Sure does irk me when somebody asks for a deal then flips the knife for a profit...

Macchina

Macchina

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So I sold a TC Lick Creek 2-Blade Smooth Antique Yellow Barlow 2 weeks ago to somebody that asked me for $10 off the sale price. This was soon after posting the knife for sale and the first contact of many, however I agreed and even though somebody else asked to buy it for asking price before any money was sent I honored the original deal I made and completed it and sent the knife off. I knew I was asking a fair price but I had dealt with this guy in the past and didn't mind giving him a bit of a discount.

In less than a week that same knife was back up for sale for $30 more than what I had just sold it for! I could care less if you think you can flip a knife for a few bucks after buying it from me but don't ask for a deal just to maximize your profits for crying out loud! If I give you a deal it's because I share the same hobby with you and want you to enjoy the knife for what you think it's worth, not so you can increase your margin right in front of me...
 
While I understand your feelings, the bottom line is don't sell for less then you want. Then forget it. You have no control over what they will sell for, so why worry about it. As LW said-Happens all the time. If I got what I wanted, I am fine. I have gotten over worrying about flippers, both on the buy and sell side. I just deal with it on my own end as best I can.
Just one persons opinion
 
It can be hard for that situation not to bother one at all, but when it is all said and done - if you sold it and agreed to the price; what really is the problem? You achieved you goal. Once one buys a knife (or anything for that matter) it is theirs and they can do what they want with it. Maybe they did not like it, changed their mind, etc. No one is going to get rich or make any money selling a knife for $30 more than they paid. Time, shipping etc.....
 
Peter Hartwig said:
While I understand your feelings, the bottom line is don't sell for less then you want. Then forget it. You have no control over what they will sell for, so why worry about it. As LW said-Happens all the time. If I got what I wanted, I am fine. I have gotten over worrying about flippers, both on the buy and sell side. I just deal with it on my own end as best I can.
Just one persons opinion
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I get what you're saying but I don't agree. I don't have much against flippers as people will pay what they pay. I do have a problem with asking for discounts then flipping as we are a community here and that feels like ta asking advantage above standard flipping.

To a certain degree I lump this in with selling a knife you win in a giveaway. If you buy a knife outright it's yours to do with what you want. If you ask for a deal on a knife you both bight the knife and accepted a bit of generosity with it. To sell it fit the price you bought it for is A-OK. To flip this knife is to sell both what you paid and make profit on somebody else's generosity.

Maybe I'm sensitive, but this rubbed me wrong.
 
Also, I hope we can all agree that Bladeforums is a community different than other places like eBay. I'd never give a discount to somebody I didn't know if they messaged me on eBay. The reason I gave the discount was so he could enjoy the knife a bit better at the price he thought was fair (fair for him apparently, not for the next guy). Since he crapped on my generosity: my goal of giving him the discount was not met...
 
Calk it up to a nice gesture on your part. While it would be great if all past on the discounts they get, it is rare that I see it. In your case I am not all that sure if the guy was flipping for a profit. He may have decided to just move it on. He asked $30 more, but may not get it-very few of my deals go for asking, and I feel I am starting at a good price. Then deduct PP and shipping. There sure isn't much there if any. I certainly notice the mark ups on my sales, I just accept it. I have enough other stuff to get upset about, and try not to let the little things get to me. There are enough real problems in the world that I would go into upset overload if I didn't let some things go.
 
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How much will shipping and paypal fees cost him? I'll list a knife higher than I paid sometimes, with the goal of breaking even once those are paid. Sometimes I do, sometimes I lose $$$.
 
LastRodeo said:
One suggestion for the OP, if you find yourself in that situation again. Agree to sell for the lower price, but don't include the tube/box. That way if they are truly buying it for their own use, it won't matter. If they are buying it to flip, not having the tube/box will limit them from being able to sell it for more.
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If an item is pictured with accessories then it should be shipped with the accessories that are pictures unless otherwise discussed. If I make an offer on a knife or anything else, and it shows up with parts missing, we have a problem. Keeping items just because a price is lowered is the same as stealing.
 
Lone_Wolfe said:
How much will shipping and paypal fees cost him? I'll list a knife higher than I paid sometimes, with the goal of breaking even once those are paid. Sometimes I do, sometimes I lose $$$.
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+1 If I got a good deal I'll pass it along. I like the journey more than the destination.

I won't discount an item to the first person when it's only been up for a short period of time.

Just put them on your ignore list. Might be the best $10 you ever spent.
 
pwrdbycotn said:
If an item is pictured with accessories then it should be shipped with the accessories that are pictures unless otherwise discussed. If I make an offer on a knife or anything else, and it shows up with parts missing, we have a problem. Keeping items just because a price is lowered is the same as stealing.
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I wasn't suggesting that or did not explain what I meant. If the buyer asks for a discount, he should reply to the buyer that if he will sell if for that price, he will not include the tube/box. It would then be the buyers choice as to whether he wants it under those conditions.
 
pwrdbycotn said:
If an item is pictured with accessories then it should be shipped with the accessories that are pictures unless otherwise discussed. If I make an offer on a knife or anything else, and it shows up with parts missing, we have a problem. Keeping items just because a price is lowered is the same as stealing.
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Agreed. Also, if you're going to be sending the knife without something that's normally with it, point that out in the ad. For example, if the blue cloth is missing from your CRK, don't just omit it from the pic but note it it's absence in the comments too.
 
As far as someone buying a knife me and then turning around and profiting from it goes, not only does it not bother me, I actually applaud it! I got out of it what I wanted, so what they do with it is none of my concern. If they're better at me at selling and finding a buyer who will pay more, then maybe I need to pay more attention and become a better seller.
 
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