posted on August 18, 2001 09:06:27 PM newHowever, this WAS NOT a question of someone wondering if it might be worth something
Neither was the big, old computer the guy begged me to take, I knew it was $1000 plus.
But 10 computer stores he had talked to convinced him it was worthless, and not one of them would even take it for free. He wanted it out of his garage, bad. First words out of his mouth to me was "I have a computer I'll give you, if you haul it away".
posted on August 18, 2001 09:52:10 PM newGlasGrl I can relate to that but I only made lots of money not lots, and lots of money. Congratulations on your find. Anyone that bends over to look through books should find a sleeper. Everytime I get home from garage sales my back is killing me from looking at books.
ditto Kiara
Oh how I hate spelling
[ edited by Libra63 on Aug 18, 2001 10:03 PM ]
posted on August 18, 2001 10:11:40 PM new
Nice catch?
You wish.
I am not exactly HIDING previous comments (duh). Gee, I only made them on the SAME board in the SAME day!
Comparing my comments regarding seeking revenge against someone who BURNS you and my comments here regarding KNOWINGLY ripping someone off is quite desparate.
Actually, if you could stand a quick lesson in consistancy, you'd realize that seeking revenge for being ripped off and criticizing someone else for ripping people off is pretty much CONSISTANT.
I do see a consistant thread, however, in your defense of people WHO DO the ripping off.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:17:09 PM new
Instead of spending your time trying to find something to discredit or tear me down, why don't you look inside yourself (and your conscience) to figure out why you think it's O.K. to profit off of someone elses misfortune? I could see if someone basically knew the item's value, sold it to you, and you got lucky and the price went through the roof. That's fine.
But, unfortunately we're talking about someone scrambling to get back to a sale to buy something where the advantage is that the seller has NO IDEA of the value of this item.
THAT is dishonest.
I realize the truth hurts, but shame on you for trying to distract from that point.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:23:04 PM new
Webrover- Let me tell you one thing. I have had that happen to me and to straighten it out takes long distant telephone calls, Stamps and valuable time.
When I was an instructor in the medical field I had 6 students who thought they knew more than I did. They did this to me and guess what after I spent my time doing all the things above (about 3 months) I found out who they were. The magazine companies (which were many) were more than happy to help me find out who it was. I had many long distant phone calls, and many many stamps. This wasn't just one magazine but probably 12 or more. Funny, I doubt it. Sick, yes. I know it is difficult to trace someone you don't know but you will find out the area it came from. I wouldn't wish that on anyone not even my worst enemy..Try another approach...
You are responding to another thread, so in this context you are making no sense. And for the record, I never did what was discussed there, I only said I thought it was a good suggestion. By the way, we were talking (in that thread) about revenge against those who burn you or rip you off. I suppose you invite those people over for tea? Why would you want to defend those who rip others off? Again, wrong thread.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:28:15 PM new
Almost every night I look through listings in different categories. I notice spelling mistakes and items that are identified incorrectly.
I bookmark them and then I snipe them. Many times I get them for a low price. Then I resell them, sometimes on ebay again.
I feel like such a lowlife, making a profit and not telling the seller.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:30:55 PM new
I was not talking about spelling mistakes, I was talking about KNOWINGLY taking advantage of someone NOT KNOWING the value of THEIR item. If you can live with your conscience, then knock yourself out.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:35:26 PM new
Look, I am done with this thread.
I just think it is pitiful the way some of you are bending over backwards to try and castigate ME for simply saying how dishonest it is to take advantage of another in the fashion discussed above. Just like a pack of wolves. You cannot pat each other on the back fast enough when one REALLY gets the best of an unsuspecting amateur seller. It's disgraceful.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:38:45 PM new
But that is exactly what I do! I knowingly take advantage of them. They don't know the value of the item. They put it up for sale on ebay and I buy it cheap and I never tell them.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:39:46 PM new
You got it - wrong thread BUT since it was mentioned in this thread and I wasn't around for the last thread (I don't spend my time in here) I thought it was appropriate. You ask "what thread", I was talking in this thread. I feel I was riped off. It wasn't easy to prove your right. Now back to the subject at hand.
There are many sellers here that buy from eBay and resell. Isn't that the American way. If I don't do it someone else will so I might as well do it. glasgrl Don't lose any sleep over it and keep doing your Happy Dance.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:40:17 PM new
If a SELLER, prices an item for sale, and a BUYER pays the price asked, how in the hell can that be considered dishonest?
It didn't sound to me like anyones arm was being twisted on this sale.
What the BUYER feels its value is, has NOTHING to do with what the SELLER feels the value is.
I've had people sell me items for a fraction of what the fair market value was, because they simply wanted a fast flip on their $.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:57:41 PM new
Sorry to post off topic
Webrover, the gist of your point seems to be that its robbery to use ones superior knowledge of a field to cash in on severly undervalued objects.
the price was established and she paid for it, and then profited from her superior knowledge. This subject has been discussed many times here.
Here's some thoughts about it to consider from a past thread. It is picked up in the middle of a paragraph and thus starts a bit out of context. I think it puts some perspective on the issue.
"....don't lawyers, as a matter of DAILY business use "superior knowledge" to charge outrageous sums (by any working mans standard), many times to those in the most desparate of circumstances and dire need? Without regard to age or financial abilty. And how about doctors who turn perhaps dying people from their door because they can't pay the outrageous sums of money that they need to keep up the opulence that they for some reason require.
No angry mob around to tar and feather these "pillars of society"
Lets really get twisted and ask: If I bought an item from an old sick lady for $100, that she needed every penny of to pay the doctor just to READ her x-rays, and I knew the item was worth $1500, which I needed every penny of to pay a lawyer to defend me against the guy who tripped over my cement lawn ornament at the flea market and claims it cost him $3000. for his doctor bill for therapy for his twisted ankle, which one would be the biggest villain?
1. The old ladies doctor because he uses his "superior knowledge" to charge a ghastly fee just to take 5 minutes to interpret a photograph.
2. Me, for using my "superior knowledge" to buy an item and make an envious profit from a senior who didn't realize its value.
3. My lawyer who uses his "superior knowledge" to command fees that are so far out of sync with the average mans pay scale that he must work 2 FULL days to pay the lawyer for 2 hours or less of his time.
4 The goldiggers doctor for using his "S K" to require yet another unbelieveable sum for the simplest of care and about two hours of his time.
5. The goldiggers lawyer who uses his "superior knowledge" to profit from the exploitation of a frivolous situation.
6. The Goldigger who probably could have soaked his foot in ice water for an hour and been fine but uses his "S K" of the legal system to earn an undeserved settlement.
My point? This absurd (but entirely possible) example shows that exploitation for large profits by those who possess "superior knowledge" happens everyday on a multitude of levels, most often by those who hold a "RESPECTABLE" position in our society. Somehow it seems if you go to school for that knowledge, pay your license fees to the state and hang a certificate on a wall, wear a suit and shave everyday you can screw people on an hourly basis with impunity and actually enjoy a high social standing!!
But if your an antique dealer who gained knowlwdge through MANY, MANY years of keen observation, self teaching, expensive mistakes and innumerable lean months that almost put you on the street, your a dirty dealing dog if you profit TOO much from that knowledge. AND you're expected to educate everyone with a passing interest and an old dish for free and at the expense of your potential earnings.
WHATS UP WITH THAT?!!
I wish I could compute the cumulative dollars I have spent for my 20 years of ONGOING education and compare that with the expense of, say, the average doctor or lawyers education. I'm not saying it would be more , but I wonder if it would be close.
I think I've come to the conclusion that having "superior knowledge" of any kind is a sin and an unfair advantage over everyone.
That reminds me, I have to take my car in tomorrow, I heard this thumping sound and thought it might me that lump on the tire, but my mechanic says its definately my transmission and he could give me great deal at around $950.
I sold 6 Stieff animals for $25 ea. that were rare, mint (though with labels removed) and worth at least $200.ea. I sold a Rookwood vase for $30 ($300 value) I sold a potential $15,000 painting for $2200. (interesting to note that the buyer came back and gave me $300 more saying he did "better than expected" on it, I wonder if he was just a good guy, or did he make so much he felt guilty. Either way I think it was stand up gesture, but but I would think no less of him had he not done it). Just 3 weeks ago I sold a Tiffany vase for $35 to an art glass dealer who recognized it ( a trusted mutual friend let me know I made that mistake). These are just a very few, and who knows how many I never learned of. But I have no animosity to these buyers whatsoever. In fact I admire them for being able to hack out a good living in one of the most competitive games around and would sell to any of them again, hopefully a little smarter next time. There was no lying or deception involved on their part, which would be a different matter. The artglass dealer did try to point out a split in the irridescence as being a crack in the glass to try to get a better price, that was bit annoying but I think expectable."
posted on August 18, 2001 11:00:25 PM new
In reply to the question about the Big Book - I think the people who would pay a hefty price for it are those who think AA saved their life. A similiar book is Dianetics - though not quite so old or rare.
A fine copy of GWTW in dust jacket used to be worth about $5000. But in the last couple of years - probably because of the internet - they go for more than $10,000.
As for the point about lucking into a big lump of money, I look at it this way: I am a bookdealer and this happens to me a couple of times a year and I make an extra $6000, let's say. Uh - that works out to an extra $3 per hour over the course of the year. Not worth moaning about, hardly.
posted on August 18, 2001 11:16:15 PM new
The value of an item to a seller is exactly what is on the price tag. I paid a dollar at an estate sale for a 15th century manuscript that the owner was certain was a reprint. I knew better. He had no qualms about asking extortionate prices on things he thought was worth some money, including a seashell collection. He was willing to exploit me given the oppurtunity, so I simply returned the favor.
Welcome to the evil, exploitative and victimizing world of capitalism. You either learn to live by its sick rules and manipulate them to your advantage, or learn to sleep in a box if you do not have the stomach to become a slavish corporate drone.
posted on August 18, 2001 11:26:47 PM new
Oh yeah.... one more thing.
What about all the times that *WE* as vendors are exploited. Today at a market some scheming old bat who pretended not to speak english had her son try to whittle me down on a mexican vase from $4 to $1. I didnt feel like packing the piece, so I let her have it. I'm sure she thought she really got over on me, probably gloating that I lost money on that deal. But, hells bells, I got it for nothing as part of a box lot and if it didn't sell it was going to the trash.
I got the last laugh! Wouldnt have been caught dead with it a a REAL market anyways...
posted on August 19, 2001 12:01:01 AM new
If I should use my so-called "superior knowledge" to purchase and item cheap and sell it for a profit. I would just consider that a return on the investment of getting an education. Whether or not that is a formal education or just the time I spent doing a little price checking...
There has to be some return on the investment of education. It certainly costs enough to get a formal one at a university or college...
posted on August 19, 2001 12:31:50 AM new
glassgrl, Congratufreakinlations!
I had one recently also - I paid $3 for mine, but it sold for so much I almost p**d my pants. LOL.
May I suggest http://used.addall.com/
It's fast, and it searches abe, biblio, etc. I like it a bit better than abe because lately abe seems to be slow or overloaded or whatever.
Don't let the naysayers bug you. You're obviously not a "vulcher," - nor a vulture either!
Also, I don't think reserves hurt book auctions as much as they might discourage bidders in other categories, so if you're worried about the iffiness of summer sales, I've done pretty well with reserves selling books - my results with reserves weren't very satisfying in other categories.
posted on August 19, 2001 03:27:01 AM new
For the record...I slept well last night<g> 1.It was an ESTATE sale. Held by a bank. Posted on the door of the sale was "All prices are marked. Books half price." I ASKED whose estate and where was the money going. Lady said the XXXX bank out of town paid someone to come in and price all of this stuff 2. All of it was ridiculously high prices and all was still there, except for the books. 3. I asked, what's going to happen to the stuff that's left and was told "someone is going to pay to come in and take it all". (Probably the person who priced it all so high, right?) 4. I don't lie cheat or steal. I don't rat or play ebay police. I believe what goes around comes around. I believe what you think is what you get. You create your own reality. My affirmation is "all my stuff waits for me" and this was a two day sale. This was the second day, 30 minutes before closing. I didn't say, "would you take less for what I have". 5. I also manifest front door parking spaces at Wal Mart and NOT in the handicap spaces. Should I lose sleep over that one?
[ edited by glassgrl on Aug 19, 2001 04:08 AM ]
posted on August 19, 2001 04:10:21 AM new
I suggest that the reason early AA books are valuable is because of the 'set' theory of collecting.
Collectors like to collect complete sets of things - that's the fun.
Since there are a lot of later editions, lots of people start their collections. And since there are almost no first editions available they are worth a fortune.
AA stuff is collected because if means so much to so many lives
Sniping works up a thirst"
