Wonky prices for 914 parts/cars, driven by greed, What can we do about it? Options

[JeffBowlsby]

I know its all about supply and demand and what some are willing to pay, but sometimes we see pricing on 914s and 914 parts that are completely beyond reason. Some are taken by these scams. Most will recognize these ploys, but a greedy seller needs only one sucker and the whole hobby for our cars suffers.

Would it be useful if we as a club developed pricing guideline for parts/cars, based on recent sales of similar, condition, rarity, and listing other options, like available repro sources for those that are not aware?

Post your horror stories! Lets out these low-lifes.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif)

[somd914]

Ah,the land of capitalism, we all love the concept until it hits our wallet... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Prospectfarms]

Ah,the land of capitalism, we all love the concept until it hits our wallet... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

If you are criticizing J. Bowlsby's OP as being somehow anti-capitalistic you don't understand the term.

A club can't control prices so don't worry about that. Even within an absolutely unregulated economy, the buyer is still permitted to seek and receive information prior to a transaction. A club is a group of potential buyers and are free to disseminate info about a potential transaction without violating any free market principles.

Organizations do this all the time. Even businesses, e.g., "Don't buy stock in ATT at the current price 'cause they didn't sell many telephones this month." Anyone heard of "consumer reports?"

Knee-jerking against consumer protection as being somehow in opposition to capitalism is a really bad idea.

The only problem I have with Jeff's proposal is that it sound's like too much work.

[somd914]

Ah,the land of capitalism, we all love the concept until it hits our wallet... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

If you are criticizing J. Bowlsby's OP as being somehow anti-capitalistic you don't understand the term.

But what definition of capitalism are you referring to? There are many, e.g.:

"Free market capitalism consists of a free-price system where supply and demand are allowed to reach their point of equilibrium without intervention by the government."

Shall we insert the word "club" for "government"?

In general, the driving factor is to make profit.

I know I over pay on some items, but if I need it and don't know when it will be available again, that's the price I pay.

I find it ironic that everytime a house goes on the market in the neighborhood, everyone is hoping for a high selling price to boost their equity. Yet, when they are buying, they want it cheap.

[Prospectfarms]

Ah,the land of capitalism, we all love the concept until it hits our wallet... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

If you are criticizing J. Bowlsby's OP as being somehow anti-capitalistic you don't understand the term.

But what definition of capitalism are you referring to? There are many, e.g.:

"Free market capitalism consists of a free-price system where supply and demand are allowed to reach their point of equilibrium without intervention by the government."

Shall we insert the word "club" for "government"?

In general, the driving factor is to make profit.

I know I over pay on some items, but if I need it and don't know when it will be available again, that's the price I pay.

I find it ironic that everytime a house goes on the market in the neighborhood, everyone is hoping for a high selling price to boost their equity. Yet, when they are buying, they want it cheap.

Ok, so you didn't get it the first time.... turn off Fox News for a few minutes and focus. 914world can't regulate prices. That's not the point of Bowlsby's post. 914 world can provide a means for members to communicate their opinions about the value of a used car part. That is what other "clubs," like the "Wall Street Journal", do every day.

Jeff was proposing a more systematic "system" for tracking and reporting the value of used car parts. That's what the "new york stock exchange" does every day. E.g., if I offer you a share of Stuartco for $10 you know I'm full of BS and don't buy 'cause it's only trading for $5 right now on the NYSE.

Giving and receiving opinions on value and tracking prices are hardly contradictory to a free market, rather, they are absolutely necessary for the market to operate. Without a reliable way to gauge a market, no one buys .

Some of you have been conditioned to believe that asking sellers to follow rules or disseminating market information is anti-capitalistic. At least that is how it's sounding to me. Why for goodness sake should doing so be OK for Standard and Poors, but not you, or the organizations to which you belong? If 914 world had the resources to track sales of used car parts, they could publish a daily price sheet for used car parts and that would help, not hinder "free market capitalism."