Hey guys, sorry for being obtuse here, but what is the exact meaning of "feeler" as used in these forums? I see the term a lot in the classified section, but I can't seem to figure out exactly what is meant by it. The searches I tried all just returned a bunch of classified ads for "feeler" instruments. Thanks for the help!
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"feeler"?
- Thread starter markham
- Start date
A trade feeler means that they're putting the instrument up for potential trade to see what kind of offers they get. It's kind of a disclaimer meaning "Don't get upset if I turn down every offer and keep the instrument." They're just feeling out the market.
It means someone is "testing the waters" to see if there's any interest in the item they want to sell or at the price they're asking. Could also be if they've come up with an idea or something that they might want feedback on.
Al
Al
When I see "feeler", I don't even open the thread. Come on, if you can't decide if it's for sale or not, why the hell did you put it in the classifieds.
Thats what I don't understand, it is't like you're required to sell it if you put it up, you can still change your mind.
Posting anything in a FS ad pushes- or *bumps* it to the top of the page, where it may get more attention.
i've put feeler on ads and meant it as "a feeler for if anybody wants to trade my x for their y". kinda to specify not really looking for any other trade or to sell for cash money greens.
Here is the real meaning of "Feeler":
Hey! I really wanna sell this item because I don't want it anymore (which is why I am posting in the classifieds), but I don't want you to know how badly I really wanna sell it. I want you to think that I am really stressed out about letting this item go, and I want you to fear that I just might keep it, and that you will be extremely lucky if I decide to sell it to you, therefore you will hopefully be inclined to give me lots of money for it. But I will only sell it to you if I can get more money from you than the item is really worth. Hence my "feeler" ad......to see if I can be successful in me coming out ahead in the deal. If I can't, then I won't sell it.
Nothing like brutal honesty, eh?
"For trade only" takes care of that.
Really, I'm not even going to look at those wishy-washy ads, and I buy a lot of stuff, look at my profile, and that's only my bass stuff.
LOL! I do think it means that sometimes. And sometimes, it seems to mean "I'm too embarrassed to admit that I'm ready to immediately dump this $4000 bass I bought brand new 2 months ago because I'm already GASing for something else, so I'll just call it a feeler."
Other times, though, I think people are genuinely struggling with a decision.
i wish that it did, and i don't want to turn off anybody that would otherwise check out stuff that i'm trying to move. but i've had NUMEROUS trade-offer pm's even when i put something up as TRADE ONLY and listed out what i wanted in exchange.
but, apparently, to most people here "feeler" means they don't trust that the seller will go through with it, so i'll proooooooobably be avoiding using it from now on.
good to know. thanks.
Wouldn't it make more sense to decide prior to putting it up for sale instead of "might be for sale, might not".
Bryan R. Tyler
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If I saw a behndy ad with "feeler" in it, I think I'd assume it was synonymous with "tentacle."
