Change in B&S: A Trend or Permanent Shift? - Page 6

Capitalism ftw.

Honestly I'm not really that shocked that stuff that is purchased at outlets, marked up, then listed isn't selling...

Of course, if people didn't do that, B&S would be even more of a garage sale. Seems like folks are clamoring for more of that, not less.

-the recent loss of Ed has contributed to the lack of good bargains for solid items

-I have notice a couple sellers, who will remain anonymous, hawking used items for extremely unrealistic prices. They are not new members and should be aware of what similar items prices go for.

-I do hope all the B&S sellers make a profit, but it just puzzles me to see people selling items that span the whole spectrum of sizes, as if items were purchased specifically to resale. It's good if they sold, but I have no sympathy if they don't. You assume the risk for the potential financial gain.

-Personally I've only sold items that do not fit me anymore. They were from my closet. I would only consider picking something up for resale if they are my sizes (which thankfully are quite popular and common), so that I can wear it if I cannot sale it.

lee_44106, I understand your point but you seem to be overly critical of people who pick things up to resell. In my case, I'm an uncommon size (36R suits) and since most men wear their clothes oversized, I rarely find anything that fits me in thrift stores. I still go to look for ties and things and have picked up a nice jacket or two in my size in the past. While looking through the racks, I will often come across some items that I consider attractive or valuable but that are not my size. It is very tempting to pick them up to try to flip here. This way, I can make a bit of money (useful on a student budget) and practically all of it goes back to other sellers on the forum or on Superfuture. I may have priced items overly optimistically in the past but I do try to price things fairly and to the best of my knowledge. Also, the no bumping except for price drops policy encourages sellers to price items higher in order to get to bump their threads once or twice before selling their items. What I'm trying to say is that I think you are being unreasonable when you say that it's OK for you to flip items you buy in your size (being a common size) and it would be inappropriate for people in uncommon sizes to do otherwise.

I think it's a good thing as well, as long as they actually purchased stuff at a good price. The problem is when in order to make a profit on it, it's sold for significantly more than people can access it for from other sources, at which point it becomes superfluous. This is another reason why I was in favor of people being able to note when people were selling items for more than they can be purchased new from online sources on other peoples' sales posts.

All of my sale items are part of my personal collection, so I don't purchase things specifically to sell. However, I have a pretty large wardrobe and some things are simply not worn, which is why I occasionally have NWT items for sale.

I think ppl have the right to host a garage sale here just as much as much as NWT items for profit (as I've sold both NWT and used items). However, the only thing I find it extremely annoying is that these certain "garage sale" threads seemed to hang around forever, kept alive by the seller by repeatly bumping them, and takes up space in the B&S forum.
If they are crap, it still won't sale even after you bump them 100 times.

I think we should have a system of having ppl to pay for sticky in the B&S, and the thread will be cancelled after the sticky expires (the time the thread stays alive depends on how much you pay).

Also, for anyone who's read most of this thread, it's pretty clear why action has been slower... sellers price things higher so they can build in price drops to legally bump items, buyers know that these price drops are coming, why buy now when you can buy it a few weeks later for 20% less? A classic example of market inefficiency through regulation... Adam Smith would be so proud.

Ok, as a start, I made a 25 post minimum to start new threads in B&S. Noobs can still post but not start threads. Hopefully that will at least clean up a little of the DunkBapeEvisu garbage. If 25 seems too small later, I can up it.

Well, sure. When I talk about stuff not moving, the point is that if it happens frequently enough, the bargains will dry up. I only have so much space to store items, so much time to devote to selling and so much money to sink into it. Lately stuff hasn't moved, so I -- and some other sellers -- are offering less. I don't want sympathy, just pointing out cause and effect. As for the spectrum of sizes, it only makes sense that sellers buy items that aren't their size for resale. I don't have much incentive to offer up the best items in 38R and 9D. The vast majority of stuff I buy in my size, I keep. But what people here want most are NWT items at great prices -- a quarter of retail or less. When I find such items, I'm happy to pass along the bargain, and I try to keep my prices pretty low. I still sell my Polo trou for about $40 less than what seems like the going market rate. But, at the same time, I do expect some reward for my time and effort. Folks who buy and sell, in my mind, make it possible for many people to get bargains they might not otherwise. I don't begrudge Ed if he's making a small profit while saving me hundreds of bucks.

Also, I haven't been following this action as how it worked in CE, but do you think new users are going to spam posts in order to get to this min quickly?

I think this is exactly what is going on too.

I don't think you're a good example of what I was referring to. Your prices seem to be among the lowest for NWT stuff. What I'm discussing is people selling NWT Canali and Corneliani for Bluefly prices or Belvest/Isaia for STP prices (before coupons)

That is a poor selling strategy if you're pricing high only to reduce and bump later.

I have no problem with people buying items for resale but they have to be realistic. Why would I buy something from a seller here that I can find in an outlet for the same price or even a bit more, where I can try it on and return it?

The only items I have bought specifically for resale are small ticket items like ties and pockets squares at attractive prices, which are easier to sell and there are no issues of fit or sizing. Otherwise, only when I've been able to opportunistically source quality items at giveaway prices and offer things like NWT Corneliani suits in common sizes for $250 or NWT Malo pants for $80 have I bought higher ticket stuff where fit becomes an issue.

I often see discounted items when shopping that I think people here would be interested in but it's extremely rarely that there would be enough profit for it to be worth my while to buy them and mark them up for resale.

I agree with this also, but you take on the risk of losing out on the desireable items, so it evens out. Also, another concern/complain for the OP was the qality of the items being offered here , or lack there of lately. This is in part, due to the recent surge of the garage sales here.

You're right, but I think that everyone agrees that once your thread is off of the first page or two, your chances of selling it are practically nil. What else are you going to do?