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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

THE FOR SALE SECTION: Why are we all trying to rip each other off?

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Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan

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Now I know that is a VERY general title, and obviously not everyone here acts in such a way. But I have contacted so many people with a part I need that they have for sale, and they are asking double for it. Why do we need to take advantage? From one RED brother to another, wouldn't you want to help one out in being able to use their camera?

Good business brings return customers, new and dear friends, and great word of mouth. I bought a scarlet. I have had it for a while ( like most ) and not been able to use it at all. I am a realist. I know that "that's what you get when you buy RED.." That is not my issue here. I have found numerous side handles, redmotes, and touch's for sale on here. Almost every person I have dealt with (EXCEPT for Chris G, He charged me ACTUAL cost plus shipping) has wanted to charge double or MORE for their part. I ask them if they could just make a few hundred for profit, but they say " Nah man, That's the price. Period."

Some of these people had more than one of each item. I understand making a profit too, but double? Doesn't seem honest to me. You'd hope we can help each other out ( which many of us do) by throwin some love out to other RED owners, while also building a better community.. ( Our community is somewhat of a joke to other communities, do to this elitist mentality)
 
At the same time I've seen recent "for sale" prices a lot lower than retail.

Unless you have a relationship with someone, people tend to use others with a promise of a favour
returned in the future, so in that respect you can't blame someone from wanting to profit now.
But hey, in a few months Red's capacity will be improved and those charging too much will be
forced to sell lower than retail to get a sale.
Best wishes.
 
I think blatant profiteering evinces a 'bad attitude' but that's just me...

Mike
 
Mike my point exactly. It speaks volumes of one's character. David, I haven't asked for a trade or favor, just that people are fair. Tacking on more than even the "new" red prices is just dishonest. I only hope no one pays the audacious requests.
 
I hear ya Chris and agree completely! I would rather find other options than fall prey to unscrupulous profiteers. Folks of good character are few and far between, that's also why industry circles are so small. But great deals are out there. Don't let the bad ones discourage you.
 
Although I agree with everything posted here and have always been "fair" in my pricing - isn't it the free market at work? If an item is not available anywhere (i.e. backordered) and you need the item now - if someone charges you double - and you are willing to pay it (because it fulfills your need at the time) then that IS what it is worth. It can't be compared to the price of the backordered item because you are being offered it "now". You are paying to get it "now". So if someone is asking for an unrealistic price - don't pay it. If you really need it and can't get it anywhere else - then that is what the item is worth.
 
Chris Jordan said:
I understand making a profit too, but double? Doesn't seem honest to me.
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This is by no means a defense of price gouging, but this remark sounds a little naive to me. Double? You apparently have no idea what the typical markup on common everyday retail items are. I worked for an upscale women's apparel company, and markups of 400% were often seen 300% was not unusual, and 200% was downright common.

If there is a buyer and a seller who can agree on a price so be it. These are not life sustaining necessities after all, so you can't really even call it gouging.

You want something that's in short supply and high demand... That's just the kind of market a savvy business person loves to be selling in. I get it, you're impatient but you have two choices: You can wait, or pay up, that's just the way it goes.
 
Dylan, you actually are missing my point. It isn't that you can or can't charge what you want, it's why do we need to rip each other off? I am only talking extreme cases. I was willing to pay $1250 for a side handle, but someone wanted much more. They were already making a great profit, so why gouge my situation? Profiteering is wrong. I am arguing the fact that we should all be fair, and can testify that it can do so much good for anyone involved. But the "me me me" mentality always ends us alienated, not trusted, and leaves a bad taste. " yeah I got the part i needed, after so and so ripped me off... grrrrr" Or " Wow I am so grateful for so and so, they offered it to me at a fair price since I was in need, and they still made a good profit. I will be keen on buying from them again, and tell everyone i know too."
 
Chris Jordan said:
Mike my point exactly. It speaks volumes of one's character. David, I haven't asked for a trade or favor, just that people are fair. Tacking on more than even the "new" red prices is just dishonest. I only hope no one pays the audacious requests.
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Something is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it.

dis·hon·est (ds-nst)
adj.
1. Disposed to lie, cheat, defraud, or deceive.

Sorry, there is no lying, cheating, defrauding or deception going on. No one sold you a side handle and shipped you a watermelon. THAT would be dishonest and a rip off.

You admit that someone who put up the cash (and time) to order the item, and then to go through the risk of selling it deserves a degree of profit. Shouldn't they be allowed to value their time/efforts? Especially with the degree of risk involved - the moment Red is out of backorder the items will be worth 20% of new and the buyer could suffer a loss.

Red says sets the price of their items and says take it or leave it. In the used market, you just have a bunch of different people all setting the value of an item. For example, an original 5.6" LCD is listed as being $1800 at the red store, yet are going in the 400-600 range because there isn't the demand. I'm sure there are those who figured they may as well hang onto theirs because it's not worth selling, and supply decreases which levels out the price. There is a demand for side handles, so the price increases. As the price increases supply increases. Suddenly people think - hey, I could go without one for a few months and then just rebuy, maybe it is worth it to sell mine which allows someone who really wants one to get one. Price fixing tends to lead to shortages.

Now, I have nothing for sale on reduser, but as a buyer my philosophy is - if it's worth it, then buy it. If not then wait or do without.
 
Scott, so you thing $1850 is a fair realistic price for a side handle? Even if this person has multiple? Even if they stated they could sell it for $1250 but the hassle of shipping is worth the difference? I TOTALLY agree with you, all is fair in the market place. Again, This thread is ONLY meant to discuss the why and why not of attitude, here in the RED community.
 
Chris Jordan said:
Dylan, you actually are missing my point. It isn't that you can or can't charge what you want, it's why do we need to rip each other off? I am only talking extreme cases. I was willing to pay $1250 for a side handle, but someone wanted much more. They were already making a great profit, so why gouge my situation? Profiteering is wrong. I am arguing the fact that we should all be fair, and can testify that it can do so much good for anyone involved. But the "me me me" mentality always ends us alienated, not trusted, and leaves a bad taste. " yeah I got the part i needed, after so and so ripped me off... grrrrr" Or " Wow I am so grateful for so and so, they offered it to me at a fair price since I was in need, and they still made a good profit. I will be keen on buying from them again, and tell everyone i know too."
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Hey Chris - don't get me wrong. I get where you are coming from and for the most part this is a supportive community.
But pricing is subjective. I agree that the morally conscious thing to do is take a nominal profit and move on. But what I am saying is that what you "think" is fair and what someone else "thinks" is fair can be very far apart. What something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it. Isn't that what the freemarket tells us? Look at the Real Estate market for example.
Scott Crawley's post summed it up quite succinctly.
 
Chris Jordan said:
Scott, so you thing $1850 is a fair realistic price for a side handle? Even if this person has multiple? Even if they stated they could sell it for $1250 but the hassle of shipping is worth the difference? I TOTALLY agree with you, all is fair in the market place. Again, This thread is ONLY meant to discuss the why and why not of attitude, here in the RED community.
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I wouldn't pay it, but that's not to say it is unfair to ask. It's only fair of there is someone willing to pay it, right? And if someone else is willing to pay it, it would be unfair of you to expect the seller to take less from you, simply because less is all you are willing to pay.

Asking an exorbitant price for an item doesn't mean you have a bad attitude, being a dickhead about it does. ;-)

BTW, I wonder if your apparent eagerness contributed to the new price... Play 'em closer to your chest!
 
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Alas, there are always opportunists and profiteers. And they will always self-justify and rationalize their stance --hey , if you aren't willing to pay, nobody's forcing you to. It does speak volumes as to character. And seeing a larger world with many at the top and their grotesque sense of profiteering, it's understandable this tendency is becoming more prevalent. I share your ethos Chris and glad you reminded us. As any community grows, there is often a certain anonymity that seems to allow for a little more borderline behavior. But overall, I still think most are more than fair and offer the helping hand and go out of their way. Sorry for your bad experiences. They often stick out more than the ones of common decency.
 
Rod, That was so eloquent and well said. Overall, I was just stating a thought I had, and wanted discussion, or at least someone else to relate with me. I appreciate those who have understood the actual meaning and purpose of my thread, not to just bring up the obvious which i even stated in the beginning. We all have our morals, and choices. I just choose to be fair. It has never steered me wrong.
 
Chris Jordan said:
Now I know that is a VERY general title, and obviously not everyone here acts in such a way. But I have contacted so many people with a part I need that they have for sale, and they are asking double for it. Why do we need to take advantage? From one RED brother to another, wouldn't you want to help one out in being able to use their camera?
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Good or bad, it's a free market and a free economy. Unfortunately, that gives people the ability to be greedy, if that's their inclination.

Stuff that's in short supply (or has long delivery times) does tend to go up. Heck, look at the prices of iPad 3's on eBay right now -- through the roof. I don't know how many will actually be sold for those prices, but people are easily asking double the retail price, which strikes me as unfair and swinish.

Maybe 10% over list... I can kind of see that. But the line between "greed" and "a fair profit" is very blurry.
 
Auctioning the parts off openly would probably be fairest to both sides. The greedy and the buyer. If the demand is there, fine. If not, just be happy with a small fee. Starting with a 10% "finders fee"-like profit for the seller sounds reasonable to me. if eBay wouldn't eat you alive with fees for more expensive stuff this would be a nice go to service for private auctioning.

I don't think profiteering if demand is high is wrong, but I despise profiteers who just buy to resell in the first time where delivery is slow. Be it iPads or cameras and acc. Free market and all, but this is just bad attitude to me.
 
Marc Wielage said:
Good or bad, it's a free market and a free economy. Unfortunately, that gives people the ability to be greedy, if that's their inclination.
Maybe 10% over list... I can kind of see that. But the line between "greed" and "a fair profit" is very blurry.
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Well spoken Marc.
 
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