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I'm not sure about the other sub-forums because I mainly hang out in the X Metal area- but I'm willing to bet that the same games are played there too. I have experienced some "unusual" selling tactics and I believe that a lot of this nonsense could be mitigated with some rules of engagement.
I have seen items go up for sale and wind up sold to "friends" of the seller after others have posted PM notifications in the FS thread, seen items offered for sale then have sellers employ stall tactics to see if they can get the highest price for their item (s). You know, that's what eBay is for. Go there, list an item and see what it brings. That's not what this forums exchange sections are for IMHO. Here it is (should be) about listing an item for sale and selling it to the first person who expresses interest and is able to pay (timetable dependent upon the seller).
I think if you are going to sell something and give friends precedence then send them a PM before listing them for sale. Then its first responder at offered price, period. Time stamped with a "PM sent" post in the FS thread. Break the rules and do shady deals and you're subject to an exchange ban just like if you have less than 10 posts.
A proposal for FS threads/ sticky:
- Sellers:
- Be prepared when you list your item for sale. Know that none of your boys (or girls) want it. If you want to give sweetheart deals to friends that's fine, send them PM's in advance. Don't offer them to all in an exchange until you are sure
that none of your peeps want what you want to sell.
- Include pics from the start (not adding later)
- State your selling price. If you want to list something and see what it will bring then take it to eBay, list it there and bear the associated marketing fees that you don't bear here on this free forum.
- Honor the first PM'd posting in the FS thread by a responsible buyer with cash in hand. It is your decision whether to honor a request for time to raise funds or move on to the next buyer with funds available. If the first buyer is not qualified, move
on to the next buyer that PM'd and posted.
- If you sell some stuff and this is like a revenue stream, why not give back and make some sort of sponsorship to the forum?
- Buyers:
- When you see an item that you would like to buy, time stamp your offer to purchase with a "PM Sent" posting in the thread and PM the seller that you want to buy at NET listed price.
- First come, first served. Period
I think that some transparency would make the exchange experience a more enjoyable one for all concerned. Sellers won't have to remember their tangled webs and buyers can see what is really going on. If sellers just want to troll their item rather than sell it to a member here for the listed price, then take it to eBay and don't bother listing it here. Don't follow the rules and receive a ban from exchange sections for X days.
Obviously this is not my forum, respectfully submitted.
I have seen items go up for sale and wind up sold to "friends" of the seller after others have posted PM notifications in the FS thread, seen items offered for sale then have sellers employ stall tactics to see if they can get the highest price for their item (s). You know, that's what eBay is for. Go there, list an item and see what it brings. That's not what this forums exchange sections are for IMHO. Here it is (should be) about listing an item for sale and selling it to the first person who expresses interest and is able to pay (timetable dependent upon the seller).
I think if you are going to sell something and give friends precedence then send them a PM before listing them for sale. Then its first responder at offered price, period. Time stamped with a "PM sent" post in the FS thread. Break the rules and do shady deals and you're subject to an exchange ban just like if you have less than 10 posts.
A proposal for FS threads/ sticky:
- Sellers:
- Be prepared when you list your item for sale. Know that none of your boys (or girls) want it. If you want to give sweetheart deals to friends that's fine, send them PM's in advance. Don't offer them to all in an exchange until you are sure
that none of your peeps want what you want to sell.
- Include pics from the start (not adding later)
- State your selling price. If you want to list something and see what it will bring then take it to eBay, list it there and bear the associated marketing fees that you don't bear here on this free forum.
- Honor the first PM'd posting in the FS thread by a responsible buyer with cash in hand. It is your decision whether to honor a request for time to raise funds or move on to the next buyer with funds available. If the first buyer is not qualified, move
on to the next buyer that PM'd and posted.
- If you sell some stuff and this is like a revenue stream, why not give back and make some sort of sponsorship to the forum?
- Buyers:
- When you see an item that you would like to buy, time stamp your offer to purchase with a "PM Sent" posting in the thread and PM the seller that you want to buy at NET listed price.
- First come, first served. Period
I think that some transparency would make the exchange experience a more enjoyable one for all concerned. Sellers won't have to remember their tangled webs and buyers can see what is really going on. If sellers just want to troll their item rather than sell it to a member here for the listed price, then take it to eBay and don't bother listing it here. Don't follow the rules and receive a ban from exchange sections for X days.
Obviously this is not my forum, respectfully submitted.