View Full Version : FS/WTB clarifications
Ralph Barker
24-Jun-2010, 08:18
Pursuant to discussions among the moderator group, the Guidelines and description of the For Sale/Wanted to Buy section have been changed as follows:
Classified ads should only be posted in the "For Sale/Wanted" sub-forum, which is open only to those who have been members for 30 days or more. Classified ads are limited to the personal equipment of registered users. Posts by dealers are not allowed. The sales price must be clearly stated in the original post. Auctions are not permitted. Links to other auction sites such as eBay or other points of sale are prohibited and will be deleted without notice. Please prefix all post titles to indicate intent: "WTB", "FS" , "FT" (for trade), etc. Use of the "For Sale/Wanted" section is completely at your own risk.
Bold indicates the primary change/clarification.
Michael Roberts
25-Jun-2010, 06:32
Ralph, if the intent is to prevent auctions, should this same rule about stating a price apply equally to buyers, i.e., WTB? Seems like buyers should be required to post the price they are willing to pay, o/w there will continue to be auctions, just in reverse....
Maybe you intend this new rule to apply to WTBs also, but if so, it's not clear. fwiw....
Ralph, if the intent is to prevent auctions, should this same rule about stating a price apply equally to buyers, i.e., WTB? Seems like buyers should be required to post the price they are willing to pay, o/w there will continue to be auctions, just in reverse....
Maybe you intend this new rule to apply to WTBs also, but if so, it's not clear. fwiw....
This doesn't make any sense to me because a WTB negotiation is not an auction. The problem with sellers "auctions" is there are no set rules and they end up frustrating everyone involved. WTB ads have never been a problem and they're not auctions. It's usually the seller that sets the price in a WTB transaction, so requiring the buyer to list a price will only lower the odds of completing a transaction.
Michael Roberts
25-Jun-2010, 07:41
So frustrated buyers in a FS auction is a problem, but frustrated sellers in a WTB auction is not a problem....
Larry Gebhardt
25-Jun-2010, 08:22
Ralph, if the intent is to prevent auctions, should this same rule about stating a price apply equally to buyers, i.e., WTB? Seems like buyers should be required to post the price they are willing to pay, o/w there will continue to be auctions, just in reverse....
Maybe you intend this new rule to apply to WTBs also, but if so, it's not clear. fwiw....
Given the exact condition will not be known to the buyer at the time, it is very hard to set a realistic price. I would hate to say I want a new lens and will pay xx for it. I would hate to be obligated to take the first one offered, especially if it wasn't in very good condition (as determined by me).
Brian Ellis
25-Jun-2010, 08:29
Ralph, if the intent is to prevent auctions, should this same rule about stating a price apply equally to buyers, i.e., WTB? Seems like buyers should be required to post the price they are willing to pay, o/w there will continue to be auctions, just in reverse....
Maybe you intend this new rule to apply to WTBs also, but if so, it's not clear. fwiw....
With most used items being bought condition is critical, age is important, location is important (postage), etc. so for most used items it isn't feasible to specify a buying price.
Ralph Barker
27-Jun-2010, 06:22
Ralph, if the intent is to prevent auctions, should this same rule about stating a price apply equally to buyers, i.e., WTB? Seems like buyers should be required to post the price they are willing to pay, o/w there will continue to be auctions, just in reverse....
Maybe you intend this new rule to apply to WTBs also, but if so, it's not clear. fwiw....
WTBs haven't been a problem, so they weren't included in the stated-price/no-auction rule. If we start getting a rash of WTB reverse auctions (best condition at the lowest price), we might reconsider.
The original objective was to provide a place where regular participants could sell and buy their personal equipment among themselves. Most of the "issues" have come from folks who register for the sole purpose of selling, but don't take the time to either read the guidelines or get a sense of the customs here.
The way I see it, WTB is just like someone having an item for sale and posting a price. When someone responds, you have the opportunity to say "I like it and am willing to pay that price" or passing on the item because you dont like the item, the price , or both. If I post a WTB, and you post a reply with an item, you show me your goods and state a price. I now can tell you yes or no, and why. It in no way resembles an auction.The same holds true for items listed with a price along with the "or best offer", or "negotiable" added. If you see an item you like, but feel the price is unreasonable, feel free to offer less, or even( its happened right here) more for it, at which point the seller can say yes or no, and either negotiate to a common ground, or not do anything more except continue to list the item.
There are a few who do have problems with guidelines, and I believe those people are in the "business of selling gear under the guise of being an individual (I can name names)and in fact are businesses, and it shows in their user names on other sites. Thats just my tuppence worth.
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 06:50
Good advise for sale. Any and all topics will be considered.
Price: $0.02 (two American cents) OBO.
:D
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 06:52
Good advise wanted. Any an all topics will be considered.
Price: Not to exceed $0.02 (two American cents) OBO.
:eek:
Dan Fromm
1-Jul-2010, 07:00
Good advise wanted. Any an all topics will be considered.
Price: Not to exceed $0.02 (two American cents) OBO.
:eek:Learn to spell. Please remit, and promptly.
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 07:15
Do you except PayPal, Dan? :D
c.d.ewen
1-Jul-2010, 08:01
So...what are the fees on a $0.02 Paypal payment?
Charley
Dan Fromm
1-Jul-2010, 08:53
Do you except PayPal, Dan? :D
Except PayPal from what?
Of course I accept PalPal. danielwfromm@att.com. Pay early and often.
And don't rely on a spell checker. They often get homonyms wrong.
Cheers,
Dan
Brian Ellis
1-Jul-2010, 09:28
WTB: Linhof 3000 4x5 camera in excellent condition - $1, seller pays shipping cost
WTB: Chamonix 8x10 camera in excellent condition - $2, seller pays shipping cost
I'll take all I can get so multiple sellers are no problem.
A WTB post cannot set price, because the condition of the specific example of that item can't be known when it is posted.
If I were to say, "I'll pay up to $350 for a pristine Speed Graphic...", and someone shows me one that is not as pristine as I hoped for and I then offer them $150, they will believe (and tell others) that I am baiting and switching.
You can't set a price for an idea. You can only set a price for a specific, three-dimensional example.
Rick "sellers set prices, because they know what they have; buyers make buying decisions, because they know what they want" Denney
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 10:30
You can't set a price for an idea. You can only set a price for a specific, three-dimensional example.
I do that every day. It's part of my job to develop and promote concepts and ideas. Some actually get realized as a specific 3-D product, but many remain conceptual. Even as concepts they are worth money and people like me set prices on them.
This piece of non-specific, non-3-D wisdom will cost you 2 cents... that's my best price and I can't go any lower. ;)
Dan Fromm
1-Jul-2010, 11:16
Brian, you're on the deadbeat list. You solicited advise (your spelling, not mine), offered a price, and were sent some.
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 11:21
Would it help if I said, "The check is in the mail"?
But at the risk of racking up additional charges... waht's wrong with my spelling? I can spell; Ijust can't type.
Cheque your posting before you hit the enter button.
Regards
Bill
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 12:41
Aye eye matey!
I do that every day. It's part of my job to develop and promote concepts and ideas. Some actually get realized as a specific 3-D product, but many remain conceptual. Even as concepts they are worth money and people like me set prices on them.
This piece of non-specific, non-3-D wisdom will cost you 2 cents... that's my best price and I can't go any lower. ;)
Many fortunes have been lost in the intersection of less-than-concrete ideas and fixed dollar amounts.
But promoting an idea isn't the same thing as offering to pay X dollars for something that can't be fully specified in the abstract. And that ain't what the buy-sell forum is for anyway.
Rick "requesting a properly constituted invoice for payment of two cents" Denney
Dan Fromm
1-Jul-2010, 13:34
Would it help if I said, "The check is in the mail"?
But at the risk of racking up additional charges... waht's wrong with my spelling? I can spell; Ijust can't type.
"Good advise wanted" advice
"Do you except PayPal, Dan?" accept
It would help only if there were a check and it actually were in the mail. Notional checks don't count.
Paying by PayPal will cost you less and add more to the general hilarity than paying by check.
I once visited B&H and bought only a Rosco swatchbook. Purchase price $0.01. The clerk wrote it up, sent me to the cashier to pay and receive my swatchbook. The cashier saw the amount, howled with laughter, and wondered what to do about taxes due.
Cheers,
Dan
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 13:54
I once visited B&H and bought only a Rosco swatchbook. Purchase price $0.01. The clerk wrote it up, sent me to the cashier to pay and receive my swatchbook. The cashier saw the amount, howled with laughter, and wondered what to do about taxes due.
That is really funny. Reminds me of the time I crossed the border into Canada and upon return was asked to pay admission to the U.S. I can't remember how much or why... but for sake of the story let's say it was 50 cents. Trying to get rid of "foriegn currency" we gave the person two Canadian quarters. She said they were worth 10% less than American quarters and we owed her a dime. So we gave her a Canadian dime; she demanded a penny, so we gave her a Canadian cent. She gave us that "you insolent little punks" kind of look and let us back into the U.S.
BrianShaw
1-Jul-2010, 13:58
"Good advise wanted" advice
... and not to seem defensive, but I blame my education for that. Most of my early elementary education was by a Scottish tutor who came the the US via England and Canada; later elementary education was by British nuns of a French religious order. I often have troubles with "...ize" words and, apparently, have problems with some "...ice" words also.
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