Is this a deal?

[pirinst]

I see it almost daily on Craigs.....

I am a digital camera, music keyboard/amp/PA system, and also tool guy

that checks out Craigs daily. Am shocked at some of the asking prices of

items I am very familiar with. A couple of times I've posted Re:such and such

to alert buyers of the street value of the items on sale.

Guess what happened?

My response got flagged and removed "by the community"!!!!!!!!

Guess the "community" likes seeing buyers getting stuff for more than

twice what it can be bought elsewhere. Weirdest thing I can imagine.

It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

The worst is old beat up crap that is outdated by serveral years with a

link showing a review/specs. The obvious thing to do is compare to

today's technology and see what makes sense to buy.

[pirinst]

On the other end of the spectrum....

I also am a motorcycle enthusiast. When the new models come out each

year, there a multiple ads on ebay selling them (supposedly) for around 30 to

40 percent of retail. I've been buying for years and never heard of such

prices-fortunately I don't know anyone who bit on that line....so don't know

how that scam works.

It's really aggravating to see a $10,000 bike offered for $,3000 or $4,000

knowing there is something very wrong with the offer.

I sent an email to one sellor asking how it could be possible but never heard

back.

[JR]

I am a digital camera, music keyboard/amp/PA system, and also tool guy

It's bikes and tools for me.

In some cases the prices are really out of line. In others you see the HF stuff for $50-$75 over a common sale price. And in others you find some decent deals.

I don't post, though, with any reality checks. In my view, it's a classified listing and caveat emptor really does apply.

JR

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I am a digital camera, music keyboard/amp/PA system, and also tool guy

that checks out Craigs daily. Am shocked at some of the asking prices of

items I am very familiar with. A couple of times I've posted Re:such and such

to alert buyers of the street value of the items on sale.

Guess what happened?

My response got flagged and removed "by the community"!!!!!!!!

Guess the "community" likes seeing buyers getting stuff for more than

twice what it can be bought elsewhere. Weirdest thing I can imagine.

It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

The worst is old beat up crap that is outdated by serveral years with a

link showing a review/specs. The obvious thing to do is compare to

today's technology and see what makes sense to buy.

I don't think that anyone has the right to go in and make comments on a persons asking price. Seems to me that it simply is not anyone business except the buyer and the seller. Let the free market enterprise work for itself. The idiot selling the DP for $200 has lost his mind, however there may be someone out there looking for such a DP and think it is a great deal at $200. I can't see how anyone would think it is their imperative to go in and try to mess with someone else’s business, online or not.

I bought 15 Bessey K Body Clamp Sets from Amazon when they were on special. I then broke them down and sold them for twice what I paid for them. I cannot fathom how anyone would feel they have the right to go in an attach something saying that they can be bought somewhere else cheaper.

As far as deals such as HDT router bits, etc I absolutely limited myself to one set. Appreciating the good deal and great service I even reviewed the set on the HDT website. AFAIK, those sets are limited to 2 or so limiting peoples ability to resell, which is absolutely fair. Discussion have been held on this forum regarding people swooping in and grabbing items from under other members based on postings and attempting to resell to other members for profit which is clearly not cool. This year alone I have given away a 9.6 Dewalt driver, charger, case, bits, and flashlight to a member, as well as buying a Bosch/Craftmans Jig Saw for next to nothing and offering for cost on this site. So hopefully that will show that I am not a profit pig, but getting back to the original topic, I don't think people have the right to kill others sale.

[wassaw998]

If the forum/medium used to advertise an item is "open" per their rules in both directions (that is, for advertising, and for commenting), then both have the right, don't they? - one has the right to charge whatever they want for the item, the other has the right to post a disclaimer to the effect that "this item can be had for xx% less elsewhere...". That is, provided both are in the rules of the medium, both have a "right". If the rules do not permit one or both, then, either does not have the right.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

If the forum/medium used to advertise an item is "open" per their rules in both directions (that is, for advertising, and for commenting), then both have the right, don't they? - one has the right to charge whatever they want for the item, the other has the right to post a disclaimer to the effect that "this item can be had for xx% less elsewhere...". That is, provided both are in the rules of the medium, both have a "right". If the rules do not permit one or both, then, either does not have the right.

You are absolutely correct, I guess I should have not said "right". I have to admit I do not know the technical rules of Craigslist, where one may have the "right" to do whatever they please. I just can't see where it is someones business to go in and get involved in pricing issues. Simply seems to equate to undercutting someone. YMMV.

[JR]

I'm with Jeffrey on this. Having the right is different from having the obligation.

Of course on Craigslist, anything goes! The personals section is not for the timid.

JR

[LCHIEN]

what's ethical and correct in these auctions?
1. Post a private note to the seller saying you're charging too much?
None of your business, if he gets what he asks you're wrong and he doesn't, he'll find out the hard way. If he lowers the price in response and if someone was willing to pay the original asking price, you've cheated the OP and the seller got a bargain.
2. Post a public note on those auctions allowing comment to be posted? - same thing, maybe next you'll have ads from other guys saying I have this item for 50% less.. just kind of bad manners - spoiling someone else's party.
3. Privately e-mail bidders (like on e-bay) that that price is too much? Problem is that what one guy thinks is too much he is willing to do a lot to get a lower price where the guy bidding the high price has already committed and he is willing to pay to save the hassles; convenience is worth paying for in many minds.

I think the best thing to do is simply let market forces and educated consumers and sellers do their thing. A few experiences of selling too cheap and paying too much is a powerful learning tool.

[btompkins]

Amen Brother !

[davidtu]

I cannot fathom how anyone would feel they have the right to go in an attach something saying that they can be bought somewhere else cheaper.

Amen to that Jeffrey!!

If the forum/medium used to advertise an item is "open" per their rules in both directions (that is, for advertising, and for commenting), then both have the right, don't they?

The answer to your question is answered resoundingly "NO!" by Craigslist itself, which promptly removes such anti-ads from the site.

Price gouging or purposely taking advantage of the unwary is unethical. Buyting something cheapest and selling it cheaper is not.

[LCHIEN]

Caveat Emptor, especially on Ebay (I dunno what Craiglist is).

The seller listing the $440 hf jointer probably does know what they sell for, all he needs is one sucker to click "Buy it now". It's the ultimate impulse-shopper's forum.

Craigslist www.craigslist.com is a free classifieds advertising service,
In addition to the classifications, it's separated into major cities.
it's gotten rather popular.

[dtam]

Seller saws crokett's email, and lowered the price.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/197855470.html

[wassaw998]

As I stated, if the venue permits the action, then an individual has the "right" to do it (Whether it is selling an item for 500% more then the purchase, or commenting on the fact that the seller is potentially ripping off a buyer). I was not trying to get any where near ethics, nor was I specifying "Craigslist". It was just a general statement. We can argue ethics all day and get no where, rights are granted or not per rules that are established, which are easy to determine - like you say, if Craigslist does not pemit it, on that venue apparently the right does not exist, although I have not been able to find any such rules.

[BigguyZ]

One thing I would say- I don't necessarily agree with actively trying to stop someone's business. HOWEVER- Craigs list is meant to be a kind of community (as far as I understood it when I was first told about it). So I would think it goes against the idea to try to rip someone off for it.

And if you KNOW that you are overcharging, then it's ripping someone off. Obviously this guy didn't know, and acted accordingly.

[crokett]

From the way the ad was written, I gave him the benefit and assumed he didn't know what he had rather than trying to rip someone off. I sent a polite note telling him I could get the same thing new for half the price he was selling for. I figured it would be better than a less polite note or a reactionary craigslist posting from someone else.