Recycle, Reduce, Reuse vol. 2
First things first. Thanks for each and every one who has left a comment so far. Commenting is a great way to get to know other like-minded bloggers, and of course it’s nice to know that this blog has at least a couple of readers as well.
In my previous entry I was asking you folks if you sell or buy some recycled items online. Now I would like to talk a bit about prices we see at flea markets or online auction sites. For example, Jenni from Pupulandia and Desthea from Desthea.com both have noticed that nowadays people ask ridiculous prices at flea markets or online auction sites. I guess I’m not horribly wrong saying that more often you come across some serious – excuse my language – shite that is high-priced than something with a decent price-quality ratio. In my case high pricing has only one effect: these profiteers price themselves out of the market.
I’m about to sell some items at flea market and online auction site. My aim is to sell good quality pieces and I strive to keep my prices low as I’m not trying to make any money out of my used clothes. Now I would like to encourage you all to share your views on pricing principles (in English, Finnish, Swedish, French or whichever language you please!).
What is a definite deal-breaker for you when it comes to pricing and second hand shopping?
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Hah, I didn’t read this before I gave a comment to the previous post. But let me comment on this one too since the subject is close to my heart. ;)
As I have said in my own post about this topic, I think it is ok to ask for a bit higher price for an actual vintage item that is in good shape. But it is definitely ridiculour to try to gain some profit by selling some old crap. I think the main goal for me is to just get rid of old things that I don’t need anymore when I go the flea market. If I can earn a few euros, it’s just a plus. But I don’t go there with pictures of dollars in my eyes – unfortunately some people do. Personally I feel like those people ruin the whole idea of recycling.
I can pay a bit more in a second hand shop compared to flea markets. There the items are already selected so I value the work they have done before putting the stuff on sale. They have had to search for these items to be able to offer them to customers. Of course I would rather find those things on flea markets myself and pay less but I think the point of second hand shops is to find cool stuff easily, without having to go trough all the trash. And some people are ready to pay a bit more for that, also I am sometimes.
Toivottavasti ei haittaa jos vastaan suomeksi. Vasta HM:stä ostamaani tekonahkatakkia (jotka menivät keväällä kuin kuumille kivlle), myytiin Traderassa ja Ebayssa jollain 100 eurolla (oikea hinta oli jotain 50 euron luokkaa). Taisi jopa olla että sitä kaupattiin aitona nahkatakkina.. :/ En ymmärrä..
Jenni: I’m totally with you. I remember running around flea markets and second hand shops with my mum in early 90’s and what bargains did we find back then! Nowadays it’s a totally different story.
I understand that vintage is some sort of a trend now and of course high demand reflects to prices as well. Also I get the fact that second hand shops are for making business: they have labour costs, premises costs, insurance costs etc. hence they have to make some profit. This, however, is not the case with flea markets or online auction sites.
What I have understood though is that second hand shops abroad are still maintaining reasonable prices (I’m not talking any Camden or Latin Quarter here) and you can still find some true bargains. I have a friend who lives in Prague and she finds the most gorgeous dresses you can imagine from local second hand stores. Maybe I should pay her a visit…
Jii: Suomen kieli ei haittaa lainkaan. :) Mulla oli syyni aloittaa räpellys englanniksi, mutta avaudun tästä joskus myöhemmin.
Mielestäni just Desthea kirjoitti tuosta hävyttömästä rahastuksesta, jota online-huutokaupoissa tapahtuu. Ihmiset hamstraa nettikauppojen alesta kamaa kasakaupalla ja sitten ne yrittää lyödä rahoiksi kauppaamalla krääsän eteenpäin kovalla hinnalla. Itse en huuda mitään, missä ei ole myytävänä olevan tuotteen kuvaa, vaan joku nettikatalogista repäisty. Ja jos olen kiinnostunut jostakin high street -tuotteesta (mikä on kyllä todella harvinaista) varmistan ensin uuden tuotteen hinnan kyseisestä puljusta. Nettikauppoja tehdessä saa siis olla todella tarkkana.