Selling etiquette

[BlueDog]

People ca be odd no matter how hard you try to be fair and do the right thing they'll find a way to be miserable shits.

I managed to get an upgrade of a first 12 stand last year from Aussie Nick by logging on to fb within seconds of it being listed. I sent him a message and bought it, another member replied on the thread saying he'd take mere seconds later and when informed it was sold got a little shitty. I thought I'd do the right thing and offer to sell him my existing one less than the one I'd bought. The sense of gratitude was extremely underwhelming.

No pleasing some people.

 

[poncho]

1st pm 1st serve. Simples

 

[weasel]

As the others have said, first concrete contact gets it. In this case the first PM gets it, IMO. Typing "I'll take it" or "PM sent" and then not following up rules you out.

It would be different if someone had typed "PM sent" and then in the 30 seconds it took them to type the PM someone else had PM'd you. But that's not the issue.

 

[BadMotivator]

It would be different if someone had typed "PM sent" and then in the 30 seconds it took them to type the PM someone else had PM'd you. But that's not the issue.

I think even then it should go to the first message because they both went at the same time and why should a thread post trump a message in that situation only? If everyone understands it's first message that counts in every situation then there can be no arguments.

Wasn't there a 'famous' Uzay collector a couple of years ago that threw his toys out of the pram and sold his entire collection because of just this thing? He PM'd two seconds after someone else and missed out on the last thing he needed? Something like that.

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

In my view these are your items to sell and you can sell them how and to who you want. I tend to go for a first PM and take them in PM order, but if the first PM is a low ball offer then I don't have to accept it.

If someone promises a PM but you receive a PM from anotheri ndividual with an acceptable offer then I would go back to that first person first. If they dont respond then it's their bad.

Anyone who moans that they missed out, it's just sour grapes.

 

[Lindo]

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

It is me that Iain is talking about, personally I believe it should be first post! as I had put sending pm but then the pm had actually not gone through, dunno why but I seem to be having that issue lately when sending pm's from my phone, so because I had sent it and it hadn't gone I would have missed out on the item if I hadn't posted on the thread!

 

[stormcab]

Cor, if you don't know Iain, then how the heck are the rest of us supposed to know.

I think it should be very simple - send a PM/DM first to cement your offer, then "PM/DM sent" on public thread to tell others.

 

[itfciain]

Cor, if you don't know Iain, then how the heck are the rest of us supposed to know.

Lol - I think that the range of different answers here shows that there probably isn't a right or wrong way. However, what I do assure people is that I act fairly - so there are no concerns there

I think it should be very simple - send a PM/DM first to cement your offer, then "PM/DM sent" on public thread to tell others.

This would make the most sense to me

 

[Nick_IoW]

Put a stipulation in your for sale thread stating you go by PMs via. Then you're covered.

I understand why some FB pages want the message out in the open , but its not the best, nor fastest, way to get an offer to someone. Wherever you post your for sales I always instant message you lol. Its just quicker, easier and more convenient.

 

[Hooch]

As much as sellers are expected to have some kind of etiquette like first come first served, honour price, post quickly and let buyer know when item is on the way, buyers sometimes need a lesson on what's right and wrong also. Nothing worse than someone messaging saying 'I will take it, send payment details' only for them to go silent on you. While waiting for a reply/payment first person posts 'look what I picked up in the wild', meanwhile the 2nd person waiting is being dicked around and most likely moved on
Just a note none of that last part has ever happened on here when I have sold but its happened plenty on FB

 

[weasel]

It would be different if someone had typed "PM sent" and then in the 30 seconds it took them to type the PM someone else had PM'd you. But that's not the issue.

I think even then it should go to the first message because they both went at the same time and why should a thread post trump a message in that situation only? If everyone understands it's first message that counts in every situation then there can be no arguments.

Sorry, bad grammar on my initial post.

What I meant was, I could see an argument for favouring one or other in the case of someone writing "PM sent" and in the 30 seconds it takes them to send the PM another buyer messaging. I didn't necessarily mean I/the seller should change their stance on who gets first dibs, simply that it is a more complex situation and you could make a convincing case either way.
In this case, with no apparent PM sent even after the initial message promising one, it's a cut an shut no contest. IMO.

Of course, the sensible thing to do in the first example is PM him and THEN message his thread telling him you have PM'd him. But then common sense and people on the internet are often complete strangers.

 

[Ross_Barr]

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:

Couldn't have said it better myself. Saying "I will take it" on the thread is a good move as it is faster and ensures (hopefully) that someone else doesn't try to back door you, but if the person writing on the thread doesn't soon thereafter follow up with a pm asking for payment details or otherwise doesn't get in touch, that is both a weird and unfair thing to do, and then priority should then go to the next person that sends a pm, also offers the same price, and is ready to pay. Still, allowing a reasonable time of a half hour or so to the first person to write "I'll take it" in the thread isn't the end of the world. But not much longer than that.