P3D Hobbyist vs. Retailers

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Allen French writes:

>I have also noticed high prices on the sell-3d list. Someone says
>they are looking for a low-priced Realist 3.5, and some  seller 
>replies they have one for $140. Where I come from, that is a high
>price.
>   
>Let's see, we have 3-D hobbyists, shooters, and collectors.
> would like to add another category: sellers, or wannabe 3D
>retailers.  I am not saying that is bad, but I think retailer ideas 
>on pricing (and perhaps goals for 3D) are far different from mine, 
>as a hobbyist.
    
I understand exactly what you are saying and 5 years ago I would have 
agreed with you 100%.  Back then I was a pure hobbyist (read sucker)
and had given away  excess Realist 3.5 cameras and viewers for free 
to friends to get them started in 3d.  When I realized that it was not 
fair for me and my family, I jumped the fence to become what you can 
call "retailer", selling 3d stuff for what I consider a fair price, 
which involves some expectation for profit (readily invested back to 
the stereo community through memberships, subscriptions, etc., or to 
my hobby through film and processing.)  

Experience taught me that if I want to at least "break even" in the 
retailing game, I must price the Realist 3.5 at $125 minimum or at the 
*very least* 20% more than I paid for it.  Here is why:  Say you pick 
up a $100 Realist and "offer" it to beginners for $105.    Everything 
looks fine.....  Until you get a "lemon", a Realist with serious
problems that cannot be sold or it is returned by the buyer.  You paid 
your $100 and you are stuck with the lemon (I have a basement full of 
those - maybe one day I might be able to fix them).  You are hurting 
yourself trying to serve the stereo community as a hobbyist offering
equipment at near cost.

There is always a risk when buying and selling.  There are hidden 
costs.  And I do value my time spent on fixing things.  I could be 
spending time with my family enjoying the nice weather, and taking 
plenty of stereo pictures, instead of working on viewers in my 
basement.  My car mechanic charges $50/hr and I get $25 for 3 hours 
work on a viewer.  I still would like to call myself a "hobbyist" but 
if "3D retailer" is how others see me, I have not problem with that.

Again, I understand your point but I am convinced that "3d retailers" 
offer a good service to hobbyist like yourself.  Have you looked at 
some of the "Shutterbug" prices lately or ebay prices?  Much better 
buying the same things from a sell-3d ad, from a 3d hobbyist/wannabe
retailer who knows what a stereo camera is and will stand behind the
sale.

-- George Themelis

PS. We are a small group of hobbyist and many of us get into
retailing as a way to reduce our expenses.  My wife used to joke
that I sell things to people and then buy them back from them...
until I sold a Keystone viewer to Harry bRichards and next year he
had it for sale (at the same exactly price he paid - talking about
profit....) and asked me if I wanted to buy it back. I had to laugh
and politely refused!


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