Classifieds

**Michael Cameron** · Nov-07-2008, 12:33pm

Just finished reading the "Did ya ever notice...?" thread;and,it got me to thinking about the "classified" section.

What's up with some folks posting mandolin for sale,then,not listing the price?
Or you have to go to their website or e-mail them to find out the price?

Do they just want to be able to be flexible on changing the price(like gas prices) or what?

Just an observation.

Mike

**MikeEdgerton** · Nov-07-2008, 12:35pm

Let me see, the last time this was discussed I got hammered for making a blanket statement about it but hey, it does happen all the time. I've never understood the reasoning behind it either.

**f5loar** · Nov-07-2008, 12:55pm

Me either. Why the mystery? Same goes for Vintage Gutiar magazine.
These big wheel dealers pay 100$ for a big full page ad and they say "call for price". Yet I paid $6 for the magazine, then I have to pay another couple dollars to call them to find out the price was to high to bother with whereas if they had put the price in the ad it would have saved me the call and them the time to answer a phone call for a "no thanks". By putting the price you expect you can ward off those "tire kickers" that don't have the money to begin with. They think they will call for price and it will be at a give away discount which 99% is not the case. If you want to unload it cheap say so in the ad and see how fast it gets gone.

**Mandojulie** · Nov-07-2008, 1:11pm

I've advertised in a machinery sales newsletter and the price of the ad was actually higher if you didn't state the selling price.

So it must happen everywhere. I don't get it either.

Julie

**UnityGain** · Nov-07-2008, 1:24pm

Originally Posted by f5loar

whereas if they had put the price in the ad it would have saved me the call and them the time to answer a phone call for a "no thanks". By putting the price you expect you can ward off those "tire kickers" that don't have the money to begin with.

I think its more of the good old fassioned bait and switch. Person sees desirable guitar in magazine, calls retailer for price, when the price is almost inevitably too high, retailer can go through the good old "well if your interested in that, I have a few other models that are just as good that you might be able to afford..." Sure, your not garenteed a sale, but your WAY closer to a sale than if you put the price in the ad and no one calls.

Also there is the whole minimum advertised price thing, but they usually say that upfront.

This doesnt aply to the classifieds though. On the other hand, I think it is board policy that you can't post prices for new instruments if your a retail store, only for used instruments. You can let people know they exist, but not how much they are. Dennis at themandolinstore.com does this occasionally I think.

**Eddie Sheehy** · Nov-07-2008, 1:25pm

In my experience there are two types of seller who don't list the price:
Type 1: Make me an offer and I'll choose the best one I receive if I like it - kinda like "bidding".
Type 2: And I usually fit in this category - "What? I forgot to put the price? Duh?"

**TomTyrrell** · Nov-07-2008, 1:43pm

Some people don't know how to price what they have and are afraid they will put a too-low price on it. Some are hoping to open negotiations.

It doesn't cost anything to reply to the ad. If you wonder about the price, ask.

**Chris Biorkman** · Nov-07-2008, 1:43pm

This annoys me.

**nashvillebill** · Nov-07-2008, 2:23pm

I don't respond to ads that don't list a price. Many forum's classifieds- like the Internet BMW motorcyle riders list require a price for all ads.

**Michael Cameron** · Nov-07-2008, 3:33pm

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

I don't respond to ads that don't list a price. Many forum's classifieds- like the Internet BMW motorcyle riders list require a price for all ads.

I don't respond to ads that don't list a price either.
A couple of different lists I read require that the seller list the price.

Just wondering how others felt about it.

Thanks for the responses.

Mike

**Patrick Sylvest** · Nov-07-2008, 3:49pm

I'd like to see pictures of everything listed. That's half of the fun of perusing the classifieds; Checking out the goods! Most 'browsers' aren't in the market but enjoy the eye candy.

**JEStanek** · Nov-07-2008, 8:46pm

MMMmmmaybe, the spousal unit said, "You gotta sell some of these instruments. I'm tripping all over these darn things." So you post an ad with no price, no one writes and you say, "I tried, really I did."

I gotta admit, its a bummer not seeing the asking price. Frankly, I like seeing the prices because it helps me gauge what an instrument I have is worth on the used market. If what I got is worth more to me than several folks are asking, then I either hang on to it or readjust my barometer.

Jamie

**musicofanatic** · Nov-08-2008, 1:43pm

Originally Posted by JEStanek

Frankly, I like seeing the prices because it helps me gauge what an instrument I have is worth on the used market.

Jamie

Someone's asking price (especially dealers) may well have nothing to do with an instrument's "worth" or value or what it ultimately sells for. The seller can list whatever he wants for a price, but will it sell at or near that price...?
In the early days of fleabay, searching completed auctions was, to me, the best indicator of "the going price" on a given item. Less true nowadays, as insts seem to go for way too much or sometimes way too little at internet auction.
When a dealer's price on an inst is listed as "$$CALL$$", that's exactly what I don't do.

**Payit Forward** · Nov-08-2008, 3:29pm

I too usually ignore ads that don't list a price. Back before I had licked MAS (yeah, right

) the only reason I might respond was if it was exactly the instrument I was looking for at the time. In those cases the price always ended up being more than I had hoped, and I didn't buy. I have the feeling the sellers were hoping they could talk an interested buyer into their selling price. Didn't work with me.

**Santiago** · Nov-08-2008, 4:46pm

It kinda depends on what they're selling. If they're selling an F5 Gibson Loar, I kinda understand they're dealing with just a small segment of the population, and the high asking price may be none of anyone's business. But if it's an average used instrument, it's frustrating not to have the asking price as an initial gauge on whether you can afford it.

**CajunPicker** · Nov-08-2008, 4:55pm

When I see a "new" instrument dealer advertising an item with "call for price" that tells me that the dealer is willing to sell below the minimum advertised price and might be worth the call. This is perfectly legal for most dealers, as long as they don't advertise what that price is.

When I see an individual list an item without a price, I don't even bother. They usually want to hold an unofficial auction, or they don't have a clue how much to ask, and want to see what will come of it. In these days of advanced technology, there is no excuse to not know what your instrument is worth. In ten minutes, I can assess the value of any instrument I am trying to sell.