Adding to the 'Hype Machine'

[AngryGoldfish]

I'm considering selling one of the first pedals I ever bought. I used it religiously for three years and I love it, but I have been struggling to keep hold of whatever money I earn recently and have been selling the gear I am not using regularly in order to recoup my stupidity. The Goatkeeper was one of the pedals I said I'd never sell, but I rarely use it any more. The Mobius has the same functionality as the Goatkeeper plus many others, so it makes sense to me to sell it. I was going to put it up for something like $250, but I read that some have sold them for $800. Upon checking in sold listings on eBay, there was one for $700 that sold while others went for varying prices.

I personally don't like it when this happens. I was wondering what the opinion of ilovefuzz is when it comes to adding to the 'hype machine' that is selling gear beyond its original value? Should I be another one to sprinkle fairy dust on what to me is just an awesome pedal that is no different than any other awesome pedal out there? What's a fair price for a minty white GK3 #60 from one of the early runs back when it was introduced in 2010?

[bigchiefbc]

I had a very similar thing happen to me a few years back where I went to sell my old Digitech Bass Whammy, and almost lost my shit when I realized they were going for 600-800 bucks on eBay and shit like that. I think I paid 75 bucks for it back in the early 2000s. I had the same conscience issue that you describe and didn't want to that. I offered it up for trade on Talkbass instead of for sale, and ended up trading it for a BJFE Blueberry, which was another one of those hype-machine pedals that I'd always wanted to try. I didn't like it, and then traded that straight up for an Empress SuperDelay. So, I still took advantage of the hype, but didn't feel as slimy as if I had just straight up sold it for a fuck-ton of money.

[Chankgeez]

I personally don't like it when this happens.

Wot, supply & demand?

[AngryGoldfish]

Yeah, I know! But I hate it. It feels dirty almost.

[Chankgeez]

I know how you feel.

Damn collectors.

[bob the r0bot]

As long as it wasn't a gift from your dead homie, I don't see any problems with profiting.

[ChetMagongalo]

Woah they sell for that much now? Why? They're awesome but that's way too much.

I usually sell things for the price I paid or less. Only more if I really need money. I hate how much time and thought people put into money. It's just a means to an end that everyone including myself gets hung up on. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask whatever the going price is on gear, but I like to sell just under going price that way it moves quick and I influence the price downward (hopefully). Part of me thinks that if everyone sold used things very cheaply everyone could get awesome deals all the time but realistically I don't think it will happen soon if at all

edit: morange has a good point though, the onus is on the people who are willing to pay that much.

[morange]

If someone is willing to pay that much for it, that's what it's worth. Don't feel dirty about it. If you pretend that you're taking advantage of consenting adults making their own decisions with their money, then you're stealing their responsibility.

If they want to pay you, don't punch a gift horse in the mouth.

[Ancient Astronaught]

I posted this in the DR, but if you don't sell it for market value who ever buys it from you will. So why would you let someone else make all that profit? I know it can seem ethically wrong, but you'll feel bad if they flip the day after they receive it as well.

[D.o.S.]

Fuck the suckers and take their money.

NSFW: show

instead of selling the pedal, that is.

[Ancient Astronaught]

Fuck the suckers and take their money.

NSFW: show

instead of selling the pedal, that is.

Are you advising him to enter the worlds oldest profession?

[D.o.S.]

I prefer the phrase 'guided discovery'

[samzadgan]

Are you advising him to enter the worlds oldest profession?

That would solve all his problems...and wouldn't need to sell the pedal.

Also...going price is the fair price...you're not ripping anyone off if you are charging the fair price. Like skip says, better you profit then some slimy fuck who buys it cheap and flips it

[AngryGoldfish]

I know how you feel.

Damn collectors.

It's not collectors I'm worried about. It's people that deliberately market and profit from what is sometimes a lack of supply. You have people that really want that product or service but are now left without it because all the rich people bought them all and then sold them to the collectors.

Woah they sell for that much now? Why? They're awesome but that's way too much.

I usually sell things for the price I paid or less. Only more if I really need money. I hate how much time and thought people put into money. It's just a means to an end that everyone including myself gets hung up on. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask whatever the going price is on gear, but I like to sell just under going price that way it moves quick and I influence the price downward (hopefully). Part of me thinks that if everyone sold used things very cheaply everyone could get awesome deals all the time but realistically I don't think it will happen soon if at all

edit: morange has a good point though, the onus is on the people who are willing to pay that much.

This is my mentality, I think, too.


Anyone want to have a go at suggesting a fair price based on all this?

[kbit]

Budget better, keep the ped.