I had 3 instances that I know of where I had interested parties wanting to buy the frags from me that I made in my post but to have the order taken from me because some sellers quietly send the buyer his prices that under cut mine. It's easy to undercut somebody price once you know what price he's selling. Is this the new way of doing business or it is always been like this that I just don't know about? I'm not complaining or trying to start any flame thread. Just curious because this is kind of new to me.
Is it ethical, moraly correct or just to do this?
- Thread starter IamRit
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Nope it’s underhanded and wrong In my opinion BUT that’s how business works sometimes so if you’re getting into this game you better get ready for it. Sucks but its true. The coral world is blowing up right now and a lot of shady train jumpers are getting on board looking for a fast buck. Because of that a lot of un ethical business practices are floating around. With my pricing I could steal sales all day every day. I see corals selling for 5 times what I sell the same things for. MANY times I really want to save the buyer and let him know I’m here but I never have. Businesses have to support each other as far as I’m concerned. Even with the current state of this country there are still MORE then enough customers to go around. No need to steal from another business
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Glad to see that their is some honorable vendors out there.....I don't think it's a business he talking about really but, other hobbyist that do the same thing to each other....So to me wither it is an actual vendor or another hobbyist I think it is poor way to act and conduct yourself....The only good thing is people like that will be found out by the very acts they commit in time. Then they won't have anybody but themselves to do business with.
robharold
Farmer wannabe
Its a crappy thing for someone to do. Its also garbage that a buyer would agree to make a purchase then back out.
BUT, I have seen it go the other way as well. I've had a deal made with someone only to get "cut out" b/c someone PM'd them a higher price.
People should stand up to their word.
BUT, I have seen it go the other way as well. I've had a deal made with someone only to get "cut out" b/c someone PM'd them a higher price.
People should stand up to their word.
pakora
Papa-Kora!
Things like that tick me off! Character used to go a long way, im not sure how far it takes us in 2009 :squigglemouth:
anomie
Active Member
It is generally wrong to behave in that way be it a business or another hobbyist trying to sell. The sellers know its wrong too if they have to be secretive about it and metion it via pm.
I can see something like that being ok (not great) if it was a close personal friend like "I see you are looking to buy a frag of x, but I have some already fragged in my tank." Otherwise, it is just plain wrong.
I can see something like that being ok (not great) if it was a close personal friend like "I see you are looking to buy a frag of x, but I have some already fragged in my tank." Otherwise, it is just plain wrong.
I would agree with that one.
SaraB
2500 Club Member
Dont forget the things you do always come back to get you. Good or bad.
I'm a firm believer in this too.
GrouperGenius
Active Member
Kharma, definitely.
cloakerpoked
Well-Known Member
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- South Carolina
In the business world, this is necessary to make capitalism and free market economics work. Competition favors the consumer, and keeps innovation high, and prices low. When you're talking about hobbyist pricing and reneging on deals that have been made, that's wrong. As long as you're charging a fair price for what you're selling. If you're trying to get $300 per polyp for purple hornets and somebody offers them at $200, I'd be ok with that because you're not really doing anybody any favors, and they're ridiculously overpriced to begin with. If you're talking about selling a Red Planet for $45 and somebody comes in at $40, that's different. Shady, and I agree with everyone else, you deserve whatever you get dealing with people who engage in this kind of behavior.
mak060
Reluctant Zoa Collector
Yeah IamRit, I agree strongly with what has been said above, including the thrust of cloakerpoked's statement. While the beating heart of America includes tactics like "we'll meet or beat any price," with which no one has a problem, competing via pm versus in public seems to cross the line. Can we hear from someone who has done the "pm route" for your opinion? No, I didn't think so.
uncool
way uncool. I used to own a hobby store (not fish) and every so often I would get a "customer" in and they would try to sell their stuff in my store to my customers. Not much difference here. But interestingly enough people seem ticked at the PMer. IMO it's the person who backs out of a deal that should be tarred and feathered. If you say "I'll take it" then your word is your bond/honor. If you get it offered cheaper, rat out the person and keep your word.
way uncool. I used to own a hobby store (not fish) and every so often I would get a "customer" in and they would try to sell their stuff in my store to my customers. Not much difference here. But interestingly enough people seem ticked at the PMer. IMO it's the person who backs out of a deal that should be tarred and feathered. If you say "I'll take it" then your word is your bond/honor. If you get it offered cheaper, rat out the person and keep your word.
reefkoi
Valuable Member
It happens locally around here in Colorado too, people see someone they know post interest in your items then offer a better deal and its all done via pm so nobody ever knows.....I guess its a cruel world ya know ....
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UCedumacasion
Active Member
I don't understand how people do this on a regular basis, I'd feel dirty doing it. Yeah you get a sale but how can you look at yourself in the mirror? Unfortunately it happens and life goes on. I've been around the hobby for a decade and seen it from store to store, wholesaler to wholesaler, it just gets a little weird at the hobbyist level.
I mean if there is someone posting in a wanted section and multiple people PM with a better price than the one who posted on the thread, I see no problem with that. If however seller A has a thread in which there is a clearly listed price and clear interest and then "seller B" PMs a prospective buyer from A's thread with a better price its unethical... But what about if the prospective buyer knows that B has the item and PMs them after already making a deal with A? What if they back out of the purchase from A because of the PM?
Personally, I know it will never stop, and it sucks, and its something we all have to get used to. I managed a store on another forum and knew people would PM other members that I'd been in talks with over pieces, unfortunately there was nothing I could do about it. The alternative is that maybe the Mods can monitor every PM or message, but I'll take a lost sale to Big Brother watching it :tongue:.
These people will slowly be weeded out and it will become common knowledge among the buyers and sellers who they are and their business will slowly drop so I'm not super concerned, it sucks though
I mean if there is someone posting in a wanted section and multiple people PM with a better price than the one who posted on the thread, I see no problem with that. If however seller A has a thread in which there is a clearly listed price and clear interest and then "seller B" PMs a prospective buyer from A's thread with a better price its unethical... But what about if the prospective buyer knows that B has the item and PMs them after already making a deal with A? What if they back out of the purchase from A because of the PM?
Personally, I know it will never stop, and it sucks, and its something we all have to get used to. I managed a store on another forum and knew people would PM other members that I'd been in talks with over pieces, unfortunately there was nothing I could do about it. The alternative is that maybe the Mods can monitor every PM or message, but I'll take a lost sale to Big Brother watching it :tongue:.
These people will slowly be weeded out and it will become common knowledge among the buyers and sellers who they are and their business will slowly drop so I'm not super concerned, it sucks though
