Buying/Selling Etiquette - Please give feedback

[douglee25]

I would like to start a thread and come up with a list that everyone can agree on for buying and selling items here on the X. I know we've touched on this subject in the past, but we all could really use a fresh reminder on what is/isn't considered good buying and selling etiquette.

As for the reasoning on this post? I have recently seen on numerous occasions where people who either have contacted the seller or shown genuine interest on an item, end up not walking away with the item. I have also seen shady transactions going on which don't sit well.

Some items that seem common throughout these threads are numerous silent auctions going on. This is where the seller is basically asking for PM's on best offers or where the seller says the item is sold and then receives an offer to outbid the first buyer. I have also seen many occasions where some lose complete respect for an individual in search of their specific part. Basically a person will do anything in their power to get this item, regardless of what it takes to get it.

I will start off the list here and make a recommendation to open the discussion. Let's compile the list and make it a sticky after we feel it's complete. :biggthumpup:

My recommendation:

1. When listing an item, please have an opening amount you would like to receive.

Doug

 

[kingnothing3]

pretty sure everyone knows how to buy sell things honestly. IMO the people doing the shady selling/buying will continue to do this regardless of a sticky.

I have posted things for sale and said-make offer. I didnt do this to get the highest bid, I did it becuase I wasnt sure what I could get out of the item, and didnt want to lowball myself. 9 times out of 10 I accept the first reasonable offer someone sends me.

 

[Matt_E]

1. When listing an item, please have an opening amount you would like to receive.

Explain please. The for sale section shouldn't be an auction block.

 

[Takeastand SJ]

So if you were selling a part for $100 and someone offered you $150 you wouldn't take it?

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

ive said that for years!

every post in the for sale section needs to have 2 things or it gets deleted.

1) PRICE
2) location

I hate that silent auction crap.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

Not if another buyer had already shown interest for the original $100 price.

So if you were selling a part for $100 and someone offered you $150 you wouldn't take it?

 

[Kny21]

1) Make item location a required item.... big help especially on skis.

2) Figure out a way to handle pic requests, payment method, shipping, etc.... questions i.e. If I post saying I want an item contingent that pics don't show misrepentation or shipping isn't outrageous. Then the next guy shouldn't get it if he doesn't require pics..... unless lister spefically states first come ($), first serve.

 

[hangtime]

I really don't have a problem with someone taking a higher offer because it's their part and they are selling it to get money and there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a higher offer .Most parts are OBO aren't they ??

I aslo agree that people are going to do what they want regardless of a sticky about buying/selling etiquette.

just be upfront and honest and describe the parts well and ship in a timely manner is the best you can do :biggthumpup:

 

[kingnothing3]

I really don't have a problem with someone taking a higher offer because it's their part and they are selling it to get money and there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a higher offer .Most parts are OBO aren't they ??

I aslo agree that people are going to do what they want regardless of a sticky about buying/selling etiquette.

just be upfront and honest and describe the parts well and ship in a timely manner is the best you can do :biggthumpup:

well put

 

[sjetrider]

Not if another buyer had already shown interest for the original $100 price.

Here is my problem with that statement in red. Showing interest is not a commitment. If I list an item and some one says DIBS then PM's me with questions and so forth, I will gladly answer the questions asked. What I will not due (shady or not) is consider item sold. If someone else PM's me or posts that they want it and sends PP, NOW IT IS SOLD. Snooze you LOOOOZE.
I have had many people PM me with questions for days on an item and not buy it (tire kickers).
DIBS IMO is "whats your PP addy money on the way" .

 

[sjetrider]

agree with sjkny. seller should sell to first interested party unless seller states first with money gets it. or give the first interested party a deadline.

1. give a good description of all problems
2. provide pictures

this should make it fair for everyone. the people willing to take risks and the more cautious.

:bs2: the deadline is when its sold. I do not promise anyone I will hold an item for them. Too many tire kickers. You calling DIBS is not me accepting DIBS upon your conditions.
Case in point:
I have a widget forsale and I post it up for $25.00 + shpg.
I get a PM from SEADOOBOY "Dibs pending what size screws in this widget"
I respond "Screws are 10mm widget in great shape"
I get PM from POLARISBOY "whats your pp addy I will take widget"
I respond "J{IOJ{IOJI) shipping $5. "
PP sent, part sold.

If I tell Polarisboy sale pending and Seadooboy comes back a day later and says "I needed 8mm screws thanks anyway" I potentially loose sale. :banghead:

If you go to a car dealership and look at a car and tell the dealer "let me see if Joe's Chevy sales is cheaper hold this" do you think he will pass the sale up if it comes arround waiting on you to find one cheaper?

 

[Mark44]

y

Here is my problem with that statement in red. Showing interest is not a commitment. If I list an item and some one says DIBS then PM's me with questions and so forth, I will gladly anser the questions asked. What I will not due (shady or not) is consider item sold. If someone else PM's me or posts that they want it and sends PP, NOW IT IS SOLD. Snooze you LOOOOZE.
I have had many people PM me with questions for days on an item and not buy it (tire kickers).
DIBS IMO is "whats your PP addy money on the way" .

100% Snooze you loose! :biggrin:

Dibs only get my attention.

Mark44

 

[SXIPro]

Show Me The Money.

 

[douglee25]

Maybe we should have a requirement list before an ad is placed. Like Mark44 said, price, location, and pics would be my top three choices. If you don't have those, you can't post the ad. In fairness to both parties (buyer and seller), it's doesn't give everyone an equal shot at getting the part without all the information. The responsibility should not be put on the buyer to find out all the details while giving someone else, who doesn't care about those details, the opportunity to purchase the part. 'Tire kickers' happen a lot of times because the seller doesn't provide complete information. This is why it may be a good idea for those three items be posted at the time listing the ad.

Doug

P.S. Maybe add paypal address as #4 to the requirement. This way, there would be no speculation who paid first. If someone else paid but they came in later, just refund the money.

 

[hangtime]

The for sale section is full of rampant over dibs calling .:haha:

 

[Scorn800]

Calling dibs is such :bs2:
Whoever pays 1st gets it

 

[accbr]

I've been interested in items on here, and said I would take it. Asked for a total shipped price. Then never heard anything back. Any time I sell something I go ahead and include shipping in the price. I just get a quote for some place in Cali, and that usually covers the lower 48 states. Makes it easier on me instead of having 'tire kickers' asking for shipping quotes then not buying. I'm not saying that's what everybody should do, but it just works for me. I also go ahead and box the thing up after I take pics of it, so it's ready to go if somebody wants it. If somebody paypals me then I send it out the same day. If somebody calls dibs on an item I'll give them until the end of the day to pay, then go to the next person in line.

I know of other forums that will delete posts if there is no price or location.

 

[D Slicker]

1. Price
2. Location
3. Hold to a specifit amount of time for payment ie. 24 hrs. If not paid you loose.
4. Questions dont hold parts, agreeing to purchase with no conditions does.
5. If people offer you a price even if isn't what you are looking for have the decincy to reply.

That said I buy from the people I know and trust. I when I say I want it I pay right then. I have even paid and then waited to the person recieved there new parts so they could keep ridding.

 

[guiness92]

simple.....

Have a pic.

Give a price.

First person to respond buys it.

I didnt think this was rocket science.

If you are fishing for the highest price, say that when selling it or just go to ebay. Silent bidding and such should not be allowed thats what ebay is for. If you dont know what something is worth, just ask around someone will know.

 

[Snackem]

simple.....

Have a pic.

Give a price.

First person to respond buys it.

I didnt think this was rocket science.

If you are fishing for the highest price, say that when selling it or just go to ebay. Silent bidding and such should not be allowed thats what ebay is for. If you dont know what something is worth, just ask around someone will know.

That's the biggest thing that bugs me. People here are more than willing to tell you what something is worth if you ask in one of the forums. I hate to look at the Classifieds and find something that has no price attached to it.

That and not putting a location up especially for larger parts. I might be able to afford the part but not to ship the part from Florida.

I believe that if people just use some common courtesy and common sense it would be no big deal.