the "what's it worth" thread

[cce]

anyone else noticing that this doesnt really work? partly because it's rare to actually see valuations offered

maybe this is because (pick as many as you like)

• no one values common items because the prices are "known"
• no one values rare items because no one knows what they are worth
• people are lazy and dont want to
• people want newbies to wildly misprice stuff. deep down. in secret. admit it.
• the thread is a wildly untidy mess and completely unwieldy

Now, point 1 is easy - common items are easy to price by searching the classifieds - so this needs to be encouraged

Point 2 is less easy, i dont think anyone would know how to price... for example... a genuine ex tomac ti raleigh if one came up tomorrow. Perhaps in these cases, ebay is the more appropriate sales solution

Point 3 - maybe RB could offer some kind of "reward" system for giving valuations to requests. Maybe 10 valuations = half a point towards gold trader, or similar? alternately, we could have dedicated "valuers", a bit like the AECs, but there would have to be some kind of reward for it

Point 4 - everyone loves a bargain, it's human nature

Point 5 - maybe a subforum of the classifieds could work?

these are just the random musings of a cold morning

 

[rojo]

I would agree that the thread is a bit messing, as it jumps around to different people asking what bits are worth. If you post up something and other people post up and then they get a reply about there's , you post gets lost in the thread and never gets a reply. How you could make it better I don't know though.

 

[cchris2lou]

I suggested in another thread to have a sub forum like the weight winnies one with prices .

a section per components . when we sell something just add a price .

 

[Tallpaul]

Personally, I think it's simple enough to determine a components 'value'. Either by knowing what it cost you, how much you 'need' to get to buy the component to replace it, or by searching eBay.

I might be wrong, but I think the fact the thread is a monster and yields little help is kinda deliberate; it's to put people off asking the question.

I often feel that when someone asks the question, what they really mean is 'do I have something worth more than I think it is, if so please contact me with a really great offer!', but I am somewhat cynical.

It would be my preference to keep things the way they are. It doesn't shut the door to newbies who initially come here asking the question, but at the same time it doesn't entertain those who wish to make a fast buck, but are too lazy to do the basic research.

 

[barry2017]

It's not my choice, obviously, but I would prefer it if Retrobike didn't do valuations at all. Really, what's in it for us?

If one of the regulars had something and didn't know what it was worth, we'd search the classifieds and/or completed items on Ebay.

If someone wants top dollar for what they're selling, they should put it on Ebay with good pictures and a good description.

 

[FluffyChicken]

It takes time to go look in there, some valuations are given but then two people can often disagree. Every now and then I pop in to have a look, if I know nothing about it I'll value it, but it'll be low from me as I just don't think things are worth as others.

To me it looks and from some replies in there is used as a 'Here are my goods, make me an offer privatly' thread.
IIf someone with somethign decent really wants to know a price, put is on ebay and pay their fee for the valuation

 

[jonnyboy666]

personally i never use the thread, mainly coz i feel i know what stuff is worth and anyway if i'm selling something at a particular price and it isn't moving then i reduce the price till it goes or stick it back i the drawer.

i can understand why some people don't know what something is worth if they are new to the forum or new to retro so i understand why they dont know of the existence of the whats it worth thread.

personally i don't see the problem of having individual what's it worth threads but agree that if it's gonna be done then it should have it's own forum, it would be so much easier to look through rather than sniffing through god knows how many pages in the hope that there is a price for the item you have.

imagine it,

title= how much is a xyz worth?

reply= 2 or 3 replies with an answer.

it would mean only looking through the section titles for the item you are interestd in, so much quicker and if it isn't there add a new post.


my 2p

 

[brocklanders023]

Don't often offer advice in the xyz thread as my knowledge is limited.

I think some sort of valuation thread is a good thing as I'm in no way out to make a fast buck but have got bikes in the past for the frame/groupo/etc and sold on the other bits. Any parts post '95 I have no idea what they're worth so it's good to get a heads up from those in the know.

I've also directed friends to this site when they were about to chuck out retro goodies. I tell them they can find out what the gear's worth but also tell them that it's mates rates on retrobike so if they want top dollar they should go to ebay.

 

[john]

Tallpaul, Chris667 and FluffyChicken have more or less summed up the "What's It's Worth Thread".

When RB started we had no rules regarding classifieds or valuations. This lead eventually to certain people using the site to run blind auctions. Which isn't really in the spirit of things is it? After a few cases of this we mandated all adverts were to have a price.

We then allowed people to request valuations in the main forum. Some were genuine and didn't know what to ask for their parts (as it were). Others simply wanted to circumvent the rules and get offers via PM. So we setup a single thread for valuations. It's not ideal and tbh I'd prefer we didn't have it but I know some are keen on this and it helps newbies (who think their 1988 Raleigh Mustang is retro gold) so we'll leave it as is. If someone has a better idea i'd like to hear it. I can rule out a sub forum now.

There is probably also a valid discussion as to whether any valuation can be even close to accurate. Pricing can vary so widely depending on so many factors how on earth can any figure be anythign more than a very rough ballpark one? This isn't like getting the value for a 53 plate vectra 1.8 LS hatch with 80,000 miles on out the Parkers guide. Really, if someone wants to know the market value of an item on a given day then stick it on ebay.

 

[lewis1641]

i tend to quote the original post in my reply so at least others can see what i am thinking something is worth.


i am a member of a golf forum (golfgti.co.uk) and they have a strict no valuations rule but instead offer practical ways to establish a value.

if i really want to know what something is worth i tend to search ebay for completed listings.

i dont mind that part of the forum. it is messy but it does serve some kind of purpose even if that is simply not to put off new comers.

dave