Buy Cheap on Forum then Sell for Profit on TradeMe

[Hermitage]

Buying something for $X and selling it for $X+$ is as old as civilisation itself. It's the basis of capitalism and it could be argued that without this entrepreneurial spirit, this country would be a lesser civilisation.

So I don’t have an issue with people buying goods and then flipping them on Trade Me for a profit... as long as they are honest with their listing.
I do however find myself taking issue with goods bought here on the NZ H&S Forum which are then quickly sold on Trade Me for 100%-200% profit. NZ H&S is a community and some of the items we sell here are offered at a cheaper price that befits a community... one that passes on to others. To find these cheaper forum items selling within the week on TMe for 2x or 3x profit can (I think) be justifiably frowned upon.

An example is a new Simmons 3-9x scope I sold on Thursday to a member who wanted a cheap optic for his son's .22 rifle. Because it was for his son I let him have it for $50 (incl postage), whereas it cost me $149 four months ago and I would have tried to get $100 for it if I listed on TMe.

Now let's use some other examples:
A set of Burris Z Signature rings purchased by member @Jwabfrog for a cheap $35 off the forum:
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....s-rail-104854/

And now advertised by him as wankel8 on TMe for $85:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...9?bof=LT1ga3bD

A ZeroTech 3-12x scope was also purchased by member @Jwabfrog for a cheap $200 from the forum:
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....tripod-106866/

And now advertised by him as wankel8 on TMe for $325:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...0?bof=LT1ga3bD

I'd be interested to hear other opinions as I'm sure there will be those who disagree with me.... 'old-mate Jwabfrog is just making a few extra dollars to supplement his pension' some of you may say.

So what are your thoughts on this practise?

[Micky Duck]

Very poor form. UNLESS profit is shared with member you purchased off. I don't buy n sell much but I have made a point of letting folks who sold me a bargain know I have passed it forward. Life is too short to be that arsehole who says to hell with others gimme gimme gimme. I bought car off family member.five years later we sold it for grand more than paid.,so that family member was handed five hundy cash.... Just because it's the right thing to do.

[gimp]

Probably not a very good business model. Lot of admin for a small margin.

[Barry the hunter]

If I sold something cheap on here on the story it was for a new young hunter and then turned up on trade me a week later for profit - never again and they would be named and shamed - okay not illegal just dirty

[Jwabfrog]

Swings and round abouts hermitage... I am jwabfrog on trademe. Whilst snooping you forgot to mention the fly tying gear and gave away for shipping cost only and the savage 17hmr I recently sold to a forum member at a significant loss. I'm not going to get rich selling some rings for 35 then making a hefty 40 odd dollar profit on trademe after success fees. Am I any different from any retailer? Or do you report retailers also for making a margin to pay their way in life. Get a life!

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

[chainsaw]

There’s a few repeat offenders on here who abuse the goodwill of others.

[Micky Duck]

Yes your definately different to a retailer when you buy at mates rates,and definitely so if ask for something cheap for a child.... That's skin to stealing from the offering bowl in church. Shame folks think this is ok.

[Hermitage]

Swings and round abouts hermitage... I am jwabfrog on trademe. Whilst snooping you forgot to mention the fly tying gear and gave away for shipping cost only and the savage 17hmr I recently sold to a forum member at a significant loss. I'm not going to get rich selling some rings for 35 then making a hefty 40 odd dollar profit on trademe after success fees. Am I any different from any retailer? Or do you report retailers also for making a margin to pay their way in life. Get a life!

'Snooping'... 'Get a life!'.
Yeah, you are different from other retailers... most would not throw around abuse when they have been outed buying at mates' rates and selling for profit.
I'll give you one thing though Jwabfrog, you are a smart capitalist, yep your mother didn't raise a fool....a closed-minded, twisted and bitter old man yes.....but not a fool.

[akaroa1]

I recently tracked down a vintage rifle I had looked long and hard for.
Guy was in CNI and not good on getting me images.

He was going to the Auckland gun show and was taking it for forum friends to look at for me.

When they saw him it had already been sold.

Turned up on trademe a week later by its new owner for $600 more
25% more than the asking price I had been given
It's been relisted and still not sold

But the real issue it was only a week later

[akaroa1]

You can go to anybodys profile page and add them to your ignore list

Maybe pointless because some guys keep being reincarnated on here

[Fatberg]

It seems like jwabfrog paid the asking price for the items you linked to, was he supposed to offer the sellers more? I've sold stuff cheap in the past knowing the value was higher, but just wanted it gone without hassle so priced accordingly. If someone wants to go to the effort of onselling for more while eating trademe fees then good on them.

[quentin]

It seems like jwabfrog paid the asking price for the items you linked to, was he supposed to offer the sellers more? I've sold stuff cheap in the past knowing the value was higher, but just wanted it gone without hassle so priced accordingly. If someone wants to go to the effort of onselling for more while eating trademe fees then good on them.

Buying at the asking price for a listing is all good. Everyone is happy.
I have an issue with people asking for something cheap, pleading poverty, something for a new shooter starting out, or their child, purely to tug at the heartstrings of the GC's on here to get something cheap to sell on.

[Fatberg]

Buying at the asking price for a listing is all good. Everyone is happy.

Which is exactly what Jwabfrog did. This post associates him with ethically questionable behaviour which seems unfair.

[norsk]

If I sold something cheap on here on the story it was for a new young hunter and then turned up on trade me a week later for profit - never again and they would be named and shamed - okay not illegal just dirty

Yeah its shit.

But you have to understand that once its sold you have released ownership of it. True story,I sold a really mint P14 sporter with a Weaver K4 scope to a young guy for $300 on the condition that if he ever sold it ,it was back to me. He basically ran to the gunshop and traded it on a Tikka. Then 15 years later it turns up on here as someones prized new purchase.

Strange world.

[Micky Duck]

I've purchased my jw norinco three times now. Sold twice to mates on proviso of first option to buy it back again if they wanted to sell it.