Selling etiquette

[itfciain]

What is the general consensus on here about selling order

I always go to the first person that messages me and providing they are happy to pay asking price then they get the item. I know on one of the FB groups you need to comment in the thread first and although I understand the reasoning I think that is a bit OTT for the forum. However, I have just had an instance where someone has posted that that they would like an item in the thread and will send me a PM - however in the meantime someone else has messaged me about the same item - I still don't have the PM from the first chap so who gets first dibs ?

 

[Mr-shifter]

The message mate. That to me is a serious enquiry. Putting a pm on the thread and not messaging is not really asking you personally to buy it.

That Facebook groups rules seem to cause chaos with other transactions. It's up to the seller who they sell too. As long as there's no skanky gazumping going on.

 

[Richard_H]

It's not quite clear cut for me. If the person in the thread was someone I bought and sold a lot from I'd hold it for a short period of time and then pm him (or her :lol: ) to say I'd had an offer. If I got no response it would go to the next pm.

That rule on the FB group is BS. Most of my buys are PM and I've never back doored or done any unscrupulous dealings.

 

[laurencedyer]

I had a similar issue in the past.
Someone messages you and agrees to buy the item but doesn't put PM sent and then a few moments later someone chimes in with PM sent.
I politely stated that I had sold it somewhere else but felt slightly awkward.
You do usually post the items on here first and are a total stand up guy so I would assume you have sold it through the forum first.

 

[itfciain]

I had a similar issue in the past.
Someone messages you and agrees to buy the item but doesn't put PM sent and then a few moments later someone chimes in with PM sent.
I politely stated that I had sold it somewhere else but felt slightly awkward.
You do usually post the items on here first and are a total stand up guy so I would assume you have sold it through the forum first.

I get you there - and that is one of the reasons I don't sell much in that group as I advertise them here as well. However in this case both were on here - the message was in the sales thread

 

[greedole]

Can't you just call Dibs in the thread?…then follow it up with a PM?
Everyone knows the order then…
Works well on other forums.

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

It's a tough one, for sure. For me it would depend on what I saw first. If I saw the "I'll have that please, PM incoming" and, soon after, another PM beat them to it I'd still hold on to it and give the thread message a chance, if only 5 or 10 minutes. If still no PM then I'd let the other PM have it.

However, if I was only aware of the PM (hadn't seen the thread message) and I'd replied it was theirs, then that PM wins.

The rule on that group about "first to write on the thread" is daft. It should be down to the seller and their judgement who they sell to. And as said, if I sent you a PM and you said it had gone I wouldn't think for a second there was something fishy going on.

 

[Robstyley]

I thought you always took the first contact Iain whether it was on the thread or PM. I think that's fairest, whoever comments or PM's first. As you say though I think if the thread comment is PM sent the PM needs to be sent immediately but if someone comments I'll take the Luke etc first surely they get it no?

 

[lejackal]

I think first come first served be it PM or thread comment as long as it says I'll take x, y or z. If payment or a PM isn't forthcoming following the thread comment then no one can ask for more than you've done today. And on that front I'm guessing he needs to either empty his outbox/sent folder or stop hitting preview instead of submit which is easy done having done so myself.

 

[itfciain]

I thought you always took the first contact Iain whether it was on the thread or PM.

As a rule I take the first message that comes through to me be it PM on here, email, PM on FB or even text - if I happen to see the comment on my post then I take that too - however I don't always see those straight away

In this instance - someone has written that they want an item and that they will PM me - then someone else has PM'd me after that asking if it is available - first guy hasn't messaged me yet so who gets the item ?

As it is - second chap is happy to wait 24 hours and I have sent first chap a PM asking if he still wants it

 

[Clarkspie&chips]

I always assumed it was the first person that stated they would take it weather in the thread or the message. "PM sent" in a thread with multiple sales doesn't make it clear which item they're after so the message should take precedent.

People who post "PM sent" in valuation threads should be put to the bottom of the list.

 

[aussiejames]

"As it is - second chap is happy to wait 24 hours and I have sent first chap a PM asking if he still wants it" this is what I'd do



re first to comment vs first to message - both have their merits. As long as the selling 'platform' is clear from the start there usually is no problems

"People who post "PM sent" in valuation threads should be put to the bottom of the list." agreed, if there is a conflict of interest.

 

[Robstyley]

So in other words send the PM immediately if you want something and then go back and comment in the thread as a courtesy. That works for me! Personally I still think if someone names what they want in the thread first they should get it, that's how I do it if selling.

But agree if it's just PM sent and no PM forthcoming then later they name what they want and someones already asked for it the second guy (first PM) should get it.

We're all grown ups at the end of day, I've narrowly missed out on things but no point getting pissed off about it. I'd rather it went to a fellow collector on here anyway.

 

[Mr-shifter]

Thing is if Iain is selling I will always use Facebook messenger first because I know he will see that. This cross platform selling doesn't make life easy. I have no problem with Iain's selling techniques wether I get an item or not as I know he has no favourites and is honourable.

 

[BadMotivator]

It's the PM that counts! That's why you write 'PM sent' not 'Sending PM' on the thread

 

[edd_jedi]

IMO it goes to whoever makes first contact. A show of interest in the thread and then no contact means nothing. I am a member of another forum where it is strictly in order of posts on the sale thread, and it causes absolute chaos because there are a few twats who "declare interest" on literally every item that comes up for sale with no intention of contacting the seller, and therefore block other buyers. 90% of the time they withdraw their interest after a couple of days. So in practice it's a really flawed system.

Sorry folks but random Facebook group rules do not apply everywhere :lol:

 

[jedisearcher]

"Will send PM" is very different to "PM sent" isn't it?

First PM gets the item, not first person intending to send a PM at sometime in the future :lol:

Personally like others on here, I'd send a PM and then update the thread.

 

[plantainman]

Yeah, first person to PM get priority IMO.

Commenting of interest in thread isn't a commitment of purchase IMO.

I generally say the first person to PAY asking price owns it, its up to the seller to decide whether that means 'someone agreed to meet asking price' or 'someone actually sending the funds of asking price', but i work on the former, if you agree to meet asking price then you have a short grace period in order to complete the transaction.

 

[Robstyley]

It's the PM that counts! That's why you write 'PM sent' not 'Sending PM' on the thread

Good point. PM sent - past tense

 

[x-pack]

I post on the thread to say what I want and then PM alongside it. It might be controversial but posting on the thread for me is about letting other potential buyers know that i'm in line for the item. PM only probably opens up the possibility for gazumping. I don't know that sellers actually take higher bids or have preferences who they sell to but I guess it could happen.