OK, I know this will make me seem even older than I am (and even more grumpy) but I have to put this out there:
Please, refrain from the use of the phrase: Would you take?
That is not an offer and it's not a game a good FMer should play. An offer states what a buyer will do, not what he might do if his horoscope says to.
An offer reads like this: "I'll pay you $967 dollars shipped and PayPaled for your Canikon Q50."
Would you take is usually nothing but a fishing attempt. When a seller is silly enough to "accept" an offer worded that way he's almost always gonna get a reply like, "OK, I'm waiting on a PayPal refund and I've got some fishing gear up on ebay...once I have the money I'll get back to you."
Translation? Now that I have your bottom feeder, low-ball number in hand you can wait to see if I'll actually come through. Either that, or he'll get no reply at all.
It's just not a way of doing business that fits here at FM, IMHO.
So please, if you want to make an offer just make one. If you're just fishing for the lowest possible price imaginable, with no commitment on your part, take your game to Ebay and Craigslist.
This is just how business work. If a guy decide that he doesn't want it or change his mind down the line, you have no choice but move on to the next buyer
I wait for no one. If the buyer says "I will take it" but doesn't pay within 30 minutes, (unless prearranged and buyer is a high standing member) I go on to the next person.
Negotiation is part of every transaction BUT that doesn't mean I am committed to that buyer either.
I think you worry too much Paul. Precision of language is not something I rely on in 'net communications. I can thoroughly sympathize with you, but in the end, it's not a big deal. People that want to buy something speak clearly and people on the fence ask vague questions. They're easy to spot and just as easy to deal with.
That being said, I think you should definitely express your opinion on this subject. Eventually, this thread will end up in the "Forum & Miscellaneous" section, where it belongs.
I don't think there's a big issue here. No Buyer or Seller is committed to an agreement until both parties accept the other's terms. I don't expect any Seller to 'hold' an item for me, unless they are prepared to do so. I don't 'hold' an item for a Buyer, unless they leave me a non-refundable deposit. If someone wants to buy my "Q50" they pay my asking price, make an acceptable offer and pay, or it stays for sale.
I don't think someone 'fishing' is all that horrible. It could be annoying...I get that part. Personally I only refer to transaction specifics ( pricing, offers, shipping or fees, etc...) in PM's. I think other issues such as item availability and functionality are fine for public viewing. Now if there's a certain etiquette to be maintained her at FM, I am willing to abide by it. I'm a newbie and certainly don't want to be a 'gonner' too.
Not to add to the banter, but I've been accused of "fishing" just for asking a question like what the shutter count was, or If a certain repair had been done.
Now these I would call legitimate questions, but thats not the way it was taken. I'll have to admit though, so people are just a pain to deal with, and that includes buyers and sellers as well.
Everything is conversation until money is exchanged.
Some conversations can get straight up annoying.
Couple what OP is saying and put a 24 to 48 hour delay between correspondences from a person with no feedback and recent join date. You know all you are doing is giving your fingers a little exercise when hitting the reply button.
There are buyers that want something for nothing. There are sellers that want the sun and the stars for their old junk. There are picky people, and slow people, and flaky people...
If you're not prepared to deal with these kind of people, perhaps you should consider not selling your merchandise on the internet. This is reality, welcome to it.
Agreed. I am a newbie here and see things from both perspectives. This is just the nature of the beast. Do people go into used car lot and pay asking price? Both parties are prepared to negotiate. just this guy's 2 cents.
binary visions wrote:
Yawn...
There are buyers that want something for nothing. There are sellers that want the sun and the stars for their old junk. There are picky people, and slow people, and flaky people...
If you're not prepared to deal with these kind of people, perhaps you should consider not selling your merchandise on the internet. This is reality, welcome to it.
