P3D Re: Selling

["Alexa Smith" <arws@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 18:22:53 -0500
> From: roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (John W Roberts)
> To: photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: P3D Re: Discussion in Sell 3D
> Message-ID: <199804022322.SAA01218@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> >Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 09:49:27 -0700
> >From: MarkKernes <MarkKernes@xxxxxxx>
> >Subject: P3D Discussion in Sell 3D
> 
> >The first person to respond who shows some interest even if it is to only 
> >clarify condition or other details about the item has first dibs on it.  
> 
> So if I wanted to, I could hover on the S3D list, and the instant an item
> appears for sale, send back "I'm interested - let me think about it for a
> few days", then I can ponder the purchase at my leisure, and everybody else
> is locked out for a few days. That seems to me to be unfair to the seller
> (especially on those occasions when somebody later sends in a message, "I
> want to buy it, but I need it right now - a few days later and it won't be
> any use to me". It also puts unneeded stress on the potential buyers who
> didn't get the first word in - they *might* be able to get it later, but
> they don't know. Also, suppose Dr. T and Dalia are offering similar items
> (say Realist 2.8) for sale, and both are being held up by interested people
> who have "dibs". I could put in firm offers for both, but if both dibs people
> back out I might end up being committed to buy both expensive items. If I
> put in an offer for only one, I might miss out on both of them. From a 
> buyer's
> viewpoint, I think it's usually much better to know as soon as possible
> whether I'll be able to buy the item. (If an explicit reservation is agreed
> upon by the seller ahead of time, that's different.)  

If someone just emailed me to say they're interested but want to wait a few 
days, they can forget it.  What I'm talking about are messages that ask specific
questions about the item.  This usually implies an interest and if I don't hear 
back in a day or so I move on after sending an email to the original person to 
let them know.  (BTW, this is only how I do it for an item with a "fixed" asking
price....putting an item up for bids is a different matter - then I just take 
the best offer at any time).  

Another reason to do things this way is that (as far as I know!) I've never had 
an unhappy buyer of my items.  While I try to describe an item accurately, there
is always room for interpretation since we're dealing with the whole world here.
This way, the buyer isn't rushed in the decision and can ask whatever they need 
within a reasonable amount of time (for me, usually a day or 2).  Since this is 
just a hobby among friends for me, I guess I take a more laid back approach to 
selling.  I'd be interested in hearing how the people running businesses on here
do this but my guess is some of this is the same.  I know I've emailed about 
items for more info and they weren't sold out from under me :-)    

> 
> Also as a buyer, I don't think an earlier lower-than-asking-price offer
> gives someone the right to bid against the first person to make a
> full-asking-price offer.

If I post a message asking for bids, then I usually just give it a day or two 
(to allow for different time zones) and then take the highest offer.  The first 
person doesn't get a chance to increase their bid.  If I wanted that, then I 
would have placed the item in an auction format so all buyers knew.

> 
> >There have been many times I've had to email someone to get more info before 
> 
> >committing to a purchase and I wouldn't have been pleased to have been 
> bumped 
> >just because someone said I'll take it.  
> 
> Perhaps in some cases you could make a conditional offer: "I'll buy it at
> the asking price if it comes with a case and the user's manual" - that
> way you've locked in an offer if it meets your requirements, and you're not
> committed otherwise.
> 
> John R

This is an excellent way to state it, John!

Alexa



------------------------------