How long to respond?

MVF

MVF

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I've just had a very unsatisfactory experience with beanbag in regards to a knife he was selling in this post-http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/988058-Sold?highlight=beanbag

I probably wouldn't be posting this but for the fact that he's been around awhile and I think should know better, and the tone of his replies.

If you read the thread you can pretty well see what happened, but pay attention to the times involved. He pm'd me at 8:09am (11:09am his time) saying he hadn't heard back from Farmboy, and that the knife was mine if I wanted it, let him know ASAP. Meanwhile, he sold it at 9:29am.

I pm'd him back at 3:40pm asking for his PayPal info. Here is his response:

"Dude,

Check the thread.

This knife is long gone.

Sorry."

I was a little peaved, but wanting to give him a chance to explain (or apologize) I pm'd him this:

"You think that was cool?"

His reply:

"Excuse me MVF, but at 9:30 this morning I posted my intention to offer this to you at 11:00 if Farmboy didn't respond. I then e-mailed you at 11:10. With five people expressing interest in this knife, didn't you have some obligation to follow the thread or answer your PMs or e-mails before 6:40pm?"

Now, his OP said nothing more than "first I'll take it gets it", nothing about any kind of time limits. I said "I'll take it" if Farmboy hadn't already. I would expect at least a 24 hour window. As it was, I replied in less than 8 hours. If you read the thread, you can see that Hans17 was in line behind me and got the bum's rush too. I was actually given less than 90 minutes to respond.

Like I said, I wouldn't have bothered with this if his replies had shown any kind of consideration, but he obviously thinks he's right in what he did. I disagree.

So what say you all? Do you need to stay glued to the forum if you've said "I'll take it"? What's a reasonable time for a reply?

PS. This is in no way an effort to get the knife.
 
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I have been doing a little bit of trading and selling lately and from what I have seen, this is very minor and pretty normal. There are no set rules for time limits, who the seller has to sell to, timely replies, etc. I had four separate people tell me they would buy the same knife... They all ended up backing out for whatever reason. I had two trades recently that came down to sending the shipping address and they never returned emails. To sum it up, it happens. There is nothing you can do about it and everyone handles business differently. One thing I have started doing is making a list of people that have done these sorts of things so that I know to not deal with them in the future. That's all I've got buddy. Relax, there are more knives out there.
 
Bummer for you MVF. That type of thing has happened to me as well. It's very annoying!

I would not pick a right or wrong here. I know from the honorable buyers point of view an I'll take it or an I'll take seconds means we want the knife and have the cash ready to go. The time necessary to make the payment is up to the seller but if not stated 24 hours seems fair to me.

I also know that when I sell, buyers will state they want a knife and then flake on me. It tends to happen more on lower priced items in my experience. I try to be patient waiting on responses but I'm sure I've pissed someone off not waiting long enough.

As far as the actual response I agree a courteous response would have gone over much better. I try to remember we are all at different places in our lives.

I believe my Mom taught me good manners and I do my best to show respect. I've messed up with my comments in threads and by pm many times. It happens.
 
I would not get too bent out of shape about it.

I have held a knife for some one for over a month (did not know him, and had no prior dealings), but he asked me to.

No, 90 minutes is not long enough. I would give a day or two, before I moved on.


Couple of years ago, I sold my truck on craigs list. SCREAMING deal for it.(it needed the clutch fixed, but ran, and had new BFG TKO's on it) I sold it for less than the tires cost. Quite a few people got all bent out of shape about it. As if the fact that they sent me an email, and asked about it meant it was theirs. Couple who asked to come by days after it was sold got all mad.
 
If you posted an "I'll take it if the original deal falls through" then the seller owes you at least a day to respond......they can then move on but owe that to you at least?? No one has the time to spend all day or even hours at a time glued to the forum. I've been a member here for only a year or so, but have found most to be true gentlemen when it comes to this and his responses aren't even close to that.
 
Its not something i would have done, i have sold many knives on the UK forum and in my mind i think that 24hrs of no follow up means that the 'buyer' has cocked on the deal. The seller did not say he was in a mad hurry, but then again he did not say he wasn't in a hurry!

I think we all have our own ideas on courtesy and politeness, if we were all the same then the world would be a far less interesting place. Hope you bag another knife to make up for it.
 
I'm sorry that the OP is disappointed he didn't get the knife.

Based on this exchange I will now change my future sales threads to indicate that all "I'll take its" must be unequivocal, followed up by a PM or e-mail, and prompt payment.

When I say I want a knife, I always follow up with a PM, and usually pay for it within minutes of communication with the seller. When I take backup, I follow the thread closely because once the person ahead of you backs out there still is no firm agreement between buyer and seller without further communication.

In this case there were numerous members waiting to hear about the status of this transaction. Until I have a firm commitment from one of them, I don't have a sale. Anyone of these guys could lose interest or buy another knife and not have the funds available to pull the trigger.

I light of the bizarre first response to this thread by Farmerboy, I think everyone interested in the knife should have followed the progress of the thread more closely.

As I stated, from now on my sales threads rules will be more specific as to what I expect from buyers. If you look at the ML knife I have for sale in the Customs for sale section, you will see what I mean.

I'm sorry things didn't work out for you MVF.
 
Beanbag- not everybody has the opportunity to follow a thread closely at all times- many if us have jobs/life duties that exclude being online at all times. I too feel that you were much too impatient if you feel that 90 minutes to reply is sufficient. In the future I would hope that you take a bit more of a relaxed time frame, if you get the reputation for being impatient and jumping from one potential buyer to the next it may hurt your sales in the future. Like others I feel that at least 24 hours should be extended to potential buyers to reply- again, life keeps us from forums at times as it should.

Just my opinion of course.
 
Thanks all for the responses. I guess I've just been lucky in the past. I'm not sweating the knife, I was just shocked at the way this whole thing was handled.
 
Sounds like he had other interest in the sale and gave you a clear time frame by which to respond. Given that you didnt he sold it to someone else. I can see how youd be annoyed but this is a purely voluntary relationship and there isnt any gauranty of anything (unless otherwise stated.)

Youve got to try and see it his way. What if you were no longer intested?
 
Maybe he isn't a fan of people from California? He sent me some ignorant private messages before, so his attitude with you doesn't surprise me.

Like others have said, people aren't generally glued to their computers for hours on end. 90min isn't an extreme amount of time, so i think you got the sour end for sure.
 
My issue has been resolved but folks, c'mon!!!!!!!! PLEASE give whomever at least 24 hours before moving on UNLESS everything is stated up front about what the expectations are, ie., time limits to: reply, pay, email, shipping, etc.

I, for one, don't do the, "I'll take it!", thing because I don't feel it's anyone's business except for the seller and me. I send a PM, state I'll take it, and wait for a response. I see emails on my phone but don't use it to reply on the forums, too much of a hassle. I, for one, wouldn't go to the trouble of sending a PM if I wasn't in the position to buy....a waste of time to all involved.

My $.02....
 
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Dawkind said:
My issue has been resolved but folks, c'mon!!!!!!!! PLEASE give whomever at least 24 hours before moving on UNLESS everything is stated up front about what the expectations are, ie., time limits to: reply, pay, email, shipping, etc.

I, for one, don't do the, "I'll take it!", thing because I don't feel it's anyone's business except for the seller and me. I send a PM, state I'll take it, and wait for a response. I see emails on my phone but don't use it to reply on the forums, too much of a hassle. I, for one, wouldn't go to the trouble of sending a PM if I wasn't in the position to buy....a waste of time to all involved.

My $.02....
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more and to add to that...how about guys from other timezones. I for one am 6 to 9 hours ahead of the US, so that could be a factor as well. I do occasionally sleep you know LOL.

Marcel
 
It seems like this often could be solved with more communication. Rather than an "I'll take it" and nothing more, say that and send a PM stating that you're going into work, going to sleep, whatever, but will be on to pay at a certain time.

I have done that (browsing the exchange before sleep :p), and no one has had a problem with it.

As a seller, I would be much more willing to wait if I knew why someone wouldn't be able to finish the transaction than simply not hearing from them again for an extended period of time. As already mentioned, buyers back out all the time, so some assurance and reason for a break in communication goes a long way.
 
kreole "Rather than an "I'll take it" and nothing more, say that and send a PM stating that you're going into work, going to sleep, whatever, but will be on to pay at a certain time."
There ya go.
When I sell or trade, I am not playing a game.
If someone posts I'll take it, and 12 hours later I have NO response, NEXT!
IF I get some response, I can hold a knife. It's when the buyer goes dark that is aggravating. Especially when that person does not at least email turned on. I won't chase anyone down. A big hassle, I am out of it.
And I could care less what anyone thinks of that.
I have held knives for 2-4 weeks here. I have asked others to hold knives for a week or two.
But if I say I 'll take it, I have the cash in hand and I won't keep anyone waiting, OR I will ask if you can hold it by email or PM, NOT in the sale thread.
If the answer is "no", that's OK, no hard feelings. If the answer is "yes" then I have committed to that purchase and WILL pay when I said I would.
And THAT is how I want to be treated.
My point?
I can wait for payment MOST times, but ask 1st.
Otherwise, if it's an I'll take it (and THAT is the common way here), I expect you to be ready to pay.
I DO follow my sale threads. Common courtesy, and I expect it in return.
Simple as that.
If that stops people from buying from me because of my policy, hey, it's my hobby, not a business, and I have a LOT of places to sell and trade.
 
IMO, an "I'll take it" needs to be backed up with some kind of communication, whether in the thread or via PM. Even a simple "I'll take it... will email tonight." would give me the confidence to mark the thread SPF.

I sympathise with both of your situations but when it comes down to it, MVF could have avoided this by expanding on his "I'll take it" a bit more. Sorry, bud.:(
 
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