Selling to Adorama used Department

[bazooka]

Not to steal the thread, but it doesn't matter to me, as a seller, what your profit margin is. You can mark up 500% as far as I am concerned. What matters to me is that when I'm given a quote on the phone (which accounts for the owner-estimated conditions of the items), that's what I expect to be paid. That's what I was lead to believe. I could understand a 5% adjustment if I over (or under?) evaluated my items but the number I was given apparently was your re-sale price.... which I have no interest in. I think it would be simpler to give the customer the price that you expect to pay them... that way there is no confusion. Just a suggestion.

 

[ecphoto]

Not to steal the thread, but it doesn't matter to me, as a seller, what your profit margin is. You can mark up 500% as far as I am concerned. What matters to me is that when I'm given a quote on the phone (which accounts for the owner-estimated conditions of the items), that's what I expect to be paid. That's what I was lead to believe. I could understand a 5% adjustment if I over (or under?) evaluated my items but the number I was given apparently was your re-sale price.... which I have no interest in. I think it would be simpler to give the customer the price that you expect to pay them... that way there is no confusion. Just a suggestion.

Keh and b&h do that and based on very specific conditions that you tell them. Adorama guy told me "we have to see it first" ....hmmm

 

[HelenOster]

.... I think it would be simpler to give the customer the price that you expect to pay them... that way there is no confusion. Just a suggestion.

I understand they used to do it that way - and there were complaints. They switched to this approach and complaints dropped by around 60%.

 

[Infinite_Day]

I've dealt with Adorama numerous times and have never had a problem and will buy from them again. I have never sent in an item to sell them. That being said, I agree with the others that I wouldn't give a hoot about what you're going to re-sell it for. I only care what you're going to offer me. Complaints probably dropped because a lot of people misunderstand the quote, send their stuff in, get a low offer and then simply give up because they'd rather take a lot less than what they thought they were going to get than have to hassle with having it shipped back and trying to do the sell in another way. Seems a little deceptive to me and a very easy way to confuse a seller.

 

[HelenOster]

I've dealt with Adorama numerous times and have never had a problem and will buy from them again. I have never sent in an item to sell them. That being said, I agree with the others that I wouldn't give a hoot about what you're going to re-sell it for. I only care what you're going to offer me. Complaints probably dropped because a lot of people misunderstand the quote, send their stuff in, get a low offer and then simply give up because they'd rather take a lot less than what they thought they were going to get than have to hassle with having it shipped back and trying to do the sell in another way.

I think there may be a misunderstanding; the initial 'phone discussion results in an estimate of value, not a quote. I'm going to re-inforce with the team in the used department that they need to ensure that their use of language is crystal clear.

There shouldn't be any hassle involved in refusing a quotation and requesting that the goods be shipped back, and it certainly doesn't cost you anything.

 

[KmH]

A lot of times, people's memory of what was said is what they wanted to hear, not what was actually said.

A huge advantage of selling to an outfit like Adorama is it's quick and easy. That quick and easy advantage comes at a price. 30% of the estimated re-sale value.

 

[Infinite_Day]

I understand it's an estimate but that's not relevant to the point. I wouldn't expect any company to make me an offer on something sight-unseen. I still think the estimate should be the estimated offer value - not the estimated re-sell value. As I said before - I would care less what you're going to re-sell it for as long as I'm know I'm not getting totally taken to the cleaners. It just seems there would be much less margin for confusion. I'm not questioning the integrity of Adorama - you guys are a first rate company in my book. I just don't think your trade-in valuation model is the best approach for clarity.

Keith is correct - most people hear what they want to hear not what was actually said. This is particularly true where money is concerned because the biggest number is the one you always remember.

 

[KmH]

Hence the marketing buzz words - up to.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Ha! The word Estimate. Nobody in my trade knows the correct definition either. Repeatedly they hold me to the estimate, as if it was a quote.

 

[HelenOster]

After discussions with the used department, I can report that although this is older, discontinued equipment which really isn't selling well at present, they have agreed to make an additional payment to the OP as a goodwill gesture.

 

[ecphoto]

After discussions with the used department, I can report that although this is older, discontinued equipment which really isn't selling well at present, they have agreed to make an additional payment to the OP as a goodwill gesture.

I received an additional 15 bucks. Thanks.