Yes
No
No, but it would be easier if prices were posted
Should a Price be Required in a Collectibles Classified Ad?
Should a Price be Required in a Collectibles Classified Ad?
Ebay requires a price a price, even if it can be unrealistic, with a make an offer option or an ad listed “forever”.
Would it save time and effort for all parties to post a price? Certainly one could entertain lower offers (unless they said non-negotiable).
Seems like it would save time, energy and effort.
Thoughts, comments, suggestions, and acceptable criticism encouraged.
No. But it would sure be alot easier if people listed prices.
Good point. I edited the poll to give the option you suggested.Originally Posted by Roseannebarr
I think the price should be there - stores don't put items on the shelf with a tag that says "make an offer" -- at the very least, it should be like eBay, where you say "$250.00 or Make an Offer". That way, everyone has an idea of your starting point, and won't insult you with an offer for $19.99
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Allow sellers the choice to sell how they want....whether that be by posting a price, or by soliciting offers of cash or trade.
If you are a potential buyer, you then have the choice to engage that seller or not.
We have enough rules in life, we do not need more here.
This is obviously related to the recent bruhaha regarding the Joe Hill mallet between Tony and kingfan24....don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch.
FOR SALE OR TRADE
Dark Tower 7 Artist Edition n/a
The Waste Lands 1st Edition in Shrinkwrap $200
1984 Grant Gift Edition of The Talisman $400
Lisey's Story ARC $50
.
.
WANTED
Signed 1st Edition of Storm of The Century (Paperback)
No, however listings should be clear on what is being sold and people should take a deep breath before putting in an offer and responding to what is perceived as a low ball offer.
I agree.
John
I agree that he agrees.I agree.
John
Yes. Yes. Yes. A million times Yes.
I'm a buyer only and not generally a seller. I think the price should be required. It's a classified section for heaven's sake. Sure would save time and effort if at least a proposed price was listed and the seller can choose to say "make me an offer" or "Price is firm".
Seems to me that it would save a lot of PM's if you knew whether or not the item was in your budget range. To inquire and find it is not is pointless IMHO Just seems that if you are selling it's a helluva lot easier if you tell folks how much you want in the first place. Again, JMHO
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
Good point. I voted that a price should be an option however I like your argument. As a collector on a budget (I know everyone is shuddering) I rarely give two looks to items that are not priced.
Tippy, is there a valid point to not posting the price or at least the ballpark, up front? I know I can be obtuse, but I just don't see the advantage.
FWIW I almost exclusively and automatically pass on items marked "make an offer". I just am unsure of the market and do not want to offend. Just be up front IMHO. Can't see that being a detriment to selling. If you're unsure just say "OBO"
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
I agree with Tippy. Don't add rules cos a few people get their nose out of joint over a few comments taken the wrong way. Most of the sales through this site go through smoothly (I am assuming here cos plenty of sales happen that we don't hear about...), so don't try and fix a great place to sell/buy that IMO works well as it is...
The current way of doing business works fine for me. We are all adults here. I actually like the interaction that the lack of a price encourages... I'm weird.
I agree choice should be there.
As a buyer. I like price as a negotiating point, and allows me to feel loved when I get a discount.
Given this is a specialist area, most people will have a view of what they want to pay or not, and also who they will or won't deal with.
I personally have had very good experiences on here but if I came across bad behaviour that's me done. No sale, with a polite thanks but no thanks.
In short, posters choice.
Absolutely an ad should have a price, for all the reasons listed above and more. If one wants to slip in along with stated price an OBO or other phraseology that indicates bargaining can be had, then I think that's perfectly appropriate (and, from my perspective as a buyer, appreciated) measure...but to just toss out a book without a price wastes my time and the seller's. No surprise, I also don't bid on eBay auctions that have reserves. If I don't see a price, I move on.
On a related note -- and as long as I'm getting Classified annoyances off my chest -- the focus on this forum of sending payments via PayPal Gift also seems to me like poor form. Buying an expensive signed Stephen King book for hundreds of dollars and then being required to pay the few bucks (3%) in fees on top of that just feels like one is being nickeled-and-dimed...like buying a Porsche and being required to buy a few gallons of gas to drive it off the lot. It just feels wrong. Plus, there is no recourse for the buyer if the deal goes wrong...PayPal only insures those transactions completed for merchandise...Gift money to "family and friends" isn't. That's why my deals here have forced me to add 3% on top of the agreed-to amount so that I can send it via regular PayPal...any seller who would not be fine with that workaround is a seller I would simply choose not to do business with. I'd recommend that to avoid what comes across to me as poor form, sellers just increase their asking price by 3% what they would have otherwise listed the book at, and do away with those annoying PayPal Gift requests. It's simpler, it's cleaner, and it's a more friendly and secure approach for buyers.
you don't pay any fee for using the friends/family option unless you pay with a credit card, if you use your bank account or paypal balance its free......that being said you have to trust the seller your buying from, because as stated there is no recourse. I have had zero problems so far, both as a buyer and seller.
I always use my credit card when going through PayPal, hence the 3% fee.
I don't think including prices should be compulsory. I usually include a price when I'm listing only a few items, but in the case of my current giant listing I decided not to. Mainly because I reserve the right to change my asking price on the fly - it was a pretty big undertaking to get everything in my spreadsheet in the first place and in some cases I made typos, under- or overestimated the market value et cetera. If I had only listed five items I would have made corrections in the post itself, but in this case I prefer to do it in the spreadsheet. I explicitly mention in my listing that the spreadsheet with prices is available, though.
Regarding the PP 'gift' option: I don't charge for packing materials so the few $$ I save when people transfer money using the gift option sort of make up for that. I don't see anything wrong with it. But I wouldn't mind if the new policy among members would be to get rid of it. As long as everyone does things more or less the same way.
I agree there are already far too many rules and regulations in life - we dont need more.
But having said that I should also mention that I too usually move along if a price is not in the listing.
If its an item I really want then I will PM but the first question is always "How much were you hoping for"? and seems to me it would save time and effort if there was at least a starting point listed
reality continues to ruin my life
I just saw this listing from Namelessnpoor and thot it a perfect example of the type of listing I would respond to. He states that he is open to offers and trades but indicates a starting price as well as the fact he will separate book and slipcase. Clear and concise, easy to start negotiations without a bunch of back and forth PMs:
"Just a quick bump on what i have for sale...prices are posted but I will also consider offers/trades. So feel free to email or pm me if interested, i am easy to work with.
Requesting paypal gift payments please, Shipping in the US included in price.
Skeleton Crew portfolio....signed by JK Potter...$50
The Gunslinger, 2nd edition, very good shape.....$150
DT 7 artist edition, with collector slipcase excellent condition...$100
Will sell book and case separate, Book w/o case $70.....Case $30
Wizard & Glass, UK S/L, #367of 500...excellent book and case...$400
LSOE, artistsigned edition, bound page block with art..unique....$150"
reality continues to ruin my life
Sellers should do what they want but also accept that they're losing potential buyers if they're not listing a price. If I see two members with the same books FS, I'm contacting the one with the price listed.
For me, PayPal Gift/Family option is the equivalent of tax in the real world. The seller doesn't pay for it, so they make the buyer pay for the automatic extra.
As a seller, it's hard to a) list your items below market value, b) below what you paid for them, c) include shipping, d) with an additional discount because someone bought three items, and then e) get hit with a fee from PayPal. Give the seller something!
Man, I must be doing something wrong because I paid the fee every time when I'd send someone payment as gift for friends or family. Maybe it's because they're international transactions but the fee was always on my end. Granted, it's lower than what the seller would have paid if I were to send payment for "goods" etc. but there definitely is a fee on my end. There's always some money in my Paypal balance and when there isn't, it goes through my bank account, not CC.
you are correct, there is a fee if it is international, regardless of what you type of account you use.
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