Buyer beware. Newbies should read this one.

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
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I continue to receive emails like this one:

"I want that knife you posted today!"

The only information I have to work with is the email address: SA 007

I reply:

"What knife? Who is SA 007? Where do you want it shipped? How are you going to pay?"

Then I get no reply.

In the meantime I get 10 emails from old customers wanting to buy the deals.

What do I do? Stall the old timers while I'm waiting for a reply from SA 007 which I may or may not get?

This kind of behavior puts me in a no win position. SA 007, a first time customer, doesn't bother to read the second permanent post on the forum which tells him exactly what to do and then gets angry with me if I sell off to the old timers -- and I lose a potential customer. If I wait for info that SA 007 should have provided and don't sell I feel that I'm shortchangind old and valued customers.

What's the answer?

I'm leaning toward a harder line of, "you didn't follow the instructions so you lost."
 
Dunno...

How can I change my name to Monkeyman?

Maybe post a link on your list of links on how to order stuff.
 
This seems tricky.

How 'bout closing the post with something like:

"First one to contact me by phone and specify which knife, payment method, shipping address gets the deal."

Maybe boring to to write and see a jillion times, but it's hard to see how anyone could complain.
 
Maybe at the beginning of each of the 'deals' posts, you include (in bold) a note of what the email should include:


All emails requesting these specials MUST include:
- the exact item requested
- requestor's real name
- how payment will be made
- shipping address

and a note to refer to the 2nd post for more details.

A pain, but maybe less of one than what you're dealing with now.
 
I've been on both sides of this, and both times the policy has been fair and consistent: when I was the second person to request a specific PGA but the first person who supplied the required information I got the deal. The time when I neglected to specify exactly which WWII I wanted on a day when several were available, someone else grabbed it before I clarified my intent.

You can add extra ordering instructions if you think it will save a new customer from hard feelings, but the current policy works just fine for me.

Of course I have a pretty thick hide. ;)
 
I think that your current policy on this is fair and equitable. Any n00bie knows that there are rules to every forum. I have also been on both sides of this one and have no problem losing out when I don't play the game properly.

I like Firkin's idea of a little disclaimer line at the end of each 'deals' post. I would modify it to include email though.:)

"First one to contact me and specify which knife, payment method, shipping address gets the deal. No specify: no deal."

Could copy and paste it from a wordpad file on your desktop if you get tired of typing it.
 
Originally posted by Aardvark
All emails requesting these specials MUST include:
- the exact item requested
- requestor's real name
- how payment will be made
- shipping address

I agree with this, but it could be simpler...


How about at the bottom of each post, put this:


-------------------------------------------

Call or Email with the following:

1 - Full Name
2 - Payment method
3 - Shipping Address
4 - Knife wanted

The first one to get all 4 right, gets it!


-------------------------------------------



Then it's declared up front and you don't have to worry about it.

Dan
 
Might be that this is just a natural selection thing:

anyone who can't follow the instructions you have now shouldn't be allowed to have sharp objects.

Most folks know they have to say what they want, how they will pay for it, and where to send it. Those who don't...well, that's why the "NERF KHUKRI" was invented.
 
I like the idea of specifying what the request email includes. As already noted, you could keep the standard text somewhere and just copy and paste (even from an old post on the web, or out of this thread).

However, do what's easiest for you. The regulars know you try to be as fair as possible, and deals have been frequent of late. There's always tomorrow. The newbies may be upset about missing a deal, but again, there's always tomorrow, and there's always the website for a "must have now" urge. Occasionally, you may lose a customer or really annoy someone. But anyone that refuses to give business to a company because they lost out on one sale due to their own mistake probably wouldn't be very compatible with the HI philosophy anyway.

I've been the 2nd person to claim something almost simultaneously a few times. Once I got a similar item at the sale price. Other times, I let it ride and waited. The current system is extremely fair. No complaints. (Then again, I've always included my info.)

My 2 cents (downpayment on a WWII or GS or X that I KNOW is waiting for me to claim it at the khonvention).

Do what feels right and is easiest. They all find the right home....

(edited to make an addition)
 
I agree with Raghorn. The rules aren't that difficult to manage. I did. My first grab probably didn't mention all the data but enough so we could work. "alright, I got the BAS; what's a BAS?" I asked.

munk
 
As far as I'm concerned, Uncle should do (or not do) whatever makes him feel that he's done enough. I also think the rules are fine. I messed it up the first time, but quickly responded to the email asking for the missing information. Anyone ordering online should be expecting to get either a confirmation or rejection, and should be watching their incoming mail.
 
I agree. The first time I got into a special, I followed the instructions and got the deal.

The current setup is fine I think. Mind you, by the time I get a chance to check out the deals, they're almost always all snapped up anyways.:D
 
Originally posted by Kismet
Might be that this is just a natural selection thing:

anyone who can't follow the instructions you have now shouldn't be allowed to have sharp objects.

:D :D :D
 
Call or Email with the following:

1 - Full Name
2 - Payment method
3 - Shipping Address
4 - Knife wanted

The first one to get all 4 right, gets it!

I like it.
 
Bill,
that's way too easy. I think you should get around 10 lawyers and let them figure it out or send it to the UN. They seem really good at making quick decisions there.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Call or Email with the following:

1 - Full Name
2 - Payment method
3 - Shipping Address
4 - Knife wanted

The first one to get all 4 right, gets it!

I like it.

If they use a false name, do they still get it right?
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Call or Email with the following:

1 - Full Name
2 - Payment method
3 - Shipping Address
4 - Knife wanted

The first one to get all 4 right, gets it!

I like it.


OOPS, that leaves me out..:eek: :p :confused: :footinmou :o

I can't even remember my name most of the time these days..:D
 
Call or Email with the following:
1 - Full Name
2 - Payment method
3 - Shipping Address
4 - Knife wanted
The first one to get all 4 right, gets it!
That's way too easy. I think you should get around 10 lawyers and let them figure it out or send it to the UN. They seem really good at making quick decisions there.
If you got 10 lawyers you'd have at least twenty opinions. OTOH, the opinion of this one lawyer is that the notice above, attached to all UBDOTDs and UBBBs ought to give a legally and factually sufficient warning to all but the most clueless.
Uh, speaking of the Most Clueless, that would seem to include the UN.
Berk
 
I never get anything any way 'cause the posts only happen in the middle of the night here (sniff, sniff):(

Then again, I never have the agony of temptation :D
 
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