I just had a very interesting exchange with a dude from France... The basic gist was I bought something for less than (what I think) it was worth and relisted the items for more than I paid, after fleshing out my collection.  Somehow this guy figured it out (it was side deal...scratching head) and somehow thought I was "wrong" or "evil"... Anyway, I appreciate the feedback I've received here and thought I'd post the exchange.  You may need google translate for the French version...Dear discodadda,Ha ! Ha! Ha! Vous êtes vraiment à ce point à court de pigeon, pour me proposer à moi de vous acheter quelque chose (de surcroît à ce prix là!) alors que je viens de vous expliquer que même si vous me faisiez cadeau de ce Vampirella je ne le prendrais pas, et que je vous savez ce que je pense de votre business... Oui, vous pouvez prendre notre échange avec beaucoup d'humour en bon comique que vous êtes Mais n'interprétez pas ce que « je dis », car vous n'êtes pas en mesure de le comprendre. Vous n'avez d'ailleurs rien compris. Je ne généralise pas et espère bien que tous les américains (ou autres nationalités) ne raisonnent pas comme vous. En tout temps et en tout lieu, il n'y a jamais que du négatif (ni malheureusement que du positif!). Mais je perdrai pas plus de temps à parler à un mur. J'ai déjà perdu assez de temps avec vous. Sachez juste que moi aussi, je suis quelqu'un de passionné par l'international (et plus particulièrement par les différentes formes de langage). Cette passion me pousse aussi à acheter dans le monde entier (y compris dans des langues que je ne connais pas), mais je ne le fais pas avec vos méthodes. C'est là toute la différence. Je crains que vous ne confondiez la notion de collectionneur avec celle de fanatique. Vous seriez d'ailleurs surpris d'apprendre combien de collections de Vampirella (et autres creepy, eerie, ou assimilé) je possède en langues étrangères. Mais je ne vais sûrement pas me justifier devant vous. A présent, sachez que je ne lirai plus un seul message venant de vous. Ils seront classés « indésirables » et iront directement à la poubelle. Bon courage pour votre « obsession » maladive. - biscotoz Click "respond" to reply through Messages, or go to your email to reply  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------From: discodaddaTo: biscotozSubject: Objet : Paiement de l'objet : biscotoz a envoyé un message concernant l'objet FRENCH EDITION VAMPIRELLA 1 - SEPTEMBER - FRAZETTA ART **HIGH GRADE** n°  
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Sent Date: 17-mars-12 23:35:20 ParisCher(ère) biscotoz,I actually find this exchange humorous and interesting.You are saying I am somehow evil or bad because 2 people negotiated a price. Furthermore, I am somehow bad or evil because I have the audacity to ask more than I paid for them?In otherwords, every business on the planet is evil or bad? Hmmmmmm? Great Logic.Now, on to what they are worth? They are worth a lot more in the USA. Why? Simple.. The ATLANTIC OCEAN.Warren Completionists, which I am one of, and foriegn monster mag collectors struggle to find international editions, even with eBay. If you can find an accurately graded Vampirella or Creepy or perhaps a Psycho or Cachemar or a Histories de Zombie or a Planete Des Singes or Terreur de Dracula or maybe Vampirella Album or Creepy Album, in this country, it is a premium price. In your country who knows?My personal collection of Foreign Monster Mags is about 1500 mags, and yes I had a near complete set of French Vampirellas, which I did "improve" by buying this collection. If it has taken you 12 years to locate a French Vampirella (and you live in France) you just are not very serious collector. Now try locating an Italian Blazing Combat, simply called Combat, That would be a trick. I would trade you Both French Vampirella #1s for a Very Fine or better copy. Or try finding a Japanese Vampirella. Near impossible (I have 1 of 2). Mexican Vampirellas? What about Sweden GRU, Shokki, etc.Anyway, I do this as an obession, I search for this stuff, I attempt to buy it, first for my collection then for resale. Because I am successful at buying and selling, I can pursue my obession essentially using other peoples money. Because you missed out and feel somehow disadvantaged. While this may "disgust" you, I think of it as a business.Try using the eBay search tools, they work... or simply pay my asking price and I will happily sell the issue you've searched 12 years for, even though I am evil. Why? Business.Tom aka DiscoDadda- discodadda  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------De : biscotozA : discodaddaObjet : Re: Pay for item: biscotoz sent a message about FRENCH EDITION VAMPIRELLA 1 - SEPTEMBER - FRAZETTA ART **HIGH GRADE** #  
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Date de l'envoi : Mar-17-12 14:46:10 PDTDear discodadda,Puisque vous collectionnez en français, laissez moi rajouter un peu plus de texte à votre collection. Vous faites exprès de pas comprendre. Je ne suis pas en colère, je suis éc?uré. Ce n'est pas le moyen par lequel vous avez acquis cette collection qui est en cause (n'essayez pas de détourner mon propos de son contexte), mais la façon dont vous l'avez acquise, en abusant le vendeur sur la valeur réelle du bien pour lui faire casser son enchère avant la fin (au mépris des autres enchérisseurs potentiels et des vrais collectionneurs qui, eux, ont l'amour de la BD et non pas du business). J'ai vu à combien vous avez remis en vente les autres numéros. Ne me faites pas rire; si vous avez « amélioré » votre collection, c'est pas ce qui aura transpiré de vos objets mis en vente! Sachez que la cote officielle pour ce Vampirella n°1 de sept 70 est de 50 euros en état neuf! (tous les autres numéros sont cotés à des prix très nettement inférieurs). Les revendre aux prix où vous les avez mis, c'est tout simplement du vol! Moi, ce numéro 1 de Vampirella, ça fait 12 ans que je le recherche, mais voyez, je préfèrerais encore me séparer de tous mes autres numéros plutôt que de devoir acheter ne serait-ce qu'un seul exemplaire à quelqu'un comme vous (même si vous m'en faisiez cadeau, j'en voudrais pas. Non pas que je sois en colère après vous, mais quand on veut garder les mains propres on cautionne pas la loi du fric). - biscotoz  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------From: discodaddaTo: biscotozSubject: Objet : Paiement de l'objet : biscotoz a envoyé un message concernant l'objet FRENCH EDITION VAMPIRELLA 1 - SEPTEMBER - FRAZETTA ART **HIGH GRADE** n°  
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Sent Date: 17-mars-12 20:59:38 ParisCher(ère) biscotoz,Sorry.... although this is a hobby for me, and I needed this collection to complete my personal collection and improve about 7 or 8 issues... the medium of exchange is actual money. I make it when I can.. and part of that process is "buying right" or buying "wholesale" and trying to sell "retail." I would think that instead of being "angry" or disapointed... you'd actually be impressed... ???Stop By My Store Anytime.Tom aka DiscoDadda- discodadda  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------De : biscotozA : discodaddaObjet : Pay for item: biscotoz sent a message about FRENCH EDITION VAMPIRELLA 1 - SEPTEMBER - FRAZETTA ART **HIGH GRADE** #  
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Date de l'envoi : Mar-17-12 11:35:39 PDTDear discodadda,You stoped an auction on the french ebay to buy the whole collection only 80 euros to a seller in Marseille. And now you sell back this number alone 132.11 euros!!! It's really a shame to see that.- biscotoz                      FRENCH EDITION VAMPIRELLA 1 - SEPTEMBER - FRAZETTA ART **HIGH GRADE** Item Id:  
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End time: Mar-19-12 09:27:30 PDT Buyer:  biscotoz (158) 100.0% Positive Feedback Member since Apr-10-08 in France Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France  Listing Status: This message was sent while the listing was active.

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:Either way one is taking advantage of asymmetric information.

That's a good one.  It's not that I know more than you because I have learned, studied, etc...

No, I am "taking advantage of asymmetric information."

That's a fascinating new angle on knowledge.  Essentially, it is unfair to know more than another person or to buy something for a bargain.  It passes the burden onto the person who possesses "asymmetric information" to explain virtually anything he does to every person he meets in order to remain moral.     Basically, it would be unethical to be informed or intelligent.

This would be a hilarious premise for a movie...someone trying to act out that code.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to sell me this?  Because someone else is asking more for it and I wouldn't want to asymmetrically oppress you or take advantage of you by arranging to use my asymmetrical knowledge and intellect in any way that places you at a disadvantage because you are either not as smart as me or have been culturally, financially or circumstantially deprived of the opportunity to know exactly everything I know.  Given that possibility, are you sure you want to sell me this cabbage?"  

Of course, that's exactly the point of securities laws and laws against insider trading.  If you have insider information, you either cannot buy or sell, or must tell the other guy what you know.

The difference here is that knowledge of game prices isn't insider information.  It's available to anyone who has a computer, an internet connection, and the minor skill to search eBay (or the pricing pages of the Acaeum).

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:There are "shady" buyers and "shady" sellers. You buy something for "way cheaper" than it "ought" to go for, to me, is morally the same as a seller trying to pass something off as more valuable than it really is. Either way one is taking advantage of asymmetric information.

Since "value" is very subjective, and it's all voluntary exchange anyways, I generally don't have a problem with either activity. It's the nature of markets. Ideally we should treat others as we'd like to be treated ourselves- there's usually a win-win that can be negotiated in most transactions.

The way this transaction went down is as follows:

eBay search tool sent me an e-mail... collection listed for 49.99 euros opening bid.
I sent seller an e-mail saying I would offer $80.00 plus shipping - which was an additional $80.00 euros. ($160 EUD total)
Seller immediately agreed to my offer... there were no bids at this point.
I sent money he sent items.

I then listed the items (i didn't need for personal collection) at an aggressive price (what I consider to be full value).
What doesn't sell will be reduced upon next listing and so on till I find buyers.

Then I get flamed by a collector on moral grounds... In my mind the only thing that matters is the price I paid was obviously considered "fair" by the seller, who by the way is/was not a novice seller.

Disco

TheHistorian wrote:I don't have any comment on this thread, but I wanted to say nice avatar, Bracton!  Dang, that's what I should have chosen.

Thanks.     I ran through about five or six before I settled on Harn.  Maybe we'll work out a trade at some point?  Just to confuse people.  

I would say, on the basis that it was already priced, then nothing underhand takes place. If someone has an item up at base price for auction and you know it'll sell for $200 all day long and offer only $100 which they accept, then I'd say that's taking advantage, in the same way that individuals here will PM newbies with low offers for the really rare items they come here asking about as they try and find out what their worth is.

Sounds that this is ok, but I'd be interested to know if the guy from France who has come at you, is the infamous French nutter who has been banned from here at least twice.

ashmire13 wrote:I'd be interested to know if the guy from France who has come at you, is the infamous French nutter who has been banned from here at least twice.

No, he is not.
this guy has just disappeared in the warp...  

We have many people here in France who can tell you exactly what you have to do   .

Gnat the Beggar wrote:Buyers are unfair and perhaps EVIL if they get something for less than it should sell for?
Sellers who are ignorant of the true value of an item they are selling should always be told what a fair price is for their items?

I am just like most of you.
I buy items for my collection as inexpensively as I can.
In doing so (when I can) I sometimes purchase larger lots with the plan to sell some of the items.
With the intention of keeping a few items that will add to my own collection.

Sometimes I will find a bit of gold in larger lots that the seller had no idea of the value of the items hidden there.
I jump for joy when that happens as such instances are very rare for me.
Sometimes I will sell some of those hidden jewels for a small profit (and rarely for a big profit).
Why would I want to sell them for less than or even exactly what I paid for them?
Why the hell would any of us do that?

Call me evil if you wish, but I think there is nothing whatsoever wrong in this activity.
And I wont discontinue that sort of activity either.

You are not evil, just smart.

There are numerous types of value, some with more effect on a person than another. For example, I once sold Ironhoof Highlands for a mere, as I recall, $15 after having purchased if for only $7.95. It may have been able to sell for more, but I did not consider it a worthwhile item and didn't want to sucker someone into overpaying for something I did not place a high value onto -- now, the reverse would be true for something that does hold any "sentiment" to me, such as my personally autographed in EGG's house OCE, as there would be no offer I would accept on it, even though it is likely only "marketable" to a few people, and for not a tremendous amount.

But, like anything, the only value there is that matters is what you're willing to part with.