Sellers' Descriptions: do you need explanation for the sale?

[Locutus D'Borg]

Seems like 95% of sellers give a reason for the sale, i.e., sick kid, divorce, hunting another knife, etc. In other words, ”My knife is phenomenal but I have to sell it.'

Personally, if I like a knife I buy it regardless of the sob story or explanation. I am happy, though, if my payment helps a BF member in need. But I wonder if others place a value on the explanation for selling as opposed to just the knife.

PS: If anyone is offended by this post, you have my profound apology.

 

[dryflytrout]

It's something I wonder about. If they are selling because it didn't live up to the hype I might not want as much as I thought I did.

 

[Glenn Goodlett]

The answer is always the same, no matter how you say it; I want the money instead of the knife. What's the difference if you are trading to a new knife or baby needs new shoes? I don't put much if any value on the story line. As we have all seen, the bigger the sob story, the bigger the rip off. As stated previously, my apology if offended, I guess I am here to make friends (sort of).

 

[Peter Hartwig]

I think you are over stating the amount that do it(or I don't read it), but to answer the ? No. I will not be buying a knife I wouldn't have anyway. Wanting item, description and price, possibly payment options determine what I buy. We all have to deal with problems.
I think if anything it sets them up for low balling, by showing desperation.

 

[LLRJ17]

No.

 

[Twindog]

I think they are saying that the knife itself is fine, but they have to sell it for reasons other than a defect in the knife.

But I am definitely a sucker for a sob story.

 

[jjg6319]

I wander if some people have a sob story to minimize people low balling them. Like mentioned above it could have a negative affect on how people approach it.

There are times I wander why some knives are for sale and if it is a 31, I wander if it has lock rock.

 

[Wolverine666]

Maybe some people feel the need to state the reason for selling instead of any potential buyers assuming that there’s something wrong with the knife therefore the owner is selling it. I usually just sell doubles to make room for new knives in my limited space.

 

[UncleBoots]

I prefer not to share my troubles with strangers. If someone is doing that, I admit I am a bit wary, because I don't really understand why.

 

[Fire King]

Edit: rereading your post I'm not sure I was answering the question. But no I don't value the explanation as a buyer

 

[Alone]

I think they are saying that the knife itself is fine, but they have to sell it for reasons other than a defect in the knife...

This. ^^^

 

[Danke42]

sick kid, divorce, hunting another knife

 

[bdmicarta]

I don't normally consider the reason for selling, which might be odd since I usually give a reason for selling when I do that. I don't think a person would give a negative reason for selling so maybe it doesn't matter if they give a reason or not.

 

[Citori]

It has never mattered to me.

 

[DMG]

I dont need to explain why i am selling something and am annoyed when people ask. Usually I am selling it because I want to try something different and still be able to close my knife drawer.

 

[Alone]

I usually just tell people I have a rash on my scrotum and the cream is very expensive.

 

[Blues]

I will only buy if I know that the seller will use the funds in an ethical and equitable manner which will contribute to a healthier social environment and ecosystem.


(Or, if I like the knife.)

 

[Owen K.]

Yeah, it's hard because if people were 100% honest, they could have trouble selling knives. "The finish or cost of the knife makes me not want to use it, for fear of losing the resale value." Or "I want to buy something else and this is one of my least favorite blades I own so I'm selling it to fund another."

 

[Dadpool]

As a buyer I rend to ignore them, unless it's something like a sale that benefits charity or on behalf of someone I know is having financial troubles. If I like your knife and price and you have a good listing, that's a sale; you don't need to talk me into it.

Less so here, but on Reddit the sheer number of similar heartstring-tugging explanations make my inner cynic suspect that some of them aren't true.

 

[pholder]

I don’t need to know the reason why, I need to know if it’s worth me buying it. I am not Dr.Phil