Opinions wanted!

[sheriffwatson]

So today I stopped into a local shop that I run some ebay listings and auctions for to grab some things that sold over the weekend. I've sold quite a bit for him and I've asked very little for the time I spend doing it (I get 10% and do all the work when it comes to listing and packing,I also pay for most materials and drive around 20 minutes one way to pick up orders after they've been placed), but we've worked together well and it's benefited both of us. But today I feel like something changed. I've noticed he's had some 2018/19 prizm basketball boxes priced at 90 bucks in his shop, right on the shelf obviously for anyone to buy. I didn't notice until today that one of them was a fast break box, also priced at 90 bucks. I decided to buy what he had, 3 boxes, 2 retail and the other fast break box, all for a total of 270 bucks. I knew I was getting a deal on the retail, but I remembered what 17/18 fast break boxes sell for compared to that years retail boxes, so I figured I was letting him make up for that a bit on that price. I almost didn't buy it, but figured I would since he honestly doesn't do a lot of business, plus the nice price on the retail boxes. After I left and was doing a few things, I got a text from him saying that the fast break box goes for much more than he had it listed at, so from now on he's going to check ebay prices for any sales we have. After seeing that message, of course I looked up the price online and realized what those actually sell for. I explained that I know what optic and 17/18 prizm fast break boxes sell for compared to retail and I honestly had no clue they went for that much more than retail boxes and that it was my bad I guess, but I didn't know the price and wasn't trying to take advantage of anything, but he never responded to my message. I'm thinking the guy is pretty pissed that he sold that box for 90 bucks and thought I was being dishonest with him. I really wanna know what some of you would do in this situation. This guy and I aren't exactly close friends and he's definitely been on the winning side on a number of our trades, but I've never been pissed about it, because knowing him and being one of his few customers has benefited both of us. I've always worked to get him max dollar online, but today kind of soured my desire to even bother with doing it anymore for him. I know this is kind of a read, but I'm actually interested in hearing some opinions on what some of you guys would do. I almost feel I'm in the wrong somehow, but I really can't figure out how. Let me hear some opinions!

[dkcardman]

If your going to own a business, it is your responsibility to know where to price stuff. Anyone getting in the card shop business should be aware of that. If he is going to Ebay check everything before he sells it, just don't put prices up. I know a lot of card shops that do that as pricing is very volatile. The onus is on him to get his stuff together. You should not feel bad and he should be thanking you for giving him a lesson in business 101. It cost him a whole lot less than 4 years of college for you to teach him that.

[eastbayak]

So today I stopped into a local shop that I run some ebay listings and auctions for to grab some things that sold over the weekend. I've sold quite a bit for him and I've asked very little for the time I spend doing it (I get 10% and do all the work when it comes to listing and packing,I also pay for most materials and drive around 20 minutes one way to pick up orders after they've been placed), but we've worked together well and it's benefited both of us. But today I feel like something changed. I've noticed he's had some 2018/19 prizm basketball boxes priced at 90 bucks in his shop, right on the shelf obviously for anyone to buy. I didn't notice until today that one of them was a fast break box, also priced at 90 bucks. I decided to buy what he had, 3 boxes, 2 retail and the other fast break box, all for a total of 270 bucks. I knew I was getting a deal on the retail, but I remembered what 17/18 fast break boxes sell for compared to that years retail boxes, so I figured I was letting him make up for that a bit on that price. I almost didn't buy it, but figured I would since he honestly doesn't do a lot of business, plus the nice price on the retail boxes. After I left and was doing a few things, I got a text from him saying that the fast break box goes for much more than he had it listed at, so from now on he's going to check ebay prices for any sales we have. After seeing that message, of course I looked up the price online and realized what those actually sell for. I explained that I know what optic and 17/18 prizm fast break boxes sell for compared to retail and I honestly had no clue they went for that much more than retail boxes and that it was my bad I guess, but I didn't know the price and wasn't trying to take advantage of anything, but he never responded to my message. I'm thinking the guy is pretty pissed that he sold that box for 90 bucks and thought I was being dishonest with him. I really wanna know what some of you would do in this situation. This guy and I aren't exactly close friends and he's definitely been on the winning side on a number of our trades, but I've never been pissed about it, because knowing him and being one of his few customers has benefited both of us. I've always worked to get him max dollar online, but today kind of soured my desire to even bother with doing it anymore for him. I know this is kind of a read, but I'm actually interested in hearing some opinions on what some of you guys would do. I almost feel I'm in the wrong somehow, but I really can't figure out how. Let me hear some opinions!

If you follow this forum, you’re aware that 2018-19 prices are increasing. With that said, you paid what he wanted so I don’t see an issue with it. You do stuff that benefits him (although you make a little cut) and you’re way more valuable to him than he is to you. Just continue helping him with eBay sales (unless that halts) and purchase your wax online.

All the LCS I’ve ever been to have had prices higher than eBay...and they never had an issue taking my money...so I don’t see what the deal is when they don’t update their price according to current market prices (that’s on them). Hell, when prices dip, they’re not always lowering prices anyway.

[TRanegar26]

Tell him if he's looking for a pricing coordinator, you'll do it for another 10% :)

[clipperboy24]

Small business owners are some of the worst business people and card shop owners are some of the worst of the worst. Love making extra off customers but if it ever goes the other way... watch out!

[TMQ]

Was his text suggesting he thinks you're being dishonest with the eBay sales you do for him? And also curious how much the fast break boxes are going for?

[WE_GOT_THAT_TOO]

The only reason your asking for opinions is because you’re the nicest guy out there probably. Why would this be any different than any other business transaction. If you walked into a Porsche dealership and they sold you a GT3 RS for $19,999.99 would they call you and say hey we missed an extra 9 in our listing price we want the car back? No! Someone would get fired and life would go on. If you’re one of a few of his customers...I’d be pissed they have the balls to call me out on it. Do your job and price shot properly or deal with it. He missed a few too many classes in 2nd grade. Find out when his birthday is, get him some big boy pants and tell him to grow the #@#@#@#@ Up.

PS - just noticed your user name also. If you are a Sheriff, arrest him for “I don’t know I’m sure there’s some code out there that it’s a crime to be that stupid”.

[ClipsandVols]

Was his text suggesting he thinks you're being dishonest with the eBay sales you do for him? And also curious how much the fast break boxes are going for?

This is how I read OP's post as well...

OP, Is the shop owner referring to cards sold out of store when he says "he's going to check ebay prices for any sales we have," or is he referring to the cards that you sell for him?

My opinion is that you did absolutely nothing wrong. If you paid the price he was asking, it's on him.

[sheriffwatson]

He can watch any eBay sale so he knows that’s all good. Anything he sells me in his shop, he wants to look up on eBay and sell me it for that price, not his sticker price. So if an item
is selling for more on eBay, he wants that price instead of the sticker price. However, if an item is higher than eBay prices, he won’t go down because he’ll just hold things when they dip in value.

[phdbeckett]

Many wax prices on eBay do have the eBay fees, etc. figured in to the price. A $130 box is about a $113 net sale after eBay and PayPal.

[6celtics33]

It’s not your job to figure out what is right and wrong based on other grown ups emotional reactions for their own bad decisions.

If he wants to talk it out with you great. If he wants to pout over a mistake he made oh well. Don’t think about it anymore.

If the way you have described him is true he’ll be out of business sooner than later.

[ReggieEvansPC]

Just walk away. It sounds like a very one-sided relationship, and I'm sure the negatives are outweighing the benefits.

[OneBuck]

Ultimately it's on the shop owner to know his prices. My guess is he must have thought it was odd that you bought all of his stock in the 18-19 boxes & knowing that you sell on e-bay that's what made him check the prices. 3 boxes isn't all that much to buy, so I'm not sure why that purchase would have raised any red flags for him. Do you not normally purchase boxes, have you cleared him out of hot product before, etc. If he's just going to charge you ebay prices going forward then you may as well save yourself the trouble, stop visiting the shop & get it off of ebay. Save yourself 20 minutes of driving

[LALeakers]

Small business so we’re are some of the worst business people and card shop owners are some of the worst of the worst. Love making extra off customers but if it ever goes the other way... watch out!

This.

Owner seems like a POS to be honest with you....surprised he's still in business with tactics he does such as the one you posted OP.

[sheriffwatson]

I’ve bought a lot of stuff from him. It’s a small shop and he has days where nobody even stops in, which is the reason he has me selling stuff online for him. The items were priced and put out on his display shelf, so anyone could have walked in and bought them.

[smalltown]

I'd just ignore it. People have bad days. Text doesn't always do a good job of conveying feelings either- was he being Sarcastic? Pissy? Mad? Just busting balls?

But i wouldn't forget it either. If i went back into the store and was going to purchase something that had a sticker price on it and he went "wait let me check ebay to see if it went up". That would likely be the last time i did business.

[Ken735i]

He priced it. No issue

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[bryun]

I would end your relationship in helping him sell things. 10% isn't enough these days for all the hassle with eBay.

About 15% comes off the top in eBay/PP fees/supplies.

Then there is your time that you should be compensated for as well.

[bounty37h]

He can watch any eBay sale so he knows that’s all good. Anything he sells me in his shop, he wants to look up on eBay and sell me it for that price, not his sticker price. So if an item
is selling for more on eBay, he wants that price instead of the sticker price. However, if an item is higher than eBay prices, he won’t go down because he’ll just hold things when they dip in value.

That sounds like the reason he doesn't have people in his store...and why you should be on that list too.

[Willikn]

No decisions like this should NOT be built upon a text message.

[dantheman514]

I certainly wouldn't be selling his items on eBay any more.

[Southpas2013]

Small business owners are some of the worst business people and card shop owners are some of the worst of the worst. Love making extra off customers but if it ever goes the other way... watch out!



Yes!

That is not your problem. You paid asking price. It’s his job to price items in his store. If you didn’t know him, he couldn’t have texted you to come back and return the box. It sounds like the price wasn’t that far off anyways. A measley $40 ?

He should move on from 1 box. Keep it moving !

[mc1]

Yes!

That is not your problem. You paid asking price. It’s his job to price items in his store. If you didn’t know him, he couldn’t have texted you to come back and return the box. It sounds like the price wasn’t that far off anyways. A measley $40 ?

He should move on from 1 box. Keep it moving !

Op bought 3 boxes. Fast Break is going for close to double the $90 that he paid. Regular retail for about $150.

I guess it is the shop owners fault. Those prices he gave you are at least a month old, if not older. If he’s not that busy maybe he should spend more time updating his prices. Could check at least once a week.