Author Topic: bargaining for esrog (Read 15262 times)

ckmk47 · « **Reply #100 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:10:15 AM »

Many bochurim selling from tables on 13 ave are working for the same supplier. These bochurim have very little risk and have flexibility in pricing. The supplier expects only a certain amount of money to come in from them. Bargaining is not taking food off of any socher's table. Buying at the last minute helps the bochur make an extra few bucks.
No guilt needed at all.

itsyehuda · « **Reply #101 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:12:29 AM »

Quote from: Cheesecake on October 01, 2015, 01:07:47 AM

I don't think it's fair. Whether you should feel guilty depends, IMO, on your financial situation.

I won't buy from you because you don't think it's fair. And you can be stuck with the unsaleable goods you overbought. I'll buy from the guy down the street who is happy I took it off his hands.

And your other argument about it being somehow taboo to bargain for something used for religious purposes is even more ridiculous.

If there were price stickers on each item and not dynamic pricing based on all sorts of arcana, maybe that would fly, but only because bargaining would have been preempted by fair and known prices.

thaber · « **Reply #102 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:12:49 AM »

Quote from: Cheesecake on October 01, 2015, 01:03:40 AM

I believe some OOT have takanos, resulting in poorer quality.

No takanos where I live, and I get beautiful esrogim for 1/2 of what I paid in lakewood.

itsyehuda · « **Reply #103 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:14:18 AM »

I myself don't buy last minute, but I certainly wouldn't fault someone who did.

Cheesecake · « **Reply #104 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:18:08 AM »

Quote from: itsyehuda on October 01, 2015, 01:12:29 AM

I won't buy from you because you don't think it's fair. And you can be stuck with the unsaleable goods you overbought. I'll buy from the guy down the street who is happy I took it off his hands.

And your other argument about it being somehow taboo to bargain for something used for religious purposes is even more ridiculous.

If there were price stickers on each item and not dynamic pricing based on all sorts of arcana, maybe that would fly, but only because bargaining would have been preempted by fair and known prices.

That's okay, I don't sell esrogim.

I think there are somewhat objective criteria to determine prices (although of course it will never be perfect); the sellers pay vastly different prices for different esrogim.

itsyehuda · « **Reply #105 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:21:18 AM »

Quote from: Cheesecake on October 01, 2015, 01:18:08 AM

That's okay, I don't sell esrogim.

I think there are somewhat objective criteria to determine prices (although of course it will never be perfect); the sellers pay vastly different prices for different esrogim.

I'm not complaining about the sellers' practices either. I'm laissez-faire in both directions.

aygart · « **Reply #106 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:23:11 AM »

Quote from: Cheesecake on October 01, 2015, 01:05:42 AM

The market value has changed, but I think it's unfair. (That's why I said "fair" market value.)

Quote from: Cheesecake on October 01, 2015, 01:18:08 AM

I think there are somewhat objective criteria to determine prices (although of course it will never be perfect); the sellers pay vastly different prices for different esrogim.

The argument can then just as easily be made that the pre sukkos prices aren't "fair" even though they are based upon market value. Who is to decide how much the mocher "should" made for the season?

Cheesecake · « **Reply #107 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:34:14 AM »

Quote from: aygart on October 01, 2015, 01:23:11 AM

The argument can then just as easily be made that the pre sukkos prices aren't "fair" even though they are based upon market value. Who is to decide how much the mocher "should" made for the season?

Perhaps that's true, but I don't think it's the retailers' fault based on my observations.

What I would base it on is a comparison to other retail businesses and how much profit is made relative to time, effort, skills, risk, etc.