When I'm selling something, it's not because I'm desperate, and it's going to be on my terms. It's usually because I've replaced the item with something else and would like to see the old item go to a good home. Not to some jerk.
Yes, I try to make the ad and photos as good as possible and I go out of my way to answer any questions someone might have, even if they don't seem like they're a potential buyer.
I put things like "price is firm" because... well, it is. I priced it to sell and have done research to see what the typical used price is for the item. I don't want to respond to "Will you take _____?" (which is usually around 50 - 60% of the selling price).
I mostly sell local, shipping takes extra time and effort. It's an hour round trip drive to the closest UPS store. If I don't have to, why should I? Maybe I'll get a little more for the item, but then what's that worth in comparison to my time, which is limited?
If it doesn't sell right away, what else are you going to do but re-post the ad? I've re-posted ads for months before something sold. Someone eventually buys it and more often than not I get what I want for the item.
On the other hand, if someone is polite, sends full sentences in their messages, asks thoughtful questions, and is easy to deal with, I'm more likely to go out of my way for them, give them a little break on the price, or maybe throw in some extra cables.
You catch more bees with honey. I can't tell you how many times I've sat and shot the breeze with someone who came to buy something and is nice and enthusiastic about the hobby. I really enjoy those transactions. Some of the people I've bought and sold with locally have become friends or audio buddies.
When you're the buyer, the world doesn't revolve around you. The seller has something you want. How bad do you want it? Enough to be kind, considerate, and reasonable?
Don't be a cyrbaby if the seller doesn't kowtow to you.
Yes, I try to make the ad and photos as good as possible and I go out of my way to answer any questions someone might have, even if they don't seem like they're a potential buyer.
I put things like "price is firm" because... well, it is. I priced it to sell and have done research to see what the typical used price is for the item. I don't want to respond to "Will you take _____?" (which is usually around 50 - 60% of the selling price).
I mostly sell local, shipping takes extra time and effort. It's an hour round trip drive to the closest UPS store. If I don't have to, why should I? Maybe I'll get a little more for the item, but then what's that worth in comparison to my time, which is limited?
If it doesn't sell right away, what else are you going to do but re-post the ad? I've re-posted ads for months before something sold. Someone eventually buys it and more often than not I get what I want for the item.
On the other hand, if someone is polite, sends full sentences in their messages, asks thoughtful questions, and is easy to deal with, I'm more likely to go out of my way for them, give them a little break on the price, or maybe throw in some extra cables.
You catch more bees with honey. I can't tell you how many times I've sat and shot the breeze with someone who came to buy something and is nice and enthusiastic about the hobby. I really enjoy those transactions. Some of the people I've bought and sold with locally have become friends or audio buddies.
When you're the buyer, the world doesn't revolve around you. The seller has something you want. How bad do you want it? Enough to be kind, considerate, and reasonable?
Don't be a cyrbaby if the seller doesn't kowtow to you.