Buy, Sell, Trade Suggestion

I've missed out on a few deals where I did not post an "email sent" message and the items sold to the first person who did an "email sent" message hours after.

I would suggest that the "For Sale" forum posts not show up on the "recent posts" list for the entire forum (if that could be arranged), and then supposed "bumping" would not be a big deal. Let the "For Sale" forum be out of sight, except to the folks who specifically choose to look at it.

Use of the "For Sale" forum is a generous freebie offered to forum participants and it shouldn't have to be a repeating management chore for the forum directors. Otherwise they may have to start charging for it, or perhaps make it available only to premium members.

May I make another suggestion.  All for sale posts should include the manufacturer whenever possible (unless there is a long list of various and it is not practical).  Some of us do not buy one brand or another and it is so frustrating to open the post only to find that it is the brand that we do not buy.  I mean how hard is it to add "MTH"  or  "Lionel" or "Atlas"  etc.  to your post.

Perhaps the thread should be closed to replies. If one is interested, just send an email to the OP. I have never posted to the For Sale or Trade forum and was unaware that it is against forum rules to reply with Email Sent. I see this reply all the time, so obviously many people are unaware of the rule.

I buy my fair share on OGR.  I endorse all the suggestion above. 

Alot  of good ideas being brought up here......i'd like to see the ability to bump a post to the top of the page( intentional or otherwise ) eliminated.... any changes ( price drops, item sold, updated list,etc) can be made in the original post...... for sale posters need to have a displayed email address too.

Perhaps the thread should be closed to replies. If one is interested, just send an email to the OP.

Now Keith that's a good one. 

Allow only  the original poster to post any changes. That's probably a expensive fix so I doubt it would be done. But it's a good way to alleviate all the issues.

Larry

   I'm not bothered much by most of the "for sales". After a look, I know to skip the topic. If it isn't a "mystery title"! 

..I didn't want to get wound up, couldn't comment

I do think "for sale" as the first two title words should be in the title requirement,  every word after, a good faith description or skip it.

Why not "hide" the 'For Sale's?

  I think the sale threads often contain rather interesting elements of the hobby we might miss otherwise  It also showcases deals that might be missed because someone isn't thinking as much about shopping that day.

Why not stop comments?

     To me, it's one more train subject to check out, and ask questions about, even if your not in the market that day. I think I've even posted a question forgetting something was for sale after staring a bit. 

    The comments, even "mail sent", keep things about the deals somewhat in the open. "No auctions" in mind, how else will we have a clue if it went to "first come", or the high bid of the weekend; a snipe?

  There's also the private e-mail filters, and time delays to take into account. I think that the common data permissions we have here can keep the private sale playing field more fair and stable.

Adriatic posted:

   I'm not bothered much by most of the "for sales". After a look, I know to skip the topic. If it isn't a "mystery title"! 

How do you put a like on your own post?

(OK now I wonder if it shows up?)

Every so often someone abuses the privilege of using the for sale forum by making a lot of posts and bumping them frequently. Although it maybe hasn't been much of a problem lately. Posters should always put "For Sale..." in their post title, for clarity on the "Recent Posts" list.

Why do sellers delete the selling price when sold?

Doug B

Privacy.

More for the buyers IMO, but pretty traditional to drop mention of price once a deal is complete. The final price? I'd leave that release to the buyer. 

An auctions final price, that I expect to see, but not the buyers ID.

Jim Berger posted:

Alot  of good ideas being brought up here......i'd like to see the ability to bump a post to the top of the page( intentional or otherwise ) eliminated.... any changes ( price drops, item sold, updated list,etc) can be made in the original post...... for sale posters need to have a displayed email address too.

     My concern with eliminating bumping is that any of those changes made in the original post, particularly price drops, new items, would go unadvertised.

     Price drops are similar to new sales posts, you are putting up the same item, but by advertising the new price in a comment, it is advertised as such.

     The same with new items, someone who dismissed the original list as uninteresting will be unaware of the new items unless the seller makes a comment indicating as such.

     Additionally, as others have already stated, "Email sent" posts create a public record that member "A" approached member "B" with intent to purchase at hh:mm on mm/dd/yy.

     I agree with the need to prevent unfair bumping (ie. "Bump"), I think there are some cases (price adjustments, new items, intent to purchase) that do not constitute unfair bumping, and I think that there is a pretty clear line between them.

     I know this probably is not going to change Rich and Allan's position, but I've made my case.

Regards,

Additionally, as others have already stated, "Email sent" posts create a public record that member "A" approached member "B" with intent to purchase at hh:mm on mm/dd/yy.

Not really. I see plenty of "Email sent" replies where the person doesn't specify which item(s) in a multi-item listing is of interest.
And "Email sent" isn't the same as writing "I'll take it". Maybe the person is making an offer. Maybe the person will decide the shipping is too high.

Do we need public records on intent to purchase?
If the seller cannot be trusted to honor first  bona fide offer, do you want to purchase anything from him/her?

as both a seller and buyer,,,i would like to see,,,,,if someone wants an item,,and just post email sent,,,,on what??? most of us have multi items for sale,,,this would  help other whom are interested  in the same  item,thanks

I try not to use email send as bumping up can cause other folks to see the item and want it (makes more competition). I will send a email first for shipping cost or details on the items. If shipping is too high I will not consider the item, just as I do on eBay. The total cost you pay for the item with shipping is the actual cost of the item (most folks do not think this way).
Never had a problem on buying items on the forum, found it very pleasant and better than eBay, plus when it is a pick-up, you can meet a lot of nice people and see there great layouts.
Thank you O Gauge Forum!

yes the "email sent" is the most annoying reply anyone can make on the for sale forum. Especially if there are a slew of items listed.

Photos should be a priority too... that is if you really would like to sell an item.

I reckon people respond with "email sent" because they want to be perceived as first on the list of interested buyers. But why not just have interested buyers email the seller, and the seller can decided who they prefer to do business with on the basis of the received responses - not necessarily as a "me first" contest.

I view the for sale, trade and want to buy forums as a free benefit to OGR forum members.  Therefore I am happy to try and buy things as best I can and let any sour deals fall by the wayside.  I don't think the OGR staff want to try and manage time stamps or referee any aspects of the buy/sell thread.  The rules specifically say that OGR won't get involved. 

I recently sent emails to a seller wanting to buy an engine and I also posted "email sent" on the thread.   Never got a response.  2 days later someone else posted they were interested in it, so I sent another email to the seller and he finally replied that he had just sold to the second poster.  Bad manners yes.  So just make a mental or physical note of that seller and don't pursue any more items from him (buy or sell).   Some people over estimate the condition of their trains, again make another note of that seller. 

As for posting email addresses in the thread, I get enough junk mail and spam already.  Supposedly you have to be a member to access my profile and get the email address, which provides some level of protection.

Lastly, I hope we are talking about toys, toy trains, etc being pursued in small quantity and on a hobby basis.  If you are buying and selling trying to run a business, then there are other forums and bays for you to pursue.

Never had the same problems as "assteve" and if I did it is no big deal as the trains are not rare as most were made in the thousands and you will find others being posted again here or somewhere else.
He is also correct in obtaining a email address from the seller's profile.
I would suggest the the Sale/Trade Forum should be left alone with the current rules and regulations and just have fun with it.
Thank you OGR for having this forum.

J Daddy posted:

yes the "email sent" is the most annoying reply anyone can make on the for sale forum. Especially if there are a slew of items listed.

Photos should be a priority too... that is if you really would like to sell an item.

I certainly agree with you here and especially the "Especially if there are a slew of items listed" part.

One has to assume they want the entire lot which immediately ruins the entire post for me (probably others as well) so I just move on. A real dis-service to the seller as well, ruining interest in the rest of their items if there happen to be any left. The least they could do is list the item(s) they are wanting. 

I really like the ability to buy and occasionally sell only on here so far some of the items I no longer can use or want.

When I see the same person with 4 or 5 FS posts on the first page, I kinda roll my eyes and wish the management would warn them about abusing the benefit we all have.

BUT, I know they got better things to do than fool with it.

Larry

PS I still think this is the best solution to all the BS

Perhaps the thread should be closed to replies. If one is interested, just send an email to the OP.

I fail to see how the "email sent" replies  are considered bumping, since they are typically sent within a short period of time after the topic is started.

And just for the sake of saying it, who says the seller has to sell the item to the first person that says they want it? Perhaps that person took forever to pay on a previous transaction, or the seller is hoping to find a local buyer to avoid shipping, or the guy was a pain to deal with the last go around, or whatever.

J White

And just for the sake of saying it, who says the seller has to sell the item to the first person that says they want it? Perhaps that person took forever to pay on a previous transaction, or the seller is hoping to find a local buyer to avoid shipping, or the guy was a pain to deal with the last go around, or whatever.

All well and good. If a person is looking for a local buyer, I hope they mention it in their listing. And if a seller doesn't want to sell to a certain individual for whatever reason, I hope they let that person know right away, and don't leave them hanging.

j white posted:

I fail to see how the "email sent" replies  are considered bumping, since they are typically sent within a short period of time after the topic is started.

And just for the sake of saying it, who says the seller has to sell the item to the first person that says they want it? Perhaps that person took forever to pay on a previous transaction, or the seller is hoping to find a local buyer to avoid shipping, or the guy was a pain to deal with the last go around, or whatever.

 

J White

 

The rules clearly prohibit "email sent". Have you read the rules for posting on the wanted, sell forum?

I am glad the "email sent" is not allowed.   Many times someone would post "email sent"  and send an email telling you they wished they had the money to buy or would ask a question about the layout behind the pictures.  That would tell a prospective buyer he has already lost out because someone sent "email sent"   I had about a year or so ago a non buyer send me "email sent" only to ask a question and I came back with Item still available on the Forum.   Rich openly blasted me for bumping.  He was right as it was a bump but I was dead in the water when hit with "email sent" I had no other way of letting members know the item was not sold and is still available.

On my situation above, the "email sent" guy did not have an email in his profile.  I had no way of contacting him.  If I did, I would have asked him to remove his "email sent". I would like to see an added rule that only people with an email in the profile can buy/sell.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

............  He was right as it was a bump but I was dead in the water when hit with "email sent" I had no other way of letting members know the item was not sold and is still available............

Not to start too much of an argument here, but that's technically not true (at least not for a single item listing).

If we follow the other protocol of changing the thread title to "Sold" once it's gone, one could infer an item is still available if not marked "Sold". 

Of course not everybody (not suggesting you are in this group, Marty) is really good about changing their subject lines once the item is gone.  Some maybe don't know how, some maybe just don't care once they have their money and it's gone, etc.

-Dave

Marty, I certainly agree with your views on 'email sent'. All it does is ruin things for everyone but the poster. It is especially a dis-service to sellers as you point out. The sellers can determine the time they received an email from their email programs. They can als o decide who they want to sell something to, should they choose to do so. I also agree with you on the email required in profile suggestion to use the buy/sell/wanted forums. That sounds like a good idea to me.

Just a thought here...I seldom use the 'Report Reply' function to report a post to the moderators, and then only to ask that a post be moved to the proper forum or to tell them a picture is messed up or something like that. I don't feel qualified to actually police the forum for inappropriate posts, the moderators do a good job of that already and I would also prefer they make those calls. However, maybe we should all think about reporting these 'email sent' posts with the 'Report Reply' feature? They are against the rules and are not supposed to be allowed anyway. Again, just a thought, but maybe that would help put a stop to the practice?

Thanks for support guys.  I take forum selling serious and fully go through any item I sell so it will be perfect for the buyer.   The minute I notice something has sold, I open the post and put SOLD in the title.

I would think a good idea would be to be able to delete the original post although replies follow it.   I also buy items from Forum members.  I will not buy from anyone who does not have an email in the profile section.  I do not care how good the deal looks.

this was a topic i found concerning replys to the "for sale" forum.....alot of good ideas here that pertain to the current request  to allow replys...

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

... Rich openly blasted me for bumping.  He was right as it was a bump but I was dead in the water when hit with "email sent" I had no other way of letting members know the item was not sold and is still available....

"Dead in the water?" Marty, wouldn't it have been permissible by former FS rules to have relisted that item the next day to let people know it was still available?