Sketchy Craigslist ad

[ThistleDown]

I don't see that as a scam, either. We have lots of advertisers here who make and sell their own kilts; there are just as many who take orders for sporrans they buy from others and mark up at whatever percent the market will bear. That's retailing. This seller isn't hiding the fact that these are Sportkilts.

[Dixiecat]

For the most part, I agree. This appears to be someone who is trying to make money off the uneducated. Nothing "wrong" with that per se, as that seems to be par for the course in business. Anybody who acts as a middleman has to put some markup on the product in order to stay in business, and even when that markup is excessive, it still isn't "wrong" as long as there are people willing to pay it. Assuming this seller actually honours the order and isn't running off with peoples' money, I don't see anything about this that looks like a scam.

But there's quite a bit of dishonesty in the description, especially regarding the costs of a real kilt ($2,000? Really?) compared to this. Not to mention the claim that "No one will ever be able to tell the difference with our kilts unless they are lucky enough to get it off your body." That's stretching the truth a bit. It would only truly apply in a crowd of complete kilt noobs, and I expect that that's the intended audience. Taking advantage of people who just don't know any better, or who are too lazy to use the internet to shop around.

The well-known kiltmaker near me charges $2299 plus tax and shipping (approx another $400) for a full outfit. Their website is selling a USED kilt for $650, a new kilt for $800, a dancers outfit for $900 and a child's kiltie for $250. While I admit that the craigslist guy's description could be more accurate, taking advantage of those too lazy or uneducated (as in, don't know how) to use the internet, isn't reserved for craigslist.

Addendum:
I just visited Sportkilts website and I have to say I was astonished. I didn't realize that the price for their products was so low. I attended both Grandfather Mountain and Stone Mountain games this year and looked at these kilts at vendors at both those games. No vendor was selling them for less than $100. I'm pretty sure the one that I liked was $125.

[CDNSushi]

For the most part, I agree. This appears to be someone who is trying to make money off the uneducated. Nothing "wrong" with that per se, as that seems to be par for the course in business.

Tobus, on that particular point, I'm afraid I kindly and respectfully disagree. To me, there is a distinct difference between asking a price that will result in a fair profit, and that which will result in unethical profiteering.

When I see the same things happen, like for example in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, people selling gasoline at outrageous marked up prices, my "moral compass" tends to lead me to the conclusion that it is not ethical to do such a thing. Preying on the weak, uneducated, uninformed, or otherwise those at some disadvantage is a disrespectful act. While I don't want to remove the burden of responsibility from the buyer, whose mantra should always be caveat emptor, the seller also holds a degree of responsibility for acting in good faith.

Although it would be difficult to draw a line in the sand as to when exactly "expensive" turns into price gouging, most of us posses some sense of when something becomes "unfair" or excessive. When I saw this Craigslist ad, those are the exact adjectives that came to my mind.

[Tobus]

Point taken. It's a matter of personal opinion on where that line is drawn. But doubling the cost to sell at the retail level is not unheard of, and I would be willing to bet that even reputable vendors, including XMarks advertisers, do it. A specialty market like this is not really in the same moral ballpark as similar markups on necessities during a natural disaster.

[Dangerdean]

I actually replied to the ad asking if they were reselling, and that was confirmed. With that email address and a bit of searching I found out it's this one guy in Vancouver who used to do IT for Utilikilts and, since he wasn't doing anything else, decided to make a business out of reselling kilts. Not sure how successful it is for him, if he's just posting to Craigslist and his domain is inactive.

[MacGumerait]

Dangerdean , I just now clicked on the link and it said it was flagged for removal . I think you are correct , something here doesn't pass the smell test .

[Deirachel]

Point taken. It's a matter of personal opinion on where that line is drawn. But doubling the cost to sell at the retail level is not unheard of, and I would be willing to bet that even reputable vendors, including XMarks advertisers, do it. A specialty market like this is not really in the same moral ballpark as similar markups on necessities during a natural disaster.

Actually, 3-keying is more common and even considered standard for most luxury goods, i.e. tripling the cost of an item for the price they are going to sell it. Jewelry definitely is, and it's easily argued a kilt is a luxury item (when you can get a pair of decently serviceable pants for $20, $200+ is definitely luxury). I know the producers usually don't charge that, but resellers whole other world.