My list of seller red flags

I’ve bought and sold many things on various sites. When I started selling, I quickly learned to put "No trades, please" and "No lowball offers, please" in my listings. Of course I still heard from people offering trades & lowball offers--just fewer than if didn’t put those provisos in the listing.

Why no trades? 2 reasons:
1 - First/foremost: it greatly complicates the security issues involved in any transaction. A straight-up, Paypal-protected transaction is what I seek.
2 - Because if I really want a thing, I’ll go out and find it--hopefully multiple examples of it, so I can buy the best one at the best price.

When I’m buying, I avoid any seller having bad feedback (I’m not a masochist, so no point in going there); also any that doesn’t have original packaging. Reason for the latter is simple: if I ever wish to sell that new/used toy, I become the seller offering a thing w/no packaging. It’s just bad form, unless the item is truly old & having no box(es) is understandable.

Final point: I not only have feedback on several sites, but also something of a reputation via having posted there semi-intelligently over the years. I find that really helps me communicate with buyers & sellers because I'm not a total unknown.

Final/FINAL point: I would gladly pay to list things on Audiogon (there was an attractive discount for this recently)--but the only way to sell here is to have a business-type Paypal acct, which I don't have & don't want. 

If I’m showing it to a friend I say new car, if I’m selling it to someone I don’t know I do not say new...the Audiogon rating system states an item can only be called New if it is in a factory sealed box...I always refer to my newly purchased used audio gear to my friends as my new...

As one friend used to say, "This is a free country.  You're free to ask a price, I'm free not to pay it."

If a seller says his price is firm, then it is.  If it's too much for you, then...  don't buy it.   Should I list something higher so I can then come down for you?  

If it's overpriced, then you don't have to pay it.  Or perhaps it's overpriced to give him some wiggle room to come down from.  And of course, you don't have to buy it.

Many items are both pricey AND not highly sought after, so they take a very long time to sell, no matter how much or how little is being asked.  So it makes sense that some items get reposted a number of times.

A seller should be able to speak well of the item they're selling, but you're not stupid (I hope) and really care all that much.  Personally I take the tact of saying something like I did in an ad I currently have on Craigslist:

"I'm going to assume that you're an audiophile who knows what this table is and what they are selling for on the used market. This is the kind of turntable that visitors will take one look and go, 'Wow!' This is a thing of beauty. Not a table for wimps. Price includes dust cover. Does not include cartridge. If you have to have the cartridge, I can part with it for a fair price, keeping in mind that I'll have to replace it."

It's a high-end table that I'll list on Audiogon when I get tired enough of trying to find a local buyer.  Something like this doesn't sell readily.  Not everyone is ready to drop the kind of loot I'm asking, which happens to be near the bottom of prices I've seen around for this item.  But it's still more than most people will drop on a turntable.

I’m going to assume that you’re an audiophile who knows what this table is and what they are selling for on the used market. This is the kind of turntable that visitors will take one look and go, ’Wow!’ This is a thing of beauty. Not a table for wimps

Maybe just me, but I find this unncessary and bit of a turn off. Comes accross as "used car salesmany". Not a red flag, but possible a half-red flag :-)

Several important issues were brought up on this forum.  Some people have nits, but lets get real.  There is no one out there forcing anyone to buy any equipment.  that is all on you.  There is a '"blue book" that most shops use (I've seen it many times) that shows prices of used equipment.

Same as with cars, watches, etc.  I typically price items to sell.  Meaning that I price at or slightly below blue book value.  most times below.  This does not mean that I am desperate. It means that I am trying to convey  to potential buyers that I have priced correctly.  However, many potential buyers take that as a weakness on my part and still lowball the hell out of the price.  I used to get insulted, but now I ignore completely lowballers.

I really don't care a lick if a lowballer got insulted that I ignored  their offer.   I prefer local pickup because that means that the buyer will pay with cash and more  importantly, the buyer will see  and hear the unit actually operate.  This way they can't be a paypal lookie loo where they receive a unit under paypal, realize that even though it looks and operates as advertised (always do),  they can make some outrageous claim on paypal and get their money back.  As I have mentioned many times in other posts, I am not a store.  Also, paypal protects the buyer, never the seller.  If the buyer insist on paypal, (never for in-home pickup) that buyer will pay the paypal fee, no me.  Checks are fine (my risk), but I wait until my bank tells me the check clears (yes I know scammers can get around this), before I ship.

I have never had one person come to my home and hear a unit operate and change their mind.  Never.

I am honest, I state clearly the condition of the unit for sale.  They always work correctly. If it was modified, I explain clearly what the modifications were and even why it was done (if at all).

I have purchased many items on audiogon also.  Each Item  I purchased, I researched the price (high, average, low) selling price to know what the market price actually is. also the rarity of the item may make items more valuable.

I can' think of one time where I offered less than the asking price.  Because I am not a flipper and I am buying for my system and enjoyment.  I'm not trying to buy low and flip. 

Most people want a fair deal.  Americans don't like to haggle, like many other countries do.  That is America.  nothing wrong with that.  But, a fair price is a fair price.  Every time I saw an item I was interest in being priced way too high, I simply moved on.  My world wasn't going to end if I didn't purchase that Item at that moment.

Unless it was/is a very rare item, it will come up for sale some other time or some other place.

I sell for two reasons.  1.  I may have too much stuff and it is time to clear some items out, or 2) I am upgrading, bought a new or used item that is better than the  one I own and want to sell the current item.

Look; If you don't like the price or the advertisement, simply move on.  You don't have to buy the item from that person.  What are you, the advertising police?  

In this hobby, unless you are a hoarder, to upgrade, you have to sell your existing item. Do so fairly and move on.

Also, in closing, yes, an item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. but an item is also worth what I a willing to sell it for. If you don't like that, don't buy the item.  There are times where I will entertain a lower  offer than what I initially advertised, but, if I priced it to sell in the first place, there isn't much room on my part to go much lower, and as long as I'm no desperate, I won't.

enjoy, and stay safe