From: jcowling@ophelia.UVic.CA (Scowling Jim Cowling)
Subject: Re: X-Men 1E HOLO 4 sale
Organization: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 05:02:43 GMT

>>Hell, let me put it bluntly, folks:  if you want one, let me know. 
>Considering
>>what I paid for them, it's not terribly important what they go for.
> 
>>Noticed that you wouldn't drop your Gold Card prices, Purbaya.
> 
>>And it should be pointed out that the Platinum Spawn cards were available in
>>larger distribution than Mr. Pantja indicated.  Capital City sent some out as
>>well.
> 
>I do not price the X-Men 1E holo to take you, Mr Scowling. In fact, I
>have selling at that price for a while, although I never post it here. 

How?  Do you own a store?  If so, you shouldn't be posting here.

>I will not, I repeat, I will not cut the price because somebody says the
>price is expensive (you have been telling me that all my comic prices
>are high) or because somebody is trying to compete with me. If you ask
>me why, it's because I believe that what I sell reflects what is going
>out there. It may not be cheap, but it is the market price. I am
>desperate to sell my comics because I know that if it is not selling
>here, I can sell it somewhere else. Sounds like you are desperate to
>sell your hologram, Mr Scowling.

Nope.  I know the power of the Consumer.  The consumer has more power than
the seller.  Period, full stop.  What you are going for is not "the market
price" if someone in the market (namely me) is willing to push the price lower.

Again, I don't care what it sells for.  I will post the lowest price here 
because I feel that this newsgroup is a place for deals, not dealers.  I'm
sick and damned tired of seeing prices here so much higher than The Going
Rate that it isn't funny.  That's why I have my Mail-Order List which lists
places where readers can find prices lower than yours, and Dave Lillard's,
and the rest of the bozos here who think that this place is their personal
playground to become mini-dealers.  It isn't.

And I'm certainly not desparate to sell "my" gold hologram.  I don't even
own a gold X-Men hologram.  I post quite a few items here that belong to
other people.  

And I've had three offers on my Wizard cards.  Have you had any?  I'd rather
have people buying my (when you see 'my', read it is 'the stuff which I am
selling for myself and others') stuff at fair prices that posting an
unreasonable price and sitting on it.  

You are not selling at market price.  You are not selling at fair price.
You ARE selling at rip-off price, which is why I am so vehement to let others
know how they can find merchandise far cheaper than what you (and others)
ask.

>It seems to me that you are getting personal with me for some reasons.
>Do whatever you want to do, cut the price whatever you want, but I will
>keep my price and satisfy those people who buy comics from me. 

I'm not getting personal; this is not a personal attack.  I simply don't like
the prices you ask.  You may certainly keep your price, but judging by the
huge number of people asking about my items and asking for my listing, you
aren't getting much business at all.

>I have been straight with everybody, and I will always be. In fact, I
>did apologize to you about posting the wrong info about the Platinum
>Spawn card and I promise you that I will correct it on my next postings.

I told you about the Platinum cards in a private message a couple of weeks ago;
I was quite willing to let it slide until I saw that you were one of those
"let's profiteer by selling to the Wizard-boy lowest common denominator
 customer" people.  Then I saw the rest of your posts and decided that you
were a good example of Bad Salesmanship -- something I despise.

I'm beating your price and sending your customers to established, good-deal
places or selling to them myself.  That's the free market.  Lowest price and
best service wins.  By opting out of the price war with your "I don't have
to lower my prices because I want big money" attitude, you can only hurt
yourself.

>Ok, Jim? 

Fact:  your prices are higher than established retailers
Fact:  you have not been straight with everybody, as you have admitted 
       yourself -- repeating an error after you have been corrected is
       the same as misleading your customers
Fact:  you get defensive when challenged.

Ask yourself this question:  I live in another country, and by mail-order I
can get EVERYTHING you have put up for sale at 10-60% cheaper than the prices
you offer -- why should an American, who will pay less for shipping and
therefore save more money, buy from you?

Caveat Emptor -- I've been saying this since this newsgroup formed, and I'll
say it until it ends.

Kids:  what's a fair price to sell (say) Sandman #1 in NM for?  $22.00 or
$35.00?  $35.00 is guide price -- I've seen people advertising them at that
price here.  Why buy it for that price on the Net when any Joe can go to their
local shop or go mail-order through a reputable dealer and get it for the
same price or lower?  That's why I priced the last bunch I sent out at $22.00.
It's reasonable.  It's cheaper than retail (by far) but I still make more 
money than if I had sold it to my local shop.  And EVERYBODY wins.

It's good economics, Purbaya.  Maximize your profit, but balance it
with maximizing the customer's interest in the item.  Cut your percentage to
increase the chance of selling it.  Otherwise, you're no different from
any retailer, and that's not what I, or I'm sure ANYBODY reads this group
for.

Thank you and good night.

-------
Scowling Jim Cowling
Creative Writing Department, University of Victoria (opinions disassociated)
America borders on greatness -- Canada!
-------