posted on September 16, 2001 06:45:39 PM new
I realize that name of the game in eBay is FREE enterprise, but....$20 for a usa flag pin that costs $2 any other time.
Am I alone in thinking that the flood of flag merchandise, and the HIGH buy it now prices, are no better than selling WTC items? I just don't get making a profit off this TRAGEDY.
And, Yes, I know Wal-,mart and K-mart, and other stores sell this flags and they make money. But they don't put it up for auction to the highest bidder so to what rewards they can get from all the pain! I just don't get it, and it really makes me ashamed...
posted on September 16, 2001 06:51:48 PM new
I agree with you. I spent some time earlier today browsing through the featured auctions and I was ashamed too. I saw stickers (flag) selling for $7 plus $2 s/h. Any other time these would be $1-2 and I have a hard time seeing how they could cost more than .55-.65 to mail.
So I got even in my own way-- I just hit the back button and did not bid.
posted on September 16, 2001 06:55:49 PM new
And why should that make you ashamed if you are not the one that did it?
Do you buy into this we are all responsible for everyone else's error crap?
I stopped buying that swill from the teacher's in 5th grade.
posted on September 16, 2001 06:56:01 PM new
Vote with your feet (or back button). There are always those who will try to profit from the sorrow of others. Being American has nothing to do with it.
If you were from Canada, and it was Canada that had been attacked, there would no doubt be sellers of Canadian flags etc. with the same inflated prices. (or France or Spain or Australia etc)
posted on September 16, 2001 06:57:16 PM new
Thanks at least I am not alone! I saw shipping for $4.00 on a pin that weighs 2 ounces. I should say I feel more disgusted, and SAD,than ashamed. Gee, if I didn't have a consious,a deep PRIDE for my country, and the deepest sympahty for victims, I could retire off the American flag items I own.
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 06:57 PM ]
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 06:58 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2001 07:00:45 PM new
It makes me ashamed even though I am not the one that did it, because I still belong to the same race as these people, the HUMAN race!
posted on September 16, 2001 07:04:48 PM new
Well, then, you're ashamed to be a human being. Being American has nothing to do with greed.
Meya, who is proud to be an American, even when there is greed and pandering going on around me. There is also bravery, sacrifice, and those who are working way beyond the call of normal duty. These far outweigh the greedy folks trying to eek out a miserable few bucks selling American Flag pins no doubt manufactured in China.
Let them make their few dollars...they are reduced, not me, or you for that matter.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:09:22 PM new
Meya,
You are right. I should have worded it that way. After seeing the way these people are making money off the loss of so many, I am ashamed to be a HUMAN, I am PROUD to be an American. I think I will go hug my dog now!
posted on September 16, 2001 07:09:57 PM new
There is price gouging every single day of the year on any kind of item you can think of. The ones who are trying to take advantage of this tragedy probably have high prices & high shipping on everything else they sell too.
But instead of being ashamed to be an American, maybe you should look at the bigger picture. Look at all the people WILLING to bid so high just so they can get one of those items, willing to pay astronomical amounts of money just to be able to hang a flag in front of their house, or to wear a pin, or drive around with a flag bumper sticker on their car - to show their support and to be PROUD to be an American.
I recently looked up American flags too (to purchase), and saw the high prices. There were high bids on practically EVERY flag. I was not mad, or ashamed, I felt proud that so many others wanted to show their patriotism.
For the first time it feels like all of us Americans are "on the same page" and truly united. I don't think that's anything to be ashamed about.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:15:41 PM new
Sorry executive girl-I can't see it like that. Yes there are the people who are so proud they are willing to pay anything to a hang flag. That is NOT the point. The point is the people who see nothing wrong with making money off of the loss of so many lives. If this didn't happen, would there be all these flags now, I think not.
And no, "free enterprise" isn't wonderful, when it comes at the expense of innocent lives. JMHO!
posted on September 16, 2001 07:18:16 PM new
People want to express their unity by wearing and displaying the flag. So what if they pay too much for one, and end up with the shoddy polyester ones from China.
So be it. It is their constitutional right to make poor purchasing decisions, just as much as it is our right to call them on the price gouging.
What makes me sad are the so-called Americans who smashed the windows of a nearby shop run by folks of Arab descent, and are boycotting a gas station run by a middle eastern family.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:20:46 PM new
Many of the flag items I saw on ebay said that a portion of the sales were going to go to the Red Cross.
I bought 4 flags yesterday at a Community Sale and 1/2 the price was going to the Red Cross.
Not everyone out there selling flag items is a crook, or "taking advantage" of this tragedy. I'm sure there ARE those out there trying to make a buck off of the tragedy, but you see that for every tragedy (Princess Di, Dale Earnhardt, etc). I'm not saying it's right at all... but it happens. It shouldn't make you feel ashamed to be an American - if anything, it should make you feel pity for those who have to stoop so low to make a dollar. JMHO.
This is a picture of the side of our house. We also have a flag on a pole from the front of the house.
Those who are attacking Arab/Americans also disturb me. Some of the people being harrassed are second and third generation Americans who just happen to be of Arab descent. It's horrible.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:32:09 PM new
Executive Girl-I did say in my posts, that I worded it wrong. I am not ashamed to be an American, I am ashamed to be of the HUMAN race. But then again, I guess it wouldn't be the first time, and I am sure it won't be the last...
And why not donate ALL the profit to charity. That would be the respectable thing to do. I have been trying to get me hands on pins so I could sell them at cost to people, so they don't have to be taken. To be, that is the Human, and at this time, the American thing to do.
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 07:35 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2001 07:35:33 PM newThe point is the people who see nothing wrong with making money off of the loss of so many lives.
Hold on there. I'd call that characterization more than unfair.
What's the "right" price for these flags? If heavy bidding forces the going price of flags beyond a certain, "correct," threshold, should sellers cancel bids and sell at lower prices? Or, to prove their patriotism, should sellers give their flags away?
More than a few of these sellers, I'm sure, have seen their inventories languish in the past. Now that their products are suddenly more popular, we're going to call them "gougers" and unpatriotic?
Bullsh*t. The people bidding on the flags are setting the "correct" market prices.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:38:19 PM new
Fountainhouse-Give me a BREAK! Most of these people probably didn't even have Flag "inventory" until this happened. This is making money off this crisis! If it wouldn't have happend, there wouldn't be this demand, period!
posted on September 16, 2001 07:40:07 PM new
I'm surprised these people aren't trying to sell body parts to the dying.
I am seeing 9.99 flags go for $140.00. Why not sell them for a Bin of $20.00. At least limit your profit to 100% or maybe even 200%.
Your not selling to a person that has to have the football card to complete a collection or that used enema bottle. Go ahead and stick it to them not someone simply wanting a flag to fly to show their support.
Where are the people that were bidding on the WTC items and then not paying to get them closed. They should be doing it to all these flag sales also.
Jim
Correcting some of the spelling
[ edited by LaneFamily on Sep 16, 2001 07:43 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2001 07:41:08 PM newAnd why not donate ALL the profit to charity
Why stop there? Give us your seller's ID, we'll bid on your items, and ALL the money you make on EVERYTHING you are selling, we will make the payments payable to the American Red Cross.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:41:19 PM new
Our neighbors went to a popular department store and bought some flags. Decided she wanted more and returned an HOUR later and this store had raised the prices.
As someone else stated. When the demand is high, so is the asking price.
Edited: Got more political than I needed to be.
[ edited by ThriftStoreQueen on Sep 16, 2001 07:42 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2001 07:43:36 PM new
>Look at all the people WILLING to bid so high just so they can get one of those items, willing to pay astronomical amounts of money just to be able to hang a flag in front of their house, or to wear a pin, or drive around with a flag bumper sticker on their car - to show their support and to be PROUD to be an American.<
I'm one that would be happy to pay an inflated price to have a new flag to wave!
(ours is showing signs of wear after almost 6 years of daily display)
Somebody makes a few bucks of it that's fine.
I don't give away my stuff so I don't expect anyone else to either.
Meya is right....
>Vote with your feet (or back button)<
Otherwise ante up!
Let's thank goodness ebay isn't ending all American or flag auctions.........
posted on September 16, 2001 07:44:40 PM new
Executive Girl-Again, that is NOT the point. "Everything" I sell, in fact, Nothing I sell, makes me profit from the misfortune of innocent victims.
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 07:45 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2001 07:46:53 PM newlorndav, still waiting for answers to my questions.
What is the "correct" price of a flag?
While you're thinking about that one, I'd like you to set similarly "correct" prices for the items in your inventory, then ask yourself if you'd be willing to decline all bids over your artifical threshold.
This topic is mean-spirited and more than a little hypocritical.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:49:45 PM new
Our local paper printed a full page flag on the inside of the last page. They are appearing in many windows around town. I printed some small ones and laminated them to tie on the car antennas. We also printed some to tape on the inside car windows.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:51:19 PM newAgain, that is NOT the point.
You are the one who said people selling flag items should give ALL their money to charity, not me.
How do you know how much people are making on their flag items? Did you email each and every one of them and ask them what they paid for them? Do you know what their markup is?
Maybe some of these people ARE giving all their profits from flags to charity, they just don't advertise it on all of their auctions?
The people selling flags are actually HELPING America show their patriotism by offering them up for sale at all.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:51:42 PM new
What is the correct price for a Flag? The price people were paying on 09-10-01. The price before 5,000 people lost there lives, and the country went to war.
And ALL my items do have this "similarly" set price, as none of my items go up in price because of a tragedy.
posted on September 16, 2001 07:54:13 PM newNothing I sell, makes me profit from the misfortune of innocent victims.
Are you sure about that? Are you certain that nothing in your inventory was produced with forced child labor? Asian sweat shops?
The list of products is longer than you think, and it's probable that anyone who buys the bulk of their inventory at garage/rummage sales has indeed made a profit off the "misfortune of innocent victims."
posted on September 16, 2001 08:00:33 PM new
Fountainhouse-The arguement you make does not even compare to the point I was TRYING to make. Of couse everyone who sells second hand has no idea where there things came from, or what circumstances are behind it. HOWEVER, I DO NOT wait at the door step of an
person who owns collectibles just waiting for them to die so I can make money.
In my opinion, that is what ANYONE who makes a profit from this tragedy has done. They seized the MOMENT people died to see that they could make a profit.
This is MY opinion. And the one great thing about this country, is I can have MY opinon, as can you...
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 08:04 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2001 08:02:22 PM new
Executive Girl-How do i know how much these people pay. Well, I have been in the retail biz for 20 years, and all I can say, is if they they paid $20 for a $2 retail pin, .50 at cost, they BETTER find a new business, cuz they ain't gonna make it!
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 08:03 PM ]
[ edited by lorndav on Sep 16, 2001 08:07 PM ]
