Retail?

Polk, I think there is a difference in philosophies articulated here but labeling somebody dishonest might be a stretch. What do you think?

It is hard to speak to motive, or what lies in a person's heart, but for some the act would seem dishonest so they would not do it or at least be open and transparent about it, for others they see no such conflict or duty to disclose, and one must conclude that coming from that perspective they are not being dishonest, they just see the situation differently. Then of course there are those who know or think it is wrong, but do so anyway because it is to their advantage and I think we can say that they are dishonest as to motive and intent.

My feeling is that just as the price a seller will obtain for an item can be adversely affected by the introduction of an upgraded version, or by other circumstances beyond his or her control, he or she is entitled to realize some benefit from price escalation that may have occurred for the model that is being sold. Perhaps even a windfall, if the current price of the same model is far larger than it had been. I don't see anything wrong with that.

A statement of the original purchase price could provide potential buyers with added confidence in the seller's character, but I don't see failure to state that price as being unethical, or as signifying anything negative about the seller's character.

IMO.

Best regards,
-- Al

Strech? No. I also "labeled" people honest. I'm just sayin".

I'm with Bill and Al here; given that people have chimed in on both sides here, we seem to have something of a "philosophical difference," not a clear cut case of dishonesty or misrepresentation.

I don't agree with Bill that MSRP is irrelevant (assuming it reflects to some degree the going rate for a new piece): I think it gives some guidance as to what a reasonable asking price would be. To take an extreme case, surely it's not irrelevant in evaluating an asking price of 2000 that the current MSRP is 1000.

In the end, of course, it's up to the negotiating parties to decide what they can live with, MSRP notwithstanding.