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Are buyers always this unreliable?

#81
Whenever I sell I'll check the market on ebay, reverb, musicgoround, gbase and here to find out what stuff is selling for then decide on my price with shipping. That's when I'll decide whether to sell at all, sell online, sell to GC, keep it or whatever. I rarely do craigslist for gear unless its like a cab or something that is too expensive to ship and most of the time inquiries are right to the point. If an offer is really wacky I'll just reject it - no counter, no small talk. Some folks just try to see what will stick to the wall or play with you and that's not worth your time to play tennis with them. On the other hand I've become friends with some great folks here through threads and sales and love talking bass with them. Just my 2cents.
 
#82
electracoyote said:
You'd be amazed how often people forget to take down their CL and FB ads after the item has sold. Maybe not you, but enough people forget that I give prospective buyers a pass when they ask this question.

In fact, I give prospective buyers a pass on most of the things that irritate others. I seriously doubt people are out to intentionally mess with me, there is never any real harm or malice, and if I get all uppity and indignant it might chase off someone who would have otherwise followed through with the purchase if I had just exercised a little patience.

Numerous times I had a buyer who started out with lots of questions and nitpicky, and the more I patiently answered in fair but firm terms, the more they came around and gave me my ask. Making them feel like an imposition would have resulted in the eventual sale of the item taking far longer, if at all.
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Oh I don't disagree with you on any point. If you really want to make a sale, that's the right approach.

The main reason I lose patience is that people don't even bother to read the info I already put in the posting, and then expect me to come down on the price like they're entitled to something.

For me, if you want to be treated respectfully as a customer, respect me as a seller. I'm not a business - we're two people on even terms. I don't need your money, and you clearly want what we're talking about. So let's start off on the right foot instead of you expecting me to spoonfeed you everything like I'm your local gas station.
 
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#83
DirtDog said:
I'm one of those. Worth its weight in time to sell via consignment. The local shop has gotten to know me well. I buy a fair amount of stuff from them as well. So, every time I walk in, the owner knows he's gonna get a hundred or two in his pocket.
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Helloooooooo Spaceman! I've mostly sold through them but I have also bought a couple of basses: a Peavey Fury and a USA Lakland.
 
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#84
Katoosie said:
Hey!

Been trying to sell some gear and I've noticed a lot of flaky/annoying buyers.

You know what I mean, sends a message, I answer - never get any reply.

Or talks and talks and just randomly leaves me on read for forever and never gets in touch again.

Or when we talk for weeks and all it ammounts to is "I just want to try the bass".

Jeez, how do you even have the patience to do flipping or selling and buying, stuff is beyond me.

When I buy gear I make sure everything is ready beforehand, out of respect for the buyer.

Just ranting.
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Yes, but not just buyers...sellers are about the same... they answer a few questions, then when I ask where I can see it or try it our, they clam up.
 
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#85
Katoosie said:
I disagree.
Its a store, they have a location for a reason and you can try before you commit. You don't walk into a store and say "I will buy your bass for a 1000", then proceed to play it and walk out without saying anything or ignoring the staff. Or haggling and then disappearing off the face of the planet.
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Some do :)
 
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#86
mikecd1 said:
Whenever I sell I'll check the market on ebay, reverb, musicgoround, gbase and here to find out what stuff is selling for then decide on my price with shipping. That's when I'll decide whether to sell at all, sell online, sell to GC, keep it or whatever. I rarely do craigslist for gear unless its like a cab or something that is too expensive to ship and most of the time inquiries are right to the point. If an offer is really wacky I'll just reject it - no counter, no small talk. Some folks just try to see what will stick to the wall or play with you and that's not worth your time to play tennis with them. On the other hand I've become friends with some great folks here through threads and sales and love talking bass with them. Just my 2cents.
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Curious about this "sell to GC" option (reminds me of Daddy's Junky). Is that a thing? How does it work? Thx.
 
#88
TomB said:
Curious about this "sell to GC" option (reminds me of Daddy's Junky). Is that a thing? How does it work? Thx.
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Similar to Daddy's GC used to give you 70% of the sale price for an equipment / instrument buy or trade only now its 60%. I think that started with the pandemic. I've sold old cabs and old PA gear to them and its easier to just sell it off that way as shipping just cuts the crap out of online selling for heavy stuff. I'll sell instruments here or on reverb, but know others who just take whatever GC gives when they're done with something. They usually give cash too. Sam Ash seems to offer even less than GC on used gear. Go figure.
 
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#93
Skygoneblue said:
The main reason I lose patience is that people don't even bother to read the info I already put in the posting, and then expect me to come down on the price like they're entitled to something.
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I'm wondering how you are so certain they don't read the ad. Have you actually had people come right out and confess they didn't read the ad, only looked at the pictures?

Evidently, you do need the money more than you need the item. Maybe rather than feeling entitled they are testing to see how badly you need the money and how far you might flex on the price. Pretty innocent behavior, I do it all the time, but I certainly don't feel entitled.
 
#94
Skygoneblue said:
So let's start off on the right foot instead of you expecting me to spoonfeed you everything like I'm your local gas station.
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That made me laugh. I remember when you didn't even get out of your car at a gas station unless you wanted to, because there would be guys there to fill your tank, check your oil, and wash your windows. And then give you a free toy or set of glasses for choosing to buy your gas there.
 
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#95
BlueTalon said:
That made me laugh. I remember when you didn't even get out of your car at a gas station unless you wanted to, because there would be guys there to fill your tank, check your oil, and wash your windows. And then give you a free toy or set of glasses for choosing to buy your gas there.
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You pulled into Full Serve?

(bonus points for the tv show reference)
 
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#96
electracoyote said:
I'm wondering how you are so certain they don't read the ad. Have you actually had people come right out and confess they didn't read the ad, only looked at the pictures?

Evidently, you do need the money more than you need the item. Maybe rather than feeling entitled they are testing to see how badly you need the money and how far you might flex on the price. Pretty innocent behavior, I do it all the time, but I certainly don't feel entitled.
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When they ask me questions that I answer directly in the posting? Pretty obvious indicator that they didn't read anything I said.

Haggle all you want. I think it's dumb and don't do it.
 
#98
The problem I have today is trying to *give* stuff away though fb local groups... every timewaster and his his dawg has to send me a friend request (which I delete) and sound like they're doing me a huge favor by having something for free I could easily just throw in the trash. Why do I even bother...
 

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