Unethical or Just Lucky?
- Thread starter AtLarge
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How about this situation? (hypothetical) You go to a flea market or yard sale. Someone is selling an old cue with a price on it. Let's say $10. You think this cue may be valuable. Maybe an original Szamboti or Balabushka. Do you take it and run or tell the owner?
You could later find out you are wrong and only out $10. But, you may be right and it is worth $5-10,000.
I think in the original post it was theft. Someone was hired to appraise the cue. They lied.
You could later find out you are wrong and only out $10. But, you may be right and it is worth $5-10,000.
I think in the original post it was theft. Someone was hired to appraise the cue. They lied.
Unethical or Just Lucky
The expert was brought in to put a value on the cue for the widower. He robbed her plain and simple. If this really happend this person is a low life in my book. I would like to know the dealer if this is true.
The expert was brought in to put a value on the cue for the widower. He robbed her plain and simple. If this really happend this person is a low life in my book. I would like to know the dealer if this is true.
tigerseye said:
Well...this scenario pretty well implies that it's an elderly lady, who has just lost her husband and who is now facing the overwhelming and emotional task of liquidating a lifetime worth of material possessions, many of which she knows nothing about. It's not reasonable to expect her to do "homework" on every item and it's certainly not reasonable to expect her to have any idea that the cue is worth a lot.
KCD, took advantage of her, plain and simple. KCD should hope that his own mother is treated more kindly. My mom was young when we lost my dad, but there's no way she would have had the presence of mind in the aftermath to rigorously establish the value of something as unknown to her as a pool cue.
I'm a woodworker, and you can imagine how often this scenario occurs, with a "widder woman" finally emptying out her deceased husband's shop full of expensive tools and equipment. It's worse than unethical to take advantage of her ignorance.
Tom
AtLarge said:
I can tell you almost the exact same story. It was a retired cop from NY who had Balabushka in his closet. He brought the cue to a billiard supply to get an idea of the value. They sent him to me. He told me who made the cue for him and I confirmed in my own mind it was in fact a Balabushka. The day he brought the cue I was going out of the country but I told him I would help him sell it when I got back, that I had some good contacts. I told him the cue was worth in the thousands.
I had no interest in making anything on the deal I was just going to help him out. That cue was probably the most valuable thing the old man owned. I was gone for six weeks and when I came back I gave him a call. He told me he had sold the cue for $800. Somewhere he had gotten the name of John Wright and sent him the cue. The old man told me John Wright would not return the cue but keep pressuring him to sell it making different offers. Finally the old man gave in and sold it for like a fraction of what it was worth to that thief. Sorry if I offended anyone but that is a true story.
This happens all the time.
I am gathering the widow offered the $250? That's what it sounds like - that she offered the $250 (the KCD didn't offer to buy it for $250) - based on the way the OP worded his post.
Others are right - she doesn't have time to do homework and in her mind she prolly can't believe she got $250 for a piece of wood!
Yes, it would have been nice if would have offered to sell it and give her half instead of taking it for $250. But, let's face it, a cue dealer is trying to make money. Was it ethical? No, but it happens all the time. I also think he was a little lucky in being referred to go see the cue and made a huge profit on it.
I am gathering the widow offered the $250? That's what it sounds like - that she offered the $250 (the KCD didn't offer to buy it for $250) - based on the way the OP worded his post.
Others are right - she doesn't have time to do homework and in her mind she prolly can't believe she got $250 for a piece of wood!
Yes, it would have been nice if would have offered to sell it and give her half instead of taking it for $250. But, let's face it, a cue dealer is trying to make money. Was it ethical? No, but it happens all the time. I also think he was a little lucky in being referred to go see the cue and made a huge profit on it.
unethical
In this case I wold recommend a lawyer. I say this because we don't know what happened but it certainly sounds like theft. In some states taking advantage of someone "during grieving" is against the law. Personnaly, I hope the individual who pd 250 then sold for 25k gets their fare shae of bad karma! Just my thoughts
In this case I wold recommend a lawyer. I say this because we don't know what happened but it certainly sounds like theft. In some states taking advantage of someone "during grieving" is against the law. Personnaly, I hope the individual who pd 250 then sold for 25k gets their fare shae of bad karma! Just my thoughts
I say off with his head!
It absolutly irritates me when people take advantage of someone during a time when they are most vulnerable! :angry:
The widow should of had the cue appraised by more than one person, but when someone kicks the bucket, you don't think about this kind of stuff! Especially if you don't know anything about pool, cues or what not.
I like to hope that people have more ethics and values than that, but I've seen otherwise. I don't mean to be so bitter and jaded, but this hits a little close to home.
It absolutly irritates me when people take advantage of someone during a time when they are most vulnerable! :angry:
The widow should of had the cue appraised by more than one person, but when someone kicks the bucket, you don't think about this kind of stuff! Especially if you don't know anything about pool, cues or what not.
I like to hope that people have more ethics and values than that, but I've seen otherwise. I don't mean to be so bitter and jaded, but this hits a little close to home.
Kicks the bucket! Hilla Hilla, such words from such a sweet lady.hilla_hilla said:
I agree that this guy took advantage of the lady. He should have made it a win win situation for both of them. Explaining the correct value of the cue and for her to let him be the middle man in the selling of it. Explaining to her that he had the contacts to make it happen. It seems it was all about greed. Bad karma will catch up to us and equal things out.
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It seems obvious to me that wall street is not the only place where people blazenly steal and take advantage of someones lack of knowledge in the field.
A friend went a garage sale. Saw an old bike and offered the elderly gentelman a small amount for it which was accepted.While doing his restoration discovered the chequered history of the machine and who previously owned it. All embarrassed, went back to the owner and fesed up that he thought the bike was worth substantialy more than he paid. Not having the money he sugested that he would split the difference when the restoration was finished and sold.The gentleman was so surprised by his honesty, went into the house and gave him a large box.
In it was the photo's of his brother who raced it and the medals and trophys he had won, including a world championship.All he wanted in return was to see the bike in working condition again, and mentioned that he prefered my friend to keep hold of it. Which he did.
So being honest to someone certainly can have it's rewards.
Neil
A friend went a garage sale. Saw an old bike and offered the elderly gentelman a small amount for it which was accepted.While doing his restoration discovered the chequered history of the machine and who previously owned it. All embarrassed, went back to the owner and fesed up that he thought the bike was worth substantialy more than he paid. Not having the money he sugested that he would split the difference when the restoration was finished and sold.The gentleman was so surprised by his honesty, went into the house and gave him a large box.
In it was the photo's of his brother who raced it and the medals and trophys he had won, including a world championship.All he wanted in return was to see the bike in working condition again, and mentioned that he prefered my friend to keep hold of it. Which he did.
So being honest to someone certainly can have it's rewards.
Neil
akaTrigger said:
The way I read the story is that he solicited an offer. He saw the cue, knew what it was and asked her to name a price. I have no idea how the hypothetical conversation really went in this fictional story but I imagine it went something like this, "that's a nice cue with no markings on it, it might be worth several hundred or worth nothing, what would you like to get for it?'' "oh, I don't know probably just $250 or so." "Ok, here's $250 and I am sorry I really need to go, I have a very important phone call to make, my condolences again for your losses"
if she's happy i don't see a problem with it. this situation is no worse than your average trip to the mechanic. anyone had their headlight fluid changed?
geezz , you guys need to find a new auto tech,, gimme a call
carl
carl
The original post exemplifies unconscionablilty. Taking advantage of a person's lack of skill, knowledge or expertise to a grossly unfair degree in a consumer transaction should result in a disgorging of any proceeds in favor of the aggreived party. If this really happened, the appraiser should be tarred and feathered, flogged and drawn and quartered as well.
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