Frustrating Classified Ads

[Racerbvd]

I know, a lot of us get frustrated over the "little things" .
One thing that chaps my chapters is that someone
Can cut & paste a link, when they have something in multiple forums, why can't they just cut And paste the whole ad?
And when you have someone who wants to buy and you package it up when you are packing other stuff for work and happen to have a perfect box that something else came in that day.
So you let them know that the shipping cost is $16. They come back and say they a VHS box would be $11 to ship, $5 is $5. So, to save him $5, he expects me to unpack the parts, find another box or buy one, repackage and recalculate the shipping and make a new shipping label.
The more I thought about it, the more pissed I got. $5 is $5, but my time means nothing. I could have shipped everything in one trip.

[MichaelB]

Nothing is worse that sellers charging PayPal fees. PayPal is there to make it easy for a buyer to pay the seller, and that also makes it easy for the seller to collect... Why would a seller penalize a buyer a percentage for choosing to pay you quickly, safely & easily?

When you go to a restaurant & pay for your dinner with a visa do these sellers think the restaurant recalculates & adds to your total because you did not pay in cash?

People need to figure that out. Making it easy to pay is to the sellers (or restaurant's) advantage.

[Matt Monson]

The cheap shipping guys infuriate me. It’s always “a flat rate usps box is cheaper.” Nevermind that it’s a $1000 item and max insurance is only $500.

I’ve embraced two policies based on both your comments. I make all listings as a shipped price paid by pay pal. I make no mention of fees or how I will ship it. I’ve still had guys try to leverage a “discount “ by shipping it cheaper. I just explain I’ve got a daily UPS pick up, and the post office is 20 minutes away, and I charge $150/hr labor rate in my business. There’s no saving paying me to drive to town to save $5 on shipping. Rofl.

[MichaelB]

Yes Matt, that is a good policy.

I recall a guy bought a set of test pipes... He did not like my UPS cost so he sent a FedEx label. I told him we only see a FedEx truck about once a week. He said "just wait on them." After a week I contacted him (I did not have to, but I did) and told him that we still had not seen a FedEx truck. He then gets pissy at ME for not finding a FedEx truck to take it. I said "I told you we do UPS daily" But he continued to let me know that I did him a disservice and was offended that I could not just go drop it off at FedEx for him. I told him we were in a much more remote location then he was, but it did not cool him off. He could not for the life of him accept it was his deal.

Now THAT is entitlement yes?

But that is not the worst... The worst was a NY guy that sold a set of seats on P-Car market to me... After he sold them to me he would NOT ship them. That's a problem. He said he would not help - period. Told me to drive across county & come get them. So... I ended up having to send empty seat boxes to him, and then send a shipping label, and then contract with a shipper to show up & get them! The kicker is that P-car market told him that he HAD to offer shipping help - or they would not accept his item. But he simply lied to them. The kicker? He then took our shipping number (from our label) & used it to fraudulently ship more packages! Total low life.

They walk among us my friend.

[mepstein]

I ship a ton of stuff but don’t seem to have the issues you guys have. Just explain the deal up front and ship it out. Sure, I get distracted once in a while and sometimes it doesn’t go out for a day or two but these days shipping is so easy and mostly done online so it’s really no big deal. - Except when I have to find or make a large custom box but that’s my problem, I chose to sell the part.

Here’s an insider tip. I often offer to pay the PayPal fees, pay for shipping material and pay to send the seller a shipping label and have FedEx pickup at the sellers door. Why? Because it helps me get the part I want. Similar on the sell side, because it helps me get the money I want.

All kidding aside, 99.9% of the people on this site are great and I appreciate doing business with them.

[Matt Monson]

Mark,
I don’t have any problems because I just state the terms. The problems are outliers, just like my real business.

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Mark,
I don’t have any problems because I just state the terms. The problems are outliers, just like my real business.

We purchased from you recently. Will do again.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by mepstein

I ship a ton of stuff but don’t seem to have the issues you guys have. Just explain the deal up front and ship it out. Sure, I get distracted once in a while and sometimes it doesn’t go out for a day or two but these days shipping is so easy and mostly done online so it’s really no big deal. - Except when I have to find or make a large custom box but that’s my problem, I chose to sell the part.

Here’s an insider tip. I often offer to pay the PayPal fees, pay for shipping material and pay to send the seller a shipping label and have FedEx pickup at the sellers door. Why? Because it helps me get the part I want. Similar on the sell side, because it helps me get the money I want.

All kidding aside, 99.9% of the people on this site are great and I appreciate doing business with them.

I have done this as well, and also state that if they have a shipping account I have no problem with it if they want to use it.

[Unobtanium-inc]

We had a guy one time who didn't like the UPS rates, he said he had a DHL account. I said I had never done DHL. He said I don't have to do anything, just box it up, they will do the rest. Ok, I said. A few days later a DHL guy appears, I hand him the box. He says, "What is this?"
I wasn't sure how to answer him, a box, a part, etc.
I said it's the DHL box the customer called you guys, said you would handle it. He said I can't take it without a DHL label and account. I said, you arrived here so DHL knows the box, make a label. He starts telling me that isn't his job, he owns the van, etc. I guess the DHL guys are like little franchises. He then drops the box on the ground at my feet and starts pacing the parking lot calling someone. All we can hear is his side of it screaming, "I'm the boss, I'm the ****ing boss!!!!"
Big john starts getting twitchy and tells the guy to go get a massage or something, but take that **** somewhere else. The guy leaves, without the box.
About an hour later he sheepishly walks in, picks up the box, it's still where he dropped it and starts filling out a DHL label. Never says a word to anyone and leaves, with the box. He's getting in his truck and Big John starts screaming, I'm the boss, I'm the boss!!!
I guess when you're Big John you don't live with much fear, the whole thing was hilarious, but we never did the whole "other shipping company" thing again, it's UPS, or USPS, that's it, you don't like it, come pick it up.

---Adam

[FA-18C]

In our boatyard we cook the credit card fees into the material and labor rates. However, we cap the max credit charge at $10K for normal payments. IF a customer really wants to go up to $20K, we will, on a case by case basis, but do charge a 3% fee for that. It only happened twice, but had a customer fraudulently reverse charges which took the money out of our account for 60 days while we had to prove we had delivered everything. Both times worked out, but there are some out there that are looking to find any seam to exploit.

Have only had one negative transaction where I sent the item and trusted that they would pay, never heard from again. It was $20 bucks so just walked away.

[1979-930]

A little off topic… but it’s MPF we never stay on topic.

What annoys me more.
A PM or email that just says; “what’s the lowest you’ll take?”

Price just went up for you buddy.
Make an offer that you’re comfortable with and I’ll decide if I want to sell it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by 1979-930

A little off topic… but it’s MPF we never stay on topic.

What annoys me more.
A PM or email that just says; “what’s the lowest you’ll take?”

Price just went up for you buddy.
Make an offer that you’re comfortable with and I’ll decide if I want to sell it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Totally. “What’s your best price” 10 minutes after the ad went up with OBO. Make an offer MFer, and I’ll say “yes” or “no”.

[MichaelB]

"what your lowest price" right off the bat is a problem with cars too. I will have a car listed, and buyers will ask that without restraint.

I say in return "well you have not even seen the car, why would I take less than asking? It may be worth even more than my asking price."

This world... It is all about price, when it should maybe be a little bit about the quality.

[Unobtanium-inc]

I always answer stupid with stupid.

"What's your best price?"

"I'll let you know after I sell it."

---Adam

[Matt Monson]

You answer? Those guys I just ignore.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

You answer? Those guys I just ignore.

If you don't shut them down they will barrage you with messages every time you put something up for sale. But if you school them you get labeled as un-pliable, and they stop messaging. problem solved.

---Adam

[touringmandan]

When someone asks for my best price right off the bat, I usually add $5-10k to my ask.
After the stunned silence, I say "Oh you wanted YOUR best price"
I usually state in my ads that I won't negotiate before the potential buyer at least sees the car in person. Whenever I have made a price concession before the buyer sees the car, the reduced price magically becomes the new asking price.
For long distance customers, I will let them know that I am a bit flexible on the price, but we can only negotiate once, and that's better done after they see and drive the car.
The "picture flippers" are the worst. They want an extensive file of images, then offer 60% of your ask. Or worse, your car appears for sale on their website. It's happened to me twice!!

[Unobtanium-inc]

Originally Posted by touringmandan

When someone asks for my best price right off the bat, I usually add $5-10k to my ask.
After the stunned silence, I say "Oh you wanted YOUR best price"
I usually state in my ads that I won't negotiate before the potential buyer at least sees the car in person. Whenever I have made a price concession before the buyer sees the car, the reduced price magically becomes the new asking price.
For long distance customers, I will let them know that I am a bit flexible on the price, but we can only negotiate once, and that's better done after they see and drive the car.
The "picture flippers" are the worst. They want an extensive file of images, then offer 60% of your ask. Or worse, your car appears for sale on their website. It's happened to me twice!!

This is how I deal with the picture flippers, if they are a serious buyer the magnets don't bother them. If they aren't, well...

---Adam

[Matt Monson]

I’ve always loved your magnet. Such brilliance.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by Unobtanium-inc

If you don't shut them down they will barrage you with messages every time you put something up for sale. But if you school them you get labeled as un-pliable, and they stop messaging. problem solved.

---Adam

I had to block a guy on FB. Wouldn't leave me alone telling how little my car was worth.