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I am constantly looking out for good buys at the sales garage of the various forums, and like many of you, I have by now come across countless of sale threads over the years. While I appreciate sales threads that have clear, detailed descriptions on the thread title and content and come with pictures, I find the following tactics/words used in some threads often unnecessary and don’t work on me.
(Numbers used in the $ and % are just examples)
Thread title
1) ‘Rare’
How rare is rare? I ever read an article about watch collection in which the author wrote that no watch with a production number more than 100 should be considered rare, and I share that opinion. Very few modern-day watches are rare, if we disregard those super expensive watches that only millionaires would buy. Does rare always mean good? Some watches, or a certain variant/colour of watches are uncommon often because they are so ugly and/or unpopular that very few were sold.
2) ‘Fire sale’
Yes I know it doesn't mean there was actually a fire but please don’t smoke people with such thread title when the price is really quite so-so.
3) ‘Grab it now’
Similar to the last one. Usually follows after the word “rare” or “cheap” but more likely to disappoint than excite.
4) ‘Below $500’
Of course this means high side and not low side of $400+. Gimmick.
5) ‘Only $5XX’
Please just say $599 on the thread title and save everyone’s time. *&^%$#@!
Thread content
6) ‘Last offer is $5000’
I have expressed my view about this before and I still hate it. Whether the said offer is real or not, it’s almost like bidding and in my opinion disrespectful to the person who makes the offer.
7) ‘40% saving’
Example: A 10 years old watch selling at $6K. Current “retail price” (list price) is $10K so you “save” 40%. Actually the list price of the watch 10 years ago was $8K and was sold at 25% discount, i.e. $6K.
8) ‘Watch will be withdrawn if not sold by this weekend’
Would such statement hurry potential buyers into making offer? I doubt so. If anything, maybe some would wait to see if the seller would eventually reduce the price under the pressure of his own deadline. Funny thing is, some watches were still on sales after the deadline.
9) ‘No low baller please’
Hmm, I am not sure what is considered a low ball, but I better not make an offer…
10) ‘Price is firm’
I am not too sure about this one. I actually feel that if one is really firm about the asking price, it is better to state that than not to state that and then reply “sorry my price is fixed” to every offer. The key word is “really firm”. I myself had used this at least once before and eventually I had to eat my own words and revised the price. A watch kaki told me that he gets turned off by such “price is firm” clause and will give such sales a pass. Singaporeans love to bargain. It makes us feel like an idiot to buy something without negotiating, hor?
As usual my honest opinions for the sake of sharing and discussion. For those who feel offended - my sincere apology.
(Numbers used in the $ and % are just examples)
Thread title
1) ‘Rare’
How rare is rare? I ever read an article about watch collection in which the author wrote that no watch with a production number more than 100 should be considered rare, and I share that opinion. Very few modern-day watches are rare, if we disregard those super expensive watches that only millionaires would buy. Does rare always mean good? Some watches, or a certain variant/colour of watches are uncommon often because they are so ugly and/or unpopular that very few were sold.
2) ‘Fire sale’
Yes I know it doesn't mean there was actually a fire but please don’t smoke people with such thread title when the price is really quite so-so.
3) ‘Grab it now’
Similar to the last one. Usually follows after the word “rare” or “cheap” but more likely to disappoint than excite.
4) ‘Below $500’
Of course this means high side and not low side of $400+. Gimmick.
5) ‘Only $5XX’
Please just say $599 on the thread title and save everyone’s time. *&^%$#@!
Thread content
6) ‘Last offer is $5000’
I have expressed my view about this before and I still hate it. Whether the said offer is real or not, it’s almost like bidding and in my opinion disrespectful to the person who makes the offer.
7) ‘40% saving’
Example: A 10 years old watch selling at $6K. Current “retail price” (list price) is $10K so you “save” 40%. Actually the list price of the watch 10 years ago was $8K and was sold at 25% discount, i.e. $6K.
8) ‘Watch will be withdrawn if not sold by this weekend’
Would such statement hurry potential buyers into making offer? I doubt so. If anything, maybe some would wait to see if the seller would eventually reduce the price under the pressure of his own deadline. Funny thing is, some watches were still on sales after the deadline.
9) ‘No low baller please’
Hmm, I am not sure what is considered a low ball, but I better not make an offer…
10) ‘Price is firm’
I am not too sure about this one. I actually feel that if one is really firm about the asking price, it is better to state that than not to state that and then reply “sorry my price is fixed” to every offer. The key word is “really firm”. I myself had used this at least once before and eventually I had to eat my own words and revised the price. A watch kaki told me that he gets turned off by such “price is firm” clause and will give such sales a pass. Singaporeans love to bargain. It makes us feel like an idiot to buy something without negotiating, hor?
As usual my honest opinions for the sake of sharing and discussion. For those who feel offended - my sincere apology.
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