When does "profiteering" overlap with asking market price?

[simonlpearce]

Sell what you want at whatever price you want. If someone wishes to pay for it thats up to them. If nobody wishes to then the seller can ask for feedback.

Thats how most selling works.

Absolutely agree with this. If someone sells something on here then it is relisted by someone else a week later but for a higher fee, then so be it. Either the original seller sold it too cheap, or anyone willing to buy it at the marked up price isn't doing their research.

It only takes a few minutes of internet browsing, ebay, piston heads, auto trader, gumtree etc to figure out what something is worth.

It always has and always will be buyer beware when buying anything on an internet forum.

 

[paulgs1000]

Sell what you want at whatever price you want. If someone wishes to pay for it thats up to them. If nobody wishes to then the seller can ask for feedback.

Thats how most selling works.

Absolutely agree with this. If someone sells something on here then it is relisted by someone else a week later but for a higher fee, then so be it. Either the original seller sold it too cheap, or anyone willing to buy it at the marked up price isn't doing their research.

It only takes a few minutes of internet browsing, ebay, piston heads, auto trader, gumtree etc to figure out what something is worth.

It always has and always will be buyer beware when buying anything on an internet forum.

Is the nature of the Forum changing? 'Buyer beware' - on one level absolutely right but on another level I don't come on the forum to be ripped off, pissed off or to feel taken advantage of and I guess that's the issue for me, so if the 'rules' change then the nature of the forum changes. Or am I being unrealistic and too stupid?

 

[85genius]

Sell what you want at whatever price you want. If someone wishes to pay for it thats up to them. If nobody wishes to then the seller can ask for feedback.

Thats how most selling works.

Absolutely agree with this. If someone sells something on here then it is relisted by someone else a week later but for a higher fee, then so be it. Either the original seller sold it too cheap, or anyone willing to buy it at the marked up price isn't doing their research.

It only takes a few minutes of internet browsing, ebay, piston heads, auto trader, gumtree etc to figure out what something is worth.

It always has and always will be buyer beware when buying anything on an internet forum.

Is the nature of the Forum changing? 'Buyer beware' - on one level absolutely right but on another level I don't come on the forum to be ripped off, pissed off or to feel taken advantage of and I guess that's the issue for me, so if the 'rules' change then the nature of the forum changes. Or am I being unrealistic and too stupid?

I agree with you, I've not been here long but wouldn't see this forum as somewhere you would come to get ripped off!

That said most other forums I have been on have minimum post requirements to be able to sell which does stop people signing up just to sell some crap and rip off the membership. But I do also see the benefit of not having it as it means if any none member wants to sell their Z it makes it easier for our regular members to find

 

[simonlpearce]

Sell what you want at whatever price you want. If someone wishes to pay for it thats up to them. If nobody wishes to then the seller can ask for feedback.

Thats how most selling works.

Absolutely agree with this. If someone sells something on here then it is relisted by someone else a week later but for a higher fee, then so be it. Either the original seller sold it too cheap, or anyone willing to buy it at the marked up price isn't doing their research.

It only takes a few minutes of internet browsing, ebay, piston heads, auto trader, gumtree etc to figure out what something is worth.

It always has and always will be buyer beware when buying anything on an internet forum.

Is the nature of the Forum changing? 'Buyer beware' - on one level absolutely right but on another level I don't come on the forum to be ripped off, pissed off or to feel taken advantage of and I guess that's the issue for me, so if the 'rules' change then the nature of the forum changes. Or am I being unrealistic and too stupid?

I would say perhaps a little more naive.

Internet forums are rife with chancers posting stuff that is usually rare or too good to be true. M3 Cutters is a prime example where people have been ripped off for thousands. When buying anything online you should make sure you cover yourself. Use a credit card if over £100, back yourself with paypal protection, or indeed deal in cash on collection basis only.

So far it seems this forum is very genuine and most sellers are honest. However it really is not worth taking any big risks.

So as i said before, buyer beware.

 

[StevenH72]

I've bought my sepang m roadster with a view to male q profit. It may back fire can I loose a small fortune. Does this mean when I eventually decide to sell I cant sell on here?

I think let the market dictate the selling price

Exactly, I purchased my Z4MC for just over £18k, 2.5 years ago, which was a pretty hefty price given the market at the time. 2 years and 10k miles later I sold the car for ~£19k. This was arguably below market value. I didn't list on AT / PH / here as I wanted a hassle free sale without too many tyre kickers etc.

Perhaps I wouldnt have been barred from posting anyway

 

[maxman]

Is the nature of the Forum changing? 'Buyer beware' - on one level absolutely right but on another level I don't come on the forum to be ripped off, pissed off or to feel taken advantage of and I guess that's the issue for me, so if the 'rules' change then the nature of the forum changes. Or am I being unrealistic and too stupid?[/quote]
No just a decent forum member.
I am like you ,I treat people like I want to be treated.In my way of thinking the basis of a forum is to help other members whenever possible not rip them off.

 

[PerryGunn]

,I treat people like I want to be treated.In my way of thinking the basis of a forum is to help other members whenever possible not rip them off.

Yep...

...although I might reword it as 'the basis of a forum is to help other members whenever possible, occasionally take the piss out of them, and not rip them off...' :wink:

That said, I don't think asking 'market value' for a car or an item such as a hardtop that has been owned for a while is profiteering, if the value's gone up during ownership, then it's gone up... although my opinion might be different if someone was buying/selling and effectively acting as a trader....

 

[sp3ctre]

Is the nature of the Forum changing? 'Buyer beware' - on one level absolutely right but on another level I don't come on the forum to be ripped off, pissed off or to feel taken advantage of and I guess that's the issue for me, so if the 'rules' change then the nature of the forum changes. Or am I being unrealistic and too stupid?

Not at all, the thing is some people think they have a "right" to sell on here. This isn't true at all, we allow things to be bought and sold on here because it adds value to the forum. We don't get a cut from sales, except where people are kind enough to forward one on. If we decided to remove the for sale section overnight then nobody would be allowed to sell at all.

Hopefully it won't come to that though, by and large the current rules have worked well so far, with the odd exception. This is not a forum for people to run a business or wheel and deal to gain a profit. If they want to do that they can go on ebay.

While the for sale section adds value for the forum and it's members it will continue.

 

[jimmybell]

I dont think the mods need to be doing in depth price watching of items, its just not what they signed up for (i assume...)

If you buy something, it's on you to do your research. If a price is particularly high for an item there will be the guys on this forum that can't hold their tongue and will comment, the forum will essentially police itself - buyers can then take or leave the 'advice'.

We're reaching a time now where some of the Z4's are actually appreciating, if i'd of garaged mine and never driven it i'd of made a tonne of money selling it now. I can't see how the forum would be better if it restricted things like that. It's a free market outside of the forum - it shoudl be here .. except you get the benefit (or annoyance) of forum advice and discussion. Everything is optional.

I would, however, not be against restricting buy/sell to users with some posts behind them, alarm bells always ring on forums in 'for sale' threads when someone has under 10 posts and is trying to sell a ~£20k car.

 

[bluestreak56]

If you buy something, it's on you to do your research. .

This exactly. Buyers should be encouraged to not be so naive, do some research. If you dont want to buy there is not pressure to do so!!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Personally I think it all works pretty well.
Given we have over 8,000 topics and 71,000 posts there are only a handful of incidents worthy of note.
Thankfully as a mod it is largely self policing and so long as folks remember it's not Ebay, but a service offered to members so folks will comment on price (be that high or low) and generally advise each other and equally folks need to be aware nothing on the internet is perfectly safe. Forum membership is no guarantee of of who's behind the keyboard.

I only take a serious interest when I spot dubious posts where language leads to confusion such as selling a home repaired car as professionally done, 'forgetting' a car is a Cat D, not declaring items have been changed, etc.

 

[Ewazix]

I think things work pretty well, if something is badly overpriced people will chip-in with 'advice' for the seller which is right as it's a forum not a small ad' site and the mods do a good job of intervening when someone's being shady

But I don't really see much upside in allowing people to join to sell TBH, if you want a car for example you are going to look at ebay, PH AT etc, the real USP the forum offers is the chance to check members posts and history which isn't possible with join-to-sellers.

 

[nb67]

Naivety is what makes people pay what they think is a 'good' price but that naivety is made up of the 'seller' exploiting, sometimes without knowingly doing so, the current market value of goods.

Internet searches, positive feedback and paying via Paypal/Credit card over £100 should see you well.

On the flipside, I was offered goods on here at a higher price than the seller had the same goods on Ebay. Not exactly fair game imo but such is life hey?