[Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing (was: Shelby NC hamfest photos)

[David Stinson]

That hamfest folks increasingly attempt to use Ebay as a 
pricing standard for hamfests is worrisome and harmful.
The laws of marketing are immutable.
Size of market dictates demand. Demand dictates price.
Hundreds of thousands of buyers on Ebay equals 
big demand and that equals big prices.
A few dozen buyers at a hamfest equals 
smaller demand and that equals smaller prices.
Don't try to explain this to an "Ebay" pricer.
They'll just get mad at you and blame you for 
their having to pack the radios back into the car.

I see more and more people who don't understand 
this iron law of marketing taking our goodies back home.
When I hear someone, with irritation in their voice,
counter an offer with: "I can get blah blah for it on Ebay!"
I shake my head. If he wants Ebay prices, 
he needs to market on Ebay. That's what I do and 
I don't apologize one bit; I have a family and bills to pay.
Ebay prices do elevate hamfest prices somewhat
because they condition all buyers, but the law 
of smaller markets=smaller prices remains.

Another reason for the discount price one gets 
at hamfests is the trade-off in delivery trouble.
Handing a rig across a table is a lot easier than
the time, effort, expense and risk of shipping.
That's worth a discount.

GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S