Gel Seat

[banditone1250s]

Zenman, you are absolutely correct. It is either integrity or greed. No gray area in that one at all. And, like you, I choose #2. No way am I going to lessen or demean my character over money. For no amount. The person is always the most important aspect here. It was your Grandfather and it was my Father. He told me "if you don't have integrity, you will never have anything for any period of time. Not friends, family, jobs or anything else, because the lack of it will always catch up to you"!!!

    He told me that at a very young age and I always remembered it and live by it to this day... Banditone1250s...

[Red01]

This question is about integrity vs. greed, not capitalism.

If you were in the business of selling gel seats for a living, then you charge what the market will bear... or discount to outsell your competitors. That's capitalism, just business.

If you just have one gel seat to sell, it's a matter of how you conduct yourself in your personal life, and interaction with others.

You have two choices...

1. Sell the seat for more than what you paid for it, take the guy's money and walk away. The guy you sold it to knows you took advantage of the fact they are hard to find, and probably resents it. Yeah, you made a few bucks, so I guess the money is pretty important to you.

2. You sell the gel seat for what you paid for it, or even less if it's a little worn. The guy realizes you could have made more money, but he shakes your hand, looks you in the eye, and you know you just gained another man's respect. You walk away feeling good, and maybe you made a new friend.

So, where's choice 3?
The free-market choice of lots of individuals - ebay!

Personally, if it was something like a gel seat, I'd probably offer it up on this site for a non-profit price and if there were no takers in a reasonable amount of time, I'd put it up on ebay and let the market decide what it's worth.

[Red01]

Is it greed that drives the prices in collectables?
What did a L-88 Corvette sell for in 1967? $8000?
What does one cost today?
Hint: It's more than what $8000 in 1967's money is today.

[ZenMan]

I'm just talking about selling it for what you paid for it, or maybe a little less if you damaged it or put some wear and tear on it, as opposed to trying to make a profit just because they are hard to find. Is that not the honorable thing to do?

If you are in the business of selling gel seats, well, business ethics are a different story, because your livelihood depends on making a profit. How big or fair of a profit depends on you, and how you conduct your business.

But if nobody bought my seat for what I paid, minus any wear or damage, then I'd do the same as you, Red, and put it on Ebay. What else is there left to do at that point anyway?  

[Red01]

However, on the flip side of the coin, you could argue since it isn't made anymore and the supply is therefore limited, the price is whatever the market will bear - no matter if you're a business or not.

To say it's OK for a business to use supply & demand, but not an individual isn't really fair either. What this implies is it would be OK for me to start a business and scoop up all the hard-to-find, out-of-production stuff I could get my hands on - afterall, all those folks with integrity won't sell for any more than they paid, and run the prices up.

So, if you bought the theoretical L-88 Vette in '67 for $8000, you'd sell it today for $7999 or less and not the typical asking price of $200,000? If so, man, I gotta find a guy like you with a L-88!!! Not to turn a profit, but because that's the only way I could ever afford one.

[ZenMan]

However, on the flip side of the coin, you could argue since it isn't made anymore and the supply is therefore limited, the price is whatever the market will bear - no matter if you're a business or not.

To say it's OK for a business to use supply & demand, but not an individual isn't really fair either. What this implies is it would be OK for me to start a business and scoop up all the hard-to-find, out-of-production stuff I could get my hands on - afterall, all those folks with integrity won't sell for any more than they paid, and run the prices up.

So, if you bought the theoretical L-88 Vette in '67 for $8000, you'd sell it today for $7999 or less and not the typical asking price of $200,000? If so, man, I gotta find a guy like you with a L-88!!! Not to turn a profit, but because that's the only way I could ever afford one.

Now your getting ridiculous... comparing a 67 'Vette to a gel seat.  

Do what ya want. You're just spoiling for an argument anyway. Sorry, not playing!  

[Red01]

Actually, it's the same thing.
Both were only made in limited quantities and are no longer made so price gets determined by how bad you want one or your ability to find one where the owner is willing to sell below normal current street value, knowingly or not.

[B6mick]

when it comes to selling things, I generally don't like selling stuff to people I know.  Why, because it can come back to bite you in the a%se if something goes wrong, and you suddenly become public enemy No 1.

Try employing a family member, sorry my 2 cents worth.     excuse me while I go find a wall to crack with my head, trust me its far less painfull.

[banditone1250s]

You guys are getting a little crazy over a gell seat. I say if you want one just go buy one that "is" on the market today and forget the rest. Not worth losing friends over that's for sure. Like aussiebandit said, it is just not worth it. Give it up if ya wanna sell it and if ya don't forget it. There are plenty of gell seats on the market today, just go buy one if ya wanna a gell seat. No worries mate...Banditone1250s...

[H2RICK]

This debate, of course, has only barely touched on the fact that nobody NEEDS a gel seat, like they need food and shelter f'rinstance......
However there are, apparently, quite a few folks that WANT a gel seat....which is a different matter entirely.
All bets are off regarding "sales/pricing ethics" when discussing "wants". To my mind, this is pretty simple economics......

[Snubnose]

Seems like the Gel seat market has a significant higher demand than it used to. This has caused alot of sellers to inflate their sale price to well above what they bought them for new.

WOW!, I really did open pandoras box here!. Sorry guys!  Did mention that I got one off Ebay from some auto-wreckers that didnt know what he was selling?. Paid $60 for it. DO I feel bad?...Should I feel bad? ( there I go, probing Pandora again!- I'm asking for trouble! )

[gnip]

If anyone wants a gell seat, mine is for sale.

[Snubnose]

If anyone wants a gell seat, mine is for sale.

put it on the for sale section!

[gnip]

   
Obviously, this is a supply and demand thread based upon the percieved value of a seat that is in limited supply.  I have one seat available and there is currently very little demand.  As a supplier of the product in question I have set a price that I believe is reasonable for the limited market, $150.

I'd like to offer my  to you for kindly pointing out the 'for sale section' available.  It has been listed there for 4 months.

[Snubnose]

I'd like to offer my  to you for kindly pointing out the 'for sale section' available.  It has been listed there for 4 months.

Sorry, Didn't realize, only trying to help!