Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eamo]

Yeah, it's a free market here......ask as much as you want...if a seller asks too much and somebody wants to pay that....then fine.

But it's also an open forum......so if you come on selling goods at above the market rate.....then expect to get spliffed......or called out for those newer to these boards.

And don't whine, 'hey man, you're spoiling my sale'......sell your stuff on an open internet forum like this and you're probably not going to get away with high-balling.

[ippy]

youd only be spoiling my sale if you found it cheaper and dint want it yourself (if you did want it then id assume youd just buy it cheaper) But then again only someone with a bit of an axe to grind is going to look for something cheaper when they dont even want it.

[Taiwantroll]

I was going to post the same thing. You beat me to it.

Yes the overpricing is ridiculous. I think the problem stems from the influx of young, morally bankrupt, consumerist, college grad party-goers here in Korea, who come here to make money and party and care very little for the job or anyone other than themselves. In other countries, like Taiwan for example, there is a strong expat community that stick together and help each other. Check out the used prices on http://www.tealit.com and you will see a noticeable difference in prices.

I post the retail price for items on ads posted here to provide less than knowledgeable potential buyers some pertinent information. And because I can't stand greedy people. When I sold my Xbox and Wii I sold them for close to half the retail price and they were less than a year old.

[Bloopity Bloop]

[Bloopity Bloop]

[winterfall]

[coryallan]

I does not really bother me when people increase prices, some people are out to make profits and rip people off, others put a higher value on their own belongings. We are not businesses, here is an example

Apple recently started a trade in for ipods...You should check out what they value a 32GB ipod touch 2G at (around $60). When people want to upgrade they can trade in for $60 or they can come on here and sell for 200-250 000...

Should we start calling out everyone for the price they put on products?

[fdwilliams]

This is a marketplace with amateur buyers and sellers. Most of us have no idea what is really a fair price for things in Korea. Because this marketplace is very small, distorted prices (too high or too low) are to be expected. And while lower prices may sometimes be found from larger markets (Gmarket), because most of us can't shop there (lacking sufflcient skills), we can't buy there.

So, we shop here, sometimes finding overpriced goods, but more often finding things at near giveaway prices because people are leaving and must either sell or discard.

It's a good place -- serving both buyers and sellers.

[NYC_Gal]

I'd pay quadruple the price for some nice brie or camembert, and wouldn't mind one bit. This is Korea. Some things are hard to find.

[potblackettle]

While I see your point, nobody is forcing anyone to buy anything. And low-balling is just as big a problem.

It's peoples decision whether to buy or not.

[lifeinkorea]

[potblackettle]

[ippy]

You people are rather odd. Why would you construct a flimsy page argument when this is what ACTUALLY happens:

Seller looks around.
Gauges second hand price in market.
Throws up a slightly higher price on the expectation of haggling.
Seller either receives no interest in which case they readvertise it abo0ut 10-20% lower.
Or they receive interest and sell it for a price they're happy to get.

I decide whether or not i want to sell my stuff, the price i put up is dictated 100% on MY priorities. If i want a quick sale i will have a lower price, but if i can hang arouind and take the chance that the product is going to sit around and lose value, thats my decision to make as a seller. Since i paid full whack for it, i get to choose what kind of hit i'll take on it.

As a buyer you can SUGGEST a price to me, and then i will decide if i want to sell you it at that suggested price. You can also morally whine at me about equity till your heart bleeds, but im not interested. Go buy your own [whatever it is im selling] from the shops and sell it in at 50 or 25% if you like. If you dont like the price i set, trot on.

And by cheaper prices, i mean cheaper second hand prices. If youre charging stuff above retail then theres clearly something remiss. Maybe its above US retail which doesnt account for shipping and import duties? (and thus means nothing since YOU couldn't get it at that price anyway). Either way if its advertised higher than your domestic market where you can literally pop down the shops and buy it brand new for less, and you dont, then you are clearly an idiot. (however i will concede that in this case its absolutely right to tell the buyer they're being a fool - in fact ANY TIME you want to point out a cheaper sale, thats fine, but the lower the price the seller is asking and the more time it takes you to find that cheaper price to undermine their sale, the bigger douche youre being if you ask me).

NB. I say this entirely as someone who doesnt usually bother selling stuff anyway. I usually just leave stuff behind or throw it out. As far as im concerned once i pay fro stuff, its mine, and the cost no longer exists. I dont look at it as some kind of investment or factor in how much i can get back from it 2 years down the line when i sell it on. So i promise you, this is neutral stuff. I just think its utterly bewildering that buyers think they have some kind of actual pre-negotiation say in the prices sellers set for their stuff. If you dont want it at that price, go find it somewhere where you can get it at the price you want since you're so sure its overvalued...

[coryallan]

good post...

The thing I find the most amusing is when people say "on Gmarket/Auction Korean its this price" Most foreigners don't use these sites as many can't read korean...

Its a ridiculous argument to make, Ebay sells cheaper items as well...I am sure you could find items with no reserve and try to bid at the last second...This does not make those prices the standard for all used goods...

You can take this as an example one seller sells a macbook for 200 000 just because he wants to get rid of it. Can every potential buyer now use that price to lower other sellers prices? "Your selling a macbook for 500 000 but another seller sold is for 200 000, your price is too high...I can find one cheaper"

[randall020105]

More Amusing is ths...