Starius
Practically Family
- Messages
- 698
- Location
- Neverwhere, Iowa
PA Dancer said:Yeah, I have mixed feelings on this.
Ya can't blame anyone for wanting to make a few bucks, but some of the ebay prices are a little outrageous. I no longer shop on ebay for anything. I'm all about the barter and trade system now.
Personally, I'd never count the ebay out. And it isn't always as impersonal as it might seem either. Still many good deals to be had. Just yesterday, I decided to get a suit off ebay of which I liked the look. It was $165 buy it now, but I made a "best offer" of $90 plus the purchase of one of his $14.00 tie & handkerchief sets. The seller accepted my offer. Turns out the tie I picked was out of stock, so I picked an alternative and the seller threw in another free tie and handkerchief set for my inconvenience. So, I should wait until I have my suit and everything, of course, but so far I am rather satisfied with how this transaction is going.
But, I won't deny there is a dark side to ebay. Some dealers will bid on each other's things to help jack up the price so their friend's item doesn't go too low, or maybe even to incite a bidding war. I am not personally fond of this practice. But, its nothing new, it happens in live auctions too.
Edward said:A good point that shouldn't be forgotten! Where possible, I do always try to stick to buying from dealers who know their stuff and keep their prices reasonable - it's so much nicer to deal with someone who has a genuine enthusiasm (often I learn a lot from these folks too) for their stock, rather than just seeing it as product. you usually find better prices and nicer stuff from dealers like the former too, IMO.
My two best friends, whom are dealers, are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their respective fields. One of them is into western memorabilia. He is in his early 30s yet knows more about the subject than anyone I've ever met. Whether its a John Wayne movie to a Gene Autry toy cap gun, the man is a endless fountain of information. I'm not personally very interested in this field but I am constantly impressed by his knowledge in the area.
My other friend, his brother, is the same way about comic books. Not just knowledgeable but a true passion for the hobby. I've been buying my own comics from him for over a decade now. He knows what I like and has become my "personal shopping assistant" for comics. I don't even have to think about looking for comics elsewhere most of the time. He knows my tastes and finds just the kinds of books I like to read. And since I'm such a loyal customer, I always get an excellent deal.
Both of them care about their customer's interests and routinely look items with particular customers in mind. I couldn't possibly say enough nice things about them, but then again, maybe I am biased since they're friends of mine.
At any rate, I agree, these are the kinds of people whom doing business with is so enjoyable. Usually, these are people who are themselves collectors. If the dealer doesn't have his own passion for collecting something (anything), then I think they are more likely to be the kind of dealer whom you wouldn't want to socialize with for an extended length of time.