From: berger@atropa (Mike Berger)
Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers
Subject: Re: DO NOT DEAL WITH BOBS@APLCEN.APL.JHU.EDU
Date: 14 Aug 92 21:41:10 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning) writes:
>   You are equating two separate ideals.  OBO is saying "auction"
>while LIMITED SUPPLIES means there are only a few items available.
*----
Maybe it's a regional thing.  Around here, "... or best offer"
doesn't mean the same as "to be auctioned to the highest bidder."


>  Now let's talk about the "everybody".  Mike, YOU are a part of
>this "everybody".  I, am a part of this "everybody".  If, as you
>state, you do not wish to be included in this "everybody", then
>why are you even here?  Obviously you are not "anybody" if you
>do not wish to be included in the "everybody" who wishes to read,
*----
Seems like this nonsense assumes that we all agree that "best offer"
is a synonym for "auction".


>  Next let's talk about the misquote which you posted.  Please Mike,
>as a friend of my once said: "If you can't state what I say correctly,
>the don't state me at all!"  You posted, incorrectly,

>"if you don't accept my offer then I don't want it"

>when what I really said was:

>"In your own case (and possibly others) you would probably
>simply submit a bid and, if it wasn't the highest, you'd probably
>just say you didn't want it."

>There is a big difference between the two.  My response was based upon
>your previous message which stated, in general terms, that you would
>submit a bid and if it wasn't the best given that you would not only
>not buy the item but would not want it as well.  Your quote reduces this to
>a petty, childish whine.  Which was not my intent at all.  Indeed, I
*----

Speaking of misquoting!  What I said was, if the seller doesn't like
my initial offer, I expect a counter-offer and negotiation.  I never
said that if my first offer wasn't accepted, the seller was a
rotten doody and I'd take my ball and go home.

>intended by my remark to leave open the possibility that you might
>still try a higher bid - which is your perrogative.  That is why I said
>"probably" - because I can not read your mind and thus leave to you
>what is yours. :)

>   Finally, comes the question of bidding itself.  What is bidding?
>Is it a ferocious, stab someone in the back, attempt to kill, maim,
>and render your opponent senseless?  No.  At least, it doesn't have
>to be.  However, any type of auction, whether it is for a horse, a house,
>or a computer, requires the repeated attempts by various buyers, to
>purchase the object in question.  Do you think a horse, on auction,
>is won by the first person to hold up their hand?  Pull their ear?
>Rub their nose?  Nonsense.  The bidding moves from person to person
>until a final price has been reached.  The same holds true for OBO.
>With OBO you have thrown open the door for an auction to take place.
*----
Again, your whole problem seems to hinge upon your interpretation
of "best offer" as meaning "auction".  I see a big distinction.

>If you get one bid - then you take it.  If you get fifty - then you
>get to select from the best bid AND, IF you have any smarts at all,
>you will reset the bid on the board so everyone can see what the
>current going price is for the item.  In this way, if no one else
*----
What you call "smarts" is called "unethical business practice"
among my compadres.  We don't buy on that basis.  But feel free
to offer your merchandise that way.  Limiting your market won't
fetch you the best prices in my experience.

>   As a postscript, I have to say that this is the second post
>you have made which simply states the same quantitative end.  Or
>in other words "Me First".  In conjunction with this I've also
>notice the "If you don't play by my rules then I don't want to play"
>kind of kid games.  Don't take me wrong.  You can play these games
*----
Well, of course - I naturally don't feel obligated to play by
whatever rules some stranger sets.  If I don't like the rules,
I won't play the game.  You think that's childish?  I think
it's smart business.  I just want the rules to be stated up front, and
unlike you, I can distinguish between somebody offering merchandise
for sale and somebody offering it for auction.

--
	Mike Berger
	Department of Statistics, University of Illinois
	AT&TNET     217-244-6067
	Internet    berger@atropa.stat.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers,ne.forsale