Sour grapes (was: principals in online selling?)

From: James Willing <jimw_at_agora.rdrop.com>
Date: Tue Jun 23 15:41:47 1998

Old adage: (slightly updated)

   "An item is only worth as much or as little as someone is willing to
pay for it"

Corollary: (much newer)

   "An item has no value unless the owner decides to sell it..."

---
(and now, on with the flame-resistant suit...)
In answer to a question posed in an earlier entry in this thread:
(paraphrased somewhat)
"if someone offers you a free IMSAI, do you tell them that they could sell
it for a lot more on the net/web?"
In general, no.   Now, before the flames start; allow me to finish...
If someone offers an item to me (usually knowing what I do with them
either from experience or reference) for a price (even if that
happens to be 'free') that they are comfortable with, then so be it.
Now, as a counter to that if someone (even that same person) asks me what
an item is 'worth', I will also answer that to the best of my current
knowledge.  I usually end up qualifying that with what the given item is
worth 'to me', and what it might be worth 'on the open market', which is
usually the most recent sale I've seen on the net/web or online auctions.
And does this mean that on occasion I've lost a shot at an item at
a better price because someone has changed their mind once they know that
there are other options?  Yes.  Does that upset me?  Depends...
If the negociation/discussion has proceeded politely, then no.  Until
the deal is finished the item still belongs to them.  If they change
their mind, thats their perogative.  You might be surprised how many times
that I have had this entire discussion, and the people have just gone
"oh, well I would not have thought it might be worth $X", and let me have
it anyway.
If however the potential 'seller' gets self-righteous on me suddenly, (if  
suddenly it becomes "so you are trying to rip me off?!?")
then yes, I'll get upset (and it will be a colder day in Hell, Norway
before I'll deal with them again).  If they expect me to do their
homework/market research for them, they had better lead the discussion
with some $eriou$ money in my direction!
I am primarily a collector. (preservationist if you will)  I would just as
rather trade/swap/barter items back and forth than sell them.  (much less
hassle in the long run)
This also means that since I don't operate in the same mentality as a
'business' would, I don't approach every deal/offer with the pre-concieved
qualifier that I have to leave myself room for a 40% profit margin on
every item, (or for the 'speculator', 200% to 400%) and spend a lot of
time beating people up over price. I'll decide what something is worth 'to
me', and work from there...
I won't necessarily volunteer extra information in the midst of a deal, 
but I won't avoid a direct question either...
(gads, these suits get hot after a few minutes...)    B^}
-jim
---
jimw_at_agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

Received on Tue Jun 23 1998 - 15:41:47 BST