Hypothetical Situation

Pygmalion

Pygmalion

Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
988
If you bought a $500 knife from me, and after you paid the $500 on Tuesday morning, I tell you I can't ship until Saturday (and that only after you had to ask a couple of times and go over 24 hours without a response), how would that sit with you?
I'm a little bent and I just want some objective opinions.
Shipping was never discussed, I only assumed it would ship sooner.

I just want to add that my situation is fine and the guy had a perfectly good reason for not being able to ship until saturday (but I wish my nerves wouldn't bother me so much while I'm in the dark!
 
That would not sit well. However if the explanation was good I'd be more understanding.
Still though, it sucks. I commute one hour each way. If I need to ship something, I go the the post office or Office Depot and get stuff shipped out within a couple days. Everything is treated the same from a 1200 dollar camera lens to a 15 dollar pack of knives.
The downside is shipping was never discussed :(
 
It should of been posted if the seller can only ship limited times during the week. I try to do what I expect a seller should do, ship out the knife as soon as payment is received.
 
Personally, I would be more comfortable if the other person had mentioned this during the initial discussions before the agreement to purchase was reached and funds sent.

Now, I also realize the things come up, and this might not have been known before payment was sent, but communication is the key.
 
I'd only be upset if I needed the knife in time for a weekend trip.

In that case, I would have communicated as much up front.

Life's too short to let four days put a wedgie in your Ganzaaaa panties.

Seriously, it's four days. How much instant gratification do you need?

We need to go back to Garth handling the Ganzaaaas so you grasshoppers can understand the true meaning of patience.
 
As a buyer I would be perturbed about the lack of terms/communication but there are worse things that could have gone wrong.
 
I wish I had the mindset that would allow those things to fall from me like water off a duck's back, but I don't. I was miserable for 24 hours. As it turns out, the seller was working stupendous hours and was not negligent in the least. Not everyone lives on their computer like some of us do. I just wish I could let those things go. I literally worried for 24 hours! And I hate to ask about every detail of the sales process before I commit to buy. It's just something I have to work on, I guess. But there's always that little thought in the back of my mind saying "Hey David - you capital idiot, you've just given $500 to a con man!"
 
It has been said for all kinds of subjects, time and time again that communication is the key. Recently, a similiar thing happened to me. The seller explained his situation, however, and so things were not too bad. I think the most important thing is letting someone know up front, and remembering that a little consideration goes a long way! Just my opinion. :)

A girl needs a knife...
 
+1 for good communication! if the seller was up front on the shipping terms, no worries! $500 is a lot of loot. research buyers/sellers on gbu for any bad feedback. i have found in my short time on BF that most members are good characters. the asshats are smoked out in short order. congrats on your new knife, hope you get it soon!
 
Guyon said:
I'd only be upset if I needed the knife in time for a weekend trip.

In that case, I would have communicated as much up front.

Life's too short to let four days put a wedgie in your Ganzaaaa panties.

Seriously, it's four days. How much instant gratification do you need?

We need to go back to Garth handling the Ganzaaaas so you grasshoppers can understand the true meaning of patience.
Click to expand...

LOL....Are you saying I should SLOW......down:p:p
 
Pygmalion said:
I wish I had the mindset that would allow those things to fall from me like water off a duck's back, but I don't. I was miserable for 24 hours. As it turns out, the seller was working stupendous hours and was not negligent in the least. Not everyone lives on their computer like some of us do. I just wish I could let those things go. I literally worried for 24 hours! And I hate to ask about every detail of the sales process before I commit to buy. It's just something I have to work on, I guess. But there's always that little thought in the back of my mind saying "Hey David - you capital idiot, you've just given $500 to a con man!"
Click to expand...

Breathe.

I'm not going to send someone $500 until I've checked them out. That means that either (a) the seller is a regular (most likely a paying member) that I recognize here at BFC and/or (b) the seller has a history of good feedback on GB&U or another forum. I have, in the past, even PM'd people who've dealt with a seller before and asked about communication, shipping, etc. Face it. Busses are expensive, and if you're going to buy and sell them with regularity, it helps immensely to know the people with whom you're dealing.

It helps if the seller produces a picture of the actual knife and sets clear terms. It also helps if the seller lives close by and I know I can show up at his/her house if need be. :p

However, like you said, not everyone is a computer fiend. Some folks here only check email every few days, so 24 hours without a response is not that bad. As for the shipping, well... things come up, and I'm not going to begrudge a man four days as long as he gets it sent as soon as possible.

Breathe. :D


Amy-0 said:
LOL....Are you saying I should SLOW......down:p:p
Click to expand...

I think next Ganzaaaa, you ought to kick back and show some folks what "two weeks" really means. :p
 
+ 1 for communication. I have in the past researched who I am dealing with as well.Conmen are out there.Im rather new so I ask alot of questions especially if someone is newer than me and Id expect the same from them.Then again 4 days is pretty reasonable to me.
 
My idea of "instant gratification" is a quick email from the seller telling me we've got a deal. Whatever happens after that, I can afford be patient. (It's not like I won't have a knife until it gets here. :p )
 
Sit back and relax, there are A LOT more things to upset about than shipping time. No offense to anyone, but it seems to be the new folks who get their panties in a bunch when the knife doesn't magically appear 3 hours later or a up to the minute of why I am not mailing mailing the knife right away.

The Hogs seem to have a more relaxed attitude. I would have been upset if I told them I need the knife by a certain day and it wasn't there without a reason. Life is what happens when we are NOT at our computers and it has all sorts of twist and turns.

Relax, when it gets there it WILL be worth the wait!
 
I can understand that point of view but when we're buying and selling, essentially it's like a little business.
If I was running my own business, and took 5 or more days to ship after payment, then I might have issues with my customers. And really, that's not great customer service.
I think people assume the seller will ship soon because that's what the majority of businesses will do.
 
Mr. Clean said:
I can understand that point of view but when we're buying and selling, essentially it's like a little business.
If I was running my own business, and took 5 or more days to ship after payment, then I might have issues with my customers. And really, that's not great customer service.
I think people assume the seller will ship soon because that's what the majority of businesses will do.
Click to expand...

The reality is, though, we are not businesses. I think you could aptly fit most of us into the category of a big lot of cloven hoofed, slop eating, knife loving porcine. We may buy, sell, trade....but it's not our business. Just a hobby we love. And, sometimes real life gets in the way of hobbies. The cool thing is, if a HOG makes a deal, I have faith he'll come through. If an email is not returned, or something else is odd, there is usually a very good reason for it. That's why I think it is important to, like Guyon said, make sure you're comfortable with the person you're dealing with. Then, when you have to wait an extra four days for a knife, you feel bad for the person who has to put in a truckload of extra hours instead of being angry or disappointed you don't have a knife. Plus....an extra four days just builds the anticipation. Remember, NO REGRETS!!
 
You know, I never really thought about this. Just by habbit, I almost always ask the seller when he/she can ship. And if selling I do my darndest to ship the next day.

Given how greedy we all are when it comes to INFI ;) it is probably best to include shipping times, especially if not the norm, just for good practice. But that's just me. Look at it this way, and I know from experience, the wait will make that sweet blade all that much more joyful when it lands. :)
 
I'm a pretty patient guy but if a seller is intending to ship any length of time past the purchase date, they should make it a point to inform the buyer. Otherwise the buyer is gonna be left hanging wonder where his shipment is...
 
It's only late when you need it sooner.

F'rinstance, I got myself some X-mas presents. I ordered one on Friday from Ebay. No indication of any shipping issues in the auction. OK.

On Sunday, I get a few more things. (All Incredibles-related - great movie, love that color red on stuff. Got me a shirt or two and the boy a shirt and PJ's that won't fit him for another 4 months. LOL)

The Sunday stuff shipped Monday. It's in today. YEAH! (B-day party is either Fri or Sat - it'd be nice if I could wrap it all up before then - all from my son - my girls will get a kick out of all of it.)

The Friday stuff - I think it shipped today. No confirmation so I suspect NOT priority. Hope I get it on Friday. :(

Sure, one week Ebay-style is a bit aggressive, but the others did it in 4 days, both cross-country.

Oh yeah, the Friday seller sends me the confirm and mentions it takes 2-5 business days to get it shipped. NOTHING in the auction - just in the "hey, thanks for sending me some dough" confirm. :(

On knives, I tend not to tweek out - EXCEPT FOR THE CULTELLUS, AMY!!!!
 
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