I would like some classified umpiers to chime in

No, BigSky edited his post about how he was ripped off for $200:

BigSky wrote in post #12677812
Last edited by BigSky : 2 Days Ago at 14:18

I remember seeing it too. Not sure why he deleted it?

I hold for people who communicate a little bit more than "I'll take it" which actually doesn't mean anything unless you are selling something way below market prices. Recently I held a macro flash for about 2 weeks for someone who was out of the country; he came back and paid straight.

ewheeler20 wrote in post #12689493
No, BigSky edited his post about how he was ripped off for $200:

I remember seeing it too. Not sure why he deleted it?

I just thought it would potentially take away from the direction of the thread. I posted and then deleted in about two minutes. It was partially about a separate transaction which was unrelated but similar to the experiences of others herein.

Yerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr out.

Sellers do not care as long as they get paid.

I would have expected some courtesy but never have been surprised by speed greed.

You need to look at this another way. You list an item. You get 2 responses, both saying they'll take the item. The first goes missing immediately after the post and doesn't respond. You tell both you'll wait 24 hours before moving on. The first guy never ends up responding. By the time you go to the 2nd (and final) buyer, he's decided after such a long wait that he's no longer interested--our bought it elsewhere. Now you're left with no potential buyers, and you've fallen off the default 1st/2nd page of the classifieds--after which you're MUCH MUCH less likely to get any viewers.

Such lofty and absolute rules are nice, but in practice, making promises like that will lead to frustration... and a 30 day wait to relist. By all means, go with the first person who agrees to pay, but make that guaranteed period SHORT (1-2 hours) before moving on.

ewheeler20 wrote in post #12677344
I've sold a lot of equipment... and I give the potential buyer 24 hours to make a decision from my reply back to the initial contact unless the potential buyer needs more time for a specific reason (or there is no one else in the queue). This has worked for me with mostly success. I think it is fair to both parties. I state in my first reply to that potential buyer that he/she has until "said time" to get back to me before I move on to the next in line. Both parties are now on the same page and I think that 24 hours allows for different time zones and work schedules to play out.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

For Example:

-I list a lens for sale at 4pm.

-I get 5 replies back.

-I respond to the first person in the queue at 6:30pm. I explain that he/she has 24 hours from NOW (6:30pm) to make a decision/payment (As well as answering any of that potential buyers questions about the item).

-I then respond to all others in line explaining there place in the queue. and about the 24 hours rule.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Everybody involved knows the situation. Win win.

well, then whatever amount of time... the seller should make it clear right away to the buyer. If it is late at night, i think a seller should allow at least until the morning time before moving on to the next buyer.

And.. if that second buyer couldn't wait 24 hours (after you have already PMed him back telling him he will have to wait no longer than 24 hours...) then I doubt he was going to buy it either. I mean it's not like you just leave all the other buyers in the queue just hanging with no responses. You PM them all, tell them their number in the queue, and tell them that within or at 24 hours they will have the opportunity to buy it.

I understand we live in a fast world these days, but jesus... people are treating these PM conversations like text messages, when in fact they are more like emails. And if a potential buyer doesn't own a smartphone, I have no idea how they'd ever be able to buy a lens from this site, as they would never be able to constantly be on the computer all the time.

I didn't read all the posts but it's the Seller's call.

I do think most people, including myself, would attempt to honor the "first in line"; however if other offers come in and he cannot touch base with the "first in line", then it's the Sellers call. I would usually allow a few hours grace time however.

Irrespective, you're asking the Seller to risk the loss of a sure sale for the risk of a potential sale. If it was a really nice item I would probably vent as well though!

Good luck.

In the future you might want to add "send me your paypal address"

hondafans wrote in post #12693163
In the future you might want to add "send me your paypal address"

+1 There's a subtle but important difference between saying "I'll take it" and "Where should I send the payment?"

I cannot believe this thread is still going!

BigSky wrote in post #12677369
Wow, I'm quite suprised at some of the acceptance of his behavior. Oh well, I asked for input and I've received it and appreciate it. I'm glad that my correspondence with the seller was, although clearly dissatisfied, carried out very respectfully. I have and will let it go. Although I've received what appears to be a consensus that this type of behavior is acceptable, rest assured I will never behave in that way. I've worked very hard to establish my online reputation and will continue to do so. However, I would never want, acceptable as it may be, his type of behavior somewhere on line in any of my feedback. Thanks all for the requested input. It will be interesting to continue to monitor this thread. Be well all.

Buy and sell enough, and you will most likely change your tactic a bit. In my experience over the last 6 years, I have had a greater majority of people that say "I will take it" only to back out due to either honest excuses or made up excuses, and that left real bonafide buyers off looking elsewhere.

I am reasonable and try to honor the "I will take it", but if I don't see any payment in a couple of hours, I move on, unless we have other arrangements. If the buyer has the time to send this message to me, they can then take the extra 2 minutes to set up the payment and get it out to me.

Quite honestly, you were engaged in the transaction when you said you would take it, but then you only gave the seller 30 minutes to answer. If you know you go to bed at 10:45, then you probably should not engage in online business at 10:15. Now if you had provided the terms of your payment in your "I'll take it" message, like "I am about to go to bed, but I am good for the payment, and will get it out in the AM", then perhaps the seller would have held it for you. The seller cannot read your integrity or intent from such a message, so you have to provide more info when possible to give the seller a picture of who you are.

Remember not all people have the same "daytime" hours as you, too.

ktownhero wrote in post #12677421
I understand your disappointment in not getting whatever it is you wanted, but I take absolutely no issue with the actions of the seller. As somebody who has been selling things for a long time online, I can tell you that when somebody offers to send the money you take it. Not saying you're one of them, but there are a LOT of flakes out there and sellers get burned when holding out for others very often.

What you may consider in the future is before going to bed, send another PM communicating that you have to go to bed but you will check your messages first thing in the morning and if he replies affirmatively that it's yours, you'll send the money at X time. A seller will be much more inclined to hold out for you if you clearly communicate and are specific. That way, for example, if you say "I'll pay by 7am if you say yes", he can offer it to somebody else if he doesn't have payment by 7:30am.

Just take it as a learning experience. The seller did nothing wrong.

this.
while it would be nice if everyone waited 24 hours to conduct business deals in a highly professional manner, this is the internet and cash is king. if you really wanted the item, you should have said more than "i'll take it" and went to bed. if you were really serious, you should have stayed up a little longer or at least sent a more detailed email explaining your schedule and your intentions. that being said, i think it is time to move on and quit crying. if you don't like how the game is played, then don't play. you can always order from b and h or amazon.

While I can understand your frustration BigSky, there are far worse things you can expect from sellers on here.

I once made clear my situation to a seller who accepted everything, but he mentioned in his post he wanted a PayPal gift payment. Since I was paying by credit card, I couldn't do this, so I simply paid the amount and added the 3% fee to the total. Well, you'd think I did everything right and deserved the item right? Wrong, the seller simply refunds me and tells me he only wants 'gift' payments because he doesn't want any issues with chargebacks etc.

If you're miffed about this silly issue, I wonder what would've happened if this had happened to you. Just let it go, it isn't worth it.

For anybody who is still posting replies to this topic, but is addressing the OP who posted this 4 days ago... The OP is clearly over it an no longer needs to be told to "get over it" or "let it go".

FYI

I am so glad you posted that, I can only imagine where this would have gone without you level-setting the thread.