Marketplace etiquette

[Underball]

How does everyone feel about making a requirement for users making offers to HAVE TO make at least a "PM sent" post in the thread, so that other users know a sale is pending?

 

There's nothing more annoying than properly following this standard protocol, only to find out from the seller a few hours later that someone else scooped an item that appeared to be still available when you made an offer.

[+save2600]

I tend to agree, but good luck getting everyone to:

 

a) read the rules

b) follow the rules

 

 

Amibay has a similar heavily handed and moderated marketplace, but what ends up happening is that a guys sale thread gets all junked up by moderators reminding people of the rules, a bunch of posts exclaiming someone is PM'ing a silly question (ex: how much for shipping to... ?) and several pages later, sumguys items are *still* for sale as you sift through all the posts where people withdrew their interest and/or were publicly moderated.

[Underball]

I tend to agree, but good luck getting everyone to:

 

a) read the rules

b) follow the rules

 

 

Amibay has a similar heavily handed and moderated marketplace, but what ends up happening is that a guys sale thread gets all junked up by moderators reminding people of the rules, a bunch of posts exclaiming someone is PM'ing a silly question (ex: how much for shipping to... ?) and several pages later, sumguys items are *still* for sale as you sift through all the posts where people withdrew their interest and/or were publicly moderated.

Yeah, I guess there's always that. I just figured most users here aren't nearly as unreasonable as other forums I've been to.

 

It's just - it takes two seconds to make a post saying "PM sent". We can't expect the sellers to monitor their sale threads 24/7 and update as sales or offers come in, so it should be on the buyers to do so. I kind of think of buying things from this forum as being the same as a "Buy it Now" on eBay.

[ClassicGMR]

I don't think it's necessary... and since when is it a "standard protocol"? I don't have to post to Craigslist stating I sent an email about a post. You don't see my user name on eBay when I bid. I certainly don't tell everyone at Target that what's in the carriage is stuff I might buy so they can't look at it until I decide.

 

And if it's the God-awful "Make an offer" threads then the seller is going to sift through ALL the PM's and decide who to sell it to regardless of who said "Ooh! Ooh! Mr. Kotter! PM sent!"

 

Hell as a seller it's up to them who they sell it to. It doesn't have to be the first person that jumps on it either. I'll never know that just because I was the first one that said "PM sent" that I actually was the first. If I get a reply back that it's sold then it's already gone. There's no such thing as a "Buy It Now" here like you seem to think there should be. *shrug*

 

Yes this is a caustic reply because it's such an unnecessary and - I have to say - juvenile topic. Calling "Front seat!" when you were seven didn't get you the front seat unless mom or dad said so. The original post just sounds like a lot of sour grapes to me. You didn't get to purchase something even though you were the first one to say "PM sent" huh? That's because while you were writing that someone else was actually SENDING the PM.

[jetset]

I agree it would be common courtesy for a "PM sent", however you're forgetting that this hobby is for many (sadly) a money making venture, and sellers tend to not want it known how good a deal they got when they turn the game around a few months later here or ebay or elsewhere for huge profit. And in the vein of not having common courtesy for the hobby, do a search for the words "ebay", and "side deal". You'll see plenty of people proudly displaying their lack of care for the rules. You can mandate it all you want but there will always be lowlifes to msg the seller and offer some cheat to the system. Above all you don't want the mods having to police the marketplace...I've seen that on other boards and it's not pretty.

It's a fine idea but it'll never fly.

Edited January 25, 2012 by jetset

[+5-11under]

The problem is that "PM Sent" does not equal "sale pending".

[unholy]

I'm gonna second save2600's post. Amibay sale threads can be a nightmare to dig through. Four pages of people declaring interest, withdrawing intrerest, asking for shipping quotes to Greece...

 

It's up to the seller to update the thread when the item has sold or is pending. That's good enough for me.

[bojay1997]

How does everyone feel about making a requirement for users making offers to HAVE TO make at least a "PM sent" post in the thread, so that other users know a sale is pending?

 

There's nothing more annoying than properly following this standard protocol, only to find out from the seller a few hours later that someone else scooped an item that appeared to be still available when you made an offer.

 

That's just absurd. Deals can fall through and just because someone sends a PM doesn't mean they are buying the game. If anything, the seller should be dilligent about posting that an item is on hold or sold as soon as a deal is reached. We don't need a bunch of posts showing lots of activitiy simply because people are posting that they send PMs.

[+save2600]

PM sent!

 

...assuming you've accurately described your items or have shown clear pics of their condition, I am prepared to make an offer or accept your asking price.

 

Since I am a classic gaming forum member, buying/selling/trading games is not a foreign concept to me and I know how to use a shipping calculator. This should cost $x.xx to send or thereabouts. Feel free to add a buck or two if you need to purchase packing material and/or a box.

 

No need to wait for pay day as I am also prepared to pay via PayPal. If you do not accept PayPal (which I can fully understand why you would not), I can furnish a check or money order and get that out right away if you prefer.

 

Nothing will come between this $20 sale, even if my car explodes, my kid needs a bike, my baby's momma needs diapers or I just plum ran out of money buying beer and cigarettes after I had already committed because I am a responsible adult that has other means and resources available to me (credit card, money in the bank, PayPal balance, etc.) and would rather see this deal go through than to further inconvenience or otherwise waste your time.

 

Thank you!

 

In a perfect world, this is how all marketplace transactions *should* be conducted.

[Emehr]

I rarely post a "PM sent" post for these reasons:

 

- I don't like to crap up a 'for sale' thread. Especially when it's seven pages of "PM sent!" posts

- It doesn't hurt to PM the seller anyway. Just because someone "PM sent!"s doesn't mean the item was sold to that person. Plus, the seller would have to update the thread anyway saying the item is still available. Otherwise, nobody would PM about it thinking it was sold to the last "PM sent!"-er.

- It's not proof of "dibs", if that's one of the reasons for posting it.

 

I can see the reasoning for it, I just don't think the case for it is more compelling than the case against it.

[Underball]

It's not a matter of "dibs". It's just common courtesy. Expecting people to be reasonable adults.

 

It's just like I said - seller posts an item at a fixed price. The thread stays on the forum for a few days with no replies from anyone. I responded to the thread saying "PM sent" and PM the seller saying I'll agree to buy it at the price offered, and I get a reply 8 hours later stating that the item has already sold, even though the thread doesn't reflect as much from the seller or any other buyers making offers. This is a bad system.

 

I'm not upset with the seller - like I said they can't be expected to stay on Atariage 24 hours a day, but just irked with the process.

 

and I'm sorry but the whole idea of "Crapping up a thread" is ludicrous. It's a message board. You're supposed to post messsages that are relevant to the thread title. That's the whole point of posting on one of these boards. To exchange information. Encouraging people not to post makes no damn sense.

 

But it's pretty much the same on every video gaming board. If you post more than once before someone else does, it's a huge faux pas. Why? Who fucking knows. If you search for a subject and by doing so ressurrect an old thread, people get pissed. If you don't search and just start a new thread, people get pissed. If you disagree with someone or the subject matter of a thread, it's "trolling", even if you're speaking rationally and calmly. Whatever.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Underball

[Emehr]

Why is it so unreasonable to expect the seller to put a 'strikethrough' on (or delete) sold items? It'd take a minute. That's the most definitive way to mark an item "no longer available". It'll keep their inbox lean and the thread free of "PM Sent!" posts, which, frankly, crap up a thread because they offer no meaningful information besides "someone is interested in some stuff" which tells me, as a potential buyer, nothing.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Emehr

[atari2atari]

Sounds like the "root problem" here from your perspective is actually sellers not updating their threads with the status of items.

 

I completely agree with you.

 

The difference between those who update and keep current, and PM in a reasonable time-frame, and those who don't though, is that most of us QUICKLY identify the "unprofessional" or "casual" sellers, and choose not to do business with them

 

There are a few, because of past dealings or observed behavior, that I just don't bother with - - "AIR RAID for $3!" - - yeah, don't care, not worth it with THAT person!

 

I feel your frustration, but it is a "community," and to a certain extent, it is self-correcting . . . by having conversations like this one!

 

-a2a

 

 

P.S. - Can anyone find the REALLY amusing "PM Sent" rage-thread that we all had about six months ago? Good reading, worth bringing back up . . .

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Honestly I think certain rules should be applied to sellers ESPECIALLY those who have never sold here before or even more those "fly by nighters" that appear out of nowhere seemingly for the sole reason to sell their items. I think at the very least pictures of actual items / clear description / Refs. Really, references form anywhere, I understand if your new to the community but dammit then link your refs from dealings on other sites or Ebay feedback, something, anything that gives me reason to believe your not just some stranger making up shit hoping to get a Paypal payment and take off. I know references / feedback are no gurantee a deal wont fall through (or is in fact legit) but pictures of the actual item, a good description and feedback/refs go a long way in convincing me to take the chance.

 

Oh and make all your sales available to CANADA if I am willing to pay the extra for shipping! Oddly THAT seems to be the least likely wish to get fulfilled.

Edited January 25, 2012 by OldSchoolRetroGamer

[eeun]

and I'm sorry but the whole idea of "Crapping up a thread" is ludicrous. It's a message board. You're supposed to post messsages that are relevant to the thread title. That's the whole point of posting on one of these boards. To exchange information. Encouraging people not to post makes no damn sense.

 

It makes a lot of sense. I moderate the Marketplace section on another computer board, and we discourage "PM Sent" posts.

Why? Because the marketplace section is different from the other sections of the board. It's intended for the sole purpose of selling items and is not an area for discussions. Long threads of PM Sent and other comments conveys nothing about whether the item is sold or pending, but it makes any potential buyer scroll through the thread to see whether the seller posts that the item is sold. Unless the post asks or conveys additional information about the item (eg, where are you located? Is it the Rev. 1 or 2 board) it's just noise in a thread that benefits from being short and to the point.

 

As others have suggested, put the onus on the seller. Sold the item? Post that it's sold. Now everyone knows.

 

I ran into a similar discussion in which someone angrily insisted that if you put an item on your ebay Watched list, you should be obligated to place a bid otherwise you were somehow being deceitful.

Edited January 25, 2012 by eeun

[Underball]

I'm not even saying that the "PM Sent" is necessarily any obligation to buy. Especially if the seller doesn't list a specific price wanted. I'm just saying that it just gives everyone else a clear idea that there is already interest in an item, so there should be no surprises when it's no longer available.

 

And I want to thank everyone who has participated so far in this thread constructively. Let's try to keep it civil at least a bit longer.

[jetset]

It makes a lot of sense. I moderate the Marketplace section on another computer board, and we discourage "PM Sent" posts.

Why? Because the marketplace section is different from the other sections of the board. It's intended for the sole purpose of selling items and is not an area for discussions.

 

 

Above all you don't want the mods having to police the marketplace...I've seen that on other boards and it's not pretty.

 

/This.

Overmoderration is rarely a good thing. I have an idea what board this refers to, or at least one where this is the prevailing mindset. Like I said, it's not pretty.

[Rex Dart]

How does everyone feel about making a requirement for users making offers to HAVE TO make at least a "PM sent" post in the thread, so that other users know a sale is pending?

 

There's nothing more annoying than properly following this standard protocol, only to find out from the seller a few hours later that someone else scooped an item that appeared to be still available when you made an offer.

 

I don't see the point, and don't recognize your protocol as standard.

[Cebus Capucinis]

PM sent!

[atari2atari]

P.S. - Can anyone find the REALLY amusing "PM Sent" rage-thread that we all had about six months ago? Good reading, worth bringing back up . . .

 

PM sent!

 

Ha! See, YOU remember what I am talking about! Where is that pesky old thread . . . it provided much amusement for me . . .

 

-a2a

[Lastcallhall]

As mostly a seller on this (and other) boards, the "proof" of who got first dibs is near impossible to determine. You have to realize, as I'm sure I'm not one here, whenever I post to AA, I'm also posting to 2-3 other boards at the same time. I go into this venture fully aware of what I have to do to keep the thread as current as possible, which is why whenever I receive an offer and begin to strike a deal I GO TO EACH BOARD MYSELF, and adjust the thread accordingly. It takes a few minutes to do, and it's mostly a copy and paste affair. Asking the buyer to fill out an over complicated template would just muck the process up, IMHO.

[Emehr]

P.S. - Can anyone find the REALLY amusing "PM Sent" rage-thread that we all had about six months ago? Good reading, worth bringing back up . . .

 

PM sent!

 

Ha! See, YOU remember what I am talking about! Where is that pesky old thread . . . it provided much amusement for me . . .

 

-a2a

 

That may have been my status update. Maybe? It wasn't a rage, more like a "what's the point?". I tried searching for it but I don't know how to dig through old status updates. Unless it was an actual thread, in which case I don't remember that.

[atari2atari]

P.S. - Can anyone find the REALLY amusing "PM Sent" rage-thread that we all had about six months ago? Good reading, worth bringing back up . . .

 

PM sent!

 

Ha! See, YOU remember what I am talking about! Where is that pesky old thread . . . it provided much amusement for me . . .

 

-a2a

 

That may have been my status update. Maybe? It wasn't a rage, more like a "what's the point?". I tried searching for it but I don't know how to dig through old status updates. Unless it was an actual thread, in which case I don't remember that.

 

Oh, sorry, no worries, I apologize, it wasn't directed at you (I didn't even see your status update!) - -

 

- - Rather, it was a full-blown thread with pages and pages of emotion and harrowing tales of dareing and "ne'er do welling"

 

Quite a stimulating bit of reading, if I remember correctly. Similar case, someone was distraught over missing out on an item or something . . .

 

-a2a

[the-topdog]

PM sent!

 

Damnit Cebbie... you always beat me to ir!

Edited January 25, 2012 by the-topdog

[+20ohm20]

I used to post a "PM sent" to for sale threads as a courtesy, but rarely do anymore. After posting a "PM sent" on a thread more than a couple days old with no other responses only to find that the item(s) I wanted were sold more than once, I no longer see the point.

 

I'm still on the fence with user feedback. But given the overwhelming amount of positive transactions I've had with people on AA (vs. eBay), any complaints I have about it are minor.

 

I tend to agree, but good luck getting everyone to:

 

a) read the rules

b) follow the rules

 

...and I agree with this 100%.