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I think the practice is a detriment to this board because ... I USED to post where found items were still in stock either after I had bought one (Hitachi bandsaw) or did not need the items (Hitachi drill press etc...) Now if I have the time to search past posts for "I bought them ALL" gloats I would email info to all but those posters. I used to be neutral on this, but what happened with the bessy fences here in SE mich. was enough. one person cleaned out the stock in a couple stores. Tired of this s#@#$ rant over Joe
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Personally, I'm free to spend my dollars wherever I want. I choose not to spend them with the bargain scalpers. If I'm too slow on the uptake, well, that's too bad for me.
Actually, the dudes buying up all the bargains are saving me money...
g.Smit
"Be excellent to each other."
Bill & Ted -
I used to try to "share the wealth" with board members. I will still post bargains, but no locations where the item is in stock or other specific info, why tip off these predators?. I dont think info flows as freely on the board because of this. JoeComment
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A few days after the Sony camera thread showed up on here, the same camera was on the classifieds on a photography forum that I frequent. For more money than the sale, of course. Not saying the poster over there read about it here, I suspect taht showed up on other places as well. But just to say that it happens at other places too. Is it nice? No. Is there anything illegal about it? No. Do I like it? No. But, nothing I can do with it. I'll continue to post bargins here when I find them, and there as well. I figure that it does more good in the end to let people know about the good deals.
JimComment
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That's about the way I see it too, Jim. I've saved a ton of money buying bargains that were posted, and I really appreciate the alerts, so for the sake of the nice people who can save buck on a good tool, I usually try to post 'em if I see 'em. It's too bad that greed gets in the way sometimes.Happiness is sort of like wetting your pants....everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth.
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I have bought more than I needed on a couple of items in the past only because I knew someone needed the same thing and they couldn't find it locally. If they can save money after paying me what I am out plus actual shipping, it is still a bargain for them. I wouldn't feel right making a profit off a BT3 family member on something like this.Don, aka Pappy,
Wise men talk because they have something to say,
Fools because they have to say something.
PlatoComment
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I have seen people buy by the bargain alerts, to turn around and sell, and even then try to sell back to the people that posted the bargain alerts; a pet peeve of mine.
Nothing I can do about it, but I don't like it.
On the other hand, I have bought by the bargain alerts, and in at least one case, bought the store out (extension cords), and gave some as gifts (dad, brother, brother in law, they can never find them or use too small), and then sent one or two to a bt'r who didn't have a local store. So that was 5 or 6 items, not like buying out 25 of something to sell.She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.Comment
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There is always going to be somebody a little too opportunistic, but it's hard for me to say where to draw the line. Not my line to draw, anyway, so I worry about things I can change.Comment
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I generally check out the bargain posts and if see something I want/need will try and pick one up. If it gone I don't lose any sleep about it as something will generally come up again that will get me excited (doesn't take too much).
I don't shop Ebay, but if someone buys a bunch and can make some money by reselling them, I guess I don't have a problem with that. They're putting their money up and may or may not make a profit. I believe it is called capitalism, which is what this country was built on.
I have posted a couple of bargains, as I have seen them in stores, on this forum. All have been at local big box stores. Never know if they are local or national, but if someone can get to the store and buy it, good for them.
I hope people will not stop posting bargains on this forum, as they see them come up.Joe
"All things are difficult before they are easy"Comment
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I admit I was partially guilty of scalping when the Lowe's Delta mobile base deal came out a few months ago. I bought the last three here in Mont., AL. However, I didn't profit (actually lost money), since I kept one, gave one to my Father in law, and gave the third one away to John when he bought my 3100.
I was very tempted to sell the Bies fence that I got through the forum on eBay, since I decided it wasn't worth it to modify the 3100 with a sawzilla style case to use the fence. Plus, they were going for 2x to 3x what we paid for it (and cash was a little tight at the time). However, I don't regret keeping it now...it fit perfectly on the 36-980 I got at Christmas.
That being said, I usually buy only what I want/need and try to pass the word around."It's a dog eat dog world out there, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear."- Norm (from Cheers)
Eat beef-because the west wasn't won on salad.Comment
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I guess I wouldn't call it "scalping" to buy three and give two away...just generous!
As Uncle Cracker says...it's hard to know where to draw the line. There will be many views on an issue likethis, and most views are valid from the viewer's perspective, but we rarely know the intent, the outcome, or the actual circumstances involved.... hence, I also like UC's statement "not my line to draw".Happiness is sort of like wetting your pants....everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth. Comment
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technically I think scalping traditionally refers to buying limited qty items (like tickets to an sports or theater event) and reselling when they get scarce, for prices above the listed sales prices.
In this case, it is being extended to those who buy limited availability, close out items at sales prices in order to resell to others at higher prices.
Its not quite an apples to apples comparison.
I would hope that the bargain alerts here and on other forums is for those who want to share a bargain with others so that they may enjoy their woodworking hobby, extending their purchase dollar.
What constitutes reasonable use?
1. go out and buy one for yourself to use
2. buy a second or third for your FIL or BIL to use
3. Buy one (or an extra one) on request for a fellow forum member whose local store does not have one, ship it to him at cost (very brotherly since some time and effort was expended without recompense for his fellow friend and WW)
4. Buy one with the intention of using it eventualy, hold it for a year or more, finally decide not to use that one and sell it at a slight profit (because after all you did get it at a real bargain price).
Gray area but slightly ethically challeneged:
1. Buy one based on bargain alerts then offer it immediately for sale at a significant markup with the intention of making some quick bucks. Here the seller invested his luck, time and money and efforts, but utilized information that was intended for another purpose - if he used forum information then he owes some of his profit to the forum or the member who gave freely. I suppose an argument could be made that if he donated or paid dues to the forum then he deserved all the info he got.
What constitutes abuse?
1. In the thread on the Sears Craftsman drill press there was a story about a CL sale item, turned out the guy wanted you to buy it from him at near list price, you bring the cash and meet you at sears take your cash, buy it and have them load it into your vehicle... Guess he had it reserved at the sale price but wasn't willing to put up the money upfront nor hassle with physically possessing it.
OTOH, if you stumble across a real bargain, there's no moral reason for you to report it to the forum, you can buy all you want and resell to your hearts content. that's just business...
just my thoughts, this is ethics-based, legally if its for sale you can buy and sell at your own volition.Last edited by LCHIEN; 02-11-2008, 11:40 AM.
Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questionsComment
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I guess I wouldn't call it "scalping" to buy three and give two away...just generous!
As Uncle Cracker says...it's hard to know where to draw the line. There will be many views on an issue likethis, and most views are valid from the viewer's perspective, but we rarely know the intent, the outcome, or the actual circumstances involved.... hence, I also like UC's statement "not my line to draw".Happiness is sort of like wetting your pants....everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth. Comment
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Can't say that a "Bargain Alert" has ever caused me to hop in the car drive down to some smaller state. It would take about six days to reach the nearest Harbor Freight store.
Our HD and Lowe's seem to be on a different pricing scale than those down in America and rarely have the same items on sale, at least in my experience.
The bargain alerts do have some value when ordering items over the internet because the sale prices sometimes offset the obscene shipping costs.
Oh, but the way, today was the first day this month that the low for the day did not drop below zero. Of course, with the warm. balmy weather (about 10 above) they are predicting up to 16 - 20 inches of snow by sometime Tuesday. Good thing I stocked up on Bailey's. Oh, any bargain alerts for snow shovels?
Stay warm, keep dry, regards, SteveComment
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Clearance items are one thing. For everything else, there's rain checks. Learn to love them.I used to be neutral on this, but what happened with the bessy fences here in SE mich. was enough. one person cleaned out the stock in a couple stores.Comment
LCHIEN
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