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Strange classified responses

I've been buying and selling gear on Audiogon for 15 years as needed.  Recently I posted a great all in one Simaudio ACE for sale and I've received some of the same inexplicable inquiries repeatedly.   I've never seen this before and I'm curious if this is a common problem on the boards now.  

All responses are from recently created accounts, with zero feedback and ask variations of "why are you selling?"   

Is is this a common phenomenon or SPAM?   I always answer politely and honsetly but the fact that I'm replacing an all in one for separates has never even kindled a conversation.  

Strange days indeed!



bbyer
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
or are they fishing?

I wonder if they are fishing or really phishing for details about you. I'm sure it's happening to other members.

maxboy00's avatar
maxboy00
279 posts
 
E-Bay sucks for sellers, they charge 10% fee when sold and 10% fee on shipping costs. I have an AVR  listed there, and on other sites, and so far, like the OP, a parade of tire kickers  and low ballers with very strange questions.  

So it's not the OP, but its the state of the market place and the very soft resale of audio gear.

williewonka
3,103 posts
 
 I did have one person that asked questions about each of the details I had posted in the ad - I thought they must have been lonely and just wanted to chat - pretty weird

One thing I've found that seems to reduce the number of instances of "strange questions" - I always include a line at the bottom that states ...

"SEROUS offer only" or 
"PRICE IS FIRM"

It seems to minimize the number of the casual "trollers"

I haven't experience this problem on Canuck Audio Mart - they all seem pretty genuine and knowledgeable about the product listed. 

Give it a try :-)
Post removed 
wolf_garcia
6,742 posts
 
On the other hand, I tried to buy a specific phono preamp a few years ago on A'gon and twice after I thought I bought them they (2 different sellers) announce they're not in stock. BALDERDASH. As far as whining about seller fees goes, I've sold lots of stuff over the years and since YOU know ahead of time what you want for the thing, when the auction ends, and what the fees are gonna be, you should simply adjust your pricing accordingly...and answering questions, even dumb ones, takes about a minute. Get over it.
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