The art of sales - - I'm afraid there is not a right or wrong answer here.  

Some build there business of selling by dealing with integrity and keeping the utmost respect for the buyers.  They maintain a good reputation, many referrals and a clear conscience.

Others build their business by being dishonest, preying on the weak, misleading and trying to squeeze every last penny out of each poor unsuspecting victim.  

I would suggest that both of these options include selling at a profit.  I understand that this is a hobby and things can be different.  However collecting coins is a hobby as well.  Does that mean a collection 20 pre WWI nickels that I just recently found in my kid's piggy bank should only be sold for $1.00 ??   The world of sales turns around and around based on timing and opportunity.  If you find the right deal, the timing is great and you have an opportunity to buy and sell for more money - Great Job - and congratulations!

And just like in sales, I see no reason why anybody needs to tell anybody else how much money they are making or losing on a deal.    

I heard a slogan once on a commercial for a small US clothing store that stuck with me. I never really knew what it meant at the time.

It went something like this:

"An educated consumer is our best customer."

Quoted from gmaranda

   I would help any of you in any deals but I have never believed in a two level sale.

I recently sold a roof top carrier to a lady. She showed up alone and what do you think I did?  Yes, I got out and fully installed it on her car at minus 25 celsius.  I would have done the same thing to you or anyone (woman or not).  

I don't think there is a member on this forum who would install that rack for a friend but not for that lady.   That's got little to do with the sale really ~ that's about basic human compassion.  You felt she might need help,  so you gave it.  Everyone does that.

I think the problem with never engaging in two-level selling is that it never gives you the opportunity to make any of the members here feel like you are doing them a solid, and doing "solids" ( not the kind you do Sunday morning after your coffee and bran muffin ) is obviously a neat way to connect with others in the hobby.

If you are being totally honest, you DO believe in two-level selling, don't you ?   I'd be a little disappointed if you didn't, because then I would have to believe that you would sell something to your brother or to your mother, etc., for the same price as a complete stranger.  That would be really hard to believe.

So what you might be implying is that outside of your immediate family or really close circle of friends, there is no reason to distinguish between the buyers you know and the buyers you don't know.   I think the best sales are the ones where the buyer thinks they are special, and the MAACA incentives that are offered from time to time are a nice and easy way to do that.

This has been a community announcement.



  

What the f...  ?

Otto, you're waxed !

Quoted from silverball

What I take issue with is blatant misrepresentation, for example claiming something is HUO when
there is no evidence to prove that it is.  Even worse when there appears to be evidence to the
contrary.

Well at least the seller has stopped using fake (i.e.Inyourface) accounts to help sell his machines.  I see this as a positive step in the right direction.

Otto, I am not sure what the message was supposed to be in that video...Maybe that you shouldn't give a better deal to fellow pinball collectors/friends, and when you start a fire making pork chops you should get the f*** out if GI Joe says so?

Should you really care if you feel you're getting a good deal/fair deal? If you paid $500 for something that has a market value of $1500, and you want $1300 and I want it, why would I b****?

The ONLY people that ever b****, are those who are jealous that $800 isn't going into their pocket, when does the actual buyer complain? Never...
I've NEVER even questioned an asking price unless I felt it was way out of line, either I'm willing to pay it or I'm not. If I'm not, then I STFU and move along.

You don't want to pay an asking price, you don't have to. The "Wahh!" attitude is why I've decided I'll NEVER tell anyone what I paid for something, because if I wind up selling it...someone will remember even 5 years later "Hey but you only paid x for it".

DANGER, BAD LANGUAGE, and BAD GAS.  Don't play near kids or sensitive types.

Oh what is STFU?

Realistically there are two issues here

1 Selling for a profit

2. Boasting about a profit

I would guess that most people take exception to the latter because it is much harder to argue the former in any market.

Quoted from sinpin

The art of sales - - I'm afraid there is not a right or wrong answer here.  

Some build there business of selling by dealing with integrity and keeping the utmost respect for the buyers.  They maintain a good reputation, many referrals and a clear conscience.

Others build their business by being dishonest, preying on the weak, misleading and trying to squeeze every last penny out of each poor unsuspecting victim.  

  

I would say that the latter are the more financially successful of the two approaches, and the operating principal of most Fortune 500 companies.  (Bitter you say?)  

Quoted from ken_cinder

The ONLY people that ever b****, are those who are jealous that $800 isn't going into their pocket...I've decided I'll NEVER tell anyone what I paid for something, because if I wind up selling it...someone will remember even 5 years later "Hey but you only paid x for it".

Right on the mark.

Those are the same people who will call up a niave Kijiji seller after a sale is in progress to tell them they undersold, just trying to screw up a deal.  That practice stinks.