I am gonna vent

[ullmandds]

it kinda sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too! It's ok if you get a really good deal on a bin on ebay...but someone else is not entitled to get a good deal from you?

Personally...I hate the old "make me an offer!"

It's your card...you know what you paid for it...price it!

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

it kinda sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too! It's ok if you get a really good deal on a bin on ebay...but someone else is not entitled to get a good deal from you?

Personally...I hate the old "make me an offer!"

It's your card...you know what you paid for it...price it!

If you are selling something, I can't imagine a legitimate reason to ask for an offer in direct negotiations. Make an offer to sell and see what the reaction is. (Obviously if you accept offers on ebay that's a different deal.)

It's sort of like everyone is trying to see if the other side is a rube with no clue.

[bobbyw8469]

Great points. I agree with them. I have nothing to add.

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I may or may not agree with you on your first point, depending on the circumstances. If you're offering something for sale, it's your responsibility as the seller to throw out the first number. If you've done that and the potential buyer asks, "What is your best offer?" then I can understand your point. If you throw out the first number, then he ball is in their court to counteroffer. However, if you list something without a price and you're just fishing for offers, then shame on you.

On the second point I agree with you.

Originally Posted by ullmandds

it kinda sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too! It's ok if you get a really good deal on a bin on ebay...but someone else is not entitled to get a good deal from you?

Personally...I hate the old "make me an offer!"

It's your card...you know what you paid for it...price it!

Make an offer is referring to BEST OFFER on ebay.

[bigfish]

Originally Posted by EYECOLLECTVINTAGE

Make an offer is referring to BEST OFFER on ebay.

If you're disenchanted with getting offers don't offer that as an option on eBay. List a fixed price. Problem solved.

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by bigfish

If you're disenchanted with getting offers don't offer that as an option on eBay. List a fixed price. Problem solved.

Honestly, I never thought of that. Thanks for the advice I will look into that

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by EYECOLLECTVINTAGE

Honestly, I never thought of that. Thanks for the advice I will look into that

So you buy something as a BIN and it never occurred to you to sell it as a BIN.

[packs]

I absolutely hate hearing some dealer at a card show tell me what they have into a card when I ask about the price. Why do I care what you paid for something? If you made a bad buy, don't even bother putting it out. I'm not going to pay $200 more for a card because you did.

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

So you buy something as a BIN and it never occurred to you to sell it as a BIN.

yea cause I wasn't messing with him

Originally Posted by packs

I absolutely hate hearing some dealer at a card show tell me what they have into a card when I ask about the price. Why do I care what you paid for something? If you made a bad buy, don't even bother putting it out. I'm not going to pay $200 more for a card because you did.

+1111

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by packs

I absolutely hate hearing some dealer at a card show tell me what they have into a card when I ask about the price. Why do I care what you paid for something? If you made a bad buy, don't even bother putting it out. I'm not going to pay $200 more for a card because you did.

Agree. I understand the psychology of it, because a dealer who buys something for resale will likely do so with a profit margin in mind, but sometimes a seller misjudges the market and what they "have into it" isn't relevant to a prospective purchaser. I realize that market prices for some (particularly less common) items may not be readily apparent, but there are dealers who will hang on to an item seemingly forever because of what they "have into it." Of course, it's perfectly within their rights to do so and if an item isn't available at a price that suits the buyer, then it's best to just move on.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by packs

I absolutely hate hearing some dealer at a card show tell me what they have into a card when I ask about the price. Why do I care what you paid for something? If you made a bad buy, don't even bother putting it out. I'm not going to pay $200 more for a card because you did.

I'm not sure I believe most who tell me what they're into something they're selling any way. And even if it is the truth it does not affect what I'm willing to pay.

To the OPs post it should be the seller's responsibility to list a starting price. Listings with no asking prices are one of my pet peeves around here. Asking someone to negotiate against themself is equally ridiculous. If a price is set make an offer.

I do like Jake's note on his listings that any inquiry asking what's the lowest price you will take will be met with what's the most you will pay.

[Batpig]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

it kinda sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too! It's ok if you get a really good deal on a bin on ebay...but someone else is not entitled to get a good deal from you?

Personally...I hate the old "make me an offer!"

It's your card...you know what you paid for it...price it!

I hate this saying. What the heck is the point of having the cake if you can't eat it? I know the point is you can't eat the cake and still have it, but the phrasing is still annoying. For an alternative, I suggest "You can't sit in two chairs with one butt." Or maybe a more appropriate alternative for this situation is "You can't keep your card and sell it too."

Carry on.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Batpig

I hate this saying. What the heck is the point of having the cake if you can't eat it? I know the point is you can't eat the cake and still have it, but the phrasing is still annoying. For an alternative, I suggest "You can't sit in two chairs with one butt." Or maybe a more appropriate alternative for this situation is "You can't keep your card and sell it too."

Carry on.

that's funny...as I was typing it I was kinda thinking the same thing!!!!!

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Batpig

I hate this saying. What the heck is the point of having the cake if you can't eat it? I know the point is you can't eat the cake and still have it, but the phrasing is still annoying. For an alternative, I suggest "You can't sit in two chairs with one butt." Or maybe a more appropriate alternative for this situation is "You can't keep your card and sell it too."

Carry on.

Original statement was "you can't eat your cake and have it to"

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

Original statement was "you can't eat your cake and have it to"

In the recent miniseries about how the FBI finally tracked down the Unabomber, that phrase took a front seat in the examinations and comparisons of text/writings in the case. I was laughing because I always hated the way the phrase is generally said (wrongly) in our country, "You can't have your cake and eat it too," and one of the things that led them to Kaczynski was his repeated use of the 'correct' wording of the phrase. Fascinating stuff.

[OsFan]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

In the recent miniseries about how the FBI finally tracked down the Unabomber, that phrase took a front seat in the examinations and comparisons of text/writings in the case. I was laughing because I always hated the way the phrase is generally said (wrongly) in our country, "You can't have your cake and eat it too," and one of the things that led them to Kaczynski was his repeated use of the 'correct' wording of the phrase. Fascinating stuff.

Just finished that show last night on Netflix. Quality show. Lead character was a bit lacking in my opinion, still a fine show. I think Mindhunter one-ups it however. Also on Netflix.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

Original statement was "you can't eat your cake and have it to"

have it to what? To hold? To eat again? To smash in someone's face? I need to know

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

have it to what? To hold? To eat again? To smash in someone's face? I need to know

If you have cake, you can end a sentence in a preposition.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

If you have cake, you can end a sentence in a preposition.

Actually, you would be ending it in an adverb (assuming you meant "too" and not "to", that is).
/thread derail

[pbspelly]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I feel that what a seller previously paid for a card is relevant. Unless you're using them as fuel to heat your home, cards don't have value independent of what people are wiling to pay for them. So what someone previously paid for a card helps set the value. If I want a card, I may be willing to pay above market, but no one wants to feel like they're getting fleeced.

Also, providing the seller with information about what comparable cards have sold for doesn't seem wrong to me. Maybe the seller doesn't know that his price is unlikely to be met. I'll do that on eBay sometimes, simply let someone know that the going price for something is such and such, that I'll give them a bit more than that, but that they're free to try and sell it for more if they want to.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

If you have cake, you can end a sentence in a preposition.

"Where are you at?"

"Don't end sentences in a preposition."

"OK: where are you at, jackass?"

On the OP, I agree w/r/t eBay listings with a Best Offer. My opening price is my offer, so I am soliciting actual offers, not requests to revise my offer. Not something to get bent out of shape about, though. The world is full of trolls, so just politely tell them to make an offer and you will consider it. Also, make sure you put a floor on your best offer by automatically rejecting anything below a specific level. It will weed out the bottom feeders. Eventually these trolls quit or make an actual offer. I had one of these perpetual tire-kickers who finally made an offer and it was more than I'd have accepted for the item, so you never know. Sometimes they will dust the cobwebs off their wallets and step up.

I also hate that "what's the best you can do" inquiry. It is one of those down-home-isms that creeps into commercial language because it feels less confrontational than asking a more direct question. Marty (hi Marty) has the best response: The best I can do is my listed price. Instead of that silly question I now ask "what is the absolute lowest price you will sell this for?" It is more direct and sort of rude but at least it is honest. Yes, I am aware that I end the sentence in a preposition; saying "for which you will sell this item" sounds like I am having tea with the queen.

I also agree that the "you paid this" tactic is annoying. It is also a bad negotiation technique. If I know what you paid and when you bought something, why would I let you know that I know? Divulging information about your strategy or resources gratuitously gives your opponent potentially useful data in countering you. The better strategy would be to offer something reasonable without explaining it. Account for the low price the seller paid to tempt the seller to accept and generate a quick profit. If I see a dealer pay $250 for a $1000 card I may offer him $750 to sell it immediately. I get a substantial discount to market and I put him into a quandary. A smart trader understands that a quick flip at a good profit and putting that money back to work is often a better strategy than sitting on inventory hoping for a top price buyer. I know I consider how much I paid and how long I held an item when I try to sell it. I learned that watching Alan Rosen in action at a show in San Francisco in the 1980s. He bought a great collection of 1950s cards for $5400 and within hours wholesaled pieces of the deal to other dealers. He didn't retail the cards to eke out top prices over the course of a year, he got in and got out and put the money back to work. Of course, that assumes you have the faith that you will continue to get deals. If you treat every deal like a live-or-die one, you can't take a reasonable offer and you end up with a lot of inventory.

[timzcardz]

Originally Posted by Batpig

I hate this saying. What the heck is the point of having the cake if you can't eat it? I know the point is you can't eat the cake and still have it, but the phrasing is still annoying. For an alternative, I suggest "You can't sit in two chairs with one butt." Or maybe a more appropriate alternative for this situation is "You can't keep your card and sell it too."

Carry on.

Umm . . . if you eat enough cake you can!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

it kinda sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too! It's ok if you get a really good deal on a bin on ebay...but someone else is not entitled to get a good deal from you?

Personally...I hate the old "make me an offer!"

It's your card...you know what you paid for it...price it!

Exactly. Price it! If you walk something into a show and want me to buy it, how will you know to accept any offer I might make you if you don't know what you want for it? Of course, I know there's a good chance you're just going to take my offer and use it to sell to a dealer who's willing to give you a dollar more. I'll tell you what, go and try to get the other dealers to make you an offer, and then come see me! And if you're a dealer, and you can't tell me what you want for your own goods, I'll see you later--not!