Author Topic: bargaining for esrog (Read 15218 times)

henche · « **on:** September 27, 2015, 10:56:57 AM »

I usually walk in half hour before closing and pay 20 bucks. Am I a jerk?

On one hand, I feel like I'm taking advantage of the market forces. On the other hand, they are doing the same to rip us all off. I'm not sure why the competition isn't better, but the ROI and IRR these guys are making is insane.

David Smith · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2015, 11:00:25 AM »

Quote from: henche on September 27, 2015, 10:56:57 AM

I usually walk in half hour before closing and pay 20 bucks. Am I a jerk?

On one hand, I feel like I'm taking advantage of the market forces. On the other hand, they are doing the same to rip us all off. I'm not sure why the competition isn't better, but the ROI and IRR these guys are making is insane.

That's supply and demand for you. It only works because most people don't do this. You're gambling on not getting something you're happy with, though. I started doing the night before instead of the day of. I could have put together a fully kosher set for under $10 on 13th avenue last night, easily.

lunatic · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2015, 11:02:11 AM »

Dr Moose · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2015, 11:21:50 AM »

did you bargain them down to $20? or that's the price they set for you?

grodnoking · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2015, 01:53:23 PM »

Main street in queens is incredibly busy! I've never seen such procrastination in my life. The stupid part is that esrogim go for 35-50 a full set to begin with, i dont want to be anti-Semitic but its 98% one specific type of jews, and if you live in queens you'll know whos buying esrogim now...

yochiek93 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2015, 02:01:20 PM »

Quote from: henche on September 27, 2015, 10:56:57 AM

I usually walk in half hour before closing and pay 20 bucks. Am I a jerk?

On one hand, I feel like I'm taking advantage of the market forces. On the other hand, they are doing the same to rip us all off. I'm not sure why the competition isn't better, but the ROI and IRR these guys are making is insane.

so that's what Henche deals are?

good sam · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2015, 02:40:12 PM »

In Monsey, we have an erev YT "shuk" where many of the mochrim set up tables to get rid of leftovers. I haven't been but I've heard you get pretty good deals.

yesitsme · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2015, 03:33:39 PM »

Quote from: good sam on September 27, 2015, 02:40:12 PM

In Monsey, we have an erev YT "shuk" where many of the mochrim set up tables to get rid of leftovers. I haven't been but I've heard you get pretty ~~good~~ cheap deals.

FTFY

keepsmiling123 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 29, 2015, 11:41:48 PM »

Quote from: grodnoking on September 27, 2015, 01:53:23 PM

Main street in queens is incredibly busy! I've never seen such procrastination in my life. The stupid part is that esrogim go for 35-50 a full set to begin with, i dont want to be anti-Semitic but its 98% one specific type of jews, and if you live in queens you'll know whos buying esrogim now...

The non Israeli products were more expensive. Italian (yaniver) started at $65 for bad quality and whet to $150 in some places on Main St. Israeli sets and Morrocan were abt $25- $35 from street vendors but the inside stores sold from $35-$90 from what I saw.
I managed to get a nice Yaniver and was able to bargain a bit but then again I bought on the early side so had I waited prob coulda talked down to a lower price than wat i paid

henche · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2015, 12:00:26 AM »

I got one from Kapilornia. Wherever that is.

avromie7 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2015, 12:35:10 AM »

Quote from: henche on September 30, 2015, 12:00:26 AM

I got one from Kapilornia. Wherever that is.

Rothberg?

henche · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2015, 12:54:52 AM »

Quote from: avromie7 on September 30, 2015, 12:35:10 AM

Rothberg?

No, an esrog.

Chapshnell · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2015, 01:54:40 AM »

Grandfather once came home for succos, asked him how much he paid.. he said $200.. I said wow.. so much? He said I looked at the esrog I liked & I went to pay.. so I asked him you didnt bargain? He said you shouldnt bargain on a mitzvah.. he is definitely not a ddf'er

David Smith · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2015, 01:59:53 AM »

Quote from: Chapshnell on September 30, 2015, 01:54:40 AM

Grandfather once came home for succos, asked him how much he paid.. he said $200.. I said wow.. so much? He said I looked at the esrog I liked & I went to pay.. so I asked him you didnt bargain? He said you shouldnt bargain on a mitzvah.. he is definitely not a ddf'er

Or a mitzvah is different. I'd capitalize on a Walmart or Amazon price mistake, but not Moishe's. Different things have different approaches and standards.

ckmk47 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2015, 02:03:08 AM »

For years my father went to the same seller. He always paid $100. Some years he got a nice esrog, sometimes less nice. He began to notice that some people were paying more for similar quality, and some even seemed to pay less. So he asked them how they decide on the price. He was told it depends on the customer. My father apparently was a $100 customer. They made sure he got an esrog in that price range, but always charged him 'his' price. He hasn't been back there in years.

David Smith · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2015, 02:32:10 AM »

Quote from: ckmk47 on September 30, 2015, 02:03:08 AM

For years my father went to the same seller. He always paid $100. Some years he got a nice esrog, sometimes less nice. He began to notice that some people were paying more for similar quality, and some even seemed to pay less. So he asked them how they decide on the price. He was told it depends on the customer. My father apparently was a $100 customer. They made sure he got an esrog in that price range, but always charged him 'his' price. He hasn't been back there in years.

They deserved to lose him as a customer. What terrible business tactics. Imagine revealing your pricing model to the customer?!? Of all stupid things to do...

Cheesecake · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:08:46 PM »

Quote from: henche on September 27, 2015, 10:56:57 AM

I usually walk in half hour before closing and pay 20 bucks. Am I a jerk?

On one hand, I feel like I'm taking advantage of the market forces. On the other hand, they are doing the same to rip us all off. I'm not sure why the competition isn't better, but the ROI and IRR these guys are making is insane.

Not necessarily a jerk, but taking a chance on getting shvache schoirah, and naive about what an esrog soicher goes through and earns.

henche · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:12:45 PM »

Quote from: Cheesecake on September 30, 2015, 05:08:46 PM

Not necessarily a jerk, but taking a chance on getting shvache schoirah, and naive about what an esrog soicher goes through and earns.

Definitely taking a chance.

Please correct my naivete.

Cheesecake · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:31:12 PM »

Quote from: henche on September 30, 2015, 05:12:45 PM

Definitely taking a chance.

Please correct my naivete.

To get decent schoirah, the moicher needs to also take shvache stuff, which he can't necessarily sell, or at least needs to put in a huge effort to do so.

He shvitzes for a month, between ordering, setting up shop, hiring and supervising workers, and selling.

A certain percentage of his inventory will be passul.

It's seasonal, so his profit can't merely be 1/12th of his living expenses.

Bottom line: the most successful esrog merchant I know is a pauper (he is a full time rebbe).

Perhaps the growers and wholesalers are raking it in, but I have rachamanus on the retailers.

henche · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2015, 05:36:25 PM »

Quote from: Cheesecake on September 30, 2015, 05:31:12 PM

To get decent schoirah, the moicher needs to also take shvache stuff, which he can't necessarily sell, or at least needs to put in a huge effort to do so.

He shvitzes for a month, between ordering, setting up shop, hiring and supervising workers, and selling.

A certain percentage of his inventory will be passul.

It's seasonal, so his profit can't merely be 1/12th of his living expenses.

Bottom line: the most successful esrog merchant I know is a pauper (he is a full time rebbe).

Perhaps the growers and wholesalers are raking it in, but I have rachamanus on the retailers.

What's his return on investment? How much risk is he taking? How much work?

I'm sure he is a pauper becausw of the rest of the year, but I wouldn't suppose a 1 month business should make a year's earnings just because its seasonal.