Ethics and Common Sense in the Buy/Sell Forum

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by WWWD

shipping is one issue local is another. you have 3 diffrent people pm you for the item and you arrange something with the first person and they never show up, you are now left with the dilema of how long do you hold it for them and are they even still entitled to it. it wastes the sellers time when they book time off from doing things with their family only to have someone never show up or have the decency to call. it would be nice if there was a list of people who have done this so you can weed them out when next time you list an item.

Exactly right. When I was selling stuff, and had time constraints the exact thing happened to me. Because of it someone won't talk to me anymore. He felt I should hold the item for him when another person said he was coming. On top of that the person who said he was on his way never showed up. That same person is still posting saying he wants to buy things.

[Richer]

Originally Posted by Doug

Why does the buyer always need be on the hook. I agree with Bob,s post on that. Something like PayPall would be the best option.

I have purchased several large items from US aquarists. Always a mutual agreement. Many have eben sent the equipment first, so I can send money for shipping.

Seems here, "money first", even with some I know well. Where the heck are the buyers rights?

Still say if the aquarists know each other from the boards, then mutual respect should be enough, {appears its not from some reports here}, otherwise PalPal or something similar protects both parties.

Don't get me wrong, before I got burned, I always shipped things out first and just asked the person to send me a cheque to the parcel's return address. It worked for me on several occasions, until recently... so right now, I'm out on a piece of equipment and on a signicant amount of money. Makes you think twice before shipping out in advance ever again.

Its too bad I can't post anything up without the risk of turning the subject into a flame war with me getting banned in the end... I understand this person does most of his business via PMs and has on a few occasions that I've heard of done some funny things.

-Rich

[Bob I]

It is a catch 22 though is it not. The reverse could happen ie. the seller keeps your money and sends nothing back, or worse sends you misrepresented crap. It is all based on trust, and that will eventually kick somebody is the teeth.

[Bob I]

Just one more thing. I know there will probably not be a rating system coming soon, and thus I cannot mention a name. However, kudos to M.McM from Surrey, who is selling all his stuff. I asked him to send me his 20" Coralife Aqualight at an agreed on price. He asked for an additional $20.00 for shipping, which I promptly transferred to him

To make a long story short. The light arrived today, and I noticed the shipping cost him $25.64, so he swallowed the additional $5.64

In addition the plastic lens was broken in a couple of places, but he thoughtfully included a new lens. Also included was a set of legs for the fixture.

My thanks for a topnotch job.

[trilinearmipmap]

Maybe we need to append a statement at the end of buy and sell listings for example "sold to so and so, thanks for a prompt transaction" or "bought from so and so, arrived in good condition". People could get feedback on results of sales this way.

[adidas]

I've never been burned, and whenever I buy from a canreefer I always transfer the money right away.

If I was ever burned for a large sum of money, I would surely be posting about it to warn other members - Mostly everyone here is great though, and I don't see that happening

[Johnny Reefer]

I lost a sale once on some Fluval 403 filter parts.
No big deal, cuz it was a small $10 sale.
Same thing, though. The person said they'd come by and then they never did.
Never heard from them again.
So what's the deal?
Were they really interested, or just imagining they were?
If they were really interested, you'd think they'd call and arrange another time.
So why the no show?
Call me crazy, but I have it in my head that some people are afraid, for whatever reason, to follow through. Maybe they have second thoughts about revealing a face to a name, thus blowing their anonymity.
Or maybe they are afraid of getting their head bitten off. (My avatar may look like I'm into head biting, but believe me, I'm not).

As for the ethical dilemma of juggling two or more interested parties at the same time.....I haven't posted enough exciting things for sale, so far, to have to face that....yet.
Not sure what I'd do, in that case, but I like to think that I would honor the first person and if they jammed, then contact the next in line, advising that the item was still available.
If the sale was a total loss, then swallow it, make a note of who it was that jammed (personal blacklist) and keep posting the item. Eventually, somone will come through.

Also, I totally agree with never announcing something as sold until the cash is in the hand.

Cheers,

[Gizmo]

I've have never had a problem dealing with canreefers.

Simple cure: Deal locally, and in cash. No prob.

[Chaloupa]

I agree that if a seller agrees to a sale, and the buyer agrees to a buy...then we should post that the item is sold and to whom. Yes, once that is established lets ask for deposits...and such...BUT also to list that you will be taking a waiting list if the item sale doesn't work out, so the seller has someone as back up...the buyer has paid a deposit and you give them a reasonable time limit to get the purchase. This is supposed to be fun...not a business, but it is risky.

You get your hopes up as a buyer that you are getting something that you may have been waiting for and then you don't get it....or you are trying to sell something and count on the sale and it falls through...I just had my first disappointment working on a purchase with a Canreefer for something that I have been trying to get for many months....BUT I have met many many really nice people that I have purchased or traded stuff with and had it work out. Thanks to all the good people out there....

I wish it could all be local...but when you live somewhere that has only 3 other people with salt water tanks.....it makes it tough! And to trade stuff with others is so fun...at least it will be when I have something to trade!

[kellehar]

Being a buyer and a seller on this forum I also have never had that bad of a time dealing with other members. I find that most canreefers will go out of their way to make sure you get just what you need. Selling I have had some no shows but always get a call or pm explaining why.I have even had some members send me the equipment before recieveing payment (I.E) my lighting to help me in a crisis. In my opinion there is members, then there are the more regular members which I would trust any day of the week to give them anything they needed that I was selling without cash in hand. We may not be everyday friends or even know what each other look like. But this site is somthing we all use everyday and look forward to. In turn would not want to risk being black listed over some light or a $20 powerhead. This just my opinion and hope that some of you feel the same. to the 99% of you canreefers good job for keeping it honest between everyday strangers

Justin