[Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
Bob via Boatanchors
boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Thu Sep 4 12:17:11 EDT 2014
I find this discussion mildly amusing. Some of us do this for a hobby. We may or may not want to pay the prices we see at hamfests or on eBay. We are not out to make a profit or see someone else goo to the poorhouse. We are having FUN. That is what hobbies are all about. Sometimes we pay more because we want something now. Sometimes we pay less because the need for an item is not particularly pressing at the time. Sometimes we haggle over the price because if it is low enough we WILL buy it even though we don't really want or need it.
It's a hobby to many. Just big boys toys.
Bob/nz2z
Bob Bennett
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 4, 2014, at 9:40 AM, boatanchors-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Re: Hamfest Pricing (WA5CAB--- via Boatanchors)
> 2. Re: Hamfest Pricing (hwhall at compuserve.com)
> 3. Re: Hamfest Pricing (David C. Hallam)
> 4. Re: Hamfest Pricing (Brian Clarke)
> 5. Re: Hamfest Pricing (manualman at juno.com)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 19:29:25 -0400
> From: WA5CAB--- via Boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
> Message-ID: <6365e.f281641.4138fe55 at cs.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Amen, brother! :-)
>
> In a message dated 09/03/2014 16:20:04 PM Central Daylight Time,
> w8kzw at arrl.net writes:
>> Worrisome? Harmful? To whom?
>>
>> Yes, eBay's reach = more buyers = more competition = higher sale. I sell
>> on
>> eBay.
>>
>> But please don't try to tell me my gear is worth less at a hamfest
>> (although
>>
>
> Robert Downs - Houston
> wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
> MVPA 9480
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 22:21:27 -0400
> From: hwhall at compuserve.com
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
> Message-ID: <8D195FE1091157D-B20-10196 at webmail-d297.sysops.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>
> I think that part of the difficulty, and the contentiousness, with this type discussion is that it's comparing apples and oranges a bit. Almost none of our (mostly used or surplus or homebrew) stuff has intrinsic value like gold bullion used to. And it doesn't have a wholesaler/retailer formulaic price set by manufacturing costs, freightage, tolerable profit margin, etc. Nor is there a government office setting official prices. Therefore, our stuff is mostly worth whatever we can find someone willing to pay when we decide to sell it.
>
> Prices at auction houses like ebay or your local auctioneer's aren't fixed or even logical prices. They're driven almost entirely by the whims of folks at each particular auction (with all their wants, needs, etc.) and vary from auction to auction and time to time. Looking at ebay completed auctions, prices are typically all over the place even for identical items. Insanely expensive one day, insanely cheap next month. Identical items may sell for much less later on because there were just a few who wanted one REALLY BAD and have now gotten one. The hungry part of the market gets filled up.
>
>> please don't try to tell me my gear is worth less at a hamfest
>
> Actually, I think that is exactly the point. One's equipment may indeed be worth less **at that hamfest** to everyone there, except you. They're not hungry for it. You might change your mind to match theirs and sell cheaper. Or take it home and look for someplace where maybe someone is hungry enough for it to agree with your valuation and buy it. However, buggy whip companies went out of business when the desire for them faded away. If our selling prices don't keep pace with what buyers will pay, we risk holding on as offers fall ever lower and one day finding no one wants it at any price.
>
> (Pardon the excessive verbosity. Opinions here are not necessarily those of the advertisers, owners or management. Your mileage may vary. Only time will tell. Must be used as part of a comprehensive program of regular professional care. Caveat emptor. Illigitimi non carborundum. Sic transit gloria mundi. Please curb your coati mundi. Selah.)
>
> Wayne
> WB4OGM
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: W8KZW <w8kzw at arrl.net>
> To: boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wed, Sep 3, 2014 3:20 pm
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
>
>
> Worrisome? Harmful? To whom?
>
> Yes, eBay's reach = more buyers = more competition = higher sale. I sell on
> eBay.
>
> But please don't try to tell me my gear is worth less at a hamfest (although
> I DO account for a fee-free sale in my selling price). It's certainly not
> worth less to that buyer who would have bought it from me on eBay, or a
> buyer who chooses not to shop on eBay ... particularly if he gets to see the
> gear - and test it, sometimes - and take it home enjoying that no-fees
> discount and no shipping cost. I sell at hamfests too.
>
> I know the hamfest market is smaller and I'm less apt to get my price. I go
> to hamfests to see old friends, support the clubs, and maybe sell something.
> It doesn't bother me one bit to take something home and sell it on eBay if I
> don't get my (reduced) price at a swap. It's fun regardless.
>
> If you think us "Ebay pricers" should drop our shorts just because we are at
> a swap and YOU don't want to pay what someone else would for a piece of
> gear, that my friend is not worrisome ... just entertaining. Swaps are
> getting smaller and smaller or disappearing altogether. Sellers know they
> are more likely to get their price on Ebay because some hams have a
> drummed-up, preconceived notion that gear at hamfests should be dirt cheap.
> I contend that "hamfest folks" like you are a non-trivial cause for the
> demise of this venue.
>
> 73, and see you at the swaps.
>
>> -----Original Message----- 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.
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:33:45 -0400
> From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam at knology.net>
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
> Message-ID: <54084E19.8050002 at knology.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
> Your gear may not worth any less at a hamfest, but can sell for less it
> for less at a hamfest and still get the same amount of cash from the
> sale. With eBay and PayPal fees on both the sale price and shipping
> charges, the seller pays about 13%. With eBay charging the same
> percentage fee on the buyer paid shipping cost, that is a rip off. If
> you are selling a heavy item, i.e., boat anchor, the charges on the
> shipping may be more than those on the selling price.
>
> For instance, you sell some thing heavy for $100 and shipping is $45:
>
> $100 less 10% eBay and 3% PayPal = $85
> $45 less 10% eBay and 3% PayPal = $39
>
> So, you get $124 in your PayPal account. Then you pay $45 for shipping
> and your net is $85. Plus you had to pack it and haul it to FedEx or
> UPS, and you probably had to pay something for packing materials. So,
> you could have sold it at a hamfest for $75/85 and been ahead.
>
> David
> KW4DH
>
>
>> On 9/3/2014 7:29 PM, WA5CAB--- via Boatanchors wrote:
>> Amen, brother! :-)
>>
>> In a message dated 09/03/2014 16:20:04 PM Central Daylight Time,
>> w8kzw at arrl.net writes:
>>> Worrisome? Harmful? To whom?
>>>
>>> Yes, eBay's reach = more buyers = more competition = higher sale. I sell
>>> on
>>> eBay.
>>>
>>> But please don't try to tell me my gear is worth less at a hamfest
>>> (although
>>>
>> Robert Downs - Houston
>> wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>> MVPA 9480
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Boatanchors mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>> Message delivered to dhallam at knology.net
>>
>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>
> --
> "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
> Thomas Jefferson
>
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2014 21:44:05 +1000
> From: "Brian Clarke" <brianclarke01 at optusnet.com.au>
> To: <dhallam at knology.net>, <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
> Message-ID: <444CA9D003D94F91A95A8AECC7BC3AD7 at WORKSHOP>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=response
>
> Do we really need to continue this dweebish discussion???
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam at knology.net>
> To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 9:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
>
>
>> Your gear may not worth any less at a hamfest, but can sell for less it
>> for less at a hamfest and still get the same amount of cash from the sale.
>> With eBay and PayPal fees on both the sale price and shipping charges, the
>> seller pays about 13%. With eBay charging the same percentage fee on the
>> buyer paid shipping cost, that is a rip off. If you are selling a heavy
>> item, i.e., boat anchor, the charges on the shipping may be more than
>> those on the selling price.
>>
>> For instance, you sell some thing heavy for $100 and shipping is $45:
>>
>> $100 less 10% eBay and 3% PayPal = $85
>> $45 less 10% eBay and 3% PayPal = $39
>>
>> So, you get $124 in your PayPal account. Then you pay $45 for shipping
>> and your net is $85. Plus you had to pack it and haul it to FedEx or UPS,
>> and you probably had to pay something for packing materials. So, you
>> could have sold it at a hamfest for $75/85 and been ahead.
>>
>> David
>> KW4DH
>>
>>
>>> On 9/3/2014 7:29 PM, WA5CAB--- via Boatanchors wrote:
>>> Amen, brother! :-)
>>>
>>> In a message dated 09/03/2014 16:20:04 PM Central Daylight Time,
>>> w8kzw at arrl.net writes:
>>>> Worrisome? Harmful? To whom?
>>>>
>>>> Yes, eBay's reach = more buyers = more competition = higher sale. I
>>>> sell
>>>> on
>>>> eBay.
>>>>
>>>> But please don't try to tell me my gear is worth less at a hamfest
>>>> (although
>>>>
>>> Robert Downs - Houston
>>> wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>>> MVPA 9480
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Boatanchors mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>>> Message delivered to dhallam at knology.net
>>>
>>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>
>>
>> --
>> "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
>> government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of
>> taking care of them."
>> Thomas Jefferson
>>
>>
>> ---
>> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
>> protection is active.
>> http://www.avast.com
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Boatanchors mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>> Message delivered to brianclarke01 at optusnet.com.au
>>
>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2014 09:38:39 -0400
> From: <manualman at juno.com>
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hamfest Pricing
> Message-ID: <AABLAS46MAG2LZMA at smtpout01.vgs.untd.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Don't you have a "Delete" key that works?? It's an interesting discussion
> as some decide what's the best way to recycle, or get rid of, some of
> their stuff.
>
> Pete, wa2cwa
>
> On Thu, 4 Sep 2014 21:44:05 +1000 "Brian Clarke"
> <brianclarke01 at optusnet.com.au> writes:
>> Do we really need to continue this dweebish discussion???
>>
>
>
>
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>
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>
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