Thread: Why the crazy markups?

Originally Posted by stupidyank

I suppose I see that BST as a place to trade among friends not to make much of a profit. In my opinion if you are looking to make some money post your restored razor on E-bay. I don't have an issue with people doing that but I consider BST to be a sort of trading between friends, and personally I don't try to make a profit off my friends.

Perhaps it is a cultural difference.

I agree with your thoughts above. I venture to say that a great percentage of the razors sold here on B/S/T are sold at cost or at a loss just because the seller wants to pass the razors along in the most helpful way they can. When I am given something gratis, and I find I no longer have use for it, I re-gift it. If I got a great deal on something and am done with it, I will pass along the same deal - I think that happens everyday in the B/S/T. But even people who spend dozens of hours on one razor to turn it from a $5 junker to a $150 eye-catching hair-splitting shaver will not be taking a monetary profit. Most of the profits generated here are a great sense of achievement, satisfaction, and generosity

I think everyone realizes and it has been much discussed that razor prices have gone through the roof over the past year on ebay - maybe blame Sweeney Todd? Because of the prices being fetched on ebay, I think we are seeing some increase here on the BST.

StupidYank, I understand what you are saying about not wanting to profit - I'm the same way. When I sell here, I usually ask for a little less than I paid for a razor (I don't do restoration work).

That said, I don't think anyone is making much profit if they ask for $20-$40 or so for the work they've put into a razor - especially when you consider the time to also package and mail the blade. I also give them the benefit of the doubt that they are going to take that money and "rescue" more razors to be sold here in the community. I'd rather they they sell them here at a reasonable market price. That way we know we are getting a solid razor. Just my two cents.

Jordan

OK I am going to try explaining this as simply as possible.

I buy razor "A" on ebay or at an antique store last year for $20, ($5 usable razor are a thing of that past) it sits in my restore drawer for 6 months... I take out razor "A", and spend the normal 10 hours required for a full restore... I shave with razor "A" a few times, and say to self, Hmmmmm nice razor but razor "B" is coming up on ebay in 4 days and I really have been wanting to try one of those, (RAD is bad) So I put razor "A" on BST for ?????? How MUCH????
In your case I would sell razor "A" for $20, which won't buy razor "B"...Why because razor "B" is now going to sell for real money, because the used razor market is NUTZ right now... So razor "B" is out of my reach because, I can't afford to.... 1.) restore any more.... 2.) acquire more razors for restore.... 3.) acquire more supplies for restores.... But in your perfect little world, I should use money from my real job to pay for razor "B", and restore it with money from my real job, and resell it down the road, at what price????? oh yeah!!!!! according to you for the same, or less than what I bought it for... And let's not forget that I should also absorb the cost of razor "C" you know that one, with the warp that couldn't be fixed well enough to ever sell to any member on BST.... In your scenario there would be no BST within 1 year... (Or there would be no Glen in my case, because the wife would kill me)
I am not trying to be offensive here, I am trying to explain how we as restorers keep nice razors coming into SRP...

Let me know if you figure out how to keep razors being restored, and purchasing the next ones, without, selling them for more than what you bought them for,,,, I would love to know that trick..... And please don't answer if yer Daddy Warbucks and have more money than God himself.....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK I am going to try explaining this as simply as possible.

I buy razor "A" on ebay or at an antique store last year for $20, ($5 usable razor are a thing of that past) it sits in my restore drawer for 6 months... I take out razor "A", and spend the normal 10 hours required for a full restore... I shave with razor "A" a few times, and say to self, Hmmmmm nice razor but razor "B" is coming up on ebay in 4 days and I really have been wanting to try one of those, (RAD is bad) So I put razor "A" on BST for ?????? How MUCH????
In your case I would sell razor "A" for $20, which won't buy razor "B"...Why because razor "B" is now going to sell for real money, because the used razor market is NUTZ right now... So razor "B" is out of my reach because, I can't afford to.... 1.) restore any more.... 2.) acquire more razors for restore.... 3.) acquire more supplies for restores.... But in your perfect little world, I should use money from my real job to pay for razor "B", and restore it with money from my real job, and resell it down the road, at what price????? oh yeah!!!!! according to you for the same, or less than what I bought it for... And let's not forget that I should also absorb the cost of razor "C" you know that one, with the warp that couldn't be fixed well enough to ever sell to any member on BST.

That's exactly what I was trying to explain about commodity pricing. The price has slightly less to do with what you paid and more to do with what you will pay in order to purchase the next razor.

Originally Posted by Cobo

That's exactly what I was trying to explain about commodity pricing. The price has slightly less to do with what you paid and more to do with what you will pay in order to purchase the next razor.

Ah, commodity pricing. So that's the name for it. Then I can say without a doubt, you can count me in on commodity pricing being the only means for me to be able to continue to enjoy this hobby. I'm not ashamed to say that I can't afford to pay for my razor related equipment out of my own pocket (OK a few little things here and there and now and then out of pocket, but rarely). Commodity pricing allows me to have a small amount of razor stuff as a self funded hobby.

So..I guess you could count Glen out as a retorer and you could count me out as a member if I weren't finding the occasional great deal on a vintage stone that I would sell, etc.

Chris L

I am not a seller I am a buyer. I don't generally sell anything. I don't "restore" razors I buy stuff that can be cleaned and honed then used. some of my blades are a little rough some are really nice but each has a story to go with it. As for the cost of honing I have over 400.00 in stuff to hone with not counting strops and don't own a Shapton (yet). That would be twenty razors @ 20.00 each before shipping, time, and hone wear. Count time, skill, postage, and equipment wear and the count goes up.
My point is for the casual shaver not into restoration, beval setting ect. 20.00 and a barber hone to keep the edge fresh would be a good deal. I payed it a couple of times and would do it again with a problem razor that I felt exceded my level of skill.

Don