Did I grow up in some kind of weird bubble?

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Where I grew up, when people wanted to get rid of their shit by selling it in the paper or at garage sale or whatever, they priced it to sell. They didn't ask for what they paid for it, even if it was NWT. You could get pretty nice stuff at the Goodwill/Salvation Army for very cheap.

Since moving from that area, every time I go to a resale shop, look at Craigslist, look at the local Facebook "garage sale" pages, etc, people have priced their shit way over its value and won't budge. It is the weirdest thing. For example, I was just looking at one of the Facebook pages and someone is selling two of these for $15 each



or used sleeping bags for $20 each (and not the super expensive ones, just regular old Walmart sleeping bags), etc. Is it like this everywhere and I grew up in some weird bubble where people just gave away their stuff for reasonable prices? I always feel like I'm asking too little when I post something for sale because people snap it up almost immediately and never try to haggle the price.

[litebright]

I think a lot of people have an inflated sense of what their old shit is worth and CL feeds it, b/c they don't have the pressure to sell something by the end of a garage sale or get talked down b/c they just want to get rid of something. They keep hoping that they'll run across The One Dream Buyer who will pay $1K for a china cabinet from 1983, and there's no incentive to lower your price if you're not in a rush to sell, since it doesn't cost anything to list. You can just keep re-posting and hoping.

On the other end are the people who list something at a higher price, expecting to be talked down. Whenever I've posted something at a price I think is reasonable and in-line with similar stuff, I almost always get ridiculous low-ball offers and it's annoying.

I also think it depends on how mobile your region is and how many college kids are there, both in terms of wanting to sell stuff and wanting to buy at reasonable prices. On CL in the Bay Area, I felt like people priced stuff to sell. Here in Denver, I spend a lot of time going WTF are they thinking?!?

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Apr 29, 2013 19:04:28 GMT -5 sameoldash said:

this might be a regional thing. speaking of which, where are you from again? lol.

You and my H both try and just slip it right in there, don't you?

[pantsparty]

I was laughing my ass off last week at someone trying to sell a "collectible" angel figurine on a Facebook group for $45! LOL!

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Well clearly I am not alone then. I'm just shocked by it sometimes.

And kid stuff is the WORST for this. People seem to think because they have some Step 2 something or other that is 15 years old, it is JUST LIKE NEW!!! (well a little fading, but not much!)

I also get HIGHLY annoyed at this one girl who keeps asking for free shit. "Does anyone have a bed they want to get rid of? Can you deliver it? I don't have a car. Does anyone have any dishes they want to get rid of? Can you deliver it? I don't have a car...." Come on.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Oh FFS, someone just posted two pairs of used crocs for $20 each. WTF.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Apr 29, 2013 19:29:57 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Hey thinkofthesoldiers are you EBB?

Nope.

After reading the AMA guesses, I don't think anyone would believe me if I did come out. Though the guesses are entertaining.

[daisybuchannan]

When I was looking for a used bob stroller there were multiple "never used- like new!" for full price.

Whyyy would I pay full price and deal with Craigslist weirdos? No.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Apr 29, 2013 19:57:57 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Apr 29, 2013 19:56:05 GMT -5 @smace said:

I've done that. They don't reply.

Aw.. Lame!  What kind of weirdo doesn't engage in a good internet fight?

RIGHT!?! I have contemplated commenting on the FB ones, but my real name is associated with it and I'd prefer my professional life not be affected by my love of garage sale type stuff. LOL Didn't someone on here post a link to Emails from an Asshole? That is pretty close. dontevenreply.com/all.php

[TrickyBob]

The FB page I'm on prices pretty decently. But craigslist is way over priced.