posted on April 24, 2001 01:03:43 PM
>>So philosophically, you might suggest that it would be better to help one, if not all, but in actuality, you do not? <<
In a situation in which I felt strongly that a wrong is occurring, I do, in actuality, help one if I can and all if possible. However, I don't, in fact, regard auction overpayment to be so dire a condition as to warrent my attention. Beanie baby overpayers are low on my list of reciepients of my personal philanthropy. I chose this particular subject to make my comments desite that fact. My interest was in a point of philosophy. My intention was to challenge the philosophy you appeared to be espousing, since I see its larger effects on a daily basis with the populations I work with. And what I am doing now (challenging one) perfectly fits the antidote to that philosophy.
posted on April 24, 2001 01:12:50 PM
Who's job is it to decide how much an item is worth to a buyer? Let me give you a hint, it's not an outsiders. It's the buyer himself, so let him make his own judgements.
I once paid $800.00 for a bottle of wine in a restaurant that could have been purchased for $400.00 at a local liquor store. Why? Because I could and that I wanted to to. Kindly give other buyers the same opportunity to make their own judgements with any interference.
I just have a few questions for you?
Are you single?
How tall are you?
How old are you?
Are you willing to relocate to Southern California?
Are you married? (Hmmm...I guess this should have been the first one!)
posted on April 24, 2001 01:31:06 PM
computerboy, I'm not sure why you're arguing with me, as I don't disagree that bidders should be able to spend whatever they wish on auctions. As I previously stated, I have never contacted anyone in this regard although I've often had the opportunity. Nor do I have any plans to do so for the very reasons you mention.
It would be an interesting point to argue, however, if you became aware that a buyer was erroneously bidding high because of his own ignorance, NOT out of informed choice, such as in the situation you mentioned.
To use a concrete example, if you're standing behind someone in line at the PO and they appear to be sending a tiny item by Priority. In this case I would say nothing, since I would assume (rightly or wrongly) that they perhaps need it to get there quickly, or prefer free priority wrapping to buying a bubble envelope, or have any of a dozen other reasons why they might want to send it one way over another.
Let's change the situation, however. Say I overhear the person with a tiny package talking to a friend and saying "I have to send this Priority, I have no choice, ALL packages must go priority. Only letters can go first class." Since they are making a 'decision' out of lack of correct information, I would then speak up and supply the correct information. After that they would still have the option to go priority or first class, but their choice would be informed.
since I have no way of knowing if bidders who appear to be 'overpaying' on Ebay are informed, or uninformed (and I really couldn't even make a guess which group would be the majority) I say nothing, as by nature I tend to assume people are intelligent and informed until I learn otherwise.
going back to and regarding my initial post, I am interested in a tangential point of philosophy which MrPotatohead appeared to be (perhaps unwittingly?) espousing in another thread.
posted on April 24, 2001 01:37:25 PM
Point taken and without disagreement.
What you are saying is that you are a good guy who will try and help people if you can. I admire the philosphy and try and take a similar approach to life. If I'm able to help someone, I usually do.
Relating this point to auctions is a bit difficult, as most of the folks that contact bidders about their overbidding are usually troublemakers with alterior motives. I think you get my point. Auctions are best left to the buyer and seller to work out on their own.
posted on April 24, 2001 01:41:37 PMMy intention was to challenge the philosophy you appeared to be espousing, since I see its larger effects on a daily basis with the populations I work with.
Not knowing what popluations you work with nor your experiences, I can hardly offer any reasonable comment on your viewpoint. I only made my previous statement (overpaying for an auction item) with regards to that one type of situation, not as a general philosophy of life. I think we would both agree that what is appropriate when dealing with online auctions (which was the particular topic of discussion) may not necessarily be so in other situations.
By the way, didn't it seem odd that the other thread was locked? The originator apparently didn't make that request, and (at least it appeared to me) everybody was playing nice. It would seem more practical to contain a discussion in one thread, rather than having it start over in a second. I guess that's why the moderators are making the big bucks.
posted on April 24, 2001 04:54:38 PM
Well, I agree with computerboy it is a great way to kill time.....
At the same time, this kinda touches on an observation I have been mulling over for awhile. It's more of a curiosity to me than a philosophical/ethics issue....
I was in the market for a particular type widget. I did as much research as I could and even contacted the manufacturer. It comes in two models (both marketed under the same name-which is very confusing IMO). There is a price difference at the retail level of several hundred $ in these two models. The manufacture will sell to you direct, but they will not come off their quoted retail price (I tired).
I have found several sellers of this widget on eBay. All the sellers use the picture and copy word-for-word from the manufactures website.
Only thing is they use the picture and copy from the top model, but I don't think any of them are actually selling the A model.
The prices that the widget brings on eBay is 1/2 (average) of what the lower model sella for from the manufacturer. That is why I am convinced all the sellers are actually selling model B instead of A. I don't think they would sell A for 1/2 of what B retails for. In fact, I decided to go ahead and buy one. Mine is definetly the B. I am very pleased with my widget and feel I made a very good buy.
Here's the kicker. A new seller has arrived on the scene for this item. This seller uses the same picture as everyone else, but states quite clearly that it is manufactured in 2 models and you are bidding on the less expensive model. Even quotes the recommened retail of both models.
Her auctions close for about the same as everyone elses. So there really doesn't seem to be a "unfair" advantage being taken by using the incorrect copy/picture.
The conclusion I have come up with is all the buyers are obviously happy with their purchase since none of these sellers has anything but +++ FB. Maybe the buyers know they bid on model B instead of the advertised A and maybe they don't. If they are happy does it matter????
Should I email all the sellers and ask them why they do what they do?????
I have been tempted just to see what answer, if any, I would get.
Would I consider emailing bidders to see if they realized there are 2 different models?
No, I would not. Why? I would feel I was being a busybody and I have determined the prices are better than manufactures quoted retail price.
posted on April 24, 2001 09:19:57 PM
Mr. P: fair enough. I work in social services btw and I fight it from both sides: the "if you can't do XYZ for ALL your clients, don't do it for ANY of your clients" attitude from fellow workers, and the "Everybody is doing such and such, and I can't possibly change everyone's mind because there are too many of them, so I just won't try at all." I even find myself giving in to it sometimes---when I see homeless people and think, I can't help all of them, and use it as an unconscious excuse to pass up the ONE person I originally focused on. Sorry if I made you the target of my musings on this, it's been a loooong week.
Kim
P.S. I agree about the unnecessary closing of the other thread.
posted on April 24, 2001 09:33:59 PM
No problemo... I didn't mean to argue that particular point, anyway ( "if you can't do XYZ for ALL your clients, don't do it for ANY of your clients" ). I just used that approach as an extreme example.
I don't really mind being used as a target, either. The discussions here are interesting (at times, anyway), and I often argue in favor of points of view that I don't personally hold.
edited to remove errant smiley...
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Apr 24, 2001 09:34 PM ]
I had a lady win a pair of bookends from me at a price which was a good bit higher than similar ones had been selling for on ebay.
Her email to me said she knew she had paid a bit more than others had sold for but her late father had this same set & they had gone missing. She'd tried to bid on others but had gotten continually outbid & she was determined to replace this set. Now that she had finally gotten them, she felt like a small empty place in her heart had healed.
There are so many reasons people pay the prices they do & it's not always due to ignorance.
Some do because it's convenient. Sort of like buying a quart of milk at the convenience store on the way home. You know the price will be much higher than the grocery store, but it's quick, it's easy & you're in a hurry.
Some do because it has a special meaning beyond conventional "value", like the lady above.
Some might because they are overseas & can't get the item or the item may be sold out in their area.
Some may get into a bidding war & not be able to walk away (been there, done that!).
It's easy to want to "save" people from themselves but it's not always money reasons that are causing them to make the bids they are.
only teasing!
