The Greed in this hobby is gross. Nobody ever wants to leave a dollar on the table..

[ksp6687]

Got an intro from a friend to someone who does some stuff in this biz. Chatted a bit yesterday about how crazy this hobby is right now and how pricing is insane (mostly him saying all of this, me agreeing)

I mentioned I've spent over 100k this year on product and have zero allocations which I find ridiculous at this point. Distributors are the worst, etc. He mentions he gets some, but not a ton, but he can definitely help me out. Then proceeds to tell brag about all of the stuff he's bought for MSRP as of late with his allocations.

Low & behold today he sends me some pricing and of course it's all at 3-4x MSRP like BO & everyone else. Like not even beating their pricing. I get wanting to make some money, I do, but legit you can't go 20% under the big boys when you'll still make 300%+ on a multiple thousand dollar transaction?

This hobby and the majority of people in it are gross

[GeechQuest]

Cesspool.

Maybe next time just ask him for cash. I don't get why anybody would sell something cheaper than they have to, when they don't have to.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

Got an intro from a friend to someone who does some stuff in this biz. Chatted a bit yesterday about how crazy this hobby is right now and how pricing is insane (mostly him saying all of this, me agreeing)

I mentioned I've spent over 100k this year on product and have zero allocations which I find ridiculous at this point. Distributors are the worst, etc. He mentions he gets some, but not a ton, but he can definitely help me out. Then proceeds to tell brag about all of the stuff he's bought for MSRP as of late with his allocations.

Low & behold today he sends me some pricing and of course it's all at 3-4x MSRP like BO & everyone else. Like not even beating their pricing. I get wanting to make some money, I do, but legit you can't go 20% under the big boys when you'll still make 300%+ on a multiple thousand dollar transaction?

This hobby and the majority of people in it are gross

#2020

[RedMike]

So he is asking for market value and you want less than market value..

but you aren't the cheapskate.. he is just a greedy bastard?

[ninjacookies]

Did you forget to tell him about your 25 year old son that has a rare, genetic ingrown toenail condition, whose only wish is to have 5 cases of Optic hobby before he has a mini shark tooth excised from his right foot?

If so, that's on you.

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

Got an intro from a friend to someone who does some stuff in this biz. Chatted a bit yesterday about how crazy this hobby is right now and how pricing is insane (mostly him saying all of this, me agreeing)

I mentioned I've spent over 100k this year on product and have zero allocations which I find ridiculous at this point. Distributors are the worst, etc. He mentions he gets some, but not a ton, but he can definitely help me out. Then proceeds to tell brag about all of the stuff he's bought for MSRP as of late with his allocations.

Low & behold today he sends me some pricing and of course it's all at 3-4x MSRP like BO & everyone else. Like not even beating their pricing. I get wanting to make some money, I do, but legit you can't go 20% under the big boys when you'll still make 300%+ on a multiple thousand dollar transaction?

This hobby and the majority of people in it are gross

I hear your frustration, but whenever you sell something, do you always sell it for 80% of whatever the going rate is? If you do, please keep me in mind whenever you're selling stuff. You will be a very popular seller.

Some ppl have been in the hobby for years and have been grinding to make 10-20% or have lost a lot of money on various purchases over the years.

Get it while you can.

[ksp6687]

Originally Posted by GeechQuest

Cesspool.

Maybe next time just ask him for cash. I don't get why anybody would sell something cheaper than they have to, when they don't have to.

Cool. Tell that to the PriZM Target Mega I sold to a trading card buddy for $250 2 weeks ago when I like any other jackass could see they were selling at $350-$400 per.

There comes a point where i can just be like “well, I’m making enough money here”. Guess most people at least in this hobby don’t have that

[ksp6687]

Originally Posted by RedMike

So he is asking for market value and you want less than market value..

but you aren't the cheapskate.. he is just a greedy bastard?

I wouldn’t be buying Hobby at market value. Literally had that discussion and told him I haven’t bought hobby because of this.

My point is just don’t act like you’re going to do someone a “solid” if you’re literally going to charge the same price as everyone else.

If I’m paying market value why wouldn’t I just buy from a big boy and at least be on their radar for potential allocations down the line?

Think before you respond with some dumb #@#@#@#@

[ksp6687]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

I hear your frustration, but whenever you sell something, do you always sell it for 80% of whatever the going rate is? If you do, please keep me in mind whenever you're selling stuff. You will be a very popular seller.

Some ppl have been in the hobby for years and have been grinding to make 10-20% or have lost a lot of money on various purchases over the years.

Get it while you can.

Yea, that’s fair. My issue was mainly the fact I got this through a connection and the dude was acting like he was going to do me a solid and wanted to worked together. Bad mouthed big distros for gouging, etc and then hit me with their pricing.

[ksp6687]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Did you forget to tell him about your 25 year old son that has a rare, genetic ingrown toenail condition, whose only wish is to have 5 cases of Optic hobby before he has a mini shark tooth excised from his right foot?

If so, that's on you.

You mean my dead son with the genetic toenail condition who’s dying wish was for me to get 5 cases of Optic hobby at MSRP?

[GeechQuest]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

Cool. Tell that to the PriZM Target Mega I sold to a trading card buddy for $250 2 weeks ago when I like any other jackass could see they were selling at $350-$400 per.

There comes a point where i can just be like “well, I’m making enough money here”. Guess most people at least in this hobby don’t have that

Hard to see why the guy did you no favors.

Cesspool.

[JustinVerlander07]

Get the money while you can. Maybe the problem is your expectation of a discount.

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

Yea, that’s fair. My issue was mainly the fact I got this through a connection and the dude was acting like he was going to do me a solid and wanted to worked together. Bad mouthed big distros for gouging, etc and then hit me with their pricing.

Okay. Sure. If the guy says he's going to hook you up with better pricing and then doesn't, that's grimy. Don't buy from him. He's just lost some potential business and hurt his rep.

At the same time, we're living in a time where stuff seems to go up daily.

If someone says they'll sell me any Luka card for what is was going for 48 hours ago, I'd consider that a favor.

[ksp6687]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

Okay. Sure. If the guy says he's going to hook you up with better pricing and then doesn't, that's grimy. Don't buy from him. He's just lost some potential business and hurt his rep.

At the same time, we're living in a time where stuff seems to go up daily.

If someone says they'll sell me any Luka card for what is was going for 48 hours ago, I'd consider that a favor.

Agreed with all of the above 100%

[bravesfan#1]

Originally Posted by RedMike

So he is asking for market value and you want less than market value..

but you aren't the cheapskate.. he is just a greedy bastard?

I setup as a medium sized dealer at shows in the Southeast. I'm lucky to be able to get certain products at good prices and I like to pass some savings on to my customers. At every show, I print out a list of my available wax with BO's price and my price, just so people know I am below market. For example, at my last show I was asking $500 per Optic cello box when eBay was $600+ and I sold every single one of them. I'm consistently 10-30% below BO/eBay value but you will not believe the people complaining about me charging "too much."

At the last show I had single Elite basketball boxes at $450/box (which was below market) and a sealed case at a slightly higher per box price since it was a sealed case. I literally had a grown man have a hissy fit in front of numerous people because he didn't think a sealed case carried more value than a single box. He wanted Optic basketball hobby boxes for less than $500/box, when the cheapest online price was $700ish. I had people left and right saying "these are xxx price in the store, why are you charging this" or "you were asking xxx at the last show, why are you greedy and asking more now" or "I need to be at xxx so I can break it on my site". Getting realllly tough to listen to people at shows.

[ksp6687]

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

Get the money while you can. Maybe the problem is your expectation of a discount.

Fair enough. Just felt "salesy" the way he did it. Not a fan

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

You mean my dead son with the genetic toenail condition who’s dying wish was for me to get 5 cases of Optic hobby at MSRP?

I'm sure he's smiling down upon us with his beautifully restored toes like Rihanna, ripping through mounds of Hoops Winter blasters to his heart's content.

[imbluestreak23]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

I setup as a medium sized dealer at shows in the Southeast. I'm lucky to be able to get certain products at good prices and I like to pass some savings on to my customers. At every show, I print out a list of my available wax with BO's price and my price, just so people know I am below market. For example, at my last show I was asking $500 per Optic cello box when eBay was $600+ and I sold every single one of them. I'm consistently 10-30% below BO/eBay value but you will not believe the people complaining about me charging "too much."

At the last show I had single Elite basketball boxes at $450/box (which was below market) and a sealed case at a slightly higher per box price since it was a sealed case. I literally had a grown man have a hissy fit in front of numerous people because he didn't think a sealed case carried more value than a single box. He wanted Optic basketball hobby boxes for less than $500/box, when the cheapest online price was $700ish. I had people left and right saying "these are xxx price in the store, why are you charging this" or "you were asking xxx at the last show, why are you greedy and asking more now" or "I need to be at xxx so I can break it on my site". Getting realllly tough to listen to people at shows.

I can’t tell you how many of those people I’ve run into at shows.

I need it at X. They were also the last to ditch their Beckett magazines.

[bberns]

As someone hasn't purchased or broken wax in 25 years (I now only buy singles) I have had 0% exposure to this part of the hobby. I will now go back to my aloof corner of the hobby and be perfectly happy and content.

[hedgedhog7]

Please direct me to the hobby where people live dollars on the table kthxbye!

[jzx1103]

This isnt just this hobby, its every hobby. Look at video game collectibles, funko pop, amiibos etc...

[jewcer2k5]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

Got an intro from a friend to someone who does some stuff in this biz. Chatted a bit yesterday about how crazy this hobby is right now and how pricing is insane (mostly him saying all of this, me agreeing)

I mentioned I've spent over 100k this year on product and have zero allocations which I find ridiculous at this point. Distributors are the worst, etc. He mentions he gets some, but not a ton, but he can definitely help me out. Then proceeds to tell brag about all of the stuff he's bought for MSRP as of late with his allocations.

Low & behold today he sends me some pricing and of course it's all at 3-4x MSRP like BO & everyone else. Like not even beating their pricing. I get wanting to make some money, I do, but legit you can't go 20% under the big boys when you'll still make 300%+ on a multiple thousand dollar transaction?

This hobby and the majority of people in it are gross

If someone can sell for $3000 on a place like DealerNet why should they sell to you for $2900?

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by jewcer2k5

If someone can sell for $3000 on a place like DealerNet why should they sell to you for $2900?

Explain to me how 'helping someone out' on pricing means charging them market value?

Also, for lots of people, including some dealers -- the long-term relationship with a customer is worth wayyyy more than grinding them out of their last nickel. There's a reason why Wrangler jeans are $17 at Wal-Mart.

If you're gonna charge me, as a volume buyer, what everyone else charges me why should I do biz with you in the first place?
I'll just order from BO, or whomever on eBay is $1 less. But you're selling that box instead to someone who only shows up so he can get the hottest product and will never, ever buy anything else from you, and when the market goes down you'll never, ever, ever see him again.

But if you want a relationship with someone who'll buy and rip 25 boxes and cases of product that's not moving due to any of: unloved rookie class or brand or sport that he likes, you should probably do business with guys like me. Loyalty goes both ways, after all.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by ksp6687

Got an intro from a friend to someone who does some stuff in this biz. Chatted a bit yesterday about how crazy this hobby is right now and how pricing is insane (mostly him saying all of this, me agreeing)

I mentioned I've spent over 100k this year on product and have zero allocations which I find ridiculous at this point. Distributors are the worst, etc. He mentions he gets some, but not a ton, but he can definitely help me out. Then proceeds to tell brag about all of the stuff he's bought for MSRP as of late with his allocations.

Low & behold today he sends me some pricing and of course it's all at 3-4x MSRP like BO & everyone else. Like not even beating their pricing. I get wanting to make some money, I do, but legit you can't go 20% under the big boys when you'll still make 300%+ on a multiple thousand dollar transaction?

This hobby and the majority of people in it are gross

Spent 100k on product this year and can’t gouge 3-4x on retail stuff. Poor you

[mikejones]

God bless.