Loyalty? or Just Business?

If I do not like the price any dealer wants, I ask for a lower price for a Cash sale.

If they say no, I wish them luck and move on.

Everything I have wanted has in time dropped to want I am willing to pay.

These are not "One of a Kind" old master paintings but mass produced adult toys.

Sadly there are fewer model train buyers out there every year so prices will come down as demand weakens.

Capitalism 101. Free country, free choices.

I guess you were sleeping when sports cars and watches traded at 2x MSRP during COVID through authorized dealers. A lot of folks chose to take their business elsewhere and vowed never to return. Even at that I never heard of any of those dealers going BK due to loss of revenue.

At the end of the day you should do what you believe is right and stick to it. This is about your own fundamental values.

A friend of mine was gouged by a dealer on an item he wanted to buy a few years ago. It was, according to the dealer, the only one of that particular item left anywhere in the U.S., and the dealer inflated the price substantially because of that, and because the dealer knew my friend "really wanted it." Some may say that was not price gouging because my friend willingly handed over his money for the item. He could have walked away, but chose not to.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't do business with the dealers you had the encounters with no matter how badly you "gotta have it," to quote Joe McDoakes. Whatever it is you're after, it will likely show up on the secondary market, either at a show or online.

@bigtruckpete posted:

Capitalism 101. Free country, free choices.

I guess you were sleeping when sports cars and watches traded at 2x MSRP during COVID through authorized dealers. A lot of folks chose to take their business elsewhere and vowed never to return. Even at that I never heard of any of those dealers going BK due to loss of revenue.

At the end of the day you should do what you believe is right and stick to it. This is about your own fundamental values.

To me a one time purchase is different then a long history of doing business. Wasn't sleeping my during COVID my friend...actually refused to pay the dealer "Market Adjustment" Guess what?  When things were slowing down...they sure knew how to pick up the phone.. and guess what response they got.

Sunrise

@Sunrise Special posted:

To me a one time purchase is different then a long history of doing business. Wasn't sleeping my during COVID my friend...actually refused to pay the dealer "Market Adjustment" Guess what?  When things were slowing down...they sure knew how to pick up the phone.. and guess what response they got.

Sunrise

I totally agree on the relationship part, but they were doing this to long time clients too.

I’m glad you have long term memory recall and refused to go back to them for business. That’s how I do it too. The reality is that pulling your business from these establishments will not make a dent in their bottom line as there are many more people without strong convictions still shopping with them.

My point is that we should avoid those who don’t respect long term relationships and stay true to our moral compass and take satisfaction in bringing business to those who think in a similar way.