Does playing dumb really get you somewhere

[chkn]

The fact that she offered money for it should be clue enough.

 

[golfpro]

I asked her what about if it's marked 585 or 417? She said those numbers are for plated items only!!! I asked her if she had any that were marked that way because I collect gold plated items that are marked 585.

There's a huge difference in just paying the asking price for an item and walking away compared to engaging in a misleading conversation to try and sway the deal in your favor.

Do you really think Beachkid23 collects gold plated items? Or, do you think he engaged in a misleading conversation?

 

[golfpro]

Maybe playing dumb can work sometimes, but the key is you can't actually be dumb. Guiding people in the direction you want to go without being very direct is much more effective.

There's a huge difference in just paying the asking price for an item and walking away compared to engaging in a misleading conversation to try and sway the deal in your favor.

I think your two posts to this particular thread are contradictory!!

 

[insontis]

I don't think BeachKid23 was the one misleading. He was under the impression that he was being mislead (clearly, as this thread is the result). The 'gold plated' comment seems more like it was to poke a hole in the woman's hot air balloon.

 

[Iron Patch]

I don't think BeachKid23 was the one misleading. He was under the impression that he was being mislead (clearly, as this thread is the result). The 'gold plated' comment seems more like it was to poke a hole in the woman's hot air balloon.

He knows that, he's just one of those people who won't admit to being wrong and will grasp at anything to try and show he wasn't. There's very little point to debating anything with this type of person.

 

[vwayne1]

Uh-oh golfpro, you've caught them calling the kettle black and they don't seem to like it! Buy low and sell high. There are very few ways to do that without taking advantage of others that are desperate, lazy, or less educated than yourself. If we were all on the same playing field, it could not be done. Sorry guys. Embrace it. This is a fun, exciting, and lucrative business to be in and try not to make yourself out to be something you're not. A saint we ain't !! Let's just celebrate the fact that we know the secret and many others don't.

 

[Iron Patch]

Uh-oh golfpro, you've caught them calling the kettle black and they don't seem to like it! Buy low and sell high. There are very few ways to do that without taking advantage of others that are desperate, lazy, or less educated than yourself. If we were all on the same playing field, it could not be done. Sorry guys. Embrace it. This is a fun, exciting, and lucrative business to be in and try not to make yourself out to be something you're not. A saint we ain't !! Let's just celebrate the fact that we know the secret and many others don't.

Seems you got so caught up in wanting to make that rant you either didn't read the initial post, or you just don't get what is going on. Who's trying to make their self out to be something they are not, certainly not me just because I have the ability to correctly interpret a situation and comment on it.

PS: You guys would fit right it in that seller playing games and thinking for some crazy reason your are smarter than the rest of us.

 

[golfpro]

I picked this up at a local thrift store tonight. Paid $12.00. The thrift store is non-profit organization benefiting the homeless in town. They take the proceeds from the store and feed, cloth, and shelter the drug addicted homeless people in town. These are people that are down and out. The question to you is ?? Do I really need to ask it.....

 

[golden sluice]

Yes. Playing dumb allows you to get vital or superfluous Information on a known subject. Playing dumb can keep you out of the lime light of geting in trouble. Playing dumb allows you to be a witness to certain situations that happen around you and can reflect back to later and say " man I would'nt do that if I were you". And even now, I dont even give a hoot about the posts up above me because its just not worth my time... I love playing dumb.

 

[austin]

Does playing dumb get you somewhere? I've noticed that big boobs do...

 

[golfpro]

I don't think BeachKid23 was the one misleading. He was under the impression that he was being mislead (clearly, as this thread is the result). The 'gold plated' comment seems more like it was to poke a hole in the woman's hot air balloon.

What if she offered up three bracelets with charms and six necklaces (one with a huge medallion) and four rings all marked 585 for a asking price of $200.00? Do you think he would have denied the offer because his original comment was simply to poke a hole in her hot air balloon? Or, do you think he would have jumped on the offer like a hobo on a boloney sandwich?

 

[Iron Patch]

What if she offered up three bracelets with charms and six necklaces (one with a huge medallion) and four rings all marked 585 for a asking price of $200.00? Do you think he would have denied the offer because his original comment was simply to poke a hole in her hot air balloon? Or, do you think he would have jumped on the offer like a hobo on a boloney sandwich?

You're using a hypothetical that if happened would have moved this thread in a totally different direction so is totally irrelevant to this conversation.

 

[golfpro]

If she was that dumb then you should have left your number for the next time someone tries to sell her the "gold plated" items.

So paint a 2 lb lead weight gold and mark 18K on it.

See how much she will give you.

I have a fake Figaro I was thinking about taking her to see if she was that bad.

You're using a hypothetical that if happened would have moved this thread in a totally different direction so is totally irrelevant to this conversation.

I'm not the only one using hypothetical posts to prove my point!!

 

[insontis]

I understand that you are looking to argue. I'm not. I don't believe that anyone in the jewelry business would not be aware of fakes/counterfeits. I also don't believe that they would be unaware of one of the two most known hallmarks. This combined with the fact that she was seemingly so interested in buying an item, yet kept down talking its value is enough evidence for me to prove she was simply trying to con the OP. Simply put, There is no "what if" for me.

 

[Iron Patch]

I have a fake Figaro I was thinking about taking her to see if she was that bad.



I'm not the only one using hypothetical posts to prove my point!!

ok for the sake of argument I'll call those quotes hypothetical, but the difference is they are not suggesting we change what happened and debate that, they're commenting or making suggestions based on what actually happened.

 

[clovis97]

I'm going to chime in again:

Does playing dumb get you anywhere?

Well, for most of my life, including when I posted on this topic, I believed that being fair with buyers was the right and ethical thing to do.

As an interesting note to this conversation, I came across Biblical scripture that teaches us that "playing dumb" is sinful:

Proverbs 20:14 It is no good, it is no good! says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. (NIV)

Proverbs 21:6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. (NIV)

Personally, I believe that another verse should be considered:

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (NIV)

and finally, even though we are not discussing it in this topic:

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich-both come to poverty.

And finally, Proverbs 20:10 Differing weights and differing measures-the Lord detests them both.

Should anyone think that I am holier than thou...

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say "I have kept my heart pure." I am clean and without sin?

Not me!!!!

 

[CladSpends2]

Kind of like the Jesus story of the near stoning of the adultress, "Let ye without sin cast the first stone." I think that is the way it goes, been a long time since I was in a church. My stone would have to have gone into my pocket as I slunk away. As I have posted before, I try very hard, asking over and over for people to give me a price if things are unmarked. I can sleep at night if they set the price and I agree to it. I won't lie to or mislead people, but if they are happy at the time of our deal, then I can sleep at night. It isn't my fault they didn't bother or take the time to be informed or don't want to build the contact list to get the best price, or bother to take pictures and list it on eBay. But even at that, I wouldn't be able to throw that first stone. None of us would, we are opportunist, but not bad people.

T.

 

[clovis97]

Kind of like the Jesus story of the near stoning of the adultress, "Let ye without sin cast the first stone." I think that is the way it goes, been a long time since I was in a church. My stone would have to have gone into my pocket as I slunk away. As I have posted before, I try very hard, asking over and over for people to give me a price if things are unmarked. I can sleep at night if they set the price and I agree to it. I won't lie to or mislead people, but if they are happy at the time of our deal, then I can sleep at night. It isn't my fault they didn't bother or take the time to be informed or don't want to build the contact list to get the best price, or bother to take pictures and list it on eBay. But even at that, I wouldn't be able to throw that first stone. None of us with, we are opportunist, but not bad people.

T.

Well said.

It is not wrong to buy low and sell high, at least not in my belief and in my world.

But on the other hand, playing dumb to get a better price is, at least in my opinion, not only wrong, biblically speaking, but bad for business too.

I am an opportunist too, and will snatch up any great deal that I can find. In my opinion, if you dump it off at Goodwill, lay it out at a garage sale, send it to an auction barn, set it out by the roadside for free, it is free game. The world has always been about buying low and selling high.

But when you deceive someone by game or scheme, intentionally, like 'playing dumb' to get a better price, you are, in essence stealing monetary value from that person.

It is just as easy to say "It is worth more than $100, but I am a buyer at $50, if you want to sell it that cheap." Doing this builds trust with your seller.

Of course, I believe that when buying, it is a case-by-case judgement call. Buying a $1,200 guitar for $50 at a garage sale from a woman who could have cared less about anything other working on her nails and watching a soap opera and could have cared not one iota about the guitar's value is a whole lot different than a truly desperate single mother selling a $1,200 gold ring for $50 when she is desperate to keep her three hungry kids fed. Beating the desperate mother down on the price by playing the 'dumb act' or holding her over a barrel, so to speak, because she is desperate, is wrong.

Preacher Clovis is now stepping down from the pulpit, LOL.

 

[diggummup]

I'm not the only one using hypothetical posts to prove my point!!

Exactly what is that point? Explain please, i'm a little "dumb".


edit- Good post clovis.

 

[batcap]

I do not negotiate, unless cajoled to do so; I'm not particularly good at it. If I pick something up and ask "How much is this?" I'll pay what you ask or put it down with a kind remark like "That's a bargain for a collector." However If I pick up a gold ring and you say $1, I'll accept your price and not feel a shred of guilt. I'm not looking for a bargain, I am out for treasure.