The problem with Classic Shaving and the Cobra razors

The BSTs on shaving forums that I frequent are not, to my knowledge, meant to reflect the free market. BST's are meant to foster community building. To provide a convenient way for  friends to exchange goods. When I put something up for sale on the BST, I ask myself, what would I charge a good friend for this item? I can't imagine wanting to profit from a sale to one of my good friends.

I understand that there is supposed to be a certain "gentlemanly spirit" of the thing when it comes to BSTs, but as an experienced seller, I promise you that most buyers are not interested in community building. They are interested in getting the best deal possible, even if it means lowballing the hell out of the seller. If this type of behavior is acceptable among buyers, I fail to see how pricing a hard to find item based on a hypothetical market price is any worse.

I have been selling on the BSTs for years and have had very good experiences. Actually, was never lowballed. I have always enjoyed how gentlemanly people are on these forums when conducting transactions. I'm sure lowballing happens, and to me this is just as bad as selling at an above market price. But I don't see how one type of bad behavior justifies another.

If someone is willing to pay that price, what does it matter to anyone except the buyer or seller? Stop and think about the amount of money most sellers lose to buyers trying to get the best deal on everything they can on items that are in less demand. Are these buyers "abusing" the seller?

To your first question, while true, I can still have an opinion about it.

On the second thing, that's flat out ridiculous. Sellers aren't losing any money to buyers. It's up to them whether they agree to an offer or not.

When I said abuse, I didn't mean sellers abusing the buyers. They're abusing the platform of the BST. It shouldn't ever be used to try and make a profit, IMHO. That's what fleabay is for if you really want to do that.

This forum has four simple rules. None of these rules state that the BST should not be used to make a profit, or that it is against the spirit of the community if you price something a dime over retail cost. Other forums have such rules, and that's fine. If it is not against the rules, why are you complaining?

Some have made the argument that the "uninformed" buyer needs to be protected against sellers who charge more for their item. I very much doubt that those looking for a Wolfman, Morris & Forndran, Varlet, etc., need any educating on how much the thing costs. Maybe they are willing to pay more to get it instead of waiting?

And my point about sellers losing money is far from ridiculous, but it sheds light on the point central to my own. It's up to the buyer to agree whether or not to pay the asking price....

The BSTs on shaving forums that I frequent are not, to my knowledge, meant to reflect the free market. BST's are meant to foster community building. To provide a convenient way for  friends to exchange goods. When I put something up for sale on the BST, I ask myself, what would I charge a good friend for this item? I can't imagine wanting to profit from a sale to one of my good friends.

I understand that there is supposed to be a certain "gentlemanly spirit" of the thing when it comes to BSTs, but as an experienced seller, I promise you that most buyers are not interested in community building. They are interested in getting the best deal possible, even if it means lowballing the hell out of the seller. If this type of behavior is acceptable among buyers, I fail to see how pricing a hard to find item based on a hypothetical market price is any worse.

I have been selling on the BSTs for years and have had very good experiences. Actually, was never lowballed. I have always enjoyed how gentlemanly people are on these forums when conducting transactions. I'm sure lowballing happens, and to me this is just as bad as selling at an above market price. But I don't see how one type of bad behavior justifies another.

Please point me to the BSTs you've used where you have never been lowballed or lost a great deal of money, because I would like to join immediately. Many of the people are gentlemanly, no doubt, but there are an equal number of people who will wait for you to drop your price four times, withdraw the item, and then contact you with an offer 25% below your last best price. This has happened to me at least a dozen times in the last year and there isn't a damn thing that is gentlemanly about this behavior......

As much as I agree with the OP, I find the thread interesting. I brought that up several months ago, about how people were abusing the BST by asking ridiculous prices that were not in the best interest of the community.

I was told by the leadership in this site to pretty much mind my own and pound sand. Well, there you have it! Can't have it both ways folks!

Now feel free to ban me if you wish!

Except that's NOT what I said to you when you asked. I told you that no rules were being broken (which they weren't).

I think a majority of the mod team - myself included - have better things to do with our time than playing bst police because someone MIGHT make a profit on a bst item they have up. If someone feels the price isn't in line with the market value, then don't buy the item.

This is the one of the reasons we keep the bst archive around so people can help gauge the market.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

back to the topic,
Due to the fact I live in India, I face a lot of time zone issues for releases,
I admire the system that Wolfman and Wolf whiskers have set, for that matter even Randall Made Knives, atleast I know where I stand, with classic's Cobras I just could not buy one, never could be online at 4 or 5 am and while there is an alert system, it has not been very reliable.
I bought a new King cobra from a member at TSN for $290 with an additional 20 blade pack and a new cobra classic from another member who read about my problem on the forum and in a gentlemanly act offered it to me for nothing more than the cost of the razor and actual shipping, no paypal or handling charges etc etc,
there are different kinds of sellers on all forums but I atleast now have these razors and can enjoy my hobby
also I am sure a little system as simple as a queue does help,
regards from sunny Bombay
raj k

And what about sellers that ask you to take the hit of money conversion, PayPal fees etc.? Or send the money as a "gift", and you're left with no buyer's protection? At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide. Nobody forces you to buy. It's annoying, I'll give you that, but still okay according to the rules.

And what about sellers that ask you to take the hit of money conversion, PayPal fees etc.? Or send the money as a "gift", and you're left with no buyer's protection? At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide. Nobody forces you to buy. It's annoying, I'll give you that, but still okay according to the rules.

That is not permitted here at DFS because it directly contravenes PayPal's rules.  If we moderators see this then the post is placed in the B/S/T Fix thread and the seller is notified and asked to remove the request for "gift" payment.  It is then up to the seller to fix his post or remove the item for sale altogether.

back to the topic,
Due to the fact I live in India, I face a lot of time zone issues for releases,
I admire the system that Wolfman and Wolf whiskers have set, for that matter even Randall Made Knives, atleast I know where I stand, with classic's Cobras I just could not buy one, never could be online at 4 or 5 am and while there is an alert system, it has not been very reliable.
I bought a new King cobra from a member at TSN for $290 with an additional 20 blade pack and a new cobra classic from another member who read about my problem on the forum and in a gentlemanly act offered it to me for nothing more than the cost of the razor and actual shipping, no paypal or handling charges etc etc,
there are different kinds of sellers on all forums but I atleast now have these razors and can enjoy my hobby
also I am sure a little system as simple as a queue does help,
regards from sunny Bombay
raj k

Hi Raj, what do you think of the razors? Are they worth the trouble you had to go to to acquire them? Its apparent that no matter what part of the world we live in, we all face similar challenges. Its good to be human isn't it, at least when one considers the alternatives.
Mark

I understand that there is supposed to be a certain "gentlemanly spirit" of the thing when it comes to BSTs, but as an experienced seller, I promise you that most buyers are not interested in community building. They are interested in getting the best deal possible, even if it means lowballing the hell out of the seller. If this type of behavior is acceptable among buyers, I fail to see how pricing a hard to find item based on a hypothetical market price is any worse.

I have been selling on the BSTs for years and have had very good experiences. Actually, was never lowballed. I have always enjoyed how gentlemanly people are on these forums when conducting transactions. I'm sure lowballing happens, and to me this is just as bad as selling at an above market price. But I don't see how one type of bad behavior justifies another.

Please point me to the BSTs you've used where you have never been lowballed or lost a great deal of money, because I would like to join immediately. Many of the people are gentlemanly, no doubt, but there are an equal number of people who will wait for you to drop your price four times, withdraw the item, and then contact you with an offer 25% below your last best price. This has happened to me at least a dozen times in the last year and there isn't a damn thing that is gentlemanly about this behavior......

You're still not forced to sell the item.

I have been selling on the BSTs for years and have had very good experiences. Actually, was never lowballed. I have always enjoyed how gentlemanly people are on these forums when conducting transactions. I'm sure lowballing happens, and to me this is just as bad as selling at an above market price. But I don't see how one type of bad behavior justifies another.

Please point me to the BSTs you've used where you have never been lowballed or lost a great deal of money, because I would like to join immediately. Many of the people are gentlemanly, no doubt, but there are an equal number of people who will wait for you to drop your price four times, withdraw the item, and then contact you with an offer 25% below your last best price. This has happened to me at least a dozen times in the last year and there isn't a damn thing that is gentlemanly about this behavior......

You're still not forced to sell the item.

And prospective buyers of a high priced item are not forced to buy.