Comments on seller's price in adverts

[Ewazix]

I recently had a bad experience on another forum which I had been an active member of for a couple of years. When I put up a detailed advert for my car the thread was swamped with derisory comments about the price, which was strong but it was an exceptional example. In the end I kicked-off about some of the unhelpful comments and the mods stepped in asking people to pack it in. Two days later I sold the car elsewhere for the asking price (which shut them up), but my chances on that forum were in tatters :x

My question is about the etiquette of commenting on asking prices for members cars, I kinda feel that unless someone asks for feedback on pricing to leave it alone, prices vary a lot regionally and it only takes some ill-informed off-the-cuff comment for an advert to be ruined, or am I over sensitive after my ragging elsewhere. Any thoughts?

 

[danmiddle2]

Can't stand it - if it's overpriced, the market will decide... no need to ruin the sales thread.

 

[gordongecko500]

Unfortunately there are rude people and apparent experts everywhere. Ignore them.

I think it's fair to pass polite opinion in order to provide a guide, which i see quite often on here. For the short period I've been on here most comments have been amiable. Everything has it's price - if it's too high it won't sell!

 

[mr wilks]

I would only offer comment if i thought it was helpful & only then on a friendly basis , some sellers are deluded & some know what their item is worth
A forum after all is a medium for open debate 8) ripping apart someone,s potential sale however should not be encouraged or tolerated
Glad you got what you wanted

 

[Adamski]

I don't think the forum rules help TBH, as they say that unless you're posting to buy, you can only comment on the price


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[Stug]

I think most comments on price here are well meant and are aimed at being helpful whether the item is over or underpriced. However I see your point in so much as its your item and its your price. The last thing you would want is a possible buyer being told the item they are looking at is too much money.

 

[Grumpyowl]

I think if you advertise on open forums you open yourself up to mischief makers and keyboard warriors .

Maybe the forum should look at a donation system that would cut this out.

I don't know the legalities but these would be donations not charges

Say minimum £10 donation for cars that would cut out people joining to sell.

Items up to £100 - minimum £1 donation
Items over £100 up to £200 minimum £3 donation
Items over £200 minimum £5 donation


Comments email direct to seller

 

[ben g]

People shouldn't be making any comment on price on sale adverts. It's nothing to do with them. If it's too expensive, go buy elsewhere.

On another forum I use, you can't reply to sale threads for this very reason. Pm's only.

 

[Wondermike]

I think it's always something that will happen on a specific owners forum, as there is a lot of knowledge (or not in some cases) floating around. Every now and then some of the threads get tidied up due to comments, but not that often. I don't think commenting is actively discouraged or encouraged.

At the end of the day it's a free service, so there will be compromises. You can sell without risk of comment by using Autotrader.

 

[bigdog]

Or it could be forum policy to state that if one isn't in the market for said item and only want's to comment on the price. Then do it via PM.

 

[srhutch]

Thinking of a certain for sale thread recently when something was bring sold as black when it wasn't and asking way over the top. Should we of all kept quiet for a member to get ripped off?

 

[andysat]

Thinking of a certain for sale thread recently when something was bring sold as black when it wasn't and asking way over the top. Should we of all kept quiet for a member to get ripped off?

What was that then mate??

 

[JaEdBa]

in fairness a simple "please pm me with any queries and please do not comment on the price" should do the trick...

there are always the spyers who sit around claiming everything is way over priced, and the buyers who sit around watching the market post sale, trying to claim cars are going up in value, usually cos they told the missus the house deposit was as good as gold in the car they bought for a year...

but I agree with the op, it's bad form.

 

[Grumpyowl]

Thinking of a certain for sale thread recently when something was bring sold as black when it wasn't and asking way over the top. Should we of all kept quiet for a member to get ripped off?

If some member has knowledge of a misleading or possible fraudulent sale then it should be brought to the forums attention
Maybe reported to the mods for removal.

 

[AndyBeech]

Thinking of a certain for sale thread recently when something was bring sold as black when it wasn't and asking way over the top. Should we of all kept quiet for a member to get ripped off?

If an advert is mis-leading or just wrong that's one thing. If someone gets ripped off then they only have themselves to blame, should have done more research into the current market prices. It's not up for other people to decide what's a rip off (unless it's a blatant scam) and what isn't, the seller might think they're asking a reasonable amount for their pride and joy, then as others have said it's up for buyers to decide.
I've been guilty of it in the past and don't do it anymore as I wouldn't like others to do it to me if I sold up.

 

[Bing]

In the case of the thread srhutch is talking about, the item was not a car it was an accessory. If you searched hard enough you could find plenty of evidence on the forum to support the fact that the item was not as described and the seller was blatantly tying to make a profit out of the members on here given how he'd bragged about how cheap the item was originally. I called him out on it, he called me a c*nt :lol:

Comments and advice are useful, they often help weed out additional facts about condition / spec / history, positive as well as negative - I see no reason why people shouldn't comment as long as it is done respectfully, and backed up with some sort of evidence. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on here, and many will make the effort to go scan AT or PH before commenting... Admittedly the OP could do that too and if they are sensible they will have done so already, but it's always good to have any rose tinting gently removed.

 

[andysat]

Well said Bing mate!

 

[ranski]

Very much like that chap who recently wanted £350 for a second hand m steering wheel. I and others commented on the overinflated price but the seller dismissed this and said he was on the right money

I see his £350 steering wheel is still on eBay with a few hours remaining...

So as above, I would say 90% of the advice is spot on and offers certain sellers realistic valuations


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[ranski]

Sorry, I mean £375


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[Bing]

From what I recall it wasn't even an M wheel, it was a Sport wheel. That tri-coloured stitching is expensive stuff