Air gun sales ethics

[RedFeather]

(This is something I just posted on another venue, but want to post here, as well.)

I cruise the classifieds and auctions all the time. Lately I've seen the same guns listed simultaneously. While I know that folks want to get their guns sold ASAP, as a buyer who also participates in the auction sites, I don't think guns listed in the classifieds should also be put on auction. For one thing, it's against the sites' policies. For another, I would not want to be playing the auction for a week or ten days, passing over other guns, only to find that my bid was just exceed by some buyer over on Brad's. And listing with a "BuyItNow" doesn't count. If you want to auction a gun, do it. If you want to sell outright, fine. Please don't do both. Just saying.

[gene_sc]

Good point Red but we cannot hold everyone's hand. After all we are not the Liberal Federalies who want to control every move we make...

[RedFeather]

We can hold our own.  Personally, when I see a gun listed on the classifieds, where it will be bought outright with an "I'll take it!!!" and see the same gun's been on Auction Arms for a week with fourteen bids, it pXXXs me off.  Sellers who use the auctions know this is strictly forbidden.  Same with listing one gun on both AA and GB.  Not asking anyone to police this.  Just asking sellers to do one or the other but not both.  You wouldn't like it if you "lost" an auction like this.

[gene_sc]

I do understand what you are saying.. I have seen it also but now days it seems more prevelant. Maybe because there are more air gun enthusiests in the arena now than 10 years ago.

Whats worse is welfare... Peeps abuse this more than anything else..

[RedFeather]

Just asking sellers to "do the right thing".  It's not only air guns, BTW.  And what's welfare got to do with this?

[Skonion]

I hear ya Red! Even if the seller posts the same item on the Classifieds of another forum beside this one, they should post the fact that the item is also posted on another forum. One can post on the GTA Classifieds that they would take it, and not seeing any other posts than theirs, they think they most likely got it. AH HA! Not so, After waiting half a day to hear from the seller that you got it. He lets you know that it's been sold! And it's been sold hours before you even posted your ''ILL Take It''. Too lazy to come back to the other (GTA) forum Classifieds to mark it sold, while you sit there like a Fool waiting. I don't think a seller would like it if I posted an ''I'LL Take It'' and when the seller gets back to me, I said, Sorry, I found one on another forum's Classifieds and didn't get back here to say ''never mind'' I found another one. Have a Good Day  Just Sayin.

[cheez]

It is the all about me mentality. Becoming more prevalent in society everyday. Folks don't give a rip about rules or morals or etiquette. Just as long as they get their's.

[Skonion]

 Amen! You Nailed it Cheez.

[furchtloss]

Hopefully, we all see the essence of important matters clearly.

Especially when we look in the mirror.

'Just sayin'

[Skonion]

?? Philosophy or Inferential?

[Norm_m]

As a buyer I understand what you are saying but as a seller it does not make sense. I will be trying to sell my Hummer H3 in the very near future and will I list it on only one place? No I plan on listing it on Craigslist, auto.com and several more online auto classifieds. I want as many people as possible to see my item. Yes a Hummer and an AG are a bit different but not when you are the seller and trying to sell an item. I believe if a seller wants to but his or her AG on several sites that is fine BUT if it does sell they need to remove their ad or mark it as sold. As a buyer, if I see something I am interested in I should buy it right away or to expect it may sell before I decide. This has happened to me several times recently when I was looking for an MRod and I kicked myself for waiting too long to buy it. I did not at any time complain about the seller having it on several lists but I did blame myself for waiting. I know it is frustrating but why should a seller be limited to listing an item on one place? I expect a seller to list it in as many places as he wants or to even put it up for auction but I do also expect the seller to mark the item as sold or delete the ads. The idea of selling an item and to list it on classifieds is to sell it and to do that you want as many people as possible to see it. As a buyer and I see an item that interest me I should buy it as soon as possible and not complain if someone buys it before I decide. There is an old saying "He who snoozes Looses"! This is just my opinion and yes I have been on both ends of this discussion!

[cheez]

Norm please correct me if I am wrong but the OP was referring to listing on "auction" sites as well as classified sections. Clearly a violation of the rules on every auction site I know of. It is totally unethical to offer an item on an auction site that may or may not be available because it sold on some classified add or on another auction site. Multiple classifed adds on differnt sites would not be unethical at all.

[compressedair]

"Multiple classifed adds on differnt sites would not be unethical at all."
Totally agree! Sold a lot of fly tackle that way.

[Norm_m]

I may have misunderstood that it was in reference to auction sites but it did sound like it included other classified sites as well. My comments were pointed to listing on other classified sites and not auctions. As for auctions I have seen it many times on GunBroker & Guns America that the seller has a fixed price (not much different than a classified ad) and states it in the description area that it is llisted on other sites or could sell at his business. I have two large gun dealers in my area that list their guns on GunBroker & Guns America and have the same guns on their racks for sale. Anyway my post was mainly pointed to listing on multiple classified sites.
Norm

[big a]

Its hard to tell people how to sell there stuff even if you dont like the way they do it.Like cheez said they want theirs as fast as possible and most time dont care how.

[RedFeather]

The short version - (IMO - can't call this one "humble")

Folks who list on two auction sites or on one auction and a classified, be it here, the Yellow, Craigslist, the evening post, are unethical.  I don't care how badly they want to sell it.  Auction rules state you can't have other venues.  One reason they charge so little for the use of their site.  As a buyer, I call 'em as I seem 'em and, if I see the same gun on GB and AA, I let them know.  We don't need that kind of seller (and they are usually frequent fliers, not innocent newbies) on the auction sites.  They screw you, me and every other buyer.

PS - Those who sell at auction but state that the gun is available for walk in sales state it up front.  That's OK since you know that the auction may be pulled at any time.  I've yet to see one say "I have also listed this gun for sale on XYZairgun.com".