Classified Ad Rules?

[Ebby]

Sorry to post this here but I thought it might get a little more response. I have a question about how buying and selling works over here. I have been a member for a while and was a lurker for a time but have bought and sold a lot over here. I have recently had 2 issues on this site and it has only been on this site. I buy and sell on Archery talk, 24hr Campfire, TNdeer, Long Range Hunting and various others. I have never had any major issues.

Here is how I do it:
I list something for sale
First person to commit to buying it whether it is in the thread or via pm/email, gets the item
I reply to them via pm and tell them how I'd like payment. As long as they communicate with me, I will not resell the item. If they stop responding to me for several days or tell me they no longer want it then I relist the item
If multiple people claim the item, I go by time stamp and then work down the list
I respond to everyone who claimed and let them know where they are in line
If I tell someone that it is their item then they get it, if they didn't give an absolute "I'll take it" then they aren't considered first in line until they do.

2 times recently on this site, I have stated that I would take an item without restrictions or questions about it. Both times the pm was returned stating that the "item was still available" and to respond for instructions on how to pay. Both times, I responded within minutes and was told that the item had been sold. When questioned the seller on both occasions stated that there were several people ahead of me and that I did not pay fast enough. This is 2 different sellers.

This is a very strange way of doing things and one that I am not familiar with. I am not upset about not getting the items as I don't need to spend any more money right now anyway. When it happened the first time I just thought that the seller had a strange way of doing things and questioned the ethics behind it but wrote it off. When it happened the second time, I thought I must be missing something about forum rules on this site.

Am I doing it wrong? Are you supposed to tell multiple people that they have "won" the item and just see who pays the fastest? I've always tried to be very open and upfront and honest on this site and I try and describe my items well and to ship quickly and to communicate well and to pay very fast. I take my reputation very seriously as that's all we have on an internet forum. I don't know many of these people personally and will never meet face to face so I feel that's its important to be very open and transparent when dealing with internet forums. I appreciate any insight and advice into this and if I am doing it wrong I'll try and adjust my practices.

Thanks

Lee Britt

 

[CorbLand]

While I do not have any affiliation with those that run/own this site I would say that common courtesy from other would dictate that a transaction be ran the way that you run it. I would imagine that most people do it that way. However, I feel that it would be hard for someone to moderate this and prevent it from happening.

I have had that happen to me and I just cut my loses and figure that if they are that big of a pain to work with now, imagine if you had bought the item and there was a problem.

 

[Steve O]

You do it right. I'd write down the names of those other jerks and avoid anything they have for sale. In fact if you could PM me their names I'd love to avoid them in my deals here. I've had good transactions here buying and selling so far and would like to keep it that way.

 

[elkguide]

Sounds like you found two of the three jerks on here.
I've found that most guys here are absolutely great.
Definitely remember those knuckleheads and don't go near them again.

 

[hflier]

As long as communication is timely, you are running things right. Personally, I have had many people on this forum say I will take it, then you never hear from them again. That is a pain as you then have to decide when should I relist the item. I think that is guys wanting to lock up the item and then when they figure out they really don't have the cash they are embarrassed. Since the number of members has grown it is getting more common.


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[wyosteve]

An associated issue I've run into on many forums is someone who will ask for pics of an item or more information and after I go through the time to respond, I never hear another word. It seems to me that common courtesy should at least dictate a 'no thanks' if they are not going to pursue it further. If I'm buying and request info, I always give the seller a definite 'yes' or 'no' response. Just my way of doing things I guess.

 

[doverpack12]

Ebby to me you are doing things the right way and frankly the only way they should be done. Usually I don't even check if a member is listed on the good guy thread on this site since I generally trust and believe people on Rokslide. Sounds like I may have to start doing that more. I will usually give members about 24 hours to respond once I reply to their message or post, since I know not everyone can get on here all the time. I'm never in a rush to sell anything that fast so to me if they don't reply I just bump the thread up or move to the next member in line. I will usually reply to anyone else inquiring about the item and answer any questions they may have but also let them know where they are at in line for the item just so its not a surprise to them.

 

[Randle]

You are doing it the way most would love for it to be done, I know not everyone can get right back to me, so I try to give it some time for them to get back on the site. and hope most will do the same courtesy. I have had great dealings on here and hope they continue.

 

[elkyinzer]

You found a couple sheisty characters, I would expect business to be conducted the same way you do.

 

[maninthemaze]

I have a similar question. Does requesting pictures mean that you are first in line? I had something for sale on another forum awhile back. A guy posted "pm sent" on my thread. He was simply requesting more pics, which I complied and sent him more. The next day someone else posted "I'll take it" on the forum thread, and sent me a PM to confirm along with his contact info. I sold the item to the second guy, then get a bunch on nasty pm's from the guy who requested pictures, saying I sold it out from under him because he was first to respond. So I guess my question is, does the first guy who responds get the item, no matter what. What about low ball offers?

Seems like there should be a set of rules somewhere because everyone has a different set of morals and what they feel is right or wrong.

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[dotman]

You are doing it right, that's shady of people to do. I've had guys tell me they want something but can't pay for a week or two and I still work with them and do not sell it out from under them.

 

[gelton]

You are doing it right...I have never had any issues here both buying and selling...if I am selling something and someone says they will take it I say sold pending funds and dont take it down until I receive the $$. If I dont see the money in 24 hours I post that it is still available and back up. I have had to do that more than once but never has anything happened like you describe when buying items.

Sorry to hear about your experience kind of a shitty way to do things. I would be willing to bet that they had it up on several forums and didn't tell anyone.

 

[5MilesBack]

So I guess my question is, does the first guy who responds get the item, no matter what.

Of course not. First one to commit with payment gets the item. Kicking the tires and looking at pics is NOT a commit to buy. You could get 20 different guys just shopping around with no intent to actually put the cash forward.

I sell a lot of stuff locally as well from different sites. It is unreal the number of people that "commit" to buy then never show up or contact me back. For every good buyer, I would guess that there are at least 5 others that "might" or might not actually commit with funds.

The other one that gets my goat is sending a PM and never getting a response.....at all.......ever.

 

[maninthemaze]

The other one that gets my goat is sending a PM and never getting a response.....at all.......ever.

I agree, if I've got something for sale I will check the ad or site religiously. I don't want someone posting "I'll take it" and then me not responding for several days. That would be extremely rude, in my opinion.

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[Ebby]

Thanks for the replies guys. Makes me feel better that I'm not missing something and am doing it the wrong way.

Like I said, the first time it happened, I just wrote it off as a jerk. The second time within a month made me question whether there was some kind of rule about it.

I also agree that the first person to say, "I'll take it" gets it. If you place a conditional offer out there or request more pics/info then you are not first in line.

As far as cross posting to other sites, I do that a lot. I also go by time stamps between all the sites. The one yesterday was not sold on another site. The item was listed here and within 5 min someone posted "PM sent". I replied 3 min later that "I'll take it if it's still available". 6 min after my post, I got a PM saying, "It is still available, text me for payment instructions." I texted 4 min after the PM was sent and was told that I didn't get it. The response was "You were third in line and didn't pay me fast enough".

Just seemed odd. Both of the sellers have been around a long time are on the "good guy" list and have had people post in their sales thread that they were great to deal with. It's not a big deal though because I didn't lose any money or anything like that. It's ultimately fine but I just wanted some clarification.

 

[jm1607]

I've probably sold and bought over 100 things on this website. So far everything has gone perfectly except for 1 really bad transaction. Left a bad taste in my mouth. But, it hasn't stopped me from buying/selling and nothing bad has happened since.

I think 99% of the guys on here are legit.

 

[semperfidelis97]

I have bought allot of stuff here myself, with great experiences. I do usually check post count, and content first though to be safe.

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[orionsbrother]

"I sell a lot of stuff locally as well from different sites. It is unreal the number of people that "commit" to buy then never show up or contact me back. For every good buyer, I would guess that there are at least 5 others that "might" or might not actually commit with funds."

Ha! Makes me feel better about myself. I don't do that much with e-bay, maybe every four months. And I have a ridiculous number of passwords in my head. I feel bad when I'm telling someone that I might need 45 minutes to remember my password and get it done.

I've had nothing but good transactions here. Guys have gone out of their way to ship things faster than necessary. I have no complaints, but I haven't been on the selling side.

 

[Muley Buck]

I think you are doing it right. Respectful and courteous. I try to operate in the same manner you do. I haven't done a lot of buying or selling anywhere online (besides local Craigslist) but all of my transactions here have been positive. I do try to employ good judgment when doing so.

 

[couesbitten]

I agree with everyone else, you're doing it the right way and this is the way I handle things as well.