Can I rant about the marketplace for a second?

[Gorn Captain]

Forgive me for moaning and complaining a bit....

In the last year or so, I've had several "negative" experiences on the marketplace.
Buying stuff, and still not getting it after nine months.

Getting a deal all sorted out, clearly telling the seller I'll pay his price, and then hearing "yeah, well, I sold it to another guy".

Being the first to post and PM for an item, then hearing that it went to another buyer.
Sometimes I get very creative PMs back: "I couldn't remember in which order I got my PMs...."

I know, it's the buyer's property and he can do with it as he pleases, I guess, but I still think it sucks.
If I wanted crummy deals, I'd go to Ebay.

I've had several good deals, too, plenty of great people on the forum, but some others don't know the term "gentleman's agreement"...

Sorry to **** about this. It just stings to lose out on something you really wanted....

[The Bat]

Wow...sorry to hear this. I guess I've been lucky, as I've no bad transactions in Marketplace. I done trades(that takes trust), as well as buying and selling.

[jp1969]

This has happened to me before as well. I sent a slew of PM's about some suits, but alas, the buddy system kept me from the prize. I know I sent then first, it is right there on the board. What are you gonna do? All is fair in "Love" and "War", and now "Dolls" too.

How can you be sure you sent your pm's first?
I post the fact that I pm'd only after doing so.
Private messages are not posted unless you intentionally post the fact that you sent one.
And still not receiving item 9 months after a transaction date is too long.Unacceptable.
Maybe he had to give birth to this thing?

[toystalker]

ive been on the pooh end of the stick a few times

i post "1ST" then pm to say ill take it only to hear back from the seller saying they sold it to another person who posted a reply AFTER me!!!

sucks

good thing about my deals i have enough stock to supply everyone 3 times over LOL

[jp1969]

Before or after???

ive been on the pooh end of the stick a few times

i post "1ST" then pm to say ill take it only to hear back from the seller saying they sold it to another person who posted a reply AFTER me!!!

sucks

good thing about my deals i have enough stock to supply everyone 3 times over LOL

I thought PM'ing your intentions/interests to sellers was the 1st step?
And posting the fact of a sent PM was courteous behavior at best.
I may have it wrong,wouldnt be the first time.
Still 9 months is unacceptable.
Do'nt think any one could disagree with that one.

[Mikey]

Many people here wont admit it but a lot of Members would still rather ship inside the USA if it's at all possible and that's why non USA people/buyers always get beat on PM's...

Nobody is going to outright say -- "only USA please" but that's what many people secretly have in mind.

Not everyone, of course

It sucks and nobody will admit it, but it's true.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I've looked at it as the same way one would respond to a newspaper ad. You might call in first, but it is up to the seller to decide who they want to sell to. Here it is more transparent, so it can be frustrating. I too have had some moments where I thought i might have been first on something, but who knows, posting "PM sent" is not a requirement and some folks prefer not to post. I look at it as another one will come along.

Not sending to overseas, I'm not sure why that should be a problem as long as both parties agreed on shipping. Waiting months for an item is not courteous at all. If you are selling, be prepared to ship within a week or two. If something unexpected comes up to prevent shipping, be honest and work it out (refund or agreement of some such).

[clemso]

Many people here wont admit it but a lot of Members would still rather ship inside the USA if it's at all possible and that's why non USA people/buyers always get beat on PM's...

Nobody is going to outright say -- "only USA please" but that's what many people secretly have in mind.

Not everyone, of course

It sucks and nobody will admit it, but it's true.

I can't agree I've had no such problem, $ is king!

[clemso]

Let me elaborate, being first will only get you so far, the best offer will always trump that. if it is a fixed price then sure the first pm should get that, but if the seller has a choice between a reliable buyer who has a track record of paying up or a unknown newbie .. well can you blame them. I've always thought that the first pm is the first pm, not the guy who posts "pm sent" not everyone does that.

[david_b]

I'm just happy some of you folks are willing to take postal money orders.. Hate to say, but it's a good way for me to spend $$$ (probably bid more than most others will here, if no one gets to it before me..) and not have to arrange a separate PayPal with my Mrs back in the States (who's doing the checkbook..).

I already budget a couple hundred to live on here each month, and typically I'll save up and be able to pay top dollar. Nothing wrong with MOs.., just will take a few extra days to get to you. AND my mailing address here in Kuwait is an 'APO' address, meaning you only have to pay domestic shipping, and the government actually ships it over.

As for working with you sellers if I am interested in something, I think everyone's been SUPER..!! It's tough for me because I'm 8-9hrs ahead of folks, and it's typically night here when you're all awake. Not much worth to complain about ~ Just the nature of living overseas.., no worries.

My humble thanks ~

david_b

[theressa]

You know, it's not hard to ship out of the US. You pack things normally. Let the buyer chose how fast they want it. If it's over 4lbs. It has to go Priority Mail. I've pointed out before that you can get used boxes from stores. They don't complain on giving them away. Just don't use chemical boxes. Soap, bleach, etc.
Then take your package to the PO, fill out the custom form, pay them, and you're done!
Just write the buyer to let them know it's on the way. Give them that customs number.

[Godzilla]

I appreciate the Marketplace as a fair place outside of Ebay where I can sell collectibles of all kinds to a collectors market.

I'll be honest and say that while I appreciate when people respond to my sale threads, I consider the date and time on the PM sent to me as the guide when deciding who gets something first. When I have explained this in the past, I ususal get an attitude of "whatever" back from the person.

My point is, the complaints that have been brought up go both ways. Both buying and selling.

[Orlock]

I've completed several deals now on the marketplace as a buyer but am really very nervous about trying to post anything as a seller. I'm afraid I won't list something exactly right or I'll screw something up somehow and then I'll be branded or outcast or whatever, and I love this place. I have a great deal of anxiety over it actually which is why I deleted my thread earlier this morning.

I just know I am extremely appreciative of those that have been kind enough to deal with me and couldn't be happier with the way everything has gone down for me buying and community wise since starting posting here after lurking for so long. I consider it a privilege to be here and really feel lucky to be here.

[BlackKnight]

I never really looked at this Topic as any other way ..., other then, Ok ... well, I didn't get that No Big thing Whatever.

Almost everything I have ever wanted, at 1 period in time or another , has been offered in the Market Place Down the road, by another ..., and sometimes, another, and another .


Unless I know you ..., to be honest I don't really like shipping outside the USA ... , It's an Extreme Pain in the Arse to wait in line at My Post Office ..., it's so busy ...., I am also somewhat worried about packaging getting lost, after reading posts here, or tied up in customs ..., or whatever.

I have never had a Problem shipping to Belgium though ... , something did get lost to Aussie country ..., took 3months to get ..., and a few packagage to Cananda took almost 2 months for them to get.

[Gorn Captain]

Many people here wont admit it but a lot of Members would still rather ship inside the USA if it's at all possible and that's why non USA people/buyers always get beat on PM's...

Nobody is going to outright say -- "only USA please" but that's what many people secretly have in mind.

Not everyone, of course

It sucks and nobody will admit it, but it's true.

I appreciate your honesty, Mike, and you do have a point.
Posting outside the US does involve a little bit more effort, I realize that. But it's not as if we're some alien nation, and you have to donate bone marrow through a blunt needle.
I realize that this is primarily a US forum, and that poses some problems for non-US members. When offers are posted on the marketplace, Europe is usually "in bed". So you have to get lucky to "be there first". But when you do, and you get the impression that the seller couldn't be bothered to take a package to the post office, it stings.
But hey, I'm just a guest at your party, don't want to create a fuss.
Next time, I'll just post "item wanted", and wait for people to reply.

I want to be positive and thank the people that DO make that extra effort, as I would.
I cannot force people to live by a certain code and "do the right thing". I probably expected too much. Turns out the forum is just a cross-section of the real outside world. Some saints, some sinners, and a whole bunch in between (including myself)....