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My list of seller red flags

I’ve compiled a list of annoying things sellers do. If I see any of these red flags I will not buy from them. Ideally every seller should agree to not do any of these before they are allowed to sell online.

- Overpriced
- Don’t talk about any flaws
- Keep re-posting
- Use unrelated keywords in ad so ad comes up when you search for different brand
- Paranoid language like " Cash and Carry only", "No spammers", No Trades...
- Using all CAPS and !!! marks

- Used car salesman lingo like"only $xxx , a great deal, a steal , and the worse, RARE "
- Ad consists entirely of copy/pasted info. from manufacturer website
- Any textspeak
- Gimmicky pricing like $999 or $995 or the worse, random price like $927
- Saying price is "Firm"..

- Reducing price by insignificant amount to bump ad
- Tooting own horn, i.e describing how awesome their product is.. Comes across as desperate to me..
- Seller saying they will lose money or taking a big loss .. Not my problem..

- Selling several items in one ad and updating the ad to say "SOLD" on certain items.
12inch45rpm
donvito
395 posts
 
@jollygreenaudiophile2 
"But I will say this anyway. I have sold probably as much used gear as anyone in say the top .005% tier as far as numbers. "     

You have two transactions here. What gives with that?
peach-1
25 posts
 
I want to re-iterate the golden rule that is treat others like you wish to be treated that goes A long way in life and makes for happiness on both sides of the fence
12inch45rpm OP
18 posts
 
If an item is priced to sell you will not have to deal with low-ballers because it will sell before they get a chance to even see your ad. That is why explicitly saying "Price is firm" is unnecessary. It just makes you look stubborn and will scare away potential buyers.

When I am buying USED items UNSEEN I need to have a very strong positive feeling about the seller. Gimmicky pricing, stubborn language, incomplete details all detract from that happening..

Any price with a 9 in it or has more than 2 significant digits is gimmicky in my book.
garthb309
48 posts
 
My main indicator on a seller (or a buyer), is the quality of their first response:  did they respond quickly?  Were they positive?  A jerk?  Etc.

I think you learn everything you need to know right away.
jl35
3,938 posts
 
I would much rather pay $927 than $1000.  
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