Zulu - 10-28-2010 at 08:01 AM
I am wondering why some sellers list the price of their oud and others will not and insist that you U2U to get the price?
Is it that some sellers have a fixed price for everyone and others want to see how high they can get a bid without others knowing? I'm not accusing
anyone of anything so please don't take this in a negative way; I just find it strange that on a forum such as this where everyone trusts each other
that the price of an oud isn't listed in the description...why the "cloak and dagger?"
ameer - 10-28-2010 at 09:06 AM
No clue;I'm right there with you. Having bought and sold guitars and related equipment, my experience has always been that prices are disclosed up
front. I'd be interested to know the rationale behind it as well.
DoggerelPundit - 10-28-2010 at 02:18 PM
"Gentlemen....we are dealing with the un-dead!"
- Dr. Van Helsing, Dracula (1931)
I suppose it's easy enough to decide to deal only with those who are out front with pics, sound files and prices.
Marcus - 10-28-2010 at 10:01 PM
Hi Zulu 
maybe it`s because there is a difference between "pure" sellers and luthiers?
As far as I know, most luthiers do not have ouds in stock. They build custom instruments, so the price varies with the wood,ornaments, pegs etc.
But what is the problem? In all luthier-websites I know, you`ll find something like "you can contact us any time to ask questions" and a
contact-link.
So, just do it, and maybe you´ll be surprised how reasonable some professional ouds are.
A conscientious seller/luthier wants his customers to be satisfied with their instruments,I think, so many details have to be clear before .
Greet`s
Marcus
ameer - 10-29-2010 at 05:36 AM
As easy as it is to decide to deal with people who are only out front, a little curiosity about the others never hurt anyone quite as much as assuming
them to be blatantly dishonest would.
As for the point about Luthiers I'm not really sure what that has to do with anything: most if not all professionals in any commercial field tend to
put the prices and specs out there for all to see or at least try to give you a ballpark figure when it's a completely custom shop just so you have an
idea whether or not you can maybe afford their stuff before you talk to them. The people I recall pulling the "contact for price" gambit were most
certainly not the builders of the ouds they sold; either the builder was in a different country or he was dead to begin with. So again, the question
stands. I'd be interested to hear from someone who does say contact for price just so we're not speculating and talking about people behind their
backs.
Zulu - 10-29-2010 at 03:34 PM
I must agree with Ameer; there are plenty of well know lutheirs who list their prices up front such as...
Faruck Turunz who not only gives the price but also a very detailed price break down for additional custom work.
http://www.oudmaster.com/product.aspx?lang=2&id=1
Michael Moussa of Magic Strings gives up front price.
http://www.magicstrings.co.uk/prices.htm
Hank Levin of Music Caravan gives up front price.
http://www.musicaravan.com/?q=node/29
Dr. Oud gives up front price.
http://www.droud.com/forsale.htm
I could go on listing more lutheirs, but you get my point.
I'm not trying to start a negative look on those who don't list the price so don't you guys go getting bent out of shape over this. I just find it
strange when almost every detail is listed but the price. If someone is selling an oud they own, the oud is already made so there is no speculation of
what it will cost to build it...so why not list the price up front so those interested will know if it is affordable.
Even if the oud has not been made I still see that the above lutheirs have no problem giving a price publicly.
If an oud is out of my price range I'd like to know up front so I don't waste the sellers time or my time.
If I were to sell an oud for $2,500, I would list the price so I don't have to return hundreds of disappointed U2U of people who only have $1,000.
Even though I have found luthiers who will give up front prices; I'm not talking about contracting a luthier to make you an oud; I'm talking about
members of this forum selling an oud they already have in their possession.
I'd love for someone who doesn't list the price to comment so we can have a better understanding.
fernandraynaud - 10-30-2010 at 01:56 AM
I think it's part of the baazaar mystique and the fun of haggling. If you are flexible a lot will depend on the negotiations, and the seller may like
you and give you a better deal. A published price limits everybody's options. I think its perfectly normal and just fine. I find California style
pricing very dull. It's like robots buying and selling.
Jason - 10-30-2010 at 05:23 AM
Fernand is correct. I do think that this forum can be very confusing in that regard though. It's hard to tell if someone is intentionally pricing
something very high in anticipation of negotiating a price of if the listed price is actually what they're looking to get for the item.
Zulu - 10-30-2010 at 08:36 AM
I was hoping this forum did not adhere to the bazaar mentality. I personally would treat everyone here equal with the same respect and
consideration.
I do understand and respect the fact that others would rather get into a haggle and possibly give you a better price if they for some reason like you
better than the next guy...or drive the price up if they have something personal against you that you may not even be aware of; the later would be a
shame. The later situation leaves the scenario open to so many prejudices and favoritism.
Like many situations; I suppose it's all how you look at it and what you are comfortable with. Some like to haggle but I think it's a stressful mind
game and prefer the California style pricing of knowing all the facts up front.
To each his own with the best of luck!
ameer - 10-30-2010 at 11:07 AM
I agree. Also keep in mind that just because the price is set up front does not preclude anyone from trying to haggle in private. I've done this
several times with some success, and even when the answer was no it was delivered very politely.
fernandraynaud - 10-30-2010 at 01:04 PM
Zulu, seriously, it's a difference in customs. You think it's disrespectful to haggle. Most places in the world if you don't negotiate it's like
you're refusing to shake someone's hand.
Zulu - 10-30-2010 at 01:52 PM
Fernand,
I never said it was disrespectful to haggle. I actually said I do respect those who wish to operate that way. I have tattooed in countries and remote
villages all over this planet and have had to adapt to quite an array of various customs quite different than my own. I merely stated my preference
buying and oud on this forum is to have a price posted up front and with that, if the buyer chooses to haggle then by all means, engage...if not, pay
the quoted price.
It can go either way; I understand that some get a kick out of pricing melons in the local bazaar...but I have also seen sellers get very offended
when a buyer attempts to aquire goods at a lower cost than stated.
If anyone came into my tattoo studio and asked for a lower price than what I publicly quote, I would tell them to get lost!(and I have done so many
times in the past)
And I do agree, it is a difference in customs; therefore one can only choose what's best for him/her.