A little rant...

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Clyde, Mar 13, 2014.


  1. Clyde

    Clyde Jet Set Tourer Administrator Founding Member

    Lately, I have seen posts on Survival Monkey which have made me a bit angry. We have a few people on the site who have they opportunity to sell their wares and have permission to do so. Unlike other sites, these people just help to cover the costs and are certainly not some giant profit center.

    Some have decided and/or openly commented that they believe the price is too high or a rip off of some sort. This is done in an open forum. Personally, I find this pathetic. You come here for information. It costs you absolutely nothing but time and you are not spammed and shat upon by this site or the members.

    We all go to work and we all make money to acquire what we want. What is too expensive for one person might seem inexpensive to another. Why is that important to you to make a comment? If you don't like the price, don't shop or buy. No need to take a dump on someone's livelihood. Just take your money and dump it someplace else.

    We all had a grandpa who said, "Buy the best tools you can afford and they will last a lifetime." Maybe in his day that was true before it was all shipped off to China for production; however, if you decide that your life may depend on your tools rather than your livelihood, maybe you will spend more for a "crazy expensive knife" or for something from Larue Tactical or another higher priced US manufacturer/Supplier.

    When ever I read, "I would never spend that much on _(insert item of your choice), I could buy 3 other ____________ for the same price." Guess what, nobody really give a flying fuck. Logically, and follow me here:

    1. If a product is too expensive no one will buy it
    2. If no one buys a product, then the manufacturer/supplier will go out of business
    3. If the manufacturer/supplier goes out of business, the item will no longer being manufactured
    4. If the item is no longer manufactured, then there will be no more too expensive product (s)
    5. If there are no more too expensive products produced, then you were correct that it was too expensive.
    6. Therefore, if the item is still being produced someone is buying it,
    7. If someone is buying the product, then the manufacturer is still in business
    8. If the manufacturer is still in business, there there are many expensive items being made
    9. Since there are still expensive products being made, then you were incorrect that the items were too expensive.....
    10. it's just too expensive for you so STFU.
    Following the above logic, one can easily see that there everyone will have an item that is too expensive for them. Personally, I would love to own a GE Minigun, but could neither afford the acquire or feed it. I am certainly not going to tell the guy that he is just wasting money......its his money to do with as he pleases. Let's not jump on the Obama band wagon and bring class warfare into this environment based upon what I would or would not buy (I am forced to buy a $1,3o0 per month health plan now that used to cost me $450). I am happy that someone can afford these things.

    Remember ..... Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Your happiness is different from my happiness and I don't care what makes you happy as long as you don't force me to like what makes you happy.

    Until my next rant, I remain,

    Clyde
     
  2. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    Thanks Clyde, and glad to see you weren't on flt.370.
     
  3. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Well stated. I never thought to tack up a sign about this as I had assumed that everybody in forum-world knew of this etiquette. You don't publicly question the price of a good in a for-sale ad.

    From the ar15.com Equipment Exchange rules:
    EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE RULES
    • Absolutely no stomping on other peoples' posts! Do not remark in any way that would negatively impact the sale of someone's merchandise. Do not post comments or opinions in threads. This can result in your account being locked.
    We have recently lost a member who was a friend of mine as well as a site supporter since the early days due to the above behavior. JC Refuge has disabled his account & also cancelled support and advertising over this incident. I suppose I'll need to put up a notice but rule 11 of the EE at arf is in full effect. Stomping will get you banned.

    This applies to all members.
    I've been offline for a few weeks while I remodel my network so thanks for bringing this up Clyde.
     
  4. Pax Mentis

    Pax Mentis Philosopher King |RIP 11-4-2017

    Personally I feel that, if I see a way for new preppers to get equal quality at a lesser price (allowing them to store more for the amount of money they have available,) I am going to mention it...regardless of who it offends. To me, that is part of helping others protect their families to the best of their abilities.
     
  5. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    There's probably a better way to say it than to slam a price. Simply "alternative sources are _____________."
     
    Moatengator and kellory like this.
  6. cdnboy66

    cdnboy66 Monkey++

    That's unfortunate that JC Refuge has pulled out, hopefully that is temporary.
    I was not a customer as I have had other priorities right now, but I sure liked to window shop and he seemed to offer good product and good service from my observations.
     
  7. Clyde

    Clyde Jet Set Tourer Administrator Founding Member

    I find it a little pretentious that anyone on this site can decide they are the "Priceline Negotiator", of Survival Monkey or any other site for that matter. Personally, I have purchased from JC and also from a few others who have "advertised" (if you can actually call it that) on this site. I bought from JC when he was operating as Safecastle about 7 years ago. Did I get the lowest price? I don't know. But I did get 100% of the product shipped to me in a very timely manner. I would be happy to do business with him again and even recommend him to others because of the experience I had.

    One of the benefits from buying with someone like a JC who has been on the site is the he has been "vetted" in a sense. He has been here since the beginning. It is quite simple to be your own "Priceline Negotiator" too. If and when you are ready to buy something, you have the ability to search the internet to find a lower price and buy from someone you may or may not know. Alternatively, you can send someone a PM and say, "Hey, I am going to buy some __________ and I found the same thing at another site for a little less." Would you be willing to match or beat the price?"

    And guess what, people who want to grow their business will gladly and usually meet your price. There are some people who are bound by certain pricing contracts that do not allow them to offer a lower price without violating their contract. Perhaps there is someone out their willing to violate their contract....if that is the case, I don't want to do business with cheats like that because if I have a problem, they will probably try to cheat me.

    So, there is a price to pay for some form of mental comfort. Unless your name is William Shatner, take your low price suggestions to PM mode.
     
  8. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    To clarify my earlier post,
    The 'no stomping rule' starts now - the slate is clean for any previous posts that might have fallen into this category.

    Anyone is free to create a new thread that points to lessor priced ________. Just don't post it in an existing for sale thread in the buy, sell, trade forum.

    I think there was a perfect storm that caused this and JS's reaction may have been intensified by posts made after the thread was locked and he could no longer reply.
     
  9. VisuTrac

    VisuTrac Ваша мать носит военные ботинки Site Supporter+++

    I'm just going to say that the collection of Hinderer Tactical pens I purchased are freaking awesome.
    If it weren't for them being on the Monkey, and supporting the Monkey, I'd not have/use them.
     
  10. Pax Mentis

    Pax Mentis Philosopher King |RIP 11-4-2017

    Whatever...if you find someone suggesting a lower cost method to be "pretentious", then you are obviously not the type of person that I am addressing (or would want to, for that matter).

    I said nothing to impugn your buddy's business practices and if you wish to get pissy about my wish to help folks who might be looking for a better way, feel free to continue doing so, that is your right. I actually cannot imagine I was one of the people to whom Melbo referred, nor do I assume that G was pointing to anything I had said in post #5. I tend to pretty much stay out of the "commercial section"...but I have been known to recommend that folks do the work themselves rather than go the easy (but appreciably more expensive) way when they are getting started and/or mention that the money is an impediment to their prepping.

    In sum, I don't really give much of a crap if you consider that "pretentious"...and will continue to point out options when I see one in the sections of the forum that are here to help folks as opposed to selling merchandise.
     
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