Bruce,
You were far too easy on that comics buyer. After he grumbled and
offered to pay $175, you should have said, "Sorry, I don't like
people calling me unfair. The price is now back up to $220."
-rk
On May 31, 2009, at 1:01 PM, Bruce Hershenson wrote:
You got it Roger! I judge people by the content of their character,
not by the size of their wallet or the color of their skin.
I have a funny haggling story. 24 year ago, I ran an ad in MCW for
some primo lobby cards (those of you who knew me then knew I was a
lobby card specialist at the time, and wouldn't consider ANY poster!).
The ad came out to those who paid a zillion dollars to have it
Fedexed to them, which meant I didn't have mine yet, because I was
a lowly First Class subscriber.
A super famous dealer, who is still active and will remain
nameless, called me up and asked about a great lobby card I had
listed. He said, "Will you take $250 for it?".
I was amazed because it was listed for $750! I said, "What price
are you looking at?" and he said $325, and I realized that Brian
had made a mistake typesetting, and transposed the price of that
card and the one above it, which should have been $325, but was
listed for $750.
I told the dealer what had happened, and that the price was
actually $750. He immediately said, "Well, will you take $600 for
it?", and I said yes, because I didn't want to have to go through
the story with lots more callers.
But I also said, "If you were willing to pay $600, then why did you
offer $250, when you thought you could have bought it for $325 (the
listed price)?" and he replied, "Everybody haggles"!
Another story, this one from my comic book days, back in 1972, when
I co-hosted the first EC Comic book convention, a four day
extravaganza that all the artists and Bill Gaines attended.
I had a bunch of ECs I had decided I no longer wanted, and a
collector came over to my table and pulled out all the best ones,
and my prices came to $220, and he said, "What's the best you can do?"
I didn't want to have to stay by the table the whole show, so I
said, "I will make you a really great deal, and you can have them
for $150". He said, "How about $140?".
Now I KNEW $150 was a really great deal, and it annoyed me he
counter-offered, and I said "I have changed my mind, I won't sell
them for $150 any more."!
He said, OK, "I'll pay it", and I said, "No that was a one-time
offer, and you COULD have taken it, but you didn't, so now the
price is $175".
He said, "That's unfair" and I said, "OK, forget the whole thing,
and I will keep them" and he grumbled and said, "I'll pay the $175"
and I said I was just trying to teach him a lesson and I accepted
the $150.
I wonder what he did the next time he was presented with a really
good deal?
Of course, I was 19 then, and pretty crazy, and I would never do
that today!
Bruce
On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 2:21 PM, Roger Kim <roger...@iname.com> wrote:
Scott,
I interpreted Bruce's note to be sarcastic. I think it was his way
of saying that he thinks anyone should feel free to haggle (or make
an attempt to haggle) whenever they want to at these shows. Of
course, that's just my interpretation. Maybe he means something
else entirely.
-rk
On May 31, 2009, at 12:01 PM, Scott Burns wrote:
Well, forgive me for being completely out-of-touch with the
lifestyles of the rich and famous....
I didn't realize it was "poor form" to try to get a better deal. I
also didn't know there was a dollar threshold that makes haggling
"acceptable." From what other dealers have told me they DO build
wiggle room into all prices--even on the less pricey items--
knowing people like to bargain.
I'm certainly out of my league with you guys. (read high rollers)
...and we wonder why we can't get younger (read that, less
financially solvent) people interested in our hobby...
Sheesh, Franc you certainly have a knack for always saying just
the right thing. I wanna party with you.
Scott
MoPo List Owner
From: MoPo List On Behalf Of Bruce Hershenson
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:12 PM
I feel the same way, except my number is $10,000. I can't imagine
someone haggling over $100, but that's just me.
Bruce
From: MoPo ListOn Behalf Of Franc
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 8:28 AM
I don't haggle unless I'm spending at least $100 at someone's
table. I just think it's poor form. FRANC
-----Original Message-----
From: MoPo List [mailto:mop...@listserv.american.edu] On Behalf Of
Scott Burns
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:36 PM
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Cinevent--No Haggle Zone?
I must have just been unlucky that the dealers having what I
wanted to buy wouldn't haggle. I thought it odd since it had NEVER
happened before. As Rich pointed out, he would have haggled...but
alas, no items caught my eye on his table. Maybe next year Rich!
Personally I don't think it's out-of-line to offer 20 bucks for
something marked $25. One would assume that dealers build in a bit
of wiggle room since bargaining seems commonplace, if not expected.
Scott
From: MoPo List On Behalf Of Franc
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:21 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Cinevent--No Haggle Zone?
Dealers must have known that I was upset by te smelly rooms, so
they treated me kindly allowed me to haggle. I didn;t notice any
difference this year in connection with the pricing and the
bargaining. Volume is the key. I personally get pissed off when
someone wants to buy one $25 item and offers me $20 or even $23.
FRANC
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