- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
I don't know about you guys (and gals) but it seems like I get MUCH better value out of my knives when I trade them than I do when I sell them and take the money and buy something else.
Maybe it's because when I trade I'm trading for other "like" new or used knives, but when I buy I usually buy new. After all, when I have CASH I usually can't find exactly what I want on the Sale forum.
It doesn't really make that much sense :footinmou (always wanted to use that smiley) because, I assume, that if others keep having to lower their price on the Sale forums (like I do) then you should get the same value if I sell something and then buy something as you do when you trade.
OK, I have a theory!
People simply LOVE to trade. You just don't see it that often now-a-days and, frankly it's FUN! It's NICE to go back 1500 years to the old bartering system. I think people LOVE to "wheel and deal" with trades too. "Throw in this... you can't have that too."
When I post something good up for trade I get about 8 responses as opposed to maybe 2 (1 inquiry, 1 sale) when I put something up for sale.
Also, when it comes to trading I think there's a lot of "Win some. Lose some." attitudes out there. I know I have that attitude. Sometimes I think I have to take maybe a $50 hit on the value of my knives to get something I want in trade. On the other hand, sometimes I have something someone else really wants and I think I end up on the better end of the trade.
The only really BAD thing about trading is that, often, people just don't have; or don't care to part with, the things on your WANT list. I have a bunch of pretty good stuff up for trade right now, but I'm also asking for some pretty specific things. I bet if I put something like "All offers welcome!" in the post that I'd get 20 emails a day, but I don't want to waste anyone's time.
One GREAT thing about the trade forum is that ANYONE can trade but only GOLD members can sell. I think that really richens the trade forum and I LOVE that rule! (I'm sure it does our hosts a lot of good too.)
I could go on and on but I've done that too much already...
In ANY case...
Does anyone have any feelings or strategies about which is better; selling or trading?
Maybe it's because when I trade I'm trading for other "like" new or used knives, but when I buy I usually buy new. After all, when I have CASH I usually can't find exactly what I want on the Sale forum.
It doesn't really make that much sense :footinmou (always wanted to use that smiley) because, I assume, that if others keep having to lower their price on the Sale forums (like I do) then you should get the same value if I sell something and then buy something as you do when you trade.
OK, I have a theory!
People simply LOVE to trade. You just don't see it that often now-a-days and, frankly it's FUN! It's NICE to go back 1500 years to the old bartering system. I think people LOVE to "wheel and deal" with trades too. "Throw in this... you can't have that too."
When I post something good up for trade I get about 8 responses as opposed to maybe 2 (1 inquiry, 1 sale) when I put something up for sale.
Also, when it comes to trading I think there's a lot of "Win some. Lose some." attitudes out there. I know I have that attitude. Sometimes I think I have to take maybe a $50 hit on the value of my knives to get something I want in trade. On the other hand, sometimes I have something someone else really wants and I think I end up on the better end of the trade.
The only really BAD thing about trading is that, often, people just don't have; or don't care to part with, the things on your WANT list. I have a bunch of pretty good stuff up for trade right now, but I'm also asking for some pretty specific things. I bet if I put something like "All offers welcome!" in the post that I'd get 20 emails a day, but I don't want to waste anyone's time.
One GREAT thing about the trade forum is that ANYONE can trade but only GOLD members can sell. I think that really richens the trade forum and I LOVE that rule! (I'm sure it does our hosts a lot of good too.)
I could go on and on but I've done that too much already...
In ANY case...
Does anyone have any feelings or strategies about which is better; selling or trading?
Not that it's wrong to try, but I just find it kind of hard to find exactly what I want in a trade. Money is the great intermediate step.