Thread: Pricing Theories/Opinions

Great information and largely confirming what I had running around in the back of my head... I'm going to take what I have in them, go easy on the time value regarding what it cost me to hone them and then put up a price that I feel is fair or that I would likely pay for the same and see what happens. Along those lines... Is it okay to post links to our own eBay Ads in this Forum? I've seen it done but didn't know if that was a 'once in a blue moon' thing or the Nike approach of 'just do it'. BTW, the item I posted has a couple Watchers, one bid at the price I started and looks like it may fluff a bit going into the last 24 hours... VERY interesting but makes me wonder if it is just something valuable and I simply didn't know it. ?? Time will tell... And, the fact that someone hasn't posted it here to gently rip it apart is at least some small comfort. ;-)

Regarding the Wine example... I watched the most fascinating Reality Show once where they hired a Movie Special Effects Guy (sorry for not knowing the correct title) to work as a Cook/Assembler in the back of a nice restaurant and he used the most horrendous ingredients and was chain smoking, dropping ashes and such for dramatic effect but he would take potted meat 5 for a dollar and wrap it with chives that were so old they were deeply discounted and just give the food a 'look' of quality. Then, the Waiter was a Pitch-Man beaten nearly to death with the Blarney Stone but he was a true Wordsmith/Salesman and he pumped up the information regarding the quality of even Water (behind the scenes they were filling the glasses from the hose behind the restaurant) and it was absolutely incredible to see the reaction of the people at the table... The pitch, I believe, started with the Owner/Chef selecting them to try some "Off The Menu" items to see what they thought and each time they completely bought into it and were very surprised yet laughing as they watched re-play of where their food/drink came from. It was just truly fascinating.
It is also interesting when reading middle of the road wine reviews where, is it Charles Schwab/Two-Buck Chuck that is like $3 but still gets good reviews... That would be the other side of the coin is to do some sort of personality testing on Consumers and find out if people who are simply more bargain-minded would be swayed by a $3 wine that was palatable whereas people who are looking for subjective quality/substance are more swayed by fluff and sale.

Prior to a recent lay-off I worked in Healthcare for 26+ years so am essentially hardwired to help people out and it is somewhat of a misery making these initial decisions when coming up with a plan... I've spoken with past patients at length about this and many are from the other side of the tracks who heartily indicate they'd keep the pressure on to grab every last Nickel from any potential Mark.

What I've always asked with my sales is for anyone that has an issue to get in touch with me and I'll make it right... To date, no contact... So, that is likely a positive sign.

If you get a price that you think is fair, and you are happy with, then if I were you I would be content, I am starting my own business, and much as it is at the hobby stage, I do consider whether I think my customers are getting a good and fair deal, that way I can sleep well knowing I did the right thing. I would advise you not to undervalue your labour, especially if you start considering the time spent getting parts, posting stuff off. And incidentals like sandpaper, replacing hones, writing off scrap razors that you have bought etc. Sorry if I am telling you stuff you already know. Regards ed.

You know, there was a razor I was watching that was listed for a starting price of $40.00 and unfortunately for me, I missed the end of the auction. I get a notification 2 days later that it has been re-listed, this time for $30.00 higher than the first auction.

Really?

I don't sell on ebay because auctions (for middle ground razors) go like this:
20% Sold too cheap
75% Okay selling price, until ebay takes their excessive fee
5% Bidders went insane and now I have 50/50 odds of actually getting the payment.

It's nice when you get into that 2.5% where you are getting more that it's worth and getting payment. But most of the time it sucks

I do buy on ebay, when I can get in on those underpriced auctions. Those are nice on the receiving end..

When pricing razors on the Bay, its vital to compare apples to apples. yes, somebody sold that NOS Filarmonica for an insane amount, but is YOUR razor NOS? or is it merely "mint" NOS is NEW. mint is "used"
With that in mind, your head space is important. Are you selling out of need, or want? If it will bother you greatly to sell for less than a certain amount, create a reserve price. I know the fee structure is different on a reserve auction, but you can start with a 99 cent bidding, and let momentum take its course. If it doesn't sell, you can decide to relist lower. Some razors I just enjoy so much that I wont list them for less than a certain amount. maybe other people have sold it for less, but I need to see my price or I will be just as happy (if not more so) to keep it. Others, are just another blade, and if it sells for a bit more or less, I wont be upset. The same is true of posting them here in the classifieds. Know your limits.
Or, just give your razors to me, and be relieved of all the burdens and moral dilemmas knowing I will take good care of them for you.

My theory is simple. List it properly, with decent pictures and descriptions, for the least amount you are comfortable selling it at and pray that a bidding war breaks out always remembering that ebay and paypal are going to take a healthy cut.

when buying ... once with what you are willing to spend and walk away until it ends.

jim

And then there is the opposite - eBay sellers who are dumber than a door post and don't see an easy profit in front of them because of greed. Example: Earlier this weekend I ran across an item that I decided I must have. Bid on it. Was first bid - the minimum possible. Counter bid 50 cents more. Re bid this time with a high maximum in case I didn't get back to it in time. Next day I decided that I must have it (might post it here when it comes and its as unusual as I think it is) and checked in. No movement. Sent a message that I would like to do a BIN offering almost double my auction bid. Return message said she didn't know what a BIN was and felt she needed to let it run its cost. OK, I waited, said nothing and won at my low price. Let me add that in her original listing before bidding got started it said "or best offer". She may not be a door post, but she acted like one to see if she could milk the bidders. I got it for less that her BIN price and she lost about $10 on the deal. I'm glad. Maybe she's sad. Too bad.

A good deal is when both sides of a sale are happy. The seller gets what he wants for it and the buyer gets what he expected. It's that simple.
I have paid 130 dollars for a Duck and been totally happy with it. I buy the same Duck same condition for 51 bucks a month later and I am totally happy with it. I got what I expected both times. As a buyer I have learned to sit back in the blind and wait for the easy Duck. This scares the crap out of me as a seller soooo I would start it were I would be happy at what I got for it. I would also include e-Bay's cut and Pay pal's. I don't get that or the shipping. If it goes up from there yippie. If I had one on the bay and I knew an SRP member wanted it I would pull it and go private sale. saving the buyer the e-bay PP cost. Providing there were no other bidders. Just cause I love you guys. :<0)