bargaining for esrog

[Cheesecake]

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.

I don't know his margins or care. When I see an ehrlicher person who works hard a whole year yet struggles to support his family honestly, and shvitzes even harder for a month to supplement his income to be able to perhaps make ends meet, I fargin him his $50-$70 profit per set (if it's that much).

[lunatic]

I don't know his margins or care. When I see an ehrlicher person who works hard a whole year yet struggles to support his family honestly, and shvitzes even harder for a month to supplement his income to be able to perhaps make ends meet, I fargin him his $50-$70 profit per set (if it's that much).

That makes no sense,  just because he has a business for a month,  I need to get ripped off?

[zale]

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.

You get a nice one for $20 or just an average one?

IME all the nice ones are sold out long before erev yomtov. I know this because not once, but twice my esrog became pasul before yomtov because it was dropped on the floor (by my kids of course). When I went erev yomtov to buy a new one, they were cheap but there was certainly nothing good left.

[Redbull3]

Yeshivishe Reid... Yeshivishe Shprach.... Takeh, Eppes, Grada, ah Gevaldige Zach

[henche]

I don't know his margins or care. When I see an ehrlicher person who works hard a whole year yet struggles to support his family honestly, and shvitzes even harder for a month to supplement his income to be able to perhaps make ends meet, I fargin him his $50-$70 profit per set (if it's that much).

I do care because most of his customers are in the same position as him.

[Cheesecake]

I do care because most of his customers are in the same position as him.

But his profit, for the amount of time, effort, and risk he takes, is very fair, even if his per set margin is relatively high.

[Sport]

But his profit, for the amount of time, effort, and risk he takes, is very fair, even if his per set margin is relatively high.

What's his risk ?  I was under the impression that they dont pay for what they dont use.

[David Smith]

You get a nice one for $20 or just an average one?

IME all the nice ones are sold out long before erev yomtov. I know this because not once, but twice my esrog became pasul before yomtov because it was dropped on the floor (by my kids of course). When I went erev yomtov to buy a new one, they were cheap but there was certainly nothing good left.

You can get very nice erev yom tov, if you have patience to look alot of places. I went the night before the past couple of years, because i don't have time during the day.

[Cheesecake]

What's his risk ?  I was under the impression that they dont pay for what they dont use.

Both arrangements are available for cheaper stuff. My impression is that the higher quality merchandise is not on consignment.

I know people who lost money.

[Cheesecake]

You can get very nice erev yom tov, if you have patience to look alot of places. I went the night before the past couple of years, because i don't have time during the day.

Might depend on your definition of nice.

[Cheesecake]

I do care because most of his customers are in the same position as him.

So whether or not you're a jerk might depend on your financial position vs. his.

[Cheesecake]

That makes no sense,  just because he has a business for a month,  I need to get ripped off?

I'm saying you're not getting ripped off.

[yitrap]

Go to small towns like Toronto, Passaic and such and the one or two mochrim per town are making enough to pay for a solid amount of their yearly expenses.

[chuchem]

I don't understand this
Nobody has a issue to bargain with a car dealer or any other object they buy, but here one has to be caring?

Nobody is forcced into the business. Whoever sells knows the risks of doing business. Some will be left, some will be sold for cheap, people will bargain... You like the business do it, you don't sell something else

I am not saying you should squeeze every last penny of profit from him, but you can try to get the best price like in everything. Just be a mentch!

[Cheesecake]

I don't understand this
Nobody has a issue to bargain with a car dealer or any other object they buy, but here one has to be caring?

Nobody is forcced into the business. Whoever sells knows the risks of doing business. Some will be left, some will be sold for cheap, people will bargain... You like the business do it, you don't sell something else

I am not saying you should squeeze every last penny of profit from him, but you can try to get the best price like in everything. Just be a mentch!

When you're buying a kosher set for $20, he's taking a loss.

If you're doing okay financially, and taking advantage of the fact that he's better off losing $10 than $30, and he's an honest person who has a hard time making ends meet, I don't think you're being a mentch.

[avremie]

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.

Unfortunately most sellers (where I live) behave like that.
Many people pay hundreds for their esrogim and many not well off people pay over $100.I don't believe that majority of successful mochrim are hardly pulling through.

[Cheesecake]

I have to add here, that the fact that this is a mitzvah is a factor.

It's one thing to game the system for a flight or a cell phone, it's another for an esrog. 

[Cheesecake]

Unfortunately most sellers (where I live) behave like that.
Many people pay hundreds for their esrogim and many not well off people pay over $100.I don't believe that majority of successful mochrim are hardly pulling through.

I think you're trying to excuse potentially unethical behavior by rationalizing that the other party is probably a jerk too.

[avremie]

I think you're trying to excuse potentially unethical behavior by rationalizing that the other party is probably a jerk too.

I see the question as am "I a jerk for not being mehader in this mitzvah " and that's everyone's personal decision I don't think it's an ethics question.

[Ergel]

But his profit, for the amount of time, effort, and risk he takes, is very fair, even if his per set margin is relatively high.

Baloney
Were you ever in the business?
I worked for someone else for nearly 10 years and sold my myself one year. It's a great business, often with very little risk