PM's versus I'll take it

To add to what's already been said, you have to pay attention to the wording in the sales thread. Some sales state "First I'll take it" gets the item. That usually means the first poster gets the knife, Some sales state that the seller "reserves the right to sell to whomever he wishes", the first post doesn't necessarily get the item. Some sellers will look at a potential buyers activity here before making a decision on whom to sell to. Some sales threads state " paying members only".
Having a paying membership and contributing to the community(outside of the sales forums) helps establish trust within the community.
 
etexas said:
Sorry, I sold knife per a PM.

Moderator:
What's the rule on this. I thought it was "I'l take it" was the commitment right here in public for all to see with a time stamp and the PM was discussion or follow-up without cluttering the thread. This happened to me and I keep seeing it happen to others to their amazement thinking they won. Also, sorry you lost, I sold it on another forum just a minute ago.
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Each seller has the ability to dictate how they sell their products, as a buyer the best you can do is read the sales post and either do what they say to do (if they specify a tactic) or go with the standard thread post which sounds like is what you did. However, following standard procedures properly doesn't actually confirm a final sale or a spot at the front or anything of the sort, the seller is the one ultimately making the decision from whom they will accept the sale.

I had a sales thread a couple days ago where the exact thing that happened to you happened to a prospective buyer of mine, I received a PM from someone offering to buy a knife and I accepted the deal from them, but soon after I replied to this buyer another person posted in the thread that they'd take the knife and I had to tell them that I had already confirmed a deal via PM even when there was no post in the thread.

Often buyers will send a message asking questions or offering alternative prices, combo deal offers, or any number of requests that a seller is allowed to consider and accept without any need to make it public. It's unfortunate that sometimes other prospective buyers get caught up in the middle of a private deal like that, but it's just how the exchange rolls. Don't let it affect you, I doubt it was personal just business.
 
You're overreacting to losing out on a knife. That's okay.

Most everyone is going to honor the first unequivocal I'll take it, however that may be relayed.

Not everyone is going to adhere to your self imposed rules of internet conduct.

Many people include sale rules, such as contact methods or "I'll take it" conditions. Perhaps you should commit to only supporting sale threads that align with your level playing field.
 
I am the one that claimed the Hess via PM. Normally I would have done it publicly but in this situation, due to circumstances between me and the seller, it was more appropriate to communicate via PM.

Advice to the OP, check the forums more often and type fast. As Bikerector said, building relationships and being a paid member can’t hurt either.
 
Thanks to all. Great feedback. I have been a Gold Member, just let it expire for no specific reason. I will renew. PM's, here I come! One more comment is I have bought a few knives lately and I only received one feedback. I guess if just the one is positive, I'm good.
Larry
 
etexas said:
Thanks to all. Great feedback. I have been a Gold Member, just let it expire for no specific reason. I will renew. PM's, here I come! One more comment is I have bought a few knives lately and I only received one feedback. I guess if just the one is positive, I'm good.
Larry
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It would probably be worth the effort to request people you have transactions with to leave feedback, and do the same. Sometimes a little nudge is needed. 1 positive is better than a negative, but it isn't a pattern of behavior.
A good time to make this request is when you let the seller know the package has arrived safely and all is well.
 
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etexas said:
Thanks to all. Great feedback. I have been a Gold Member, just let it expire for no specific reason. I will renew. PM's, here I come! One more comment is I have bought a few knives lately and I only received one feedback. I guess if just the one is positive, I'm good.
Larry
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It's not too late to ask those sellers to leave you some feedback. Make it easy for them and include a link to their sale thread in your PM.
 
etexas etexas It's not rude to request feedback. I've had many request feedback from me and I will often make the soft request, "I've left you feedback and would appreciate the same." Including the link to the sales or trade thread is a trick I like to use in all of my PM's for purchases so we can all get back to that initial sales thread really easy, since they can get buried pretty fast and I won't leave feedback until items have arrived and both parties have given input. Shipping can delay things, of course, so if it take 5-days for shipping and handling, sales adds can get several pages deep and it's just easier to get into the PM conversation and click the link.

Good luck in the exchange and hope to see you around.
 
As someone who recently sold his first item on BF I intend to use the thread posts but if multiple people post and I can't contact the first interested party then I may move on to the first I can contact so having PM abilities or posting contact details, I suggest coding/masking them from search engines and such, also goes a long way. Buyers can be as impatient and might go to the next place they can get the sellers knife if the seller hasn't responded to them quick enough so it is a bit of a two way street for expectations.
 
When I started reading this thread and after the "private club" comment I thought this was just another troll stirring the pot but to give the OP the benefit of the doubt and he truly is just looking for clarification I feel others have answered well.
I would however, like to add and if this has been said and I missed it sorry but I see that although you've been a member a long time since 2012 much longer than myself folks might be hesitant to sell because you only have 1 feedback rating just a thought.
I have no idea how many times I've missed a knife on the exchange but no one other than the OP had posted in the sales thread. Bottom line for what ever reason I missed it no big deal there will be more.
Also pursue the knife I've been looking for a 2 blade 56 dogleg well one came up a couple of weeks ago and I missed it I sent a PM to the buyer and told him if he changed his mind to let me know. He did a week later and I now own the knife. My friend Jerome @Lostball saw a Washington Jack I posted a picture of in a thread he sent me a PM to see if I would sell it I did and we've become good friends. So my advice forget it move on start looking for one that's still available for sale.
 
Guess my feeling on the feedback is since it requires human effort it should not be a priority in judging a person's motive. Basically the ole' "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Some give it, some don't, know matter how much you nudge. It takes an effort on their behalf. From a sellers standpoint most sells use Paypal immediate payment, so you know real quick if you got a legit deal. Slower money orders would be at your discretion. From a buyers standpoint (this would be point of this thread), if I decide to buy a knife then I have an emotional attachment. I have put thought into the purchase. I know others are also looking to buy, so I got to act quickly to be first. I want to know immediately based on a timeline I was first in committing to the purchase price and now waiting payment instructions. I do not want to hear later, sorry I sold to someone else. How would I know if the seller saw my commitment, got a PM offering $20 more and I lose. Just saying. If you want to insist in sale thread first 'I'll take it" with a follow-up PM. Great. To me
visible time stamps in sale threads are important. Facts are our friend. I'm talking legitimate buyers. The argument "I can sell to who I wish" should be a rare option and should be based on a buyer neglect or infraction.
 
[QUOTE="etexas, post: 18851403, I do not want to hear later, sorry I sold to someone else. How would I know if the seller saw my commitment, got a PM offering $20 more and I lose. Just saying. [/QUOTE]
Such actions are extremely rare and despicable. If the seller is willing to do this, why would you want to deal with them anyway. The vast majority of sellers(and buyers) on the forum are extremely honest people. They would never think of doing such-not that there aren't a few jerks out there. Good sellers will make their deal and stick with it , even if they learn they underpriced the item or someone offers more-most of the PM's are going to be offering less.The jerks and scammers make it just that much harder for the rest of us, but the moderators are pretty good at weeding them out.
Some have certain criteria for the buyer to meet, but most of us are just trying to sell our stuff and not get beat. We do the best we can to get it to the 1st reasonable buyer, but it can get tricky at times and mistakes can happen.
 
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Not saying it is happening, just using this as an example. Problem is you think you just bought a knife and then find out without your knowledge you did not. It is common practice in most forums the first "I'll take it" gets first communication with seller. This time stamps the transaction and eliminates all debate and notifies others. You can then PM all you want. The seller could then post SPF or SOLD or knife still available. Simple!
 
etexas said:
Not saying it is happening, just using this as an example. Problem is you think you just bought a knife and then find out without your knowledge you did not. It is common practice in most forums the first "I'll take it" gets first communication with seller. This time stamps the transaction and eliminates all debate and notifies others. You can then PM all you want. The seller could then post SPF or SOLD or knife still available. Simple!
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Bottom line you don't have an agreement to buy a knife until the seller accepts your offer to buy. All you are doing with the I'll take it is make an offer to buy. It is not as simple as you think. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Not everyone is taking the knife at the price stated or based on the info provided. ?'s have to be asked. You negotiating with a party come to an agreement and some other party throws an I'll take it in the thread while you are busy with the negotiation-are you now suppose to break the negotiated deal, which is an actual agreement. Most often an I'll take it followed by a PM is all that is going to be needed. My threads specifically ask that I be contacted by PM(or Email)-I only check the thread every so often to see if any one posted that can't read or comprehend.
I am on a few knife forums and this is how it works on all of them. You may not be aware of it since an I'll take it often works. Regardless this is what the rules are here, and I doubt they are going to change them for you. What ever forum you are on it is best to read the rules rather then to assume
You can't count on getting a knife until you hear back from the seller with payment info
They can't count on selling a knife until buyer pays.
 
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I only started selling here recently, and have 3 sales so far. In all cases i was contacted by PM rather than in the thread. In 2 of the 3 this was because the person made an offer, which I accepted. If I were to get "I'll take it" responses via thread, PM, or email, I would simply go by the time stamp to determine who was first.
 
Post I'll take it followed by a PM is all you can do -then wait.
If you want to improve your chances in the future, build up time on the forum(if you are new), build up feedback and participate outside the exchange. The better members know you the more at ease they will be dealing with you.
Then just watch the exchange and pretty soon you will have more knives then you know what to do with and be broke.
 
etexas said:
Not saying it is happening, just using this as an example. Problem is you think you just bought a knife and then find out without your knowledge you did not. It is common practice in most forums the first "I'll take it" gets first communication with seller. This time stamps the transaction and eliminates all debate and notifies others. You can then PM all you want. The seller could then post SPF or SOLD or knife still available. Simple!
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My point: It is common practice in most forums the first "I'll take it" gets first communication with seller. It is a commitment to buy, not go into negotiation. What about the people that give you problems during PM discussion and you don't sell it to them. Can you leave negative feedback on them? Probably not.
 
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