Sellers who are so greedy.

[JustinCase]

  Greedy sellers on eBay community!

I'm not familiar with the Mini tools, specially the first year of production (1986) but are they really worth that much?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Minty-1986-Leatherman-Mini-Tool-TSS-300A-Pat-Pend-Portland-W-Case/152838346028?hash=item2395e0152c:g:vvsAAOSw3RZaPUTd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leatherman-Mini-Tool-1986-TSS-300A-Hard-to-find-USA/263392951912?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41376%26meid%3Dba9738f210454ded8d150446ee53a880%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D152838346028&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[Lynn LeFey]

I'll give two answers.

1) An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. That's the diplomatic answer.
2) No. That's the honest answer.

[gerleatherberman]

Bought my minty Mini for $40. Got my user Mini for $20. They are hoping someone is desperate enough to get a perfect Mini that they'll waste big bucks to get it.

[MTG]

Wow, I have seen them at 50-100 US, but that is a lot....

Whats the going rate for a JPST? I guess average price for a good quality, ie not trashed and not as new......

Also I have seen a new in box Flair for about $150. Is this a fair price?

[T14]

The seller is free to demand any price he sees fit.
The buyer is free to not buy anything he finds too expensive.

The objects of our desire on this board are all non-essential shiny baubles. Treat them as such and your wallet will thank you.
-Tom

[Grant Lamontagne]

I will happily let you have my user and BNIB Minis for half of those prices. 

If I thought I could sell them for that much they'd be out the door in no time.

Def

[detron]

     


from the listing

"Offering a used mint late 60's Leatherman TSS 300A Mini-Multi Tool for your collection."     

[cody6268]

My 1995 example, in user condition with rust and wear,  cost $15, with the pouch.  I wouldn't give over $50 for one in good shape, or $100 for one in the box, so those two prices are ridiculous.   The second example's sheath doesn't look like Leatherman, it looks more homemade to me, nothing official.

[Syncop8r]

   

from the listing
"Offering a used mint late 60's Leatherman TSS 300A Mini-Multi Tool for your collection."     

No wonder then - those are RARE!

[Poncho65]

Especially since it came from Tim's elementary school days

[Don Pablo]

Note: Is a model made of crayons

[David]

This little girl has a reply for the sellers.   

[Sam Lim]

I'll give two answers.

1) An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. That's the diplomatic answer.
2) No. That's the honest answer.

I honestly totally agree to number 1.

But then again that's sky high for that item. They can list whatever amount they wish. It's up to the buying party to decide. Dun like it, have a good laugh at it and move on. 👍

[ThePeacent]

well on my country the cheapest MINIs go for $100-120, like do the FLAIR and HYBRID/VISTA models if you get a good deal on them   
That overinflated price is applicable here to most Leathermans, and SOGs
most of my LM/SOG purchases have been from France, Germany or the US, hardly ever from my own country 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I suppose it is good that The Multitool.org Store ships to your country. 

Def

[ironraven]

The problem with this jackals is that they inflate prices on the less common and older tools. People are greedy. People are stupid. And stupid people pay greedy people.

I should also point out I've bought several Minis for under 20 bucks each. Held hostage by the TSA.

[Lynn LeFey]

People are greedy. People are stupid. And stupid people pay greedy people.

I do believe you just described 'capitalism'. 

[ironraven]

I do believe you just described 'capitalism'. 

Certainly, in it's irrational and inflationary mode. In times of emergency, this time of gouging would be called profiteering. Fortunately, no one will die due to a lack of a Mini.

And I hope no one buys this at this price. Nice tool, but part of capitalism is looking a vendor right in the eye, staying clearly "Schmuck!", and walking away.

[Lynn LeFey]

I have to assume at this point you don't actually KNOW what capitalism is. So, here's the definition.

"an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market"

Did you see 'fair price' or anything like that in the definition? No. Because it's not there. In fact, there's something called 'What the Market Will Bear' as the standard for how to set prices.

EXACTLY what's going on on ebay. 'Jackals'. Yep. 'Capitalism'. Yep. You CAN do things under a Capitalist system that aren't predatory, but the system really rewards the greedy and predatory.

[MTG]

So what are the fair parameters for old models like the PST, PST II, JPST, Flair, Mini, etc?

Is there a going rate and is it going higher as they have been retired longer? I understand a trashed model would be worth less than new in box.....

[Lynn LeFey]

So what are the fair parameters for old models like the PST, PST II, JPST, Flair, Mini, etc?

There are no 'fair' parameters. There really only is 'What the Market Will Bear'.

It really, TO ME, matters if it's like 'new in box' or 'a good but used model'. And I'm pretty tolerant of some wear. Others aren't as much, or might have more tolerance.

As a general rule, I'd say a tool in used condition is probably worth less than a new, modern new equivalent. So a PST, used, should never cost more than a Wingman. But then, some people swear the quality is better on the PST, and would prefer it used to a new Wingman, and are willing to pay as much or more for a good used model.

Most of the prices are getting in the 'collector' territory, though, and that takes function right out of the picture.

There's a way to search ebay to get a trending price on what a similar item has sold for in the past. This gives you a ballpark of what the market will bear.

[ironraven]

I have to assume at this point you don't actually KNOW what capitalism is. So, here's the definition.

Thank you, Lynn. I am quite familiar with the capitalist system and I consider myself a capitalist. Part of that is calling out a bad deal, but that seems to offend you. I"m not sure why. Nor am I sure you understand the difference between parasitism and symbiosis. Capitalism has to be symbiotic, or it fails. This is parasitic, and a bad parasite at that- smart parasites don't kill the host. Prices like this will kill the market on used tools if they become common place. And you seem to be defending a stupid parasite.

Hopefully, no one plays the mark to this seller. I"m not going to call it an "unfair" price, but I will call it "unreasonable". While I don't think a mass produced item like a multitool has a huge collectors value if not NIB with all paperwork or in a rather uncommon configuration, because they are retired a Mini would have a premium. I would say that given the limits of the tool vs a PST or a PST II, the prices should be largely similar to a PST. Maybe a slight edge to the price on a Mini- a very, very good PST, I'd pay $40 for (not a JPST- those I might go as high as a hundred for under the right conditions). Honestly, when they were in production I didn't think they were worth the asking price- it was reasonable due to the work involved, but not for what you're getting. A used Mini, I wouldn't pay over $50 and I'd really, really need to have a craving for one to pay that much more than I think is a decent price. I have a couple, and I"ve sold a couple of others that came my way- I sold them for less than that but I also paid less than I sold them for.

Alas I have no fear, the universe always makes an even bigger idiot and thus this price will be met by someone.

[Lynn LeFey]

Certainly, in it's irrational and inflationary mode.

This makes me question the validity of your previous statement. Because what you describe in the quote above is the STANDARD of Capitalism. NOT an 'irrational' mode. That's just how Capitalism works.

What you seem to want is 'Compassionate Capitalism'. And that's fine. That would be my preference. People working to make money without being predatory, but that's not the standard definition of Capitalism. I'm BAD at screwing people over for money, because I have a conscience, but there is nothing inherent in the definition of Capitalism that demands or even suggests any kind of kindness. It rewards predatory behavior.

[Lynn LeFey]

Nor am I sure you understand the difference between parasitism and symbiosis. Capitalism has to be symbiotic, or it fails.

First, I agree that if it's parasitic, it MAY fail, but that does not DEMAND that it NOT be parasitic, nor ensure failure. Lots of systems fail. LOTS of systems continue with parasitism draining them but never causing failure. They just don't work at best efficiency. Be that biological or economic, or electrical or whatever.

[ironraven]

NOT an 'irrational' mode. That's just how Capitalism works.

And man who lights himself on fire to get warm, well, that's "just how fire works".

[Lynn LeFey]

I posted the EXACT definition of Capitalism above. Please show me EXACTLY where it says 'and you have to be nice' in the definition.

Otherwise, while I agree with your general sentiment, that it OUGHT to be bad business to be a predatory scumbag, The OUGHT TO and IS don't live in the same place.

[ironraven]

I posted the EXACT definition of Capitalism above. Please show me EXACTLY where it says 'and you have to be nice' in the definition.

Otherwise, while I agree with your general sentiment, that it OUGHT to be bad business to be a predatory scumbag, The OUGHT TO and IS don't live in the same place.

I don't know where you got your soapbox to rant at me and others from, but you can step down off it any time.

[Lynn LeFey]

I posted the EXACT definition of Capitalism above. Please show me EXACTLY where it says 'and you have to be nice' in the definition.

Otherwise, while I agree with your general sentiment, that it OUGHT to be bad business to be a predatory scumbag, The OUGHT TO and IS don't live in the same place.

I don't know where you got your soapbox to rant at me and others from, but you can step down off it any time.

The 'soapbox rant' comment is a Logical Fallacy called an Ad Hominem attack, an attack on my character, not my points of argument. You want me to drop the matter, I will, because I like the boards to run smoothly. But you need to apologize for the 'soapbox rant' statement.

[Ron Who]

There can be no such thing as a free market. We need rules and legislation to protect ourselves against the excesses of capitalism, like child labour and slavery
Most modern Western economies are a mixture of capitalist and soSmurfpillst practices and seem to work well enough.

[pfrsantos]

I'll give two answers.

1) An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. That's the diplomatic answer.
2) No. That's the honest answer.

This. Period.