Korean Job Discussion Forums

[noobteacher]

Why is it that foreigners here are so ridiculously vulturous when it comes to buying things from other foreigners?? Is it Korea that makes them this way? Is it a certain kind of people that happens to flock to Korea? I have had to tell people many times to, in no uncertain terms, go throw their cheap, tight-wad selves and their ridiculous offers off a bridge. To be honest, I would rather throw my stuff in the street than give some of these people the satisfaction of ripping me off like they want to.

Oh, but this is also if they even decided to actually follow through with their interest in whatever you have to sell. I can't even count how many times I have tried to sell items, had people swear up and down that they want it and will meet you at XYZ location and never show or never return your messages.

Part of this is in jest (because obviously it is not EVERY foreigner that lives here), but the other part of this rant is due to the horrendous time I have had in the past and also more recently. It is quite insulting some of the offers people have made for my things. Is it just me or do other people have these experiences and frustrations as well?

[edwardcatflap]

If people are leaving and trying to sell their stuff, what are they going to do if no one makes them an offer they like? They're not going to cart it with them are they? People know it's a buyers market. Unless people have spent a lot of money on TVs funiture etc.., most people I know give away the majority of their stuff when they leave.

[tatertot]

Have you never tried to sell something via classifieds before? It's not just a "foreigners in Korea" thing, it's a "selling used stuff" thing.

[noobteacher]

Edward, yeah I definitely get it but it doesn't make it any less insulting or annoying to have to deal with. If a person is leaving the country and wanting to get rid of stuff ASAP that's one thing, but selling things just to get rid of it and having people making ridiculous offers or letting you know that they'll "take that brand new bed off your hands if you can't find anyone to buy it" crap drives me crazy.

@tatertot - yeah, before I moved to Korea I sold TONS of stuff on classifieds, craigslist, etc. and NEVER had people trying to basically take my stuff for free. I mean come on, if you were trying to sell a practically brand new sofa that you bought less than a year ago and someone came up and offered you $50 for it, what would you think of the person making the offer? How would you react? I know I should just let it go, but I hate that these people are able to get away with that kind of stupid stuff.

[The Cosmic Hum]

[The Floating World]

Hey Cosmic, are you a fan of 'Pawn Stars' too?

There really there is something about the whole "I'm here to save up and pay off my debts' attitude that really does make foriegners cheap here.

I'm not one of them, but I've witnessed it many times; arguing over a chunner on a group food bill; not attending a major night out because they'll have to pay 30k for a tab. Had a poker friend who would always wanna get the 1 hr subway ride with two transfers to the walker hill. I was like 'man if you don't want to split a 30k cab fare there, you probably shouldn't be entering a casino' lol.

Then again I've also met some of the most generous people I've ever met here too. Maybe something about the shared experience. Yes, some of them were esl teachers, shock!

What cracks me up the most is when someone is having a leaving Korea clearence sale of their household items and they list stuff like -

Pair of disposable wooden chopsticks - 50won

Two rolls of toilet paper - 870 won

A half bottle of clorex - 1750 won (based on current retail value per ml.)

I mean, really? REALLY? Do you really want me to get really angry!!!! GAAAAHHHHH!

I.need.to.go.lie.down.now.

[Mix1]

+1

It's an attitude thing. I actually feel bad when I try to lowball too low. I feel like a dirty, sponging lowlife. Others don't care at all.

But it isn't just foreigners. Sold an electronic item and offered an amazing price on it. The Korean buyer met me and STILL wanted more of a discount than the price already agreed on.

Brought a bunch of friends with him to try to pressure me, surrounding me claiming discounting was "Korean culture". I said, 'No, sorry, it's already a great price" grabbed the item back, put it in my pack and started to walk away.

They acted like I had insulted their mothers. One of them finally chased me down and just gave me the original money we'd agreed on. Thanks.

I hate cheapskate a**wipes. The world is full of them. If you want something, just frikkin' pay the price for it.

[The Cosmic Hum]

[young_clinton]

This is nothing. Try to buy a used car in the USA and see what kind of prices MOST of the people selling cars are asking. It's absolutely avaricous and pathetic. I've never been so disgusted in my life.

[pkang0202]

[Feloria]

I understand the OP's frustration as far as people saying they're going to buy something at a specific price, and then trying to lowball or back out of the sale--that's BS.
HOWEVER--and I don't mean this toward the OP, just in general--
If you(any person) choose to purchase a high priced item like a widescreen TV, or fancy dishes knowing that you're not staying here for the long term; that is your decision and hence YOUR burden.
To expect others who are also most likely here for only a year or two to pay a substantial amount for it just because you did is kind of ridiculous.
Most people don't need these things, or they get what they do need from previous teachers or at the dollar store.
It may be cheap, but most aren't here to "settle down."
A couple years ago, I bought a 36 in flat screen TV, and a treadmill. Yeah they were a bit expensive, but I made the decision to buy them to make my time here more enjoyable-I felt it was worth the price, and it was.
When it came time to try to sell them, sure it would have been great to get more money for them, but I was fine with what I did get. They had served their purpose.

[Steelrails]

I'm guessing most of these have gone down like this:

"Hey you want to buy this fan?"
"Uh, sure, I guess I could use one, how much?"
"20 bucks. I bought it for 25. Only used it one summer."
"Uh, I guess, I mean every other one I see will be 20 bucks anyways, might as well help a friend. When should I pick it up?"
"4PM at Jamsil station."
"Jamsil? 4? I work in Mapo and I don't get off until 5."
"Fine, 6:00 then. But I'm leaving tomorrow, gotta do it."
"(Remembers date/dinner plans/ Drunkfest) Uh...."
"COME ON dude. Last favor for a friend."
"Yeah, sure, fine."

However I'm pretty sure in the mind of the penny-pinching seller, it went down something like the exact opposite, with the seller being really generous, and the buyer being super excited about it and the seller recalling that one time he loaned 1000 won for a coke as being reason enough for someone to buy the fan. And as for location, after all he's doing them a favor by selling it. The buyer should come to him.

During the day the buyer of course notices a fan for 15,000 won, and is badgered by friends at work/gf to go out and of course, just ignores phone calls. Why? I'll never see the guy again and the whole exchange was probably the reason you're secretly glad they're gone anyways.

To those trying to sell stuff, I have some advice. THINK LIKE SOMEONE TRYING TO SELL STUFF.

How do people sell stuff? Want/Need, Price, Convenience, Location, etc.

And people engaged in financial transactions do not exist to make you happy, they are out there for their own self-interest and its up to you to close a sale. Not for the customer to beg the salesman to sell them something. Again, us BUYERS DO NOT EXIST TO MAKE SELLERS HAPPY. Or vice versa and they do not exist to transact things at your expected price. You have to close the deal.

What do you expect though, their financial reasoning, expensive purchases followed up by last minute attempted pawn offs are probably the reason they were a cheap debt monkey here to begin with.

Last, things like smartphones, TVs, cars, laptops, furniture, etc. ARE NOT INVESTMENTS unless you buy them explicitly for the purpose of flipping them and people know you as a dealer of those items. And how do you make money at that? By being a scrooge or a scrounger and getting them as dirt cheap as possible, and then by flipping for them as much as some idiot is willing to pay. That kind of stuff isn't about being nice. It's about making money.

Now me personally, I'm not that type. I hate dividing the bill down to the last 500 won. Nothing wrong with picking up a tab.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I usually offer stuff to friends first. If they're pricey, it's at an insane discount. If cheap, it's given for free. Toilet paper? Leave it at the apartment or give it to a friend.

[Swampfox10mm]

I always have people come to my area, and always have them call me when they are a few stops away. I've had too many flakes over the years say they're coming, then not. I've gone to other locations twice, and the person not shown, so I never go anywhere other than right outside to the subway station out my front door. This philosophy has saved me a lot of headaches.

Sold something off of craigslist the other day, and the guy got an excellent price -- near free. And he then had the nerve to ask me to throw in some other freebees as well. I damned near just canceled meeting him after that. Probably should have, he got the stuff so cheap.

[UknowsI]

I am not sure what kind of discount the OP is talking about, but from what I've seen in the buy/sell sections, the sellers seems to be expecting too much quite often. If I was going to sell something second hand, I guess I would ask for 50-60% if it's something most people want and not too worn. When selling a niche item or something that is worn, I would ask for less than 50%. Half the people I see selling things are asking for 80%+. I've even seen people asking for more than the price at GMarket a few times.

Call me a vulture, but unless I get a significant discount, I don't see the point in buying something second hand. Warranties, wear and tear, return policies and the extra hassle of buying something second hand is for me worth a substantial portion of the price of an item.