Web Market sortable by price!

[TerrorMisu Resident]

You are correct, on all counts,Theo! More often than not the result is buy low-sell high. Nice post!

(01-28-2017 05:18 PM)Theodore Nacht Wrote:  While this certainly sounds like a great convenience for those who wish to buy something as inexpensively as possible (and I have been one of those buyers at various points in my KittyCatS career), it fails to understand some of the driving forces behind our community's cohesion and success.

The price sorting does enable you to nab a trait as cheaply as possible--much like shopping on Amazon--and provides convenience. However, for a great many things, it's better to regularly patronize trusted breeders who can provide customer service and additional benefits...

As an auctioneer for almost six years in KC, I've been blessed to meet hundreds of sellers, all asking me "How should I price this cat?" My answer is what it's always been: Price it as low as you can stand to part with it. If you feel robbed selling it for 500, start it at 600. I don't ask them, "Is someone else selling this cat for less?" I don't tell them it's better to sell at a discount than to "no sale."

In my experience, top breeders and those who aspire to be a top breeder value their work, their bloodlines, and their customers. They provide additional services to customers paying a fair price for a great cat, including but not limited to breeding advice, encouragement, mentorship, and often even discounts on additional cats from the same bloodline. I've even been given (as a customer) free hiders and even showers of highly desirable traits because I developed a relationship as a regular buyer with that breeder. Moreover, in developing these relationships, I've revealed my favorite traits and combinations, and sometimes I'll receive a random gift of a cat that particularly suits my fancy because that breeder just knows what I love, saw the cat, and thought, "He'd buy this anyway; it belongs with him."

You can sell at volume, potentially, by utilizing this system, and if that suits your needs, and you're in KCs exclusively to make money, then this is all to the good.

However, if you are here for the experience, I hope anyone reading this will feel no pressure to price low just to get noticed. Customers who want the VIP treatment will continue to pay a few hundred lindens more, not just to secure the best buyer experience but to reward excellence in their community.

I do predict that this development may result in a "buy low-sell high" situation as opportunistic sellers snatch up the lowest priced entries to resell at a higher price--which will be the lowest once they eliminate the previous top results. These cats will not be sold by their original breeder, and the customer service will suffer as a result. I will be more wary of this as a buyer going forward. This seems to suggest we'll see a fresh rash of it, though the phenomenon is by no means new.