Classified Sales Very Slow - Why Do You Think

[jxb]

I'm thinking we must have the best grocery prices out west, we just aren't seeing what you all east of the front range are reporting. Heck fruit and veggies are just a few cents per pound more than they were before covid. That said when I lived in COS 2000-2003 not only were groceries more than here, they were crap. I was shocked that no matter where I went the quality of the fresh food was what would be culled here.

dry goods went up, mostly heavier stuff which makes sense as it's costlier to ship and shipping for everything is considerably more.

 

[Dos XX]

In my charcoal example, the 2 pack of 20 lb charcoal was $17.00. The 2 pack of 16 lb charcoal is $17.00.

32/40 is 20% increase.

 

[anon]

Who is paying the same, or 2% annualized increase, on their homeowners insurance as in 2019?

 

[cuznguido]

All of these things contribute, but let us be honest, price sells. Many, many ads are priced at or even occasionally above retail. The old fashioned rule of thumb that used stuff should be fairly close to half of new in value. There are exceptions of course, and some things, though rarely, even increase in value. But it is not realistic to expect to recoup the price of new, on something that is not new. Tis a rare day on the for sale forum to see anything remotely resembling a bargain. May offend some by saying it, but truth stands, and price sells.

 

[Tesoro]

Think about this graph. I just got a new CC from my bank (use if for points not credit) and the APR was 28%, Yes twenty eight!! Avg for used cards is around 20%. I don't even think pawn shops can get away with this. And as of now we have 1.2 trillion in consumer cc debt. Add to this auto + home + unnecessary rv etc debt and we got problems. Trump team needs to bust the banking cartels.

 

[Tesoro]

Many don't know how to calculate inflation

About the only thing I remember from college is this simple formula to calculate % change:

P1-P0/P0

Where P1 is the new price and P0 is the old price.

 

[Tesoro]

In my charcoal example, the 2 pack of 20 lb charcoal was $17.00. The 2 pack of 16 lb charcoal is $17.00.

32/40 is 20% increase.

P0 =$17/40lb = .425c a pound
P1 = $17/32lb = .531c a pound

.531-.425/.425 = .249%. !! worse than you thought!!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m not sure how that’s possible, the current inflation rate is 2.4%
but you are suggesting it’s 33% where you live.

I don’t care what the government says about the current rate of inflation. If you do much internet shopping, just go back and look at what you were paying for similar items four years ago. Let’s not forget that many products also shrank during the time prices were rising, which effectively raised the cost even more.

Edit to add:

“According to USDA data, grocery prices in the United States have increased by approximately 25% since 2019, with the all-food Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by this amount between 2019 and 2023; this increase is considered significantly higher than the overall inflation rate for all items during the same period.”

The above quote from a google search is only related to food and does not account for the aforementioned shrinkage.

It must be nice living in la la land.

Monopolies that the small town grocers have now in my area, I would say a 33% increase would be a conservative number.

 

[jxb]

Exactly, Trump's first go around, was 1.9% total for all four years.

Biden's in excess of 30%....so far....

I always love how people blame the guy or administration in charge at the time for everything they don't like. If Trump had won you'd have seen the exact same thing happen or so close you wouldn't know the difference. They can influence commerce and supply chain, but they don't have much impact in controlling either.

Think about this graph. I just got a new CC from my bank (use if for points not credit) and the APR was 28%, Yes twenty eight!! Avg for used cards is around 20%. I don't even think pawn shops can get away with this. And as of now we have 1.2 trillion in consumer cc debt. Add to this auto + home + unnecessary rv etc debt and we got problems. Trump team needs to bust the banking cartels.View attachment 1611896

Totally agree, cc interest should be capped by law but if I recall correctly it used to be and congress let that drop. Gee, I wonder why they would do that? This is the reason I never carry cc balance, that and I love seeing that line item on my December statement saying I paid those thieves $0.00 in interest for the year.

Of course I think first mortgages should be capped at 3%. Even at that they are making a ton of cash off the home buyer over the life of the loan, no need to rob them blind.

As for the OP's topic, yeah just this week I saw items of interest but the prices were same or higher than new and those you get the warranty so it's just not realistic pricing.

 

[Medic505]

Maybe people will quite eating drive through shit burgers.

The wife and I went to Subway the other day during a grocery shopping outing. We both got a 6" sub, med drink and a bag of chips. $30 bucks and change. Won't be making that mistake in the future.

 

[Tesoro]

Look at this graph. Trick to combat inflation is pack a flask or drink at home!

 

[Mark W]

Guys, 2% annual inflation is considered a healthy economy, without a modest inflation your home would not gain equity.

You are completely discounting what has happened over the last 4 years and talking about “the current rate of inflation”. It’s two very different things.

 

[dgeesaman]

For some time now sales have been very slow. I am sure it is the same on all forums, Gunbroker, EBay, etc. I assume that inflation has put the average person where it takes all their income for essentials and very little left over for pleasure and hobby spending. Reportedly consumer confidence is up now but confidence does not put money in your bank account. Just curious what others take is. I have noticed that there are some killer deals on stuff that folks obviously really want to sell and the items remain unsold.

It’s gift buying and Black Friday sales season.

All private party sales avenues drop like crazy. Great time to score a deal but terrible time to make a quick sale without taking a big loss.

Holiday retail spending is on track to grow 3% or more this season compared to last season. That’s just dollars. Adjusted for inflation it’ll be less than a percent of growth in spending.

 

[PhilC]

That 57 Chev is $50k, you can get a lot of F-150 for that, it's more practical and rides better.

And even less than $50k...in June I bought '19 F150 Lariat crew cab 4wd, 2.7L/10spd, very nice w/color matched (Ruby Red) ARE canopy with roof racks and just over 36k mi for an out the door price of $37k. I absolutely love the ride, power, creature comforts, and fuel economy. Wrote a check for half on the spot, financed balance at 4.8%, paid it off 2 weeks ago.

I have a few "collector" cars, a 62 1/2 Falcon Sports Futura w/T-Bird roofline, bona fide first year factory 4-speed car (the Dagenham 4-spd was referred to as "wooden geared" because it couldn't handle the 170's torque); a numbers matching '69 R-code Fairlane fastback, 428CJ/C6. Strangely optioned car IMO, ram air CJ, bucket seats, column shift, no console, 3.50 open rear, drove it home for $1000 in 1986. It sits in my heated shop waiting for "when I have time". Also have a super straight, rust free, '67 Comet 2dr sedan, and has a not original to the car, factory fiberglass non-functional twin snorkel hood. Have always had a "thing" for 66/67 Fairlanes/Comets.

My dad was Falcon nut, cheap daily drivers for everyone after me. He kept one to "do" for my son, a '61 Futura, tear drops on the quarters, bucket seats, console, 170/2pd automatic but died before starting it. My BIL dragged it here from western WA in '95 just prior to my retirement. It sits in one of my buildings here waiting for my son to decide what to do with it.

 

[Blackthorn]

The wife and I went to Subway the other day during a grocery shopping outing. We both got a 6" sub, med drink and a bag of chips. $30 bucks and change. Won't be making that mistake in the future.

I feel your pain. Took the grandsons to Denver for an overnight stay to visit friends. Went over to 5 Guys as a treat. Two burgers, one hot dogs, medium fry (to share with all), and three small drinks. Total was over $60. My shadow will never darken that doorway again and I really like their fries.

 

[Tesoro]

Most of us are on some for of budget, or aleast try to self impose a bit of spending control. I would say the no-brainer way to not waste money nowadays is to cook your own friggin food and brew your own friggin coffee. Invest in a thermos mug. I see the lower income people religously line up at our local coffee drive up kiosk on way to work or on weekends = $6 x360 = $2,160. Make at home = .15c x 365 = $55 + $15 thermos cup = $70. Costs them $2000 bucks a year because too lazy to make their own cup of coffee!
And then add to this breakfast takeout....doordash...and that folks is one of the reasons they have a trillion dollars in cc debt that they cant pay back.

 

[Medic505]

My first car was a "55, 2 door post, 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree Chevy. I paid $100 bucks for it in 1975. It was slick. I wish every day I had it back. Sold it for $500 bucks 2 years later. Boy did I cut a fat hog in the ass or what?

If classics are getting cheaper, I'm waiting for a 1966 GT-40 for 5 grand. Not holding my breath....

 

[hogpatrol]

How many non-boomers can operate this machine?

 

[Medic505]

How many non-boomers can operate this machine?

View attachment 1611905

I'm proud t say my daughter could. Her husband on the other hand, not a clue.

 

[jghoghunter]

I'm proud t say my daughter could. Her husband on the other hand, not a clue.

Now add a floor dimmer switch to that and see what happens.