Thread: Now, wait... What?!

I'm usually under the assumption that if something doesn't sell, no matter what it is, you have to adjust something. Be it quality, customer care or cost. Sure, there are other things, but these are some of the things that I look for most in a vendor of any kind.

Now in the ebay space, with old razors, you can only really change price. Sure, a better description or pictures could behoove someone to sell something. But actually increasing the cost seems ridiculous. I was watching a 7/8" Boker and it was just relisted. From $250 to $275. It says that it is NOS and looks great. I want a boker, but that's too rich for my blood, even at $250.

Maybe I'm missing something?

You're forgetting the time and probability factor. Over a year, say, of an item being listed, there are very different swaths of people looking at it with different levels of interest. Sometimes you just have the item up at the right time, and the longer you keep it listed the higher the probability. You'd be very, very surprised at the number of items that get relisted at a higher price and sell very quickly. See the point above as to why.

So that's a genuine strategy to sell something on ebay? I understand time and probability, I have seen quite a few pieces just float on ebay for months, I'm sure it's only a matter of time someone will love an item and purchase it no matter the price. Almost all of the BIN's that are expensive and "rare" will eventually be purchased, from a statistical viewpoint. However, to basically run an artificial bid war by increasing the price of a razor, that was languishing on ebay for a while (say between 2-3 months) is kinda silly. If this is a tactic that actually works, so be it and good on the sellers for seeing these opportunities and taking advantage of it. The sensible logic of the seller and purchaser still escapes me.

Originally Posted by dinnermint

So that's a genuine strategy to sell something on ebay? I understand time and probability, I have seen quite a few pieces just float on ebay for months, I'm sure it's only a matter of time someone will love an item and purchase it no matter the price. Almost all of the BIN's that are expensive and "rare" will eventually be purchased, from a statistical viewpoint. However, to basically run an artificial bid war by increasing the price of a razor, that was languishing on ebay for a while (say between 2-3 months) is kinda silly. If this is a tactic that actually works, so be it and good on the sellers for seeing these opportunities and taking advantage of it. The sensible logic of the seller and purchaser still escapes me.

It's not really comparable to a bid war, it's just a fixed price. If someone likes it at that price, they buy it. If not, they don't. It works the other way too - waiting around for the price of something to be lowered upon relisting is kind of like trying to run the reverse on the seller. I agree though, the best way is just with an offer system or bidding. There's all kinds of weird psychology that goes into pricing and what people think is acceptable to them.

I meant more if they were going to continuously relist at higher and higher prices. I'm more taking an extreme view of what the seller is doing, although one could argue they are merely adjusting rates based on the market. All in all, I shouldn't be surprised, simply because it is the internet and all weird things can be found.

now, this piqued by interest, as I recently came to own a large Boker, and was interested in what other large Bokers there are out there. I went onto eBay and I found a Boker for the price you are mentioning, so I assume it is the same razor. A couple of things came into my mind.
1. I would not call a razor which was only a couple of years out of production new old stock, but maybe thats just me. They only discontinued that razor in the past couple of years, and it is not a "vintage" razor
2. I am not convinced it is a 7/8! I believe at the time they were marketing that razor as a 6/8

I've been scouting for big razors also, for a few months. And I agree, I was surprised by the price, but was curious on other's thoughts on the ebay seller's tactics.

He also claims "unopened" but he took the pictures with it open...

You can still buy it from a store. I've never purchased from this site nor endorsing them. For educational purposes only. It is interesting to note that they tell you it is discontinued and was started in 2012. In addition to being cheaper, they also claim it is professionally honed.
Boker 6/8" Piccadilly Straight Razor, Buffalo Horn

What intrigued me was that the same ebay seller has some other nice looking razors that seemed underpriced. If I was him and didn't need the money, I'd shelf that bad boy and let it's NOS value increase.

I have found that if an item is being offered as BIN without a best offer. Some times its worth a message to the seller if they would consider a reasonable offer for their item. They either say yes or no. I have purchased a few items this way.

That is a good idea. I might do that with a lot that I am looking at...

Update on that razor, they dropped it back down...

Originally Posted by dinnermint

That is a good idea. I might do that with a lot that I am looking at...

Update on that razor, they dropped it back down...

Might be a forum member who read this thread. You never know.