VBD Auctions etiquette
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:08 pm
I'm posting a private message exchange that I had with another forum member on the auction site. I removed his name for privacy reasons. I'm just looking for other members' opinions on the subject. (I didn't post this in the current auctions thread because it's getting rather large. Please move it, Mods, if you think best. Thanks, Alan)
Private Question - Wanted Ad
Wanted Ad ID: 2 - Boxes Only, Moko Lesney Matchbox 1-75 series [Ad posted by me, Big Al]
[PM from forum member:]
"Al, I was thinking of posting a similar ad but have no desire to compete with another forum member. If you are offered something you already have though, would you be so kind as to pass along my information to the seller? They can PM me on the site as *********. Thanks, *****"
{My reply:]
"*****, You are too kind, as is typical of the current forum membership. It is so considerate of you to offer to do what you've proposed, and I really appreciate it. BUT... I think if we want this auction site to really take off, we're all going to have to be able to post whatever we want and, for good or bad, that will lead to competition between members. We all probably compete for items on other auction sites anyway, whether we know it or not. (Speaking of being sensitive to such issues, I've got a 1.99 bid on *********'s (item), and I've been wondering if other forum members don't want to top that bid for the same sorts of reasons you mentioned. And, I feel bad for him if it goes for that. It will not exactly be cheap to me, factoring in the shipping cost to the U.S., but he would only get the 1.99 GBP less whatever costs are involved, not to mention his time. So I was going to ask him if I win, if we should just back out of the deal if he's losing money on it, or should have got more.)
So you see where I'm going with this, in my long-winded sort of way: To make this work, and to make it profitable in whatever sense to all concerned, I think it has to work like a regular auction site. Otherwise we're all going to be worried about stepping on each others' toes, and nobody will get true value in return for their offerings. So I'd say, Have at it! But if you still want to do what you said above, I will most certainly send sellers your way. I can't buy everything anyway, much as I'd like to. I was trying to think of a work-around on this, and all I came up with is that we each could post a "boxes wanted" ad, but maybe make them more specific. In other words, I could say I want MOYs, and you could say you want 1-75 regular wheels. Then we could still send each other referrals for stuff we don't want or can't buy. This idea will quickly become unworkable, though, if many more join and post ads. Thanks again, *****, and have a great day! Alan"
[END]
So again, I'm just looking for thoughts and input from members here--not so much about this specific potential arrangement, but about the overall philosophy of members competing with or bidding against members. Thanks as always.
Alan
Private Question - Wanted Ad
Wanted Ad ID: 2 - Boxes Only, Moko Lesney Matchbox 1-75 series [Ad posted by me, Big Al]
[PM from forum member:]
"Al, I was thinking of posting a similar ad but have no desire to compete with another forum member. If you are offered something you already have though, would you be so kind as to pass along my information to the seller? They can PM me on the site as *********. Thanks, *****"
{My reply:]
"*****, You are too kind, as is typical of the current forum membership. It is so considerate of you to offer to do what you've proposed, and I really appreciate it. BUT... I think if we want this auction site to really take off, we're all going to have to be able to post whatever we want and, for good or bad, that will lead to competition between members. We all probably compete for items on other auction sites anyway, whether we know it or not. (Speaking of being sensitive to such issues, I've got a 1.99 bid on *********'s (item), and I've been wondering if other forum members don't want to top that bid for the same sorts of reasons you mentioned. And, I feel bad for him if it goes for that. It will not exactly be cheap to me, factoring in the shipping cost to the U.S., but he would only get the 1.99 GBP less whatever costs are involved, not to mention his time. So I was going to ask him if I win, if we should just back out of the deal if he's losing money on it, or should have got more.)
So you see where I'm going with this, in my long-winded sort of way: To make this work, and to make it profitable in whatever sense to all concerned, I think it has to work like a regular auction site. Otherwise we're all going to be worried about stepping on each others' toes, and nobody will get true value in return for their offerings. So I'd say, Have at it! But if you still want to do what you said above, I will most certainly send sellers your way. I can't buy everything anyway, much as I'd like to. I was trying to think of a work-around on this, and all I came up with is that we each could post a "boxes wanted" ad, but maybe make them more specific. In other words, I could say I want MOYs, and you could say you want 1-75 regular wheels. Then we could still send each other referrals for stuff we don't want or can't buy. This idea will quickly become unworkable, though, if many more join and post ads. Thanks again, *****, and have a great day! Alan"
[END]
So again, I'm just looking for thoughts and input from members here--not so much about this specific potential arrangement, but about the overall philosophy of members competing with or bidding against members. Thanks as always.
Alan
< this is the button