Prices on AstroMart

Is it just me or does it seem that a good many folks on AstroMart have either forgotten or are unaware of the concept of USED? I keep seeing people post stuff at RETAIL prices and above and/or they'll take $10.00 off RETAIL like its some big favor they are doing the world.

I am sure to get a bunch of flame mail for this (asbestos suit now on) but geez. You buy the suff retail use it fo god knows how long and then try to pawn it off here LNIB cause you saved the box come on that is just B.S. As a rule of thumb MOST USED crap is automatically 25%-50% off (eBay auction not included of course). Maybe I'mjust old fashioned and I know there are some folks who offer genuine deals and feel like I do but It just seems this is turning into AstroBay. Give me you feeling on this am I being too nieve?

P.S. funny I see some stuff for sale here that does't sell and then gets posted on eBay by the same dozen or so individuals.

I am looking for an Astro Physics 1200GTO GEM. You wouldn't happen to have a used one for sale, would you? ;-)

It's just you.
:-)

Okay, seriously: if you feel stuff is overpriced, that's cool. I don't notice very much, myself. Most items I run across seem appropriately priced for the market (or at least nearly so). And it's that word, "MARKET," which is the key. If there's a ready supply of buyers willing to pay (bad example--) $50 for a once-tried, mis-aligned, discarded-but-mint, prism diagonal, then I have absolutely no problem with folks continuing to feed that market and take the buyers' money. I wouldn't presume to tell one of those buyers, "What're you doing? That prism wasn't worth $50 to you. It was only worth $10 to you."

In some cases, the supply a given item may be zero (or almost zero). If the demand for that item is plentiful, the price will be higher. (If supply is plenty, the price will drop.)

There may very well be just as many UNDER-priced items out there, too. When that happens, how many buyers do you think would come forward and offer pay *more?*

Every deal involves a seller AND a buyer. Why lay blame on the seller?

Best wishes.
-Dan

The can of worms is open now. I had asked the same question awhile back in the off topic section and the flames were bad that bad. actually the ratio of agree and disagree was pretty one sided, about 4:1 in agreement. all lot of good points were made on both sides. but it still comes down to each person. I agree with you! others won't.
all that can be done is, when you see an ad and you don't agree with the price just laugh it off and move on! Myself, well I just say, "what are they smoking"?? LOL.

I tend to agree. Occasionally I see a deal and wish I could afford to spring for it at the moment. More often it seems used late model good condition astro stuff goes for about 80% or more of new price. If the sellers can get it, I can't blame them. OTOH, unless it is something not available new without a long wait or there are some other unusual circumstances, I don't see myself paying 80% of new price. For that difference, I'll buy new and get the warranty and so forth virtually every time. However, I suppose it's a not unmixed thing, since I am somewhat more willing to try new things if I feel like I can sell it of for 80%+ of new price if I don't care for it or it doesn't suit my needs. So there's two sides to the story.

Hey folks - you ever try buying "antiques"? I had a friend once who was a "guild card holder" in the racket and I could tag along to the "buyers fairs" (defiantly NOT open to the public) and see what the shop owners sold stuff to each other for. Boy, was THAT an eye opener! I will NEVER again buy a antiques (or "collector") item for that reason only as the typical dealer mark-ups will curl your hair!

Ditto with old cars, having been in that hobby too. In some cases the "sizzle" can be 80% of the buyer's cost (sounds a bit like AP waiting lists). If you want to play, fine, but old P. T. Barnum used to say something about people born on the minute and laugh all the way to the "Egress", but that's the free market at work for you. And if you can play and turn a profit, all the better.

Me, I like the "What have they been smoking - LOL" philosophy. But I think the real problem for those who do get hot and bothered is that they feel the fools who stoke this kind of buying frenzy drives up the cost for the rest of us. Maybe true but why get bothered by it? There are plenty of other more important things in this world to get motivated about.

So, lets see, a brand new 31 Nagler has a list price of $620. add tax and it's now (in Ca. anyway) $666.50. Now add shipping charges of +or- $10 and it puts the total at + or -$676.50. Now, as we all know, if you pay this kinda money for an eyepiece, you probably kick the wife out of your bed and have it resting right next to you. Okay, maybe not all of us are that fanaticle, but you get the point. This eyepice will be well cared for. so, now you decided, lets say a year later, to part with this baby for whatever reasons. According to you, you would sell this for between $169 and $338?
How about another point...how much do you think a 1 year old Mercedes would cost you?
BTW, This is not an attempt to flame you, just trying to add a little perspective...
Don

You are correct in your statement - some people are just nuts and unrealistic in valuing their equipment.

On ebay, some morons are trying to get more than list price for the Bose radio/cd - I emailed one just to be sure the item was the one I thought it was - he never emailed me back. But remember - some buyers are morons too - and will pay much more than something's worth just because - they are a moron !