Thread: Addition to the classifieds policy. Please read

Personally, I think this addition to the rules is good, and I thank all the mods for all their efforts here.

My concern remains that newbies are always counseled to check out the BST for vintage razors, shave ready for a fair price. Usually for their first razor(s) at a time that they really are not aware of the nuances of different razors and how much is a fair price (I used to go by Crichton's comments ), let alone the different places where they can buy one for a better, or in this case, the true price. So when they see a member, especially one whose join date shows that they have been a member for some time, they assume these.

I guess my question is, is there anything else we can do to keep this from happening again? That is, to prevent someone from using the reputation of SRP's classifieds, and really its members, from being used to fool newcomers into thinking what they are selling is (a)good, and (b)worth the price?

This time we could reference to CS. What if it were a vintage Filly 14 being sold for $660? How can comments be made with no reference to price?

One scenario that comes to my mind is a member seeing what he feels is a razor priced way out of line PMs a mod to that effect. If the mod agrees he notifies the seller and suggests lowering the price or taking it to ebay. Of course it would have to be an egregious discrepancy between a fair price and that listed but that is one way to approach the problem.

Long post here, sorry! I don't think the following suggestion will be adopted; not in any way because I think the mods are not willing to listen but because I don't consider myself to be the greatest problem solver. I'm just throwing out more of a comment wrapped inside a rhetorical question of sorts:

What's really wrong with someone publicly asking a seller why they they ask the price they're asking?

I agree, in a hypothetical situation where someone posts something for sale in the classifieds for what many would think would be exorbitant like: "I paid $XX for the same XXX, you're charging too much". Or, "I sold one of those last month and only asked $XX for it. What's up?" I think such comments would be uncalled for and unproductive.

IF............however, a person simply asked an honest question like: "Can you explain why you're charging that price?" What would be wrong with that? Everyone has a reason for setting a price for something. Reasons differ. As a seller of something, I would have no problem whatsoever with explaining why I'd charge a certain price for something.

I saw Glen quite some time ago give a breakdown on a razor and why he was asking what he was (a very fair price IIRC). The original cost of the razor, time spent in restoration, materials etc. I really appreciated that and thought; "Who could argue with that?!?"

I'm finishing up just a few horsehide and cowhide strops I'll put in the classifieds. I'll probably do something similar (give a cost breakdown).

Bottom line, I see nothing wrong with asking a seller to explain why they're asking what they are for anything. Personally I'll go on record saying I would not be offended if I sold something in the Classifieds and someone asked me to explain how I arrived at my asking price.

Chris L

To folow up on Chris's post, on another forum a guy having seen the recent phenomenon of a couple of Fillys bringing $600 on ebay put one up on their BST at that price. In the BST forum the members tore him a new ...... well let's just say they voiced their displeasure. The seller defended his position which left it up to the viewers discrimination to decide whether it was worth it or not. It didn't sell but that is neither here nor there. Seeing that we are all big boys and presumably able to defend ourselves or go to bat for a seller who is being criticized for a price we consder fair why not let it be self governing ? The mods can and do jump in to a thread if it gets out of hand and the newbie would have something to go by if an item is priced out of line.

I also see no problem asking a man why he is wanting so much for his razor. It is not uncouth, it is simply asking someone why he thinks he deserves so much for what he is selling. Everyone should be able to see this.

I think this is a good conversation. A while back in the BST I posted a razor that wasn't cheap. It got a bunch of comments one of which happened to be negative on price. I responded and so did he IIRC. He was just thinking the price was too high and I broke it down for him. Every detail about why it was the price it was. After that it looked like a deal. He didn't respond back but many member's agreed with my reasoning and said it was indeed a good price. Glen included. This might be what Chris L remembered. Anyway, the situation flattened itself out with "self-moderation" so to speak.

I don't think it is "impossible" to keep this going in the current classifieds but obviously we are having these discussions to figure out the best way. It can indeed get offending when prices are the topic. I think we really need to keep in mind that rules on pricing and condition are difficult to put as a blanket over the classifieds. Each situation may call for a different approach. I can think of a ton of razors that should fetch much more than most starter shave-ready-mint razors when they are actually pretty beat up. That is where the line of desirability, rarity, and uniqueness come into pricing and things can get fuzzy for new members. I don't have a silver bullet here, but think that maybe the classifieds could be slightly more "free" with the comments but slightly more moderated. Don't know if that would even work well in the current format, but the more ideas we get going the more the mods have to work with.

Originally Posted by Chris L

IF............however, a person simply asked an honest question like: "Can you explain why you're charging that price?" What would be wrong with that? Everyone has a reason for setting a price for something. Reasons differ. As a seller of something, I would have no problem whatsoever with explaining why I'd charge a certain price for something.

I saw Glen quite some time ago give a breakdown on a razor and why he was asking what he was (a very fair price IIRC). The original cost of the razor, time spent in restoration, materials etc. I really appreciated that and thought; "Who could argue with that?!?"
Chris L

I believe this is the one you were talking about Chris, I did it this way for a specific reason, at that time there was a "conversation" going on in BST about pricing... much like this one we are having right now....
I figured that if I broke it down, that I would not be involved in that "discussion" and that people who were not into restoring razors might have a better idea as to how much work actually goes into doing them...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/buy-s...ak-scales.html

Good memory BTW...

Yep, that's the one, Glen. I love the shape of those scales. When it comes to razor related things, I have a mind like a trap. Now....to figure out how I can transfer that memory ability to other things that I care about less but need to remember!!!

Chris L