POLL: Most irritating TB classifieds thread replies

[Jim Nazium]

definitely posting "Weight?" with no intention of buying.

... and when it's already clearly listed in the ad

 

[soulman969]

when you are trying to sell something questions from people aren't really interested or comments about things that have nothing to do with what you are selling get old pretty quick.
I haven't personally sold anything on this website, but I have sold non-musical items on other sites and the "kicking of the tires" does get tedious after the 30th or 40th time a person asks a question, you answer it and then they are gone. Never to be heard from again.

LOL Yeah it does so I decided to have some fun with it.

Recently I had a CL listing for one of my guitars. Most anyone who was sincerely interested would know it was a model made in Mexico plus I added that to the description under make/manufacturer. I still got responses asking if it was US made when anyone who sells a US made Fender always lists it as such. It's like a badge of honor.

Whenever anyone asks about origin first, last, and only they're almost never a buyer so after answering their question and getting no response I send a second saying "Thank you for participating in our survey".

That almost always gets a response.

 

[Acoop]

Question, "How far will you ship?"
Answer, "I don't know, do you have any idea where you live?"
Reply, "Hey dude, I was just asking. ... You know, it's guys like you that give 'classifieds' a bad name."

 

[soulman969]

My real job is sales - sometimes potential customers ask questions just so they can “try on” the idea of transacting the deal or owning the item. Sometimes once they have the idea more clearly they bail, for their own reasons. Answering those questions and then having someone bail is annoying, but it’s also part of the cost of doing business, and showing irritation at questions (not saying anyone is doing that) is a good way to make sure they quickly “take off” the idea of transacting the deal. I’ve asked questions like some of these on TB, and not bought, and I’ve also spent lots of money buying stuff on TB.

Like you I've also spent my career mostly in sales and marketing.

While I do agree with you that as sales professionals we do have an obligation to politely answer even the most inane questions there are also times when we can sense a non-buyer and chasing off a time waster is not necessarily a bad thing if it allows me more time to service a more sincere buyer.

Trolling questions at a seller whose offering something you have no intention of buying simply to do it or somehow subconsciously annoy them is kinda rude. One of my all time favorites is the CL one that says "your price is too high" when you've done your own research and know it isn't.

What that person really means is "I won't pay that" but he's also unwilling to make an offer or negotiate. All he wants is for you to drop your price and of course that makes no sense. You've listed your price so any counter offer is now on him. That's how a sincere buyer plays the game.

Sometimes it fun to toy with one just to see what happens. Years ago, pre-CL, I listed a car for sale. I got the usual "you want too much for your XXXX". So I jokingly said how about $$$$ which was half my asking price. After a full 5-6 seconds of silence he said "What's wrong with it". With some you can never win.

 

[buldog5151bass]

My real job is sales - sometimes potential customers ask questions just so they can “try on” the idea of transacting the deal or owning the item. Sometimes once they have the idea more clearly they bail, for their own reasons. Answering those questions and then having someone bail is annoying, but it’s also part of the cost of doing business, and showing irritation at questions (not saying anyone is doing that) is a good way to make sure they quickly “take off” the idea of transacting the deal. I’ve asked questions like some of these on TB, and not bought, and I’ve also spent lots of money buying stuff on TB.

Absolutely. Some questions may seem silly, but you are looking to get hundreds/thousands of dollars. Sometimes you have to deal with tire kickers. If you want totally easy money, take the GC discount.

 

[InternetAlias]

The only surprising thing about this is how long it took for it to show up here.

Some of us have been saying similar things few pages ago, but sure enough, his post is the most elaborate take on the topic!

I've had many people bail once they got a reply on local classifieds, it gets better because there are no threads to speak of, only private conversations. But if I realize 5 different people ask me for nut width or weight I will always just add that to the ad. Why? Because even if people aren't sure they want to buy the instrument, they might still be interested in what it is. Call it window shopping if you will, but it has helped my ads have more relevant information for actual buyers. So in a way, by adding more information to the ads, caused by those window shoppers, I've actually got through to real buyers who saw a professional looking ad with plenty of information and all imperfections documented.

So yeah. Like it or not, you're the one trying to sell something, do your due part in that, the competition is fierce, and people can afford to ask around until they find the right instrument for them.

 

[rodneyat]

No doubt...the ones who say "I know you said no trades, but...." And as stated..it is usually some piece of crap they want to trade for a $3K+ instrument

 

[two fingers]

yep - and sometimes when you do go through all the trouble as a seller, you still have knuckleheads asking questions that a serious buyer would have already done their homework on. Mileage varies but come on, I guess being spoon fed is the way of the world now a days.

Ha! I am not exactly a "spoon fed" kinda guy.

But, there are several manufacturers that make models in 34" amd 35". They also make 18mm and 19mm spacing.

I will only buy a 19mm spaced 5 and prefer 35" scale. I also don't want an 11 pound bass.

So, I get get out of your dang hair and move on to another ad (or just buy yours) if those things are listed in the freaking ad.

Bass sales are no different from used car sales, used boat sales, and used tennis racquet sales.

I wanna know how many miles are on it, which engine it has, how many hours on the boat motor, how old the string on the racquet is.

These are BASIC stats on the item for sale. And, again, I'm not the one who needs/wants to sell a bass.

Have you ever worked in customer service of any kind? I'm guessing no.

If you are selling a bass, you are now in sales. And we are your potential customers. We will have questions. It's your job to provide customer service.

Let me ask you this. Let's say you go into a car dealership, or a phone store, or Best Buy. You ask an employee a question about a product. The reaction you get is an eye roll and "Dude, all thay stuff is kn our website". Your reaction, I'm assuming, would be "You're right, sir! My apologies! I should have done my homework. Sorry to bother you. Carry on, then."

Uh..... no.

The only difference is scale. They are trying to sell a billion things and you're tryimg to sell one or a few. But, make no mistake, when you are trying to sell something, YOU are in the customer service business.

Don't like it? Make a lamp out of that bass.

 

[wmhill]

 

[gln1955]

There used to be a time when selling something meant putting an ad in the newspaper and then having to talk on the phone to all of the potential buyers. And now we have people complaining that they have to read a TB post or open an email. What bunch of cupcakes.

 

[neptoon]

i've decided that the next time someone asks for weight, i'm just going to ignore it...like say i sell my Warwick thumb bass and someone asks for the weight of it...umm, hello, it's heavy...also when people asks for specifications that are easily googled...like nut width...this would be fun...list your bass with 17.5mm string spacing at the bridge and then two days later change it to 18.5mm...well, it's an adjustable bridge and i decided to change it to appeal to a different crowd...i also like how the '4 string guys' and '5 string guys' come out of the closet in sale ads

 

[neptoon]

Question, "How far will you ship?"
Answer, "I don't know, do you have any idea where you live?"
Reply, "Hey dude, I was just asking. ... You know, it's guys like you that give 'classifieds' a bad name."

i can only ship to three counties in Wyoming...do you live there? i can only ship 18 miles, but i can drive the rest of the way

 

[CameronJohnson]

To my shame, I’m frequently guilty of “if it were a 5 string I’d be all over it”

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I’m not concerned about classifieds thread responses. I am however often times flabbergasted by some of the asking prices I’m seeing. Sorry, but a bass that was $299 in 1999 is not worth $599 in 2018.

 

[selowitch]

“Why are you selling this bass?” I mean, who cares??

 

[IngloriousOz]

There used to be a time when selling something meant putting an ad in the newspaper and then having to talk on the phone to all of the potential buyers. And now we have people complaining that they have to read a TB post or open an email. What bunch of cupcakes.

Your knees must be shot from all those years walking all those miles...uphill...both ways

 

[Muddslide]

"can you hold this for me until I get paid in a couple weeks?"

I gotta admit, I've been guilty--not of this specifically-- but of asking sellers if they'd be willing to let me pay something off in three payments, like "I'm too broke to pay for this outright, but could send a third of what you are asking right now to hold it, and get the rest to you in a month or six weeks."

I know. Annoying. And sellers have been kind and cool about this. I haven't done it more than once or twice, but I acknowledge it's cheesy. I just rarely have much spendy cash.

 

[jnewmark]

" I know you said No Shipping, but if you change your mind....."

 

[JPaulGeddy]

That's what I thought as well.

Ah. I am not sure, I guess I was going by the old board.

Between that, and reading the replies in this thread, I will refrain from commenting on any basses.

 

[DocTT]

Ad terms I find most annoying:

1: "New in box. Never used"

Translation: "used, and back in box." Ask, "does it work?" Response: "yes." Ask, "how do you know?" Extra points if the seller's only picture is the box or the product in a plastic bag.

2: "Vintage"

Not everything old earns that title. An instrument that was a piece of crap 30 years ago is now just an old piece of crap.

3: "Perfect condition... the only issues are..."

Somebody needs a dictionary

4: "NEED GONE"

No kidding. Who wants to sell something and have it stay?