Generous, Foolish, or "Gentlemanly"

So, I just posted a mint 8/8 Johann Breidohr +++Crosses on the bay, and it sold in a snap of the fingers. I had an Ebay-er write me, and he said I had way under-priced the thing.

When I listed it, I was aware that I might be going low (though in truth How low is anybodies guess")

When I purchased it, I got a great deal. When I sold it, I made a decent profit, and I felt like I was passing on a good value to the next guy instead of feeding into the recent pricing frenzy.

What about you guys? On those occasions when you sell a razor, do you find yourself deciding what price makes you happy? or what price makes the most profit?

When you buy a razor and you get a great deal, do you say to yourself, "What a Fool that guy is!" or "What a great guy this guy is for not being driven by the almighty dollar"?

Myself, I think I have been the whole lot. I have been generous when I could afford it, a fool when I could not, and I would like to imagine, a gentlemen when possible.

I think you did the right thing and what anyone else thinks is irrelevant especially when to that critical party it was all about greed. : )

Unless I am selling a razor privately I sell all of my razors here. I try to cover my cost + shipping and that is it. Normally I lose a bit on my deals including the private sales. I have never messed with ebay as a seller. I do enjoy knowing it is a member here getting one of my razors.

I would rather sell with a clear conscience than make more off an item than I feel I should. If Ive gotten a good deal then why not give someone else a decent deal?

You would have had a far better experiance selling it on The SRP classifieds,plus save yourself the off the wall ebay fees.

I have had a mixed bag selling things here on SRP I put a razor up at a price I think is more than fair, nobody is interested. Toss the same razor up on the bay, and next thing I know its selling for 2-3x what I was asking. Its one of those things where I just :shrug: and scratch my chin alot. I DO like to put the entry level razors on here, to get them into the hands of the new guys at a lower price that would make it hardly worth the fees of putting them on the bay.

And I'm not complaining about the Ebay experience, I am just looking for insight into how other people view the whole process of "trading" ethical, moral, and financial imperatives or preferences. That sort of thing.

So long as you are happy with what you did who cares what anyone else thinks. I presume you are happy and the buyer is too so that is the essence of a good deal period.

Bob

I care what other people think Bob. Lets just say, I'm using the world around me as a directional indicator of the state of humanity. :angel:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magpie

I care what other people think Bob. Lets just say, I'm using the world around me as a directional indicator of the state of humanity. :angel:

---

Well, that is a good way to ruin an otherwise good day. :D

Bob

I think that it was Gentlemanly. I picked up a Imperial Razor that needed new scales for about 3 bucks at a flea market, re-scaled it, sharpened it to the best of my abilities, then gave it to a local guy who wanted to try straight shaving. It cost me maybe 5 bucks, and a couple of hours work. He decided straight shaving was not for him and he sold it to his brother-in-law for 40 bucks. At first I was a little ticked, but the brother-in-law loves it. So in the end run I think it was the right thing to do. We talk often and he just can't get enough shave gear like us.

It is possible that the eBayer who wrote you was mad at himself for not getting the razor with the intent of re selling it for his own greedy profit. I've lived long enough to know what the world is around me and I will still continue to try to look at the worlds through lightly tinted rose glasses despite the fact we might be going to hell in a hand basket as they say.

If I sell I do research and try and sell for the going rate. If I have to guess and just set a price and it turns out to be really low I don't mind if the buyer gets a deal and uses it. What chaps my hide is when the buyer quickly turns it around to get a quick profit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magpie

I care what other people think Bob. Lets just say, I'm using the world around me as a directional indicator of the state of humanity. :angel:

---

In that case, it could be that you're often all three at once

I guess I kind of look at it two ways. When I've sold a couple here on SRP, I really just tried to cover my costs and pass it along at as low a price as I can, and usually losing a few bucks. But that being said, I'm not making a living off it, just passing on razors so I can buy others. If you're in the business, then I would expect you are selling it at what the market price is, even if that's super high at the moment.
I've bought a couple here that I know the seller could have asked for a lot more, but I understood them to be doing the same as me - they probably got a deal on them and are just passing it along. If I choose to sell those razors in the future, I for one would not ask for any more than it takes for me to break even again. Get a good score on eBay somehow? Then I think all is fair to make a reasonble profit.
So I think what you did is just fine, but would be more inclined to do it here. Seeing someone take your good deal then turn around and sell for a lot more is the only risk you take...
What's all this rambling about? I guess I feel like I'm more inclined to buy/sell at lower prices here because of the community feel. So my opinion is you were generous and gentlemanly.

I buy and sell razors an the bay. I always start them low. So long as
I am making a profit it is a good day. I would rather make a small profit than sit on the razor for a while. I hone all my razors shave ready. A $15 value that I do not figure in the resale price.

I'm not planning to become a vendor but if I have some razor I want to sell I'll try to cover my costs. I have sold "two razors here in the "Want to buy section. I feel I gave a fair price and sold a shave ready razor two people who were starting straight razor shaving. I reinvest what I make into shaving equipment, (razors, hones).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

It is possible that the eBayer who wrote you was mad at himself for not getting the razor with the intent of re selling it for his own greedy profit. I've lived long enough to know what the world is around me and I will still continue to try to look at the worlds through lightly tinted rose glasses despite the fact we might be going to hell in a hand basket as they say.

---

Everything Razorfeld says is more quote worthy, simply by virtue of his having a kitteh profile picture.

Coming from a semi noob, this is reassuring. For me this is about enjoying a really cool part of history and a great shave. It is very intimidating for me sometimes. I seem to trust adds on here a bit more, but it think it's awesome you wanted someone else to enjoy it without killing the pockets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magpie

Everything Razorfeld says is more quote worthy, simply by virtue of his having a kitteh profile picture.

---

Magpie, you one funny fellow!

I beleive you would fall under the "Gentlemanly" heading. However, I think that when you enter the feeding frenzy that is Ebay, the gloves come off. IMO opinion, being a gentleman on SRP is a right and good thing, but ebay is for making back some of the money you have shelled out, the materials used, and time invested. I have no problem offering a good price, but I would try and find the market average and work from there.

I appreciate people who do things out of care instead of greed. I think I am like this myself, or at least I try to be. But it feels like those people are a dying breed, even though I might be wrong about that. And when people act selfishly there is less reward for unselfish people, since they don't get back as much as they give.

On thinking about what Ludvig has just said it occurred to me that the definition of a true gentleman (or mench if it pleases you) or gentlewoman is an individual who acts out of a desire to do good in some way without bringing attention to one's self and, in general, shuns the spotlight. A true act of paying it forward. An example: My Grandmother on my Mother's side visited an old peoples home near her almost everyday for close to thirty years. No one in the family knew of this until she passed and a large delegation from the home attended her funeral. I'm no Polyanna, but that event is in a way a guidepost for my life. Do as little harm as possible, help where and when you can. Protest injustice. And if necessary, kick ass as needed.

Razorfeld, that is a wonderful story. Ludvig is right on in how the "ungentle" are making it harder for others simply through the law if diminishing returns, but I hope there shall always be people out there who continue to be "mench" simply because it is right, and not because we seek anything in return.
But one needs to be careful to not fall into the "Foolish" category too often, or too easily. Otherwise, I think the word becomes schmendrick or would that be schlemiel?

There have been times I have felt "suckered" selling. To prevent myself from resenting myself or others, I have tried to give myself a mental "spot check" when selling things.
Sort of like the personal equivalent of the Rotary Club rules.

Will I be upset if I sell this?
Will I be upset if buyer sells this?
Will I be upset if it sells for too little?

If its a razor (or any other item really) that for what ever reason I would be unhappy if I part with it, I do my best to find other ways to raise money. Put that item back into the "MINE!" pile and choose something less important.

If either of the other reasoning come to play, I set a minimum price at which I will be happy. Be it a set start price on the bay, or fixed price here on SRP
Its nice to hear others also try to live by example, instead of by the bad examples set by others. :chapeau

Magpie, schmendrick and schlemiel are both useable in that context. A little stronger would be putz denoting a very crude foolish person who has no clue about just about every thing. This being a family oriented forum I will not list the additional, descending in politeness, words/phrases that delineate lesser personalities.

I just recently struggled with what you spoke of in setting prices on eBay. I thinned my rotation and put a small number of lesser name razors at reasonable prices up for auction and they were bought by people that gave me glowing feedback. One surprised me at the final price but the rest meet my criteria for reasonable.