Perhaps it's worth mentioning at this point that there are also those who will never sell anything because they cannot exercise a bit of objectivity when setting the price. Only thinking of their loss, the difference between what they paid and what they are selling for, they set the price as close to new as possible e.g.: I just bought this thing last month for $800, it's still practically brand new, so it's still worth $800, but I'll let it go for $750.

You have got to ask yourself whether you would consider buying the item second hand at the price you're asking people to pay. If something is second hand and no more than around 10-15% off retail, I'd rather pay the little extra for a brand new item (along with the dealer support).

[iceman (Mike)]

Originally Posted by janos

If something is second hand and no more than around 10-15% off retail, I'd rather pay the little extra for a brand new item (along with the dealer support).

True dat, especially since you can sometimes swing 5-10% off goods if you do a bit of haggling.

[h0ughy (David)]

It realy depends if you want to move the item quickly, due to an existing spur of the moment purchase by yourself to start with, but I have had items on there that have dust on them and are archived now. Wonder what Striker thinks Eh!

[Starkler (Geoff)]

On a different note, I wish that those red-hot bargains that come up from time to time didn't always appear during the day, when most people (like me) are working and cant always monitor IIS

[GrahamL]

so do you have another 27 mm panoptic for sale starkler ?

[Dujon]

Hello, Starkler, I have a dreadful feeling that you might be referring to my withdrawn offer. I'm not arguing if you are.

In that case I made the offer of some rechargeable batteries and withdrew it a day or so later. I had a reason; I was heading off to a local 'flea market' being run by my local amateur radio club but, though not expecting much interest, decided to give those here first dibs. To give myself time to organise the goods for that event I then withdrew the offer.

As it transpired I couldn't make the event - *sighs* - nor did I get them totally catalogued or sorted. I'll put them up again when I've managed to complete the exercise.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

John, I don't thing this thread anything to do with your battery sale. Think of all the people who have ever put anything up for sale in B&S thinking that Geoff must be talking about them. I know I am.

[Dujon]

True, Steve, but I was born paranoid and intend to remain so. It's safer for the ego.

Cheers,

Dujon, the perennial pessimist.

[Striker (Tony)]

I like to give a good price when selling because I know I wouldn't buy anything second hand if their was only a saving to be made of 10-15%

So I am happy to sell for what I would purchase something for second hand.

I personaly think some of the items sold here are way over priced and virtualy the same price as you can purchase them new but all the best for those sale and good luck.

BTW anyone interested in a Brand new Intes 5" Mak-Newt F6....I have one on its way brand new from Canada.....I probably don't have any use for it so if anyone is interested let me know....sorry Geoff...thought I would get a plug in while had the opportunity.

Stop laughing Gary...I can hear you.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Think of all the people who have ever put anything up for sale in B&S thinking that Geoff must be talking about them. I know I am.

Only the ones who posted bargains that I wanted and missed out on
I dont have anyone in particular in mind

EDIT: Tony I might be interested in the mak-newt

[Harpspitfire]

i havent been to crazy about the deals lately, but as far as wqupiment like a scope goes, id rather spend the few extra dollars and get it new anymore- the last epsiode was 2" astrotech diagonal i got used for my SCT, it was listed 'as new' and thought id save $15 stinkin dollars- when i got it the 1.25 adaptor wasnt with it- the guy said it wasnt included- thats sucked- thats part of the 'as new' as far as im concerned-- that and the fact im missing and end cap because of this- so it will actually cost me more now

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Striker

I like to give a good price when selling because I know I wouldn't buy anything second hand if their was only a saving to be made of 10-15%

So I am happy to sell for what I would purchase something for second hand.

I personaly think some of the items sold here are way over priced and virtualy the same price as you can purchase them new but all the best for those sale and good luck.

BTW anyone interested in a Brand new Intes 5" Mak-Newt F6....I have one on its way brand new from Canada.....I probably don't have any use for it so if anyone is interested let me know....sorry Geoff...thought I would get a plug in while had the opportunity.

Stop laughing Gary...I can hear you.

SO how much was it, do you offer free steak knives

did you buy that before the RC tony?

[ving (David)]

its all common sense really folks... thanks for pointing it all out tho geoff, sometimes things like this need to be pointed out

heres a hint, make it free and it'll go like tha clappers!

[GrahamL]

pm sent on the batteries dujon...nothing wrong with paranoid

I used to think I was paranoid .. but now realise... its just everyone is always out to get me

[matt]

I have often noted people confusing the desire for a quick sale for "panic".