Buying in the States was Re: HP analyzer probes

From: Teo Zenios <teoz_at_neo.rr.com>
Date: Wed Jun 30 02:13:01 2004

----- Original Message -----
From: "der Mouse" <mouse_at_rodents.montreal.qc.ca>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 2:26 AM
Subject: Re: Buying in the States was Re: HP analyzer probes


> > The eBay "will ship to <insert your country of choice> only" is
> > something I do not understand. Why reduce your potential market? An
> > international buyer knows they will have to pay for shipping and that
> > might put them off but why shut them out completely? The extra
> > hassle of an international shipment cannot be that great, at least it
> > isn't in my experience here in Europe.
>
> Europe is civilized. Europeans understand that the world is a
> patchwork of many countries and many societies and are prepared to deal
> with that.
>
> The US is not so lucky. Yes, there are plenty of people in the US who
> are internationalized - but there are a depressing number to whom the
> world (apparently) consists of the US plus assorted debris not worth
> bothering with. An overseas buyer yes, is perceived as "just one o'
> dem furriners", and the potential market is seen as so small as to be
> not worth the hassle. (The problematic people most likely have never
> even tried to ship internationally and perceive the hassle as far
> greater than it actually is. I'm talking about the sort of person who
> thinks of euros as play money because they're colourful instead of
> being "good honest greenbacks".)
>
> It's a baffling mindset to wrap your head around if you're not trapped
> in it yourself. But I've become convinced that something very much
> like it is all too real.
>
> /~\ The ASCII der Mouse
> \ / Ribbon Campaign
> X Against HTML mouse_at_rodents.montreal.qc.ca
> / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B
>

Shipping overseas is more effort for people. I have seen people selling
equipment that would get allot more money on ebay but they don't want the
hassle of doing that. Lots of people don't even want to ship smaller systems
in the US let alone Europe. Lots of posts for equipment on newsgroups state
they will not ship anything at all, you have to show up and get it. Its
worse if you are a business that offers any type of warranty on the items
you are selling on ebay.

I think the more money you have, or the more you think your time is worth,
the less willing you are to be bothered selling and boxing inexpensive gear
that you outgrow.
Received on Wed Jun 30 2004 - 02:13:01 BST