"Marketplace Etiquette" Topic

I buy (and rarely sell) items in the marketplace and find that for the most part it's a really great place and a great service being offered by Bill. However, there's a few things I've seen that cause me concern.

Is it poor form to call out people asking ridiculous prices on the Market Place? I see more than one item right now where I know for a fact that you can buy the item being offered for sale new for less money than is being asked. I've resisted posting to that effect as I don't want to be 'that guy' but at the same time, I don't want my fellow TMPers overpaying for something because a seller is trying to make a killing.

If you see something like that, do you shake your head and keep your opinion to yourself, or call it out?

What's the consensus?

Oops, it posted twice. Sorry.

Call it out I would say… the hobby suffers enough already from strange attitudes, surely we should try to have each others backs when it come sto sharp practice… no puns intended.
When books are offered at ridiculous prices on some sites, one can always check against other sites, with figures, scenery etc it is not so easy.. soooo… call it out!

Some people's perceived value of an item and reality are strangely different. I've seen people pay for space at the club swap meet and then insist a beat up rule book is worth $50 USD just becuase it was 30 years old. I've seen the same rule books in great condition go for $5 USD at a con auction. I try to do a couple minutes of research before buying or selling. If it's outrageous you can casually mention it. No point being a jerk though. What I find to be an issue is shipping. I spent $25 USD shipping something I sold for $80 USD with shipping included! Should have done my research on that one!

Just say you are interested. But the price is a bit too high for you. Make him an offer. Much lower than you'd pay. And then the "haggling" could begin. Just like buying a car, etc. … All he can say in No, but that means No sale for him.

Of course if you are not interested. Just annoyed by the high price. Well you could mention to him that seems a bit high. However, he may be looking for a buyer that will pay that price. The price of anything is what the market will bear …

Like $2,000 USD Super Bowl tickets … some are obviously willing to pay that high a price.

Same item posts every few weeks, gets no comments, and has no price reduction.

I've been doing e-bay items and will post when the sale begins and near the end. If an item does not sell I will reduce the opening bid and try again.

One could always exploit the exorbitant pricing of the seller by posting the same thing, (or something similar) at a reduced price. If you catch their ad at the right time yours would show up right below it. :D

If a person is interested in purchasing the item, go ahead and close the deal.

If a person is interested in purchasing the item but finds the offering price to be too high, either move on or contact the seller with a counter offer.

If a person is not interested in purchasing the item, move on.

The only excuse I would condone for third party involvement would be an erroneous or false description, stolen or pirated merchandise, etc. I see no need for a third party to set the prices a manufacturer's product, a painter's services, or a flea market/market place sale. I actually find it to be offensive that a person would presume to see themselves as that important to do so.

Terrement and ZOC: +1.

Tim…best to contact a person via PM or Email and let him know why. I think the vast majority of us are good traders and sellers and may make the occasional mistake, so best to be a bit diplomatic at first.

If that fails and you get a rude response, then maybe say something in public.

If this is truly a community offering the benefits of a proper community then I'd say give the seller the benefit of the doubt and PM him, bringing to his attention the case.

If he insists in the hope of exploiting a member of the community then I'd make it public to protect the community from exploitation

ZOC +1

We aren't talking about bread or salt here.

It is impossible to exploit someone over a leisure hobby, and it always grates on my nerves when some self-appointed price monitor chimes in on a product that they have absolutely no intention to buy.

I think part of the problem is ranges change hands so much that they may now know there is a source for things today.

I am with Zoneofcontrol on this. Buyers can do their research and check what is a reasonable price. If they do not do that, then it's their own fault if they pay over the odds. I have offered stuff on Ebay and been amazed at what some people will pay, often more than new price for a used item. On the other hand, it's a pain when you get half of what an item is worth. Swings and roundabouts

While I agree with in large part – I also think we are a smaller hobby community – helping each other is a good thing – not that I want to become a price warden.

A simple note I would appreciate if I were a seller – if we have someone taking advantage on purpose – Then Agree with Andrew and Panda.

Buyer beware – Community beware

I asked because I genuinely wanted to know how people felt. I appreciate the responses. If the general consensus is that it's being a busy body, then I will reach out if it bothers me that much (privately, via PM). If I want an item but I think it's too expensive, I always haggle, so that won't change.

It just bugs me when someone is selling something you can buy right now at a store brand new for $20 USD less or worse than someone is trying to resell here. I know, Caveat Emptor. On a site where folks are generally really good to one another, however, that strikes me as really bad form.

I've personally never been ripped off or even mistreated on our Marketplace. Everyone I've traded with (buying or selling) has been incredibly first rate. People like Andrew are case in point- he's a great seller!

Just a thought, would you tell someone if they were drastically underpriced?

People can charge what they like, someone may be prepared to pay silly money. It's nobody's business but the buyers. If you were selling a car or suchlike through the classified ads in the local paper, you wouldn't appreciate a phone call from a stranger to give you their opinion on its price.

Bill- actually, yes, and I have, privately, through PM.

I have too.

It is impossible to exploit someone over a leisure hobby,

Well while I can see your point I think that's debatable.

There's a lot of new comers to the hobby and without the networking, knowledge, and experience that this community could and should offer I think it could be very easy to exploit a young newcomer and what a nice introduction that could be.

Even then, there's a situation where an item could be overpriced unintentionally; Perhaps the seller isn't aware that his out of production mini is now re-released.

I've been in a situation recently where a product (miniatures line) which was out of production is now been made by someone else. I was extremely close to buying the older line on eBay when I unintentionally found a British manufacturer/supplier (actually helping search for a Father Brown mini for a guy here on TMP) and saved a bundle (even with a more expensive P&P)

If I was selling a product I thought was rare or difficult to find and had priced accordingly I'd prefer if someone warned me that it was easily available at half the price on a popular store. I'd personally be very grateful for the heads up. I won't want to be fleecing someone even unintentionally…apart from the fact that my reputation might be harmed by what was popular knowledge to others.

In the end I think there's a right way and a wrong way of going about something. I know the busy-body type that seems to thrive on getting involved and mud slinging about the price of something. I think its clear the OP is not attempting to do anything like this. I still think a PM in the direction of the seller is a good idea.

In the context of community, communication is paramount and its mean function. Why should we be not in favour of positive communication?

Just a thought, would you tell someone if they were drastically underpriced?

I'd like to think the community as a whole would be in favour of letting the guy know

Personally I find the Marketplace more annoying than anything lately. Bill used to use a firm hand and had rules for it – now it's a free-for-all. Used to be, you couldn't use it if you were a business. Now, half the posts are businesses. Used to be, you had to post everything you were selling in one post, now people post ten things in ten posts. Now get off my lawn, ya darn kids!

I don't list things unless I really want to get rid of them, and then I try to price them to sell. So, I'd guess my prices tend to the low end. I've never bothered to tell anyone their stuff is overpriced--my assumption is that it won't sell, and they'll figure it out. Or not.

Would I comment if I felt their stuff was massively overpriced or underpriced, not just high-ish or low-ish? Well, maybe--particularly if it were underpriced.

Grelber

I have posted here and on Ebay to help sellers identify miniatures when they were unaware of what they had or who it was manufactured by.

I have also on Ebay notified sellers apparently unaware of what they were selling and real world pricing what current price ranges typically are. Some respond and others ignore.

If someone who appears to know his figures and the normal market wants to repeatedly post a collection at what is apparently though of as too high a price, that is his call.

Have not seen any particularly egregious examples myself in the marketplace, but don't look at every posting.

I currently seeing sellers on Ebay asking 150 percent of current retail for currently produced miniatures. The sellers have a lot of feedback and apparently know what they are doing, so I haven't contacted them.

Actually, just yesterday I saw a retailer with a storefront on Ebay charging about two thirds of retail for a couple of Mighty Armies base armies while charging one and third times retail for one of the component elements and 4 times retail for another one of the elements. They also had a bunch of old Minifig blister packs up with some of the listings calling them Heritage Miniatures. I'll let them sink or swim on their own.

I would not say anything because:
1. I do not want to start policing the marketplace.
2. If am a buyer I do my research first before I make an offer to purchase. It should be assumed that all buyers do the same. If they are too lazy to do that, maybe it is easier for them to buy using this method, even though the price is higher.
3. I do not want to offend anyone by telling them they are over charging or under charging. Since I have been on TMP I have seen a large number of users that are very sensitive to any little thing. So I don't want to jump into that pool. Hey – someone may get offended now just about me mentioning that people get offended.

+ lots Sundance

If you're not interested in buying the item, leave it alone. Not your business. Let the market decide.

+1 for Sundance from me, too.

Of course online buying in many cases demonstrates the old adage : " Let the buyer beware. "