Like I posted in the other similar topic... I just got done selling 9 knives. It took 6 days. I initially had them in 'one' post and only one sold over 2 days. I busted them up into individual posts and they began selling much faster. I dropped the price about every other BTTT by $5 initially and eventually got to where I could only part with half that amount at $2.50 because of the increase in shipping. They all eventually sold with the last one on the 6th day. What I found is that none of them sold when off the first page and that dropping the price had little effect as it seemed the people who bought were seeing the post, at that time/price, for the first time and responded. Also, the individual listings were greeted with greater responses as the title had each specific knife listed and the condition inside the post allowing all those interested to skip quickly to what they wanted. I could never have listed the brand and model of each in a single title as it wouldn't fit otherwise I think the single post thing would work but the titles would be three to four lines long.
Basically, except for BTTT'ing 2-3 times a day to keep my knives from the 3rd page I tried everything I've seen suggested here with little to no effect.
The end result/sale came from working my butt off with the prices and the BTTT's. I answered an average of 8 emails on each knife with perhaps 2-3 of those being serious inquiries. I cannot believe how much time I wasted answering emails from people who didn't follow up in any way. Not with a 'Sorry, not for me price too high', or at least an 'F-You!' Just some vague inquiry which would have been answered by reading the post and no follow up after my reply???!!!
I would never offer a knife up for OBO unless I 'really' had no freakin' idea how much it was worth and then I would be at the mercy of the honesty of the Members here which I think by and large is a good bet. Offering the knife OBO is the same as giving it away and I'm not going to work to do that... I've got friends and family and I'll give it away before suffering some friggin' moron telling me he'll give me $25 for my Sebenza.
I think when we're talking about money and people putting in their own time to sell their blades at what 'they' feel are fair prices we are NEVER going to get a consensus or even two steps from an all out flame war.
I don't like the timeline 48 hours because I've, in the past, sold knives in preparation for Bandruptcy and I've seen a number of people selling for Taxes, Medical Bills, and other things that are of the utmost importance. Frankly, I wouldn't care if people BTTT'd every 5 seconds... I'd just jump mine every 2.5.
Perhaps instead of a 'minute' timeline it could be agreed that the BTTT wouldn't occur (gentlemanly agreement nothing in stone!) before the lower portion of the 3rd page or whatever a majority could agree on. That would do two things... It would set a reasonable 'position' goal rather than 'time' goal and it would allow people who are looking to buy a target of 'checking to the 3rd page' for recent sales placed.
Bottom line is I don't see a whole lot of people 'giving' blades away. I think we would all rather 'keep' the blades or 'sell to upgrade'. I agree that there would be a lot of people who would resist any type of regulation but the majority of people here are solid members reacting to a common situation like the 'You BTTT, I BTTT' thing and if something could be developed it would be considered by all the solid guys and used by most meaning it would have an affect though it might be hard to see and the results would vary.
Just my 2 cents and I love buying, selling and trading here but plan on doing more in the Winter as there is just too much to do the rest of the year.
Shawn
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"... Peers don't know what they can't see...
They can't see inside of me... It's sickening
how comforting the privacy of the mind can be..."
-Eve6 ('How Much Longer')
