XS11 Tank Badges

[nashville_bill]

I have noticed e-bay auctions for chrome YAMAHA tank badges that are going for $30 to $40 and know that they are the same ones that I bought from the local golf cart dealer for @2.67 each. The seller states that they are not the original gold badges, but chrome replacements, and still gets a lot of money for his trouble. My question is do you think there is anything wrong with this practice? I am thinking about selling them for a little extra income, being unemployed at this time.

[RiskyBusiness]

Re: XS11 Tank Badges

Originally posted by nashville_bill
My question is do you think there is anything wrong with this practice? I am thinking about selling them for a little extra income, being unemployed at this time.

Bill, it's the free market, Man! Go for it. Think of yourself as a "Tank Badge Broker." You are connecting people who want to buy these things with people who want to sell them and then you take a cut. Pretty typical practice in the free market! It's not like you are holding a gun to their head and making them pay $40. *shrug*

[capocrimini]

This same issue/discussion came up about a year ago. My problem is that the guy on the auction lies. He says they are new replacements for the motorcycle, when they actually are new replacements for the golf carts. Also, he folds the bag over where you cannot see the part #, intentionally hiding it knowing full well when it was referenced people would see they can get the part for much less. Its a dishonest practice. From last year's discussion, a member decided to sell some, but disclosed that they were actually for the golf carts, but fit and were the same size as the motorcycle. He still came out w/ $15 or so. There is nothing ethical about highway robbery, free market or not, and $40-50 for something costing $5-7(pair) is just that. You want to be a hero, put a Buy-it-Now at $15-20, and force that other guy to show his cards! If you choose to compromise your integrity, please keep it to yourself and don't tell people you belong to the XS11 group. Just my opinion.

[RiskyBusiness]

Quite simply, paying $5-7 and selling for $30 or more is not unethical or highway robbery. Buy low and sell high; that is how profits are made. If someone is willing to pay the high price, then that is their choice. If I can't find a product anywhere but eBay and I really want it, I don't care what the other person paid for it. I am willing to pay whatever it is worth to ME!

I agree, however, that you should be transparent and honest in what you are selling. Nothing is more frustrating than thinking you are buying one thing when, indeed, you are selling something else. I think that just stating that these are not originally for motorcycles but are from Yamaha would suffice. The key here is transparency as to what is being sold. You are being paid for being smart enough to figure out that golf card badges fit on motorcycles. I think the "buy it now" at $20 is a great idea. You should be able to move more that way. Maybe list one every week at that price.

Profits are not unethical, but bait and switch or misrepresenting products are, indeed, unethical practices. I hope you can show snap shots and describe the badges and sell them for $30 each. I'll sell you the ones off my bike. I think I am going to go for the generic look: all matte black with no markings.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

-j

[Pat Kelly]

Now I feel bad. I got a 1973 Honda CB750 junker for free and I've been selling parts off of it on Ebay. I should be giving the parts away.
(that was said as a joke)

[wpc57]

SHADY? How about dishonest?

I am amused at the way people try to pass themselves off as experts on these parts. Just by saying may fit so and so make it worth more to the person that doesnt know and thinks a person will be honest. I too was taken by the wants and needs of online bidding. And shame on me. But I studied and listened and read here to learn all I could. I thikn that ANYONE that takes advantage of someone knowingly will not stop there. If you can sleep at night, SHAME ON YOU.

[strom]

I can still get the original tank badges from a yamaha dealer for bout 13$ pair. You should be able to get em too.

LP

[wpc57]

Hey Strom... if you can still get the GOLD ONES.. I NEED 4 pairs. will take all ya can get ...... HEllo EBAY ..... rofl. No seriously. I need 4 pairs. let me know

[sam_cg_cook]

Sweet!...

Seriously... If you know where to get the gold ones... SPEAK!!
I need a pair... and also the side cover emblems for the special.

You would be the day's hero.

Oh... and Bill... This is America, where a fool and his money are... well... you know the rest... I would say that one of the previous posts had it right... undercut this other guy on eBay, with the disclaimer.