if you're reading this then you already know...

On - I know this. Exactly my point. You've potentially excluded me as a buyer because I failed to notice your item. I'm not saying you have to go out of your way for the "shopper". That's your choice and I don't fault you if you want to be terse in your ad. I prefer to spend an extra 2 min in case there's someone shopping who has money.

My point on what makes me crazy is simply that "If you're reading this . . ." is a stupid, illogical statement. I think you're better off leaving it out. Ok, so this may be nit picking, but every now and then I get to do that.

if you are unaware of important information do your own research. don't blame it on another person.

So if you dont know what it is then do some damn research, like you are going to just go by what a sellers posts?
Every time we post there is always someone ready to call you out on it...people will argue about anything, pathetic.

Or maybe we click on the ad because we don't know what it is. Some small manufacturers don't spend much, if any, on advertising and can't get their equipment reviewed in Sterophile or The Absolute sound. The purpose of an ad is the grab the attention of the consumer. All it requires is a brief description and a picture. It doesn't have to go into detail, just enough to pique the interest of the reader.

How many times have you seen an ad on TV or in a magazine and you can't tell what product they are selling? Then you have to run to the computer and Google it to find out that it was really an ad for a famine hygiene product or a boner pill.

I buy only items that I already know about and am interested in buying. However, I will look at ads for items I'm not familiar with to learn something about a new (to me) product. Either way, what annoys me about the "if you're reading this" line is: (i) as bdgregory notes, it is presumptuous, (ii) often the line is offered up in lieu of any description of the condition of the item (except the opaque "9/10") and (iii) it sounds like the something a used car salesman, a carnival barker or some other type of high pressure sales person would use in lieu of real information (kind of insults your intelligence).