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Are all brokers the same?

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Old March 30th, 2012, 08:07 PM   #1 (permalink)
EmbellishAthletics EmbellishAthletics is offline
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Default Are all brokers the same?

Do brokers provide value or are they just looking for a quick easy $ while providing zero value? There is one on here that does nothing but scan classifieds all over the country and then re-list under their name. They haven't seen the equipment, have no idea what condition it is in or even if it works. When you call them they just shoot you a line of crap. It's doubtful they even know what the equipment is used for.

I can understand someone actually going out and finding equipment and purchasing at a good price for re-sale. The guys who spend the time to inspect and then refurb (if needed) are providing a service. The particular one I ran into simply found a listing on Craigslist and listed it here at a higher price. He knew absolutely nothing about the equipment other than what the owner wrote in the original listing.

What happened to people actually working for their money? BTW....the guys name on here is PaulB. A little research of his postings will reveal much of the same.
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Old March 30th, 2012, 08:38 PM   #2 (permalink)
Gilligan Gilligan is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

I will say this, he did not know what an Integrator was when I asked him about an exposure unit it was "listing".
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Old March 30th, 2012, 08:52 PM   #3 (permalink)
californiadreamin californiadreamin is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmbellishAthletics View Post
Do brokers provide value or are they just looking for a quick easy $ while providing zero value? There is one on here that does nothing but scan classifieds all over the country and then re-list under their name. They haven't seen the equipment, have no idea what condition it is in or even if it works. When you call them they just shoot you a line of crap. It's doubtful they even know what the equipment is used for.

I can understand someone actually going out and finding equipment and purchasing at a good price for re-sale. The guys who spend the time to inspect and then refurb (if needed) are providing a service. The particular one I ran into simply found a listing on Craigslist and listed it here at a higher price. He knew absolutely nothing about the equipment other than what the owner wrote in the original listing.

What happened to people actually working for their money? BTW....the guys name on here is PaulB. A little research of his postings will reveal much of the same.
That is a pretty broad brush question!
Like any business, there are some that are good at what they do and
provide good products! And there are those who dont!" There is no such
thing as a free lunch" And you generally get what you pay for. If it sounds
to good to be true, it generally is! If you have the time? Do it yourself!
If you are unsure, buy it new. However there are some really good brokers
that provide a great service. Do Your Homework!
winston
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Old March 30th, 2012, 09:39 PM   #4 (permalink)
Capt-G Capt-G is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmbellishAthletics View Post
Do brokers provide value or are they just looking for a quick easy $ while providing zero value? There is one on here that does nothing but scan classifieds all over the country and then re-list under their name. They haven't seen the equipment, have no idea what condition it is in or even if it works. When you call them they just shoot you a line of crap. It's doubtful they even know what the equipment is used for.

I can understand someone actually going out and finding equipment and purchasing at a good price for re-sale. The guys who spend the time to inspect and then refurb (if needed) are providing a service. The particular one I ran into simply found a listing on Craigslist and listed it here at a higher price. He knew absolutely nothing about the equipment other than what the owner wrote in the original listing.

What happened to people actually working for their money? BTW....the guys name on here is PaulB. A little research of his postings will reveal much of the same.
I hate to use the analogy, but imagine the used automobile business. There are basically three types of entities selling used.

1. Brokers who list machines (like cars) who never see the equipment, do not purchase the equipment until sold, and sell with no warranty.

2. Used equipment (car) dealers who may purchase and store the equipment, and sell it as is with possibly a warranty after inspecting it.

3. Used equipment rebuilders (fully restored automobiles) that purchase viable equipment to rebuild to new specifications, and sell with a warranty.

These three catagories will escalate in price, but as stated, usually in this life you get what you pay for. Still less than new.

Investigate, and do your homework.
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Old March 30th, 2012, 10:26 PM   #5 (permalink)
srimonogramming srimonogramming is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

I think there are different types/levels of brokers and I'll say I had a good experience dealing with Paul from a sellers point of view. He isn't a traditional broker like some of them but he does provide a service. He's more or less helping a seller move the equipment they are trying to sell. That's what he did for me and I was happy to have some help getting the word out to others who might be interested. He's more of a facilitator and not someone that is going to hold hands, inspect everything, refurb equipment and install like some will do, but you aren't paying him to do all that either. I have no clue if Paul knows a lot about the equipment that he's helping to move, but in my situation, I dealt with the customer as well as Paul, but he basically put me in touch with someone to buy my stuff that I was not able to do by myself.

I'm not trying to take up for the guy, just explaining that his service was more for the seller in our instance and I was happy to have the help. If you buy a $50 steak and get a $5 steak then yeah, I'd be mad, but if you buy a $5 steak and get a $5 steak then can you really be upset that you're eating a $5 steak? If Paul is trying to charge a premium price for a bargain service then I can see why someone would be upset, but that isn't what he did with me so I'm saying this because he treated me and the customer I sold to the right way. Unfortunately I can't say that about every deal he's done because I don't have inside working knowledge of his business and it's his to make sure he does things the right way or he will have to find another occupation.

I think that there is a place for that service if the seller is willing to give a cut or work out the deal with Paul pryor. I will agree that Paul will need to learn as much as he can about what he is selling or it will come back to bite him. I've talked to him enough to know that he does not want to follow in the footsteps of some of the brokers we've had roaming this forum and he's seen up close what those guys have done, the damage they've done and I do believe that he is trying to make an honest living. He may have to figure some things out on the fly and in the used equipment industry it is impossible to please customers 100% of the time, I wouldn't want to do it full time. Those guys who do try to deal with used equipment and do it the right way have my respect, it's a tough job trying to have a smooth deal go down when everything that can go wrong will go wrong.
PAULB likes this.
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Old March 30th, 2012, 10:35 PM   #6 (permalink)
californiadreamin californiadreamin is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

Quote:
Originally Posted by srimonogramming View Post
I think there are different types/levels of brokers and I'll say I had a good experience dealing with Paul from a sellers point of view. He isn't a traditional broker like some of them but he does provide a service. He's more or less helping a seller move the equipment they are trying to sell. That's what he did for me and I was happy to have some help getting the word out to others who might be interested. He's more of a facilitator and not someone that is going to hold hands, inspect everything, refurb equipment and install like some will do, but you aren't paying him to do all that either. I have no clue if Paul knows a lot about the equipment that he's helping to move, but in my situation, I dealt with the customer as well as Paul, but he basically put me in touch with someone to buy my stuff that I was not able to do by myself.

I'm not trying to take up for the guy, just explaining that his service was more for the seller in our instance and I was happy to have the help. If you buy a $50 steak and get a $5 steak then yeah, I'd be mad, but if you buy a $5 steak and get a $5 steak then can you really be upset that you're eating a $5 steak? If Paul is trying to charge a premium price for a bargain service then I can see why someone would be upset, but that isn't what he did with me so I'm saying this because he treated me and the customer I sold to the right way. Unfortunately I can't say that about every deal he's done because I don't have inside working knowledge of his business and it's his to make sure he does things the right way or he will have to find another occupation.

I think that there is a place for that service if the seller is willing to give a cut or work out the deal with Paul pryor. I will agree that Paul will need to learn as much as he can about what he is selling or it will come back to bite him. I've talked to him enough to know that he does not want to follow in the footsteps of some of the brokers we've had roaming this forum and he's seen up close what those guys have done, the damage they've done and I do believe that he is trying to make an honest living. He may have to figure some things out on the fly and in the used equipment industry it is impossible to please customers 100% of the time, I wouldn't want to do it full time. Those guys who do try to deal with used equipment and do it the right way have my respect, it's a tough job trying to have a smooth deal go down when everything that can go wrong will go wrong.
I like Paul as well, I have met him, shook hands with him and all my
fingers were still there! A good sign! I have also heard good reports about
Paul, and I would not hessitate to use him! I have also never heard of Paul
taking peoples deposit,and not delivering! A Great sign...
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Old March 30th, 2012, 10:51 PM   #7 (permalink)
Gilligan Gilligan is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

Sounds like he's doing a job that needs to be done.

The world needs ditch diggers too (not suggesting that is all that Paul is... just a phrase).
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Old March 30th, 2012, 11:45 PM   #8 (permalink)
EmbellishAthletics EmbellishAthletics is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

Had Paul been up front about his role then it wouldn't be a problem. Had he simply said I am just the middle man and I have no idea what shape the equipment is in other than what the seller listed in the add. He should be upfront that he has no idea about the features, functions or value of the equipment and he would have been better off.

IMHO a "salesman" trying to sell something they have very little knowledge about provides very little value. I suspect if you were trying to sell screen printing to a customer and you had no idea of what the final product would look like then you would have a hard time staying in business. How long would it be before your reputation was gone?

If you are trying to make an "honest living" then make an honest effort to learn your trade and be upfront with your customers.

What Paul needs to do is either let people know upfront that he just getting a finders fee and that he has no idea if the product is what is described. He didn't do that at all in this case. He tried to wow someone with his knowledge about the product and about his knowledge of the value of the product when he had never even laid eyes on it. He didnt even know if it worked or not. If he is willing to take those risk then I believe eventually it will bite him.

He may be a great guy who made a mistake. Time will tell. If he is upfront in the future about what his role is and that he basically has no knowledge of the product he may succeed.

I think he would be much better off making an effort to learn something about the product he is trying to sell. It's not rocket science. It wouldn't even take that much effort to educate himself.
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Old March 31st, 2012, 08:49 AM   #9 (permalink)
californiadreamin californiadreamin is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmbellishAthletics View Post
Had Paul been up front about his role then it wouldn't be a problem. Had he simply said I am just the middle man and I have no idea what shape the equipment is in other than what the seller listed in the add. He should be upfront that he has no idea about the features, functions or value of the equipment and he would have been better off.

IMHO a "salesman" trying to sell something they have very little knowledge about provides very little value. I suspect if you were trying to sell screen printing to a customer and you had no idea of what the final product would look like then you would have a hard time staying in business. How long would it be before your reputation was gone?

If you are trying to make an "honest living" then make an honest effort to learn your trade and be upfront with your customers.

What Paul needs to do is either let people know upfront that he just getting a finders fee and that he has no idea if the product is what is described. He didn't do that at all in this case. He tried to wow someone with his knowledge about the product and about his knowledge of the value of the product when he had never even laid eyes on it. He didnt even know if it worked or not. If he is willing to take those risk then I believe eventually it will bite him.

He may be a great guy who made a mistake. Time will tell. If he is upfront in the future about what his role is and that he basically has no knowledge of the product he may succeed.

I think he would be much better off making an effort to learn something about the product he is trying to sell. It's not rocket science. It wouldn't even take that much effort to educate himself.
Good "Words Of Wisdom For All !!!
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Old March 31st, 2012, 11:51 AM   #10 (permalink)
Inkwerksspd Inkwerksspd is offline
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Default Re: Are all brokers the same?

I had a broker come look at a dryer I was selling on this site. They posted an ad the next day in the same section with my dryers info for a thousand more than what I was asking.........*******.....lol
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