33 replies to this topic

[iwao]

What about instituting a kind of seal of approval? The selected price experts could (either by request or by default) put a seal of approval on threads where they feel the prices aren't excessive. This would be less intrusive and likely to cause friction than challenging prices in someone's thread, but it might have a similar effect in that people would come to notice the absence of the seal.

This could be done by pinning the top 5 (top 3, or whatever) Got Toys threads on the board that are offering the best deals. It would be subjective and people shouldn't take offense to not having their thread pinned if they think they are offering a great deal. It's just a general incentive to make more people take some pride in offering good deals on LRG. 

 

I would expect the Top Deals threads to rotate pretty frequently because anything offered at a great price around here probably doesn't stay available for too long.

 

If something like this was done, I think you would see more people dropping prices on existing Got Toys threads instead of sticking firm to ebay-like prices. It would be a lot of work for anyone responsible for trying to select the top deals though.

[Metalmonkey]

Hmm.. Tricky subject. I have traded here many times, but not as often straight out purchases. I got burnt a bit going back and it put me off, but when the alternative is ebay its not so bad.

Maybe we can use a similar format that ebay do, in that all items of a specific line could be grouped and listed together, as in ONE sales thread for all MIMP related stuff, ONE for M.U.S.C.L.E, and so on. The cheapest items at the top, and the most expensive at the bottom.
When an item sells, leave the listing in place for posterity to show others what it sold for.

But I dont think its as poor-etiquette to call someone out on price-gouging as it is to be price-gouging themselves.
If theres something to support the claim, like a link to a completed ebay listing, than I think it's actually pretty fair game.

[jkaris]

Great topic Ironmask and great suggestions everyone.

As part of the solution, we have added a "What's it Worth?" section for people to ask for values.

[Metalmonkey]

Awesome. The LRG seal of approval is a very cool idea too.

[Matlock]

Like my friends dad used to say. ''Cards are only worth what someone is willing to pay you for them.''he collected baseball cards.

[Sixthwizard]

Just noticed the "what it's worth" thread.

Very cool idea.

[bachamn]

I'm glad someone on the council has decided to tackle this subject; the few times I've called members out for this behavior it's resulted in backlash that ultimately wasn't worth the effort. I feel like taking any action at all on this would help make the community a more friendly and honest place, and I'd be glad to help out with this in whatever way I can.

 

I also like to imagine the select members guilty of this who are reading this and hoping we aren't talking about them. We are.

[WarOnTheShore]

There is a particularly scummy Battle Beast seller on here. Perfect example of this person: He wanted to buy a figure from me for $20. He'll sell the same one for $40. I refuse to ever deal with this person, whether it's on here or eBay. I don't know. In such a small community, it's lame that people are seemingly on here to make a buck. I understand if casters treat transactions like a business on LRG, but to blatantly try and rip other collectors off is real off-putting.

 

And I know you'll probably look at my post count and discount my opinion. But I've been on here for years and years and check in just about every day, often as a lurker. I've bought many figures on this site from many great people. But the type of people I described above really turn me off from interacting more.

[plasticfiend]

As someone who has been guilty of rubbing folks the wrong way on this subject... I'll throw my two cents in for what it's worth. Maybe you guys can also do some sort of seal of approval for the actual member. For example if people have bought something or traded with Bachman before (for example) then they can give him some sort of seal of approval that goes beyond just the normal positive feedback... But can also say " hey this is someone you can feel free to buy/sell/trade whatever with".

And also for what it's worth, I think a price guide is never a bad idea so long as it's moderated by a group and not just one individual.

PF!