Rant! Do sellers have short attention spans???

Geez Louise!

Probably more than half of sellers that I ping for used gear don't answer my questions. I typically have 4 or 5 questions that I want answers for (that should have been included in the original ad anyway) and I seem to get an answer to maybe one at a time.

It's frustrating to have to go back and forth because people have such short attention spans and bad writing skills. Seems if they can't fit all the info into a single run-on sentence with 3 misspelled words, then it just can't be done! LOL!

Ah, thanks... I feel better now...

IMO, that's why communication should occur in the threads rather than via. PM's.

make a list of questions and number them. That might make it more obvious to the people you message that you want all your questions answered.

kimboy wrote in post #11474315
IMO, that's why communication should occur in the threads rather than via. PM's.

Sorry, but that would become a huge mess! Can you imagine the length of some of the threads with multiple items? Then after the thread got more than 3 or 4 pages, people would stop reading and then start asking the same questions all over again! Not sure why, but there also seems to be a lot of offers and negations happening in the threads recently - which is also not a good idea. Hard to believe that people don't know the difference between PM and Reply to Thread.

Dog Rocket hit the nail on the head - all the information needs to be included in the first post. There is even a template at the top of the Sale Forum that can be followed so that the seller can provide all the information that most buyers want to know.

There are enough items on the sale forum that the buyer shouldn't have to work extra hard to buy an item. It's no accident that the sale posts that give detailed, complete descriptions, include alternative contact information if the seller cannot respond to PM's, and include detailed photos (for example: Don't show the lens with the caps on it if you are selling a lens!) are the threads where the items sell quickly.

I think it comes down to two things: (1) It just means the seller doesn't care enough to really sell it (by leaving information out of the original thread), or (2) the seller is older and doesn't really have a grasp on the whole concept of the "internet". Lol. Might sound funny, but I've seen it happen.

If the seller didn't care enough to list all the details (mileage, actuations, conditions, pictures, samples, reasons for sell, etc.), I ALWAYS assume their hiding something and end up buying from someone that took the time to include all the information.

I think general questions should be asked and answered in the thread. This keeps other potential buyers from asking the same question via PM over and over. If the thread gets to be 4 pages long and another potential buyer asks a question over, I will point him to the location in the thread where I had previously answered the question (e.g. post #4, and requote that answer in the reply). Questions about pricing / offers, etc should be via PM - price negotiations should always be private.

It's impossible to include ALL information in a single first post. Some people are anal and want to know stuff that you cant make up - like how many times you have changed batteries, or powered on a particular item. I dont even know how you could determine that, but I have been asked similar questions on other forums for a number of items. I generally post my items with a listing of condition, how long I've owned it, approx amount of use, issues or problems (if any), a picture of the item, and a link to the item on the manufactures page (which has all the technical information), and the price I would like to get for the item (shipping included or not, and forms of payment accepted).

texascaoboy wrote in post #11474448
... (2) the seller is older and doesn't really have a grasp on the whole concept of the "internet". Lol. Might sound funny, but I've seen it happen.

You must be younger, I assume from this? My guess (being "older", likely, in your terms), is that it's more likely a "younger" person who doesn't have a grasp on etiquette and how to respond meaningfully to questions asked. So there. I agree with the OP totally. Ask 3 questions and you might get an answer to 1. PM them back and say "OK, but what about (b) and (c) and you're lucky to get any reply back. That's when I drop them as a seller - as someone else mentioned above, if they don't answer my questions I assume they are hiding something. They may not be, but that's my conclusion. Good communication from a seller instils confidence in me as a buyer, and I'm more likely to go through with a deal with someone who answer questions, all of 'em, promptly.

texascaoboy wrote in post #11474448
I think it comes down to two things: (1) It just means the seller doesn't care enough to really sell it (by leaving information out of the original thread), or (2) the seller is older and doesn't really have a grasp on the whole concept of the "internet". ..

Or the seller has already sold the item and doesn't want to waste time answering questions, or the seller has someone else they are working with and doesn't want to waste time, or maybe the biggest one, the questions themselves indicate that the buyer is going to be a huge PITA and would rather just not deal with them.

drvnbysound wrote in post #11474467
I think general questions should be asked and answered in the thread. This keeps other potential buyers from asking the same question via PM over and over. If the thread gets to be 4 pages long and another potential buyer asks a question over, I will point him to the location in the thread where I had previously answered the question (e.g. post #4, and requote that answer in the reply). Questions about pricing / offers, etc should be via PM - price negotiations should always be private.

It's impossible to include ALL information in a single first post. Some people are anal and want to know stuff that you cant make up - like how many times you have changed batteries, or powered on a particular item. I dont even know how you could determine that, but I have been asked similar questions on other forums for a number of items. I generally post my items with a listing of condition, how long I've owned it, approx amount of use, issues or problems (if any), a picture of the item, and a link to the item on the manufactures page (which has all the technical information), and the price I would like to get for the item (shipping included or not, and forms of payment accepted).

^^I'd have to agree.

I always see where individuals ask and list why the item is for sale.

Someone help me to better understand why this is really important.

KRUSH wrote in post #11474689
^^I'd have to agree.

I always see where individuals ask and list why the item is for sale.

Someone help me to better understand why this is really important.

I am assuming you are referring to a buyer asking, "Why are you selling?"

If so, I assume they are looking for their own justification as to why they should get it. Such as, the seller saying something along the lines of.. "This was great when I started, but now my needs have changed and I need YYY model, because it has more [Insert specification such as: power, quality, etc]." When the potential buyer sees this response, they either realize this will fit their needs because they don't plan to get to those situations, or that they want to buy that next big thing, because they don't want to have to buy twice. Yes, this is stuff that can be found on the forum in other threads, but it's also a good way to get the information first hand out of a guy who has obviously owns said item vs. someone just speaking from reading the specs.

Example: Say you are interested in getting a 430EX II flash (and have never owned an external flash), and someone is selling one.. maybe they want to know why the seller has decided to sell. Is it because its not good enough for his needs, or simply because he needs the money? If the seller is selling (nice use of English language) because he wants to upgrade to the 580EX II, and the buyer doesn't own a flash at all.. maybe he wants to find out if the 430 would fit his needs, or if he should get a 580 to begin with.

There was a thread I read earlier this morning where a guy wants to get rid of a 430EX II, because it has "squishy" buttons, and the on/off gets toggled randomly in his bag, etc. These are things you cant find from a spec sheet. However, I have a 430 as well, and haven't had the problems... so it's all really subjective

When I come across someone that seems incapable of communicating, I use this same information to deem them incapable of behaving well in a sales transaction and move on.

Don't look the gift horse in the mouth, count your blessings and find someone you can trust.

I also wanted to question what someone posted earlier about taking photos of said item.. Why is it important to see an image of a lens with the lens cover off? Just to try and see scratches?? Who says the seller hasn't PP'd the image and 'removed' the scratches?

I dont think you can fully determine product quality simply from a picture anymore. Just because the glass doesn't scratches doesn't mean that everything internal is working. The only reason I post the picture of said product, is just to prove that I actually have the item. Which is not to say that I couldnt find someone else's image online and use it... You really never know, which is why most if not all forums now have rules as to how the Classifieds section is handled, and that they are not a mediator, if something goes wrong.

Fortunately, PayPal and shipping companies have pretty good regulations in place to make online purchases much safer for both parties.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #11474748
When I come across someone that seems incapable of communicating, I use this same information to deem them incapable of behaving well in a sales transaction and move on.

Don't look the gift horse in the mouth, count your blessings and find someone you can trust.

So someone with good communication skills has a better chance of being a trustworthy person? Does that mean that politicians, who are known to have good communication skills, should be trusted?

I think that is putting a lot of weight just on the receipt (or lack of) of an answer to a question.

I guess growing up in an age when customer service has been relegated to the least of a companies concerns, and thus bred a generation of consumers that don't want or understand what it means, would make buying from someone unwilling to talk to you something one would actually consider.

Sorry to sound like the old dude, but IMHO even with personal transactions on a bulletin board, customer service is #1 consideration, (see last line of my Sig) and lack there of is the best indicator of if a deal is worth it or not.

We have dozens of "when is a bargain a scam" threads/questions on the forum, with pointers and indicators of what makes a vendor not trustworthy.
IMHO all of those indicators and more apply to buying from an individual via E-Bay, Craigs list, or POTN as well.

In short, yes, someone willing to communicate with me is IMHO much more likely to be trustworthy. That has absolutely been my experience.
Sketchy is,.. sketchy.

drvnbysound wrote in post #11474712
I am assuming you are referring to a buyer asking, "Why are you selling?"

If so, I assume they are looking for their own justification as to why they should get it. Such as, the seller saying something along the lines of.. "This was great when I started, but now my needs have changed and I need YYY model, because it has more [Insert specification such as: power, quality, etc]." When the potential buyer sees this response, they either realize this will fit their needs because they don't plan to get to those situations, or that they want to buy that next big thing, because they don't want to have to buy twice. Yes, this is stuff that can be found on the forum in other threads, but it's also a good way to get the information first hand out of a guy who has obviously owns said item vs. someone just speaking from reading the specs.

Example: Say you are interested in getting a 430EX II flash (and have never owned an external flash), and someone is selling one.. maybe they want to know why the seller has decided to sell. Is it because its not good enough for his needs, or simply because he needs the money? If the seller is selling (nice use of English language) because he wants to upgrade to the 580EX II, and the buyer doesn't own a flash at all.. maybe he wants to find out if the 430 would fit his needs, or if he should get a 580 to begin with.

There was a thread I read earlier this morning where a guy wants to get rid of a 430EX II, because it has "squishy" buttons, and the on/off gets toggled randomly in his bag, etc. These are things you cant find from a spec sheet. However, I have a 430 as well, and haven't had the problems... so it's all really subjective

Very Subjective!

Very good explanation as well. However, your perspective leads a buyer to not purchase an item moreso than to buy it from that seller (using the seller's explanation). On the flip side, it also leads the buyer to give very bland answers to the question because of their need to sell.