Current not-so-secret group buy? (1 Viewer)

[detroitdad]

So the initial sellers are the “flippers,” but those that sell afterwards for the same prices are market sellers? Just trying to get this straight.

fair market value

 

[ssanel54]

I’m not going to argue with you on that, @BGinGA, but I took that as being directed towards me (maybe I am wrong). But what’s the financial risk? Not being able to flip for thousands?

Yep. Agree with everything in @BGinGA statement, except for the financial risk part. I suppose there may be some money spent up front which is more of a calculated investment, and then lost profits if the chips dont get made.

 

[BGinGA]

Yep. Agree with everything in @BGinGA statement, except for the financial risk part. I suppose there may be some money spent up front which is more of a calculated investment, and then lost profits if the chips dont get made.

There is a very real risk of losing deposits/payments if the chips are made but not delivered.

 

[ssanel54]

There is a very real risk of losing deposits/payments if the chips are made but not delivered.

maybe if the delivery truck is hijacked, but if GPI decides not to take or deliver your order, they will return your deposit

 

[Josh Kifer]

Hey, guys.... When is a tag team hardcore match going to start in this thread.... These pretzels are making me thirsty...

 

[BGinGA]

if GPI decides not to ....deliver your order, they will return your deposit

That sounds like a pretty big assumption to me.

 

[MrCatPants]

Like most everyone, would love to be able to included if someone is able to pull another one off.

Some fun facts I'll just leave here in case anyone on the inside is perusing the thread to not forget about 'ol Mr. Cat Pants:
100% positive transaction feedback on PCF
100% positive transaction feedback on eBay
800+ credit score
In a job where I'm under about 100 NDAs at any given time
I've sent back food at a restaurant once my whole life - I'm a go with the flow dude
4.91 Uber rating

 

[Josh Kifer]

Like most everyone, would love to be able to included if someone is able to pull another one off.

Some fun facts I'll just leave here in case anyone on the inside is perusing the thread to not forget about 'ol Mr. Cat Pants:
100% positive transaction feedback on PCF
100% positive transaction feedback on eBay
800+ credit score
In a job where I'm under about 100 NDAs at any given time
I've sent back food at a restaurant once my whole life - I'm a go with the flow dude
4.91 Uber rating

I only go by Uber rating, and I require at least a 4.936....

 

[MrCatPants]

I only go by Uber rating, and I require at least a 4.936....

Gimme 2 weeks.

 

[ssanel54]

That sounds like a pretty big assumption to me.

You are assuming I was making an assumption

 

[Marius L]

You are assuming I was making an assumption

Please continue

 

[Josh Kifer]

Please continue

Are you assuming he needs to continue??! Alot of assumptions going on around here....

 

[slisk250]

Well, I feel compelled to comment again since I do have some knowledge of the AS buy. Yes there were a few exceedingly greedy folks in there, one I'm thinking of in particular that flipped the chips immediately at what was considered big profits at the time (some of those chips flipped to me). Then the same guy came back asking for chip help. Those kinds of things don't sit well with many people. Chip karma is real and I'd never help them with chips now. Never had a shot at one other buy and I am friendly with most of that group so I do know how those without any chance feel as well I guess.

For the vets here that have been around long before any buys, this wasn't a big market like I feel it is today. People bought and sold chips to each other, tastes changed, but flipping wasn't really part of it. It was a different time. If someone were to do a search of every post I've made on this site regarding sales, flippers, auctions, and any transactions I've made, you'll probably find I was so anti-flipping that I was reprimanded for it and cautioned to stop. I hated auctions (extracting maximum value) and still think they created part of the mess. I don't necessarily begrudge anyone that extracts value any more but they just don't get the VIP pricing. I have had a few small auctions for some small lots of chips like the Black Cat Halloween but also gave freebies to every person I knew had the originals...things like that. I want to keep some good karma. It must have worked...out of the blue a guy I dealt with a couple years ago pings me and says he found a rack of Indio 5s. They were expensive but actually the price dropped 25% once the deal was made. He didn't even own them (knew who had 'em), the world wanted them, but I'm the only guy that got a shot. Chip karma is very real. That person gets eternal good karma with me for something like that. I bet those chips would auction at Dunes 1s prices.

The site membership has exploded from the glory days after CT shit the bed. From late 2014 until the star buys were a different era. Actually it is worth mentioning the greed displayed when Jim offered the original Horseshoes from TCR. Before that, I think the vast majority of site members knew of each other, many were good friends. There wasn't any real focus on profiteering. Chip prices were lower for sure. The site membership started growing exponentially (I'd love to see a graph of daily posts over the last 5 years). This site now includes a huge market including any number of profit driven members and chip prices have gone crazy. There are hundreds of members I wouldn't know at all.

I've been know to sell well below market and have done it for noobs before only to have them flip them soon after and extract value. Each time I sent PMs with my finger shaking about karma and let them know they'd never get another chance. So ten of thousands of chips have been sold privately via PM. No dibs, almost no auctions, and my prices are directly proportional to the chip karma you may have accumulated with me and in the community. Lets say that @liftapint needs some chips I can spare (a good selling example, who hasn't dealt with Melissa?) . She gets them at my cost or lower. Someone I don't know and just came on the scene pays market for the same chips. No chance they get to profit off of my goodwill.

There are many, many chippers I know with the same selling practice, I'm not special... just been around long enough to know what it used to be like. I was in a PM recently discussing some chips I really want. That person said if they ever sold I'd get dibs and would rather throw them into the trash before this other member would get them...now that is a true chipper right there.

 

[gkitt80]

You can classify them that way of you want but there is a distinct difference in those that sell for a cash grab and those who collect and sell at market prices or below.

Tomato tomaaaato - I don't see a difference other than the amount of return individual sellers are looking to get. Flipping is still flipping, whether or not you want to call it "selling at market prices" or a "cash grab" or not

With all that said, people can do what they want with their chips - this is a free country. I in no way am judging anyone, I just think, at least to me, it is appropriate to call a spade a spade

 

[slisk250]

Obviously, I struck a nerve. Pissed in my cornflakes...GTFO. I called you out about some obvious BS, and I pissed in your cornflakes. I also like your deflection in my wager to you. I’ll take that as the best you could come up so you didn’t have to acknowledge I’m probably right.

Do you really think/believe GB/NAGB discussions on here are going to prevent people from getting their chips?? Again, GTFO. It appears you have more motivations for the way you’re talking than any of the “jealousy and hate” nonsense you are throwing out.

Man, I'll just leave it there then, I have no other motivations and you really do not know what you are talking about. You want to gamble? Play poker.

 

[bigdonkey]

Gimme 2 weeks.

Get me in the GB/NAGB or I'm negative spamming your Uber account.

Damn, that was meant for PM.

 

[Lemonzest]

they will return your deposit

Do you know this or is this speculation. I suspect this is not information anyone can know for sure.

 

[gkitt80]

Do you know this or is this speculation. I suspect this is not information anyone can know for sure.

Pure speculation, but I imagine the return/refund policy is available to a buyer/potential buyer of chips - weren't you involved in one of the more recent buys yourself? If so, what say you?

Edit: Whether or not you (or anyone else) knows for sure, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a financial risk to the GB members in the period AFTER manufacturing has begun, but before delivery of the chips. How much of a risk? Depends on the size of the deposit and the return/refund policy terms.

 

[Lemonzest]

Pure speculation, but I imagine the return/refund policy is available to a buyer/potential buyer of chips - weren't you involved in one of the more recent buys yourself? If so, what say you?

Edit: Whether or not you (or anyone else) knows for sure, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a financial risk to the GB members in the period AFTER manufacturing has begun, but before delivery of the chips. How much of a risk? Depends on the size of the deposit and the return/refund policy terms.

My opinion is that it is easy to diminish perceived risk when it isn't your money. Imagine it was your money on the line. You have 50k sitting on deposit and you are waiting a couple months for your chips to be made.

How do you feel knowing that your backstory was not totally true? Do you feel there is no risk or do you have some fears about the truth being revealed and you losing your deposit?

People saying there is no risk don't know what they are talking about. There are so many things that can go wrong along the way not just losing your deposit.

 

[ssanel54]

Do you know this or is this speculation. I suspect this is not information anyone can know for sure.

Yes. GPI is a professional organization and global business. If they decide at some point that they dont want to complete or deliver your order, they return your deposit.

I suppose the more you embellish the information on your account, the more financial risk you may perceive, but thats in your mind, not theirs.

 

[David O]

Tomato tomaaaato - I don't see a difference other than the amount of return individual sellers are looking to get. Flipping is still flipping, whether or not you want to call it "selling at market prices" or a "cash grab" or not

With all that said, people can do what they want with their chips - this is a free country. I in no way am judging anyone, I just think, at least to me, it is appropriate to call a spade a spade

As I said “you” can classify them as you see fit. I know who I will transact with and those that I won’t.

 

[David O]

So the initial sellers are the “flippers,” but those that sell afterwards for the same prices are market sellers? Just trying to get this straight.

Now you are just being silly. Kind of like the political posts!

 

[Lemonzest]

the SB chip sales were intended to fleece the community from the start.

That is one way of framing it. I view it as creating value.

I tried to let the auctions run their course so the market would determine fair market value.

Several of the people I did give good deals to via PM turned around and flipped almost immediately. In regards to pricing my regret is selling too low not too high.

 

[DMack]

Man, I'll just leave it there then, I have no other motivations and you really do not know what you are talking about. You want to gamble? Play poker.

I don’t gamble, that’s why I play poker. And that’s why my offer to you is still on the table. . But once again, nice try.

 

[Lemonzest]

If they decide at some point that they dont want to complete or deliver your order, they return your deposit.

 

[DMack]

Now you are just being silly. Kind of like the political posts!

Seriously?? David, you are one of the most respectable people on here, but your justification of selling is disingenuous at best. If that’s how you want to justify it to yourself, then so be it. As @gkitt80 said, tomato/tomaaato.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Relative percentages of BTP chip resellers was much higher, with the markups higher, too.

Really? How many people were in the BTP buy, and how many flipped? I really don't think you know the answers to those questions, so there's no way you'd be able to state that with accuracy.

 

[DMack]

In regards to pricing my regret is selling too low not too high.

By all means, price yours higher. Then you can incessantly bump your for sale ads for the next ten years for chips you can’t sell.

How about that color sample set you listed?? Why not raise the price on it a few hundred?

 

[Lemonzest]

By all means, price yours higher. Then you can incessantly bump your for sale ads for the next ten years for chips you can’t sell.

How about that color sample set you listed?? Why not raise the price on it a few hundred?

 

[Josh Kifer]

God. We are such a weird group.