| Welcome |
Welcome to Bonsai Vault .
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free, so please, join our community today! |
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Tachigi
Site Admin
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 187
Location: Glen Rock, Pa, 6b
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject: How to Become A “Afghan Bazaar Queen” |
 |
|
The article How to Become A “Afghan Bazaar Queen” has been submitted for the Bonsai Vault Article Contest.....Good Luck!
Name: #1 - Irene Britton
Country: USA
Credits: None
Category: Non-Fiction
Submission Date: 04/17/2008
_________________
Tom Brown
www.shadysidebonsai.com
www.4MAAT.org
Last edited by Tachigi on Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Tachigi
Site Admin
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 187
Location: Glen Rock, Pa, 6b
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ash Barns
Moderator
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 92
Location: Victoria Australia
|
| Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 12:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well done Irene for giving us an insight of the barter system. Wish I could trade with you freely but the restrictions on live material does not quite fit in with "bonsai is borderless" as you often say. I agree with you on that but the physical limitations are there, alas. Good read.
Ash 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris Johnston
Group Leader
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Ottawa, KS
|
| Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ash Barns wrote: |
Well done Irene for giving us an insight of the barter system. Wish I could trade with you freely but the restrictions on live material does not quite fit in with "bonsai is borderless" as you often say. I agree with you on that but the physical limitations are there, alas. Good read.
Ash |
Ash, believe me, you don't want to barter with Irene!!! 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tachigi
Site Admin
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 187
Location: Glen Rock, Pa, 6b
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
irene_b
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 73
Location: Texas
|
| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
I get no Respect for perfecting a skill!
Mom
_________________
Mom
Irene Britton
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris Johnston
Group Leader
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Ottawa, KS
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| irene_b wrote: |
I get no Respect for perfecting a skill!
Mom |
Quite the contrary, Irene. In an ideal world, we would each act out of our own self-interest, and try to maximize our personal profit. In an ideal world, each party would have a sure knowledge of what they believe their work or product to be worth to them, and would not make a deal that put them at a disadvantage. Therefore every transaction would give something of value for value received, without the arbitrary assignment of a number ($ in this case) to decide what value is.
On the other hand, we often see folks with a fair underestimation of the value of their work. Or we see unscrupulous traders with inferior product being touted as superior. What's to prevent someone from being completely taken advantage of?
Only the market can do this. Do we need laws and agreements to be certain that Queen Mary doesn't take advantage of Lonely Bonsaiist? No, we need the market to do that. Lonely must learn through repeated dealings either that he is not getting full value for his product, or that he is getting full value and be content. But what happens when Slick Wick comes into town and offers Lonely double or triple what Queen Mary has been "paying" for the product? Lonely begins to believe in the higher value of his product and negotiates more strongly when Queen Mary comes by next time.
Capitalism is a beautiful system. In my opinion, it is the only moral system of government the world has ever seen. And barter is capitalism in its purest form. We ought to do more of it. My caution was intended to bring to others' attention that they are their own guardian...in order to barter and be happy with it, they need to have that sense of confidence and understanding of what a thing is worth to them.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
irene_b
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 73
Location: Texas
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Chris Johnston wrote: |
| irene_b wrote: |
I get no Respect for perfecting a skill!
Mom |
Quite the contrary, Irene. In an ideal world, we would each act out of our own self-interest, and try to maximize our personal profit. In an ideal world, each party would have a sure knowledge of what they believe their work or product to be worth to them, and would not make a deal that put them at a disadvantage. Therefore every transaction would give something of value for value received, without the arbitrary assignment of a number ($ in this case) to decide what value is.
On the other hand, we often see folks with a fair underestimation of the value of their work. Or we see unscrupulous traders with inferior product being touted as superior. What's to prevent someone from being completely taken advantage of?
Only the market can do this. Do we need laws and agreements to be certain that Queen Mary doesn't take advantage of Lonely Bonsaiist? No, we need the market to do that. Lonely must learn through repeated dealings either that he is not getting full value for his product, or that he is getting full value and be content. But what happens when Slick Wick comes into town and offers Lonely double or triple what Queen Mary has been "paying" for the product? Lonely begins to believe in the higher value of his product and negotiates more strongly when Queen Mary comes by next time.
Capitalism is a beautiful system. In my opinion, it is the only moral system of government the world has ever seen. And barter is capitalism in its purest form. We ought to do more of it. My caution was intended to bring to others' attention that they are their own guardian...in order to barter and be happy with it, they need to have that sense of confidence and understanding of what a thing is worth to them. |
For the most part i do not disagree with what you are saying.
When a value is attached to an item the seller has a rock bottom price they will not go below, the buyer is then left to either pay the asking or define the rock bottom (RB) price. What I have found in this world is very few people are willing to negotiate or feel that it is insulting to the seller.
Our ancestors never thought twice about using the barter or the RB solution, so why is this generation so offended by the skills of bartering /negotiations?
When a price is set on an item it generally includes actual cost for item plus the markup, which is on average 300% (This is not implying that all sellers do this).
I am sure that this will bring the flamers out!
Irene
_________________
Mom
Irene Britton
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris Johnston
Group Leader
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Ottawa, KS
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| irene_b wrote: |
When a price is set on an item it generally includes actual cost for item plus the markup, which is on average 300% (This is not implying that all sellers do this).
I am sure that this will bring the flamers out!
Irene |
No flames, but this seems an over-broad statement. In what industries or businesses would you think you see a 300% markup?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
irene_b
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 73
Location: Texas
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Chris Johnston wrote: |
| irene_b wrote: |
When a price is set on an item it generally includes actual cost for item plus the markup, which is on average 300% (This is not implying that all sellers do this).
I am sure that this will bring the flamers out!
Irene |
No flames, but this seems an over-broad statement. In what industries or businesses would you think you see a 300% markup? |
Chris that is the reality of most retail stores.
Irene
_________________
Mom
Irene Britton
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
Home
