HOW TO PREVENT MAKEING A BUYING MISTAKE

VANDOO · 4th December 2005, 10:37 PM

I HOPE I AM NOT OPENING A CAN OF WORMS HERE

I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL POSTS OF LATE THAT HAVE VIOLATED FORUM RULES ON CURRENT AUCTIONS AND RESULTED IN A 10 DAY SUSPENSION EVEN FOR FIRST TIME POSTERS. I REALIZE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT TROUBLE FOR THE FORUM IN THIS AGE WHERE YOU NEED A GUN ON ONE HIP AND A LAWER ON THE OTHER (NO OFFENCE INTENDED).

MY CONCERN IS ( SAY I WANTED TO BUY A ITEM ON EBAY VERY BADLY AND IT COST A LOT OF MONEY BUT I JUST WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS A REAL ONE OR NOT. ) I WOULD WANT TO GET SOME INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WITH ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO GIVE ME GOOD JUDGEMENT ON THE ITEM BEFORE I BID. THE INFORMATION WOULD BE USELESS AFTER THE AUCTION ENDED SO WAITING TO POST IT THEN WOULD BE NON PRODUCTIVE.
IS IT LEGAL TO FIND A MEMBER WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEGE ON THAT TYPE OF ITEM AND SENDING HIM OR HER A EMAIL ASKING THEIR OPINION. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD RECOMEND TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP IN SUCH A SITUATION HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD BE OK. WHAT THE MEMBER CHOSES TO TELL YOU IS OF COURSE UP TO THEM BUT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN HELP. IF YOU ARE JUST CURIOUS ABOUT A ITEM OR THINK THE OTHER MEMBERS MIGHT LIKE TO SEE IT, WAIT UNTIL THE AUCTION IS OVER BEFORE POSTING.

Mark · 6th December 2005, 06:03 PM

This is of course the big dilemma with the rule we have. Unfortunately, from the Forum's point of view it would be a bad idea to do otherwise.

I do not see anything illegal about contacting any (member or not) via e-mail for advice. Nor would it violate the Forum rules, unless of course it becomes harrassing.

The Moderogre

Andrew · 6th December 2005, 06:27 PM

Email and PM contact are perfect.

VANDOO · 6th December 2005, 09:19 PM

NOW THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT THERE IS NO LEGAL PROBLEM, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.
1. YOU ARE ASKING A STRANGER OR AQUAINTENCE FOR A FAVOR
2. THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO HELP YOU OUT AND PROBABLY HAVE PLENTY TO DO, SO IF THEY TAKE THE TIME TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEGE THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR SO EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE.
3. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT TO ASK A QUESTION AS IT MAY TAKE THE PERSONS YOU ASK SOME TIME TO REPLY DUE TO THEIR SCHEDULE OR HAVING TO LOOK UP SOMETHING IN THEIR REFRENCES IN ORDER TO HELP.
4. IF YOU DO FIND SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO HELP YOU, DON'T USE THE RESOURCE EXCEPT WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO BAD! BECAUSE IF YOU ASK ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU ARE CONSIDERING ON BIDDING ON EVEN THE MOST PATIENT OF US WOULD GET GROUCHY AND WOULD NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED ANY FURTHER.
5. KNOWLEGE IS A VALUABLE THING SO DON'T USE IT UP ON UNIMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
6. THIS WOULD RARELY COME UP AS WE CAN ASK ALL OTHER TYPES OF QUESTIONS ON THE FORUM EXCEPT ONES ABOUT OPEN AUCTIONS.
7. KEEP IN MIND WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEGE IN CERTIAN FIELDS BUT NOT IN EVERYTHING SO TRY AND FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS THE KNOWLEGE YOU SEEK BY LOOKING AT OLD POSTS OR PERHAPS CONTACTING A MEMBER FOR SUGGESTIONS ON WHO TO ASK, OF COURSE YOU MIGHT DRAW ATTENTION AND COMPETICIAN IF YOU ASK THE WRONG PERSON. MOST OF US ARE GOOD PEOPLE BUT I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY SAINTS.

MOST OF US RELY ON OUR OWN EXPERIENCE IN COLLECTING, RESEARCH AND GUT FEELINGS ON EBAY AND OTHER AUCTIONS SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT OUR ADVICE WOULD BE BASED ON. WE ARE NOT PERFECT AND IF ALL WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS A PICTURE ON A COMPUTER WE ARE AT A BIG DISADVANTAGE. I PERSONALLY COULD NOT GIVE YOU A IDEA ON PRICE SO WOULD JUST GIVE A OPINION ON IF IT WAS THE REAL THING OR NOT AND IF I WOULD PAY THE OPENING BID OR NOT. I LIVE IN THE PAST SO WHAT I CAN BRING MYSELF TO PAY IS USUALLY LESS THAN TODAYS PRICE SO IN THAT REGARD I AM A POOR RESOURCE.

Rick · 6th December 2005, 10:42 PM

I'd modify number seven Barry ; that is something I personally as a Mod. would not want responsibility for .
What if the member turns around and outbids you .

VANDOO · 7th December 2005, 01:31 AM

THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT BE ASKING SOMEONE WHO IS PLANNING ON BIDDING ON THE ITEM. IN THAT CASE YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT GET ANY HELP THEY MIGHT TELL YOU THAT IS THE CASE OR THEY MIGHT NOT AS SHOWING INTEREST IN THE ITEM WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE A PERSONEL ENDORSEMENT OF ITS WORTH. THATS ABOUT AS FAR AS I CAN GO WITH THIS POST AS I AM ALL OUT OF THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS.

4th December 2005, 10:37 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HOW TO PREVENT MAKEING A BUYING MISTAKE I HOPE I AM NOT OPENING A CAN OF WORMS HERE I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL POSTS OF LATE THAT HAVE VIOLATED FORUM RULES ON CURRENT AUCTIONS AND RESULTED IN A 10 DAY SUSPENSION EVEN FOR FIRST TIME POSTERS. I REALIZE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT TROUBLE FOR THE FORUM IN THIS AGE WHERE YOU NEED A GUN ON ONE HIP AND A LAWER ON THE OTHER (NO OFFENCE INTENDED). MY CONCERN IS ( SAY I WANTED TO BUY A ITEM ON EBAY VERY BADLY AND IT COST A LOT OF MONEY BUT I JUST WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS A REAL ONE OR NOT. ) I WOULD WANT TO GET SOME INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WITH ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO GIVE ME GOOD JUDGEMENT ON THE ITEM BEFORE I BID. THE INFORMATION WOULD BE USELESS AFTER THE AUCTION ENDED SO WAITING TO POST IT THEN WOULD BE NON PRODUCTIVE. IS IT LEGAL TO FIND A MEMBER WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEGE ON THAT TYPE OF ITEM AND SENDING HIM OR HER A EMAIL ASKING THEIR OPINION. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD RECOMEND TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP IN SUCH A SITUATION HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD BE OK. WHAT THE MEMBER CHOSES TO TELL YOU IS OF COURSE UP TO THEM BUT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN HELP. IF YOU ARE JUST CURIOUS ABOUT A ITEM OR THINK THE OTHER MEMBERS MIGHT LIKE TO SEE IT, WAIT UNTIL THE AUCTION IS OVER BEFORE POSTING.

6th December 2005, 09:19 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	NOW THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT THERE IS NO LEGAL PROBLEM, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. 1. YOU ARE ASKING A STRANGER OR AQUAINTENCE FOR A FAVOR 2. THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO HELP YOU OUT AND PROBABLY HAVE PLENTY TO DO, SO IF THEY TAKE THE TIME TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEGE THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR SO EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE. 3. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT TO ASK A QUESTION AS IT MAY TAKE THE PERSONS YOU ASK SOME TIME TO REPLY DUE TO THEIR SCHEDULE OR HAVING TO LOOK UP SOMETHING IN THEIR REFRENCES IN ORDER TO HELP. 4. IF YOU DO FIND SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO HELP YOU, DON'T USE THE RESOURCE EXCEPT WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO BAD! BECAUSE IF YOU ASK ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU ARE CONSIDERING ON BIDDING ON EVEN THE MOST PATIENT OF US WOULD GET GROUCHY AND WOULD NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED ANY FURTHER. 5. KNOWLEGE IS A VALUABLE THING SO DON'T USE IT UP ON UNIMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 6. THIS WOULD RARELY COME UP AS WE CAN ASK ALL OTHER TYPES OF QUESTIONS ON THE FORUM EXCEPT ONES ABOUT OPEN AUCTIONS. 7. KEEP IN MIND WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEGE IN CERTIAN FIELDS BUT NOT IN EVERYTHING SO TRY AND FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS THE KNOWLEGE YOU SEEK BY LOOKING AT OLD POSTS OR PERHAPS CONTACTING A MEMBER FOR SUGGESTIONS ON WHO TO ASK, OF COURSE YOU MIGHT DRAW ATTENTION AND COMPETICIAN IF YOU ASK THE WRONG PERSON. MOST OF US ARE GOOD PEOPLE BUT I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY SAINTS. MOST OF US RELY ON OUR OWN EXPERIENCE IN COLLECTING, RESEARCH AND GUT FEELINGS ON EBAY AND OTHER AUCTIONS SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT OUR ADVICE WOULD BE BASED ON. WE ARE NOT PERFECT AND IF ALL WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS A PICTURE ON A COMPUTER WE ARE AT A BIG DISADVANTAGE. I PERSONALLY COULD NOT GIVE YOU A IDEA ON PRICE SO WOULD JUST GIVE A OPINION ON IF IT WAS THE REAL THING OR NOT AND IF I WOULD PAY THE OPENING BID OR NOT. I LIVE IN THE PAST SO WHAT I CAN BRING MYSELF TO PAY IS USUALLY LESS THAN TODAYS PRICE SO IN THAT REGARD I AM A POOR RESOURCE. Last edited by VANDOO; 7th December 2005 at 01:38 AM.

6th December 2005, 10:42 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Number 7 I'd modify number seven Barry ; that is something I personally as a Mod. would not want responsibility for . What if the member turns around and outbids you .

6th December 2005, 06:03 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	This is of course the big dilemma with the rule we have. Unfortunately, from the Forum's point of view it would be a bad idea to do otherwise. I do not see anything illegal about contacting any (member or not) via e-mail for advice. Nor would it violate the Forum rules, unless of course it becomes harrassing. The Moderogre

6th December 2005, 06:27 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Email and PM contact are perfect.

7th December 2005, 01:31 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT BE ASKING SOMEONE WHO IS PLANNING ON BIDDING ON THE ITEM. IN THAT CASE YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT GET ANY HELP THEY MIGHT TELL YOU THAT IS THE CASE OR THEY MIGHT NOT AS SHOWING INTEREST IN THE ITEM WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE A PERSONEL ENDORSEMENT OF ITS WORTH. THATS ABOUT AS FAR AS I CAN GO WITH THIS POST AS I AM ALL OUT OF THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS.