Menards trains at York

There were some, a bit marked up I believe (mentioned in another thread). 

Some may not have been too horrendous (maybe $30-$35 range), but some were apparently marked up to nearly $60!

Those sellers probably trying to just catch people who have no idea what Menard's is, or that  it's products are readily available on line.

-Dave

There were guys selling box cars that were priced at $45. There was one guy who did sell them at $20.

The other guys selling them above the Menard prices are no better then thieves when they know what the going price is. Does price gouching come to mind.

I sprung for four flatcars (BNSF, UP, WC, PRR) at $10 each from one dealer in Orange hall. These were from the second 24-piece pack, and were not available individually online--only at the physical stores.

Said dealer had other items (boxcars, military-themed cars, hoppers), but the markup was significantly higher on them. I did not give those a second look since I can get everything else direct.

---PCJ

david1 posted:

The other guys selling them above the Menard prices are no better then thieves when they know what the going price is. Does price gouching come to mind.

The "other guys" are selling them for what the market will bear.  If someone wants one bad enough and doesn't want to look then they'll "pay da money".  If they weren't selling they'll lower their price.

Price gouging does not come to mind as it's not a matter of life or death.  People can walk away unscathed and find it elsewhere.

Yes I know Marty that sellers can ask any price but should they? 

Imo they are still a bunch of thieves. It gives honest sellers a bad name. 

You'll always find those kind of sellers regardless what kind of event it is. Gun shows are the worst. 90% of gun show seller's double if not triple the street price of new firearm's at the show's.

david1 posted:

Yes I know Marty that sellers can ask any price but should they?

In the United States of America, yes.  But also in the U.S.A you can walk away and find another vendor.  The market will dictate whether it's right or wrong.

I see pricing on stuff that makes me shake my head and I just move on.

It's like this, if you are Re-Selling Menards cars at a show, at least you charge the bear minimum. I know a vendor that would sell a car that was priced at 20 for 45 because he added the shipping and processing in the price. I feel that if there was a car you bought, that you wanted to sell from Menards I would sell it probably around the price I bought it or reduce it's price by 2-5 dollars.

david1 posted:

Yes I know Marty that sellers can ask any price but should they? 

Imo they are still a bunch of thieves. It gives honest sellers a bad name. 

Not that I will be buying (or trying to sell) any items that are marked up to 100% above commonly available prices, but how do we determine where to draw the line between "reasonable" and "a bunch of thieves"?

Step back for a moment and forget we're talking about Menard's items:

With the narrow exception of products deemed to be life necessities where there are laws in place to prevent gouging during times of shortages, war, natural disasters,  anyone is free to ask any price they desire for any item they wish to sell.

If someone has something for sale for $100 that can be readily purchased elsewhere for $50, it is none of our business, other than to walk away, or perhaps give a counter offer, and then walk away.

If a buyer walks up to that same seller, sees the product priced at $100 and thinks, "wow, I want this, and I'm okay with the price," that, too, is none of our business.    The buyer is happy, and the seller is happy.    That does not make the seller a thief, nor does it make the buyer an idiot.

One thing I learned a  very long time ago is that in business one must be dispassionate when it comes to negotiations and transactions.  Granted, in the hobby world this can be difficult as this is a passion of ours.

Lastly, I have tried to apply the following to the train hobby (and hobbies in general) with which I am involved:

1. it does not matter what the other guy likes

2. it does not matter how he runs his trains

3. it does not matter how he modifies his trains

4. it does not matter how much he spends on his trains

5. it does not matter how much he tries to sell his trains for

6. it does not matter how one enjoys any hobby

By using the above "rules", I'm happy, and I'm also happy the next guy is happy who does things his way.

They can sell at any price they want and I don't care if it is Menards, Lionel or any other. If they are selling anything at York at VERY inflated prices then they should be called out by the members. 

I have attended 62 straight Yorks and since the first one I have confronted many sellers who were trying to rip me off. 

I guess it's all a matter of opinion.  I seen 3 sellers that had the VL Sound Cars.  They ranged from $199-$240 I believe.  Was the guy asking $240 trying to "rip" anybody off?

One example. I paid a very healthy premium to obtain my second Natty Boh car. Haven't seen one for sale since; and I have no regrets. I do wish I had originally preordered 6-8 of them.....

Value is the worth of goods and services as determined by markets. Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

I could go on and on about this topic but I will try to be brief.

To me, the line gets crossed when someone is trying to sell an item significantly over market value and it's readily known by most folks in the hobby to be available for much less.   In the above examples, paying 4 times MSRP for a Natty Boh car is certainly acceptable, as is asking MSRP for Vision Line reefers.   Asking over twice the cost of an item which can readily be bought by anyone is over the line to me, especially given the fact that the victim of this act will be someone young or new to the hobby.  When they find out they've been taken to the cleaners how do you think they'll react?    Or view the hobby?  Not a great way to welcome or encourage newbies.   Plus, I simply abhor someone trying to take advantage of someone who doesn't know any better.   So when I see it, I will always engage a vendor about the price.  If there are young ones or families around, I'll make sure my voice is loud enough to be heard.   Vendors like this have no place in the hobby.  The line between helping a hobbyist and making a profit vs taking advantage of someone may be gray, but it IS there.

So while I respect the opinion of those of you who may feel "no harm, no foul" it's just not a position I can support with respect to the hobby.

-Greg

Great post Greg.

david1 posted:

They can sell at any price they want and I don't care if it is Menards, Lionel or any other. If they are selling anything at York at VERY inflated prices then they should be called out by the members. 

I have attended 62 straight Yorks and since the first one I have confronted many sellers who were trying to rip me off. 

 

Makes me wonder if you're the same person who used to interfere with ebay auctions trying to tell buyers they could get something cheaper elsewhere.

Reading over your many posts on all topics here on OGR... you are an angry little person.

off to the twit filter you go......

As has been stated, the seller has every right to sell at whatever price he can get.   But as with all other "rights" there are responsibilities.  Just because you can is no reason you should.  I know these words have become passé these days but the idea of fairness and honesty comes to mind.    Another word is greed.  No argument they can charge whatever price they want.  

I've seen them at York and more so at local meets.   I simply walk away and don't give the table another look.  I do feel sorry for the unsuspecting person who buys from people like that.  Not everyone is a versed in train value.  

Naive Ed

EscapeRocks posted:

david1 posted:

They can sell at any price they want and I don't care if it is Menards, Lionel or any other. If they are selling anything at York at VERY inflated prices then they should be called out by the members. 

I have attended 62 straight Yorks and since the first one I have confronted many sellers who were trying to rip me off. 

 

Makes me wonder if you're the same person who used to interfere with ebay auctions trying to tell buyers they could get something cheaper elsewhere.

 

Reading over your many posts on all topics here on OGR... you are an angry little person.

off to the twit filter you go......

That was a mature post....not.  He's not angry, nor little. 

-Greg