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HOUSMAIL HM138 August
2012 DUTCH AUCTIONS
- THOU SHALT NOT COVET A Dutch
auction is a type of auction in which the auctioneer begins with a high asking
price which is lowered until some participant is willing to accept the auctioneer's
price, or a predetermined reserve price (the seller's minimum acceptable price)
is reached. The winning participant pays the last announced price. In our
colloquial language the term is sometimes used to describe an all too common practice
amongst customers trying to get the lowest price for the goods they want to purchase.
Several suppliers will be invited to submit a price for the goods. The best of
these prices will then be disclosed to the other bidders in an “auction” which
endeavours to force some of them to beat it. This may happen several times until
the purchaser is convinced that he has obtained the absolute lowest offer. In the
business world this practice is considered most unethical and unfair. In some
conditions it is ILLEGAL! e.g. Public tenders called by Government authorities
are required to remain sealed until all bids are in. The contents may not be revealed
to anyone until all tenders are opened at the same time …… after a nominated closing
time. Purchasing officers who breach this rule, can lose their job! It is open
to corruption. In my personal experience some suppliers have offered bribes in
an attempt to obtain competitors' tender prices, in order gain an unfair advantage
which allows them to underbid their competitors. Personally,
I consider that, for Christians, this practice is a form of COVETEOUSNESS! It
is covered by the 6th Commandment! And Paul ranks THAT as a form of idolatry!
(Colossians 3:5) “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife,
neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant,
or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbour’s.” (Deuteronomy 5:21) THINK
ABOUT IT! When
you try to force your suppliers to reduce their price this way, YOU ARE COVETING
THEIR MONEY! When
your supplier competes for business this way, he is HE IS COVETING HIS NEIGHBOUR’S
CUSTOMER! And you are encouraging him to do it! Why
do Christians engage in this practice? I think that for most of them, it is probably
because they haven’t thought it through properly and have lost sight of that important
6th commandment. GUIDELINES
GOD’S
PROMISE Is God
so “broke” that he is unable to keep his promise to supply all our needs THE
BEST OFFER The
lowest price is NOT always the BEST OFFER! There are other things besides cost
to take into account! 1.
Different brands do not
necessarily offer the same features or quality for the same overall purpose. The
cheapest price is not likely to offer the “best” features! To get a lower cost,
you have to leave something out. If you do choose a product with less features
or quality, you have to decide whether you are getting value for money. In general,
you pay for what you get. 2.
Does the supplier offering
the lowest price offer the same quality of service and advice offered by his competitors?
A supplier has to pay the staff he employs to provide service, and the FAIR price
you pay for your goods has to include your share of this cost! 3.
You should think hard about
whether it is ethical to take advantage of the service and expert help offered
by one supplier, to help you select the right goods, and then buy the recommended
goods from another supplier who offers a lower price but does not offer the service
and help you received from the first. 4.
What happens if you need
after sales service? Will it be available? Or has the supplier you selected via
“Dutch auction” cut his price by not employing the people necessary to offer adequate
after sales service? CONCLUSION BE FAIR
TO YOUR SUPPLIER NEIGHBOURS! “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31) “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) IF YOU
NEED IT, BUT YOU THINK THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH, YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE!
Or
Or
A Christian
who has God’s conditional promise to provide his needs, (Matthew 6:24-34) does not need to practice
“dutch auction” covetousness. If God thinks you need
something, he will find a way for you to get it at a price you can afford …… WITHOUT
DUTCH AUCTION COVETOUSNESS! In fact
if we do truly love our neighbour, we will go out of our way to ensure that we
pay a FAIR PRICE which enables our suppliers to cover their costs, pay their employees,
offer good service, and stay in business! If our
love for OUR money leads us into the practice of Dutch Auction covetousness ……
DON’T EXPECT GOD TO BLESS IT! AND
DON’T COMPLAIN IF HE DOESN’T! “For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God,
flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness.” (1 Timothy 6:10-11) Allon |