New Members crapping on sales threads

willythekid

willythekid

Feedback: +105 / =0 / -0
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Oct 19, 2011
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Forgive me if a thread like this has been posted... I'm sure I'm not the only member that has experienced the frustration that comes from a low-post count member saying that he will "take it" in a sales thread just before disappearing just as fast as he came. When someone posts in my sales thread that they are going to take it I mark it as sold pending funds. This usually stops all other interested buyers from communicating their interest. I know that we all were new here once but this seems to happen on a consistant basis. Should/could we have a thread where these offending members can be named? Should I have tougher skin and just shrug it off as part of selling here on BFs? I would love to hear others experiences and/or thoughts on the matter.
 
Even more fun when you have a 4 or 5 private message string working out the details then silence when it is time to pay up. You send a few "do you still want it or should I relist" messages and they cannot even be polite enough to say sorry I changed my mind. By then many of those who may have been following, with funds to buy, have assumed it was sold and moved on and bought other things.

I am fine with people changing their minds but at least be polite enough to tell the seller so they can relist.
 
It happens. It is wrong, it is disruptive.

Two suggestions. One, don't mark it SPF when they say "I'll take it" but wait for the followup message to exchange payment & address info. Two, we have had these flakes before, and if you feel it is getting worse, start a GBU thread naming & shaming them. Others may have had bad experiences eith the same people and can add to the thread.

One more point, I don't want to encourage yet, but you don't really have to mark it SPF until you get the money.
 
When that happens, report the thread. Click the small black triangle under the post and explain why you are reporting it. We'll take care of the rest.
As far as people kicking the tires on your sales threads, make it clear in your sales terms that the item will be available until you have money in hand, and only then will be marked as sold. That works for a lot of people. Don't allow someone's post to clog up your sales thread, if they want the item they need to pay for it otherwise, move along.
I've seen some really good sales threads that answer every question well before anyone can ask. The pictures are good, the use/damage or condition is described, the ownership chain is accounted for (original owner vs bought from someone else). The terms are clear and the price is the price (on the reasonable side).
 
I have stopped putting SPF when somebody says that they will take it, unless the I know the buyer, or they have a good history here. The problem is that some people are very busy, or systematic, and they take up to 24 hours to pay. My experience is that many times these buyers turn out to be really good people to deal with, and had I blown them off completely, and not waited, I would have missed out on a good transaction, with a nice person.
I'm thinking that it may be polite to communicate with the next buyer in line, explain the situation, and ask them if they can wait a bit, before accepting payment.
 
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In gun forum that I am a member of, you have to have be a paid member before you get access to the exchange. Would that be an idea for this forum?
 
netguy1999 said:
In gun forum that I am a member of, you have to have be a paid member before you get access to the exchange. Would that be an idea for this forum?
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A good idea in theory, but would rather have more buyers with access, and take the chance that I may be dealing with the occasional flake.
 
stonesell said:
A good idea in theory, but would rather have more buyers with access, and take the chance that I may be dealing with the occasional flake.
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^^^ This. The paid members only idea has been visited before, and discarded.
 
willythekid said:
Forgive me if a thread like this has been posted... I'm sure I'm not the only member that has experienced the frustration that comes from a low-post count member saying that he will "take it" in a sales thread just before disappearing just as fast as he came. When someone posts in my sales thread that they are going to take it I mark it as sold pending funds. This usually stops all other interested buyers from communicating their interest. I know that we all were new here once but this seems to happen on a consistant basis. Should/could we have a thread where these offending members can be named? Should I have tougher skin and just shrug it off as part of selling here on BFs? I would love to hear others experiences and/or thoughts on the matter.
Click to expand...

I had this happen to me just recently. The member joined in Nov. 2014, has 4 post and 0 feedback. All that should have been a red flag. But I looked at it as I was there to once. So, seller contacted me asking me if I could wait 1 week for payment as he/she would take it. Seemed on the up and up so I agreed and sent my PP information. I sent him a PM the day before I was to receive payment make sure we still good to go. Did not hear back, so a day later another PM was sent. I few days go by so I send another PM and Email through the BFC site. No answer to any of my communication. I looked at his/her profile and there has not been any activity since the last communication back on November 15. So I just relisted the knife (after waiting 14 day of course) and sold it to another member.
 
I have had one incident of a guy crapping on my thread .. Pretty much low balled me to the extreme in private and when I declined with a few other comments in private he took it public right on the thread. Not cool at the time he was newer but that is no excuse. When your trying to sell something on a Knife Forum you need to take advantage of the first page because when you hit the second page your done for two weeks .. So I feel even stating you have sent a PM and most often the PM will be a trade offer even though it will clearly state no trades disrupts the whole thread . Potential buyers may say they don't want to fight over it and move on to another sale.

So in a nutshell people should be solid when they make a pitch for your knife. Don't say or agree to things you just cant do. If your buying knives that you cant afford don't buy them ... Its OK.. there will be another one when you have the money I can pretty much say that with certainty .

I guess that's all I had to add
 
I always post... "Immediate Payment due after your -I'll take it- and I confirm "it's yours" and send you my paypal address. I also request an immediate follow up "I'll take it" via email. This tends to separate the wheat from the chaff (i.e. the legit buyer from the goofball). I'll wait about 10 minutes (max) for contact and then follow up payment...or I move on. Fair is fair, especially when immediacy is requested, clearly, up front, in the thread. When I buy/commit...I wrap up all payment details immediately...because that's how I do business...in either direction. Clean & simple.
 
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Willythekid, I also hate when someone sharks a sale by posting "I'll take it", then decides to read the description and look at the pictures and then withdraws. It does just as much damage to the sale sometimes. I know you probably know who I'm talking about in the traditional exchange...

But I've had your situation happen to me a couple of times...and those people are no longer allowed to participate in my sales and I had to publicly call the one guy out, in one of my sales, because he kept crapping in the thread after I told him he was banned from buying from me.

The exchange is so simple to buy/sell yet some people just have to be dingle berries about it.
 
If someone is interfering in your thread, hit Report Post, the triangle icon in the lower left of their post to send a message to the moderators. We will take action, including removing his posts.
 
"I reserve the right to sell to whoever I wish"

.....I also have no "first I'll take it" rule.

I just ignore anything from anyone with 2 posts in blue.

I know, it may seem rude, but I have had zero issues, and this is not about profit for me, just look at my sales threads.

I would rather sell to a contributing member and enjoy the process of finding my knives good new homes....
 
The downside to ^ is that even the best member here was new at one time. I was snubbed by a couple of people when I first joined, I won't deal with them even now. Someone has to give newbies a chance to earn their first feedback.
 
As a seller.
I've only sold a few knives and had this happen once. It may have been my fault though. I posted an Izula up for sale a couple years ago right before Thanksgiving. I had someone take say "I'll take it", the day after I posted it. I didn't get back on BladeForums for five or six days at all so didn't see the post. Sent the guy an email but didn't hear back from him. Sent another one probably a few weeks later. Heard back maybe a month or so later. The guy was cool, no harm no foul.

As a buyer.
If you want it and somebody has already called it, always put your dibs in there. I've scored some good knives by getting in on seconds. Like you guys said, there are flakes out there.
 
Since each seller sets the terms for his or her sale, this could be stopped by stating something like,

Respond by PM (or email, etc.) only. Anyone posting "I'll take it" in the thread will not be sold to.

Up to each individual seller if it is an important enough issue to deal with like this.
 
stonesell said:
A good idea in theory, but would rather have more buyers with access, and take the chance that I may be dealing with the occasional flake.
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This is the way I feel. Only paying members able to view and buy really lowers the chances of sales. I stopped being a paid member of a few forums that started this.
 
Not to get off track , but there are some new guys re posting sales threads after only 3-4 days. Similar to the old bump deal. Russ
 
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