Thread: Lies,damned lies, and EBAY

Most, if not all, of my usable straights come from antique shops. I get to examine every physical aspect of the razor, which is something that's not possible on ebay. Recently, I was discussing razors with a gentleman at an antique store. I was interested in a particular razor with no price on it. The man took it over to his wife (I'm assuming). I asked her how much, and she said she didn't know yet. She then went to the computer and tried to match it with a current ebay razor. Of course, I know that a mother of pearl Wonderedge DD is not quite the same as a celluloid Satinedge DD, but apparently the woman was only concerned with Dubl Duck and blind to individual differences. You know, a mallard and merganser are both ducks kind of a thing. Doesn't matter that one eats well and tastes good and the other eats fish and doesn't taste so well. This was my first experience with ebay pricing, but it has since happened again. That woman (How did women become straight razor experts?!) told me if I didn't want to pay the price she would put it up for auction because she didn't realize how much razors were going for these days. I now feel like straight razors are on the same level as gold and silver. Driving the price up with the fickel fate of a buyers whim. Oh, well, just late night venting. No big deal.

I think you are right but some people are going to buy at what ever the price goes to. and its usually just 2 or 3 guys battleing it out and running up thr price. but what are you going to do.

You really have to ask yourself, what kind of antique dealer that has to go to ebay to appraise items.

I am pissed of for you mate, thats just wrong on so many levels.

Frankly, if I'm going to pay eBay prices anyway, I'd much rather have the razor in my hand to look at and feel before laying down the cash.

It's hard to argue with "I'd make more on eBay" if its true!!

Every once in a while, when I am on eBay, I flash back to Economics 101 from college, and have to ponder the concept of the Perfect Market -- which in the Econ 101 books did not exist -- which dates my college years to pre eBay, even pre internet, pre cell phone.... Damn I'm old... so old I forget my point.

Anyway, Ebay is real close to a "Perfect Market" and for those with Economic backgrounds, it is hard to argue prices set by such a nearly Perfect Market.



Perfect Market

The following assumptions hold:
(a) there is a large number of buyers;
(b) there is a large number of sellers;
(c) the quantity of goods bought by any individual transactor is so small relative to the total quatity traded that individual trades leave the market unaffected;
(d) the units of goods sold by different sellers are the same - the product is homogeneous;
(e) there is perfect information = all buyers and sellers have complete information on the prices being asked and offered in other parts of the market; and
(f) there is perfect freedom of entry to and exit from the market.



Class Dismissed -- let's go to a kegger, and hit on sorrity girls!

Originally Posted by ccddo

Class Dismissed -- let's go to a kegger, and hit on sorrity girls!

Looks like someone hit the keg already (Assuming thats what a kegger is)

You assumed correct good sir!

Nothin' better than kegs-'n'-eggs to get the day started!

Slightly OT (but not much)...every antique store owner I've ever dealt with has had the people skills of a pet rock. What IS it with those clowns? Right now, I rent a glass case in an antique store and it's gotten to where I avoid the owner because every single conversation I've ever had with him has gone into Argumentativeness Land.

Well, I'd disagree with (c) (e.g. antique Eschers, Pumas, DDs, W&B meat choppers...) and (e) (most of the complaints about ebay relate to information assymetry IMHO). Then there's the whole macho "bidding war" thing...

Anyway, as a statistician I take great offense at the title of this thread. To actually equate by implication ebay and statistics is a slur on my profession! (Just joking, I'm not offended at all - but it *is* a slur on my profession ).

James.

True James. But what did you want these numbers to say, exactly? That way I'll know how to manipulate the trends to give you what you want.