Just a personal rant about classified ads

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blackdiesel

blackdiesel

Member
Apr 1, 2015
3,069
562
Georgia, United States
I just don't get why people post truncated ads when they are selling a high value PCP. They will give a very brief description without pictures and request potential buyers contact them for more information. Maybe I'm different, but when I am shopping I want a complete description with clear close-up and full pictures. I'm sure there are "tire kickers" out there that just want to ask questions about the item but I would think there are just as many potential buyers who may have considered a particular item but is not completely focused on it. Me for example, a while ago I was looking for a regulated "high shot count' 22 cal PCP. So my options were open. I saw several ads of guns I had considered but since they were so brief I didn't bother contacting the sellers. I still review pictures on a 25" screen desktop computer and don't want to view pictures on my phone.
 
Me personally when I see a Very short description I assume possible scammmer , or an ad that is word for word off the manufacturer website ..Every guns a lite different ...Sounds corny but I wanna hear or read what makes this one different , or its quirks . I've bought several guns I k ew had issues when I bought them . It didn't faze me a but because the seller let me know io front.But if I list an XYZ brand Widowmaker I'm gonna say something besides my email and price . Talking and messaging with the guys who share our obsession for our silly little sport is a big part of the fun .Short blunt ads make me think possible Jerk :)
 
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BlackDeisel I'll let ya in on my classified pet peeve . I ran into this a while back ..I post here pretty regular and far as I k ow I have just positive feedback and those little +signs . I tried to buy a beat up old rifle a couple of months ago and before I could even discuss much about the guns condition the seller was getting super defensive saying USPS MO only !! And he wouldn't ship for at least a week after He cashed Money Order .
Hmmm I asked why and he said he doesn't trust people he meets online . OK I can see being cautious , but it was a 350$ used gun , not a new Thomas Rifle !! I told him I was one of the few members who use their real name on this and other forums and had good feedback and as far as I can tell come across on the phone at least competent ? He said he didn't care if I Owned the forum . He wasn't shipping for 5 business days after he received payment and be wasn't discussing it further ... . I decided I didn't need that gun that bad .
If you are selling , or buying a gun from one of our fellow airgunners is it too much to ask to be polite ? Now don't get me wrong , anybody who's ever talked to me on the phone knows I'll talk your ass to death bout BBguns . But that's a boring old dude who's glad to connect with someone who speaks the language. If that's rude then I can handle more rudeness like that
 
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"mmoscarma"There are two sides to the story.
I'm so tired of "tire kickers" and they're games! If you're serious contact me and I'll send you 50 pictures. Also having my airgun pics copied and used by scammers is disconcerting. There is so much unethical stuff going on lately is depressing.
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It's easy enough to watermark pictures. Just spatter your email or some other identifiable mark on the picture. My point is that "tire kicker" might be trying to decide if your gun is what they are looking for. Just like Joe, I use the same username on all the forums and have been around a few years. i have bought 3-4 used PCPs from forum members. If I see an ad without details and pictures, unless it's a steal of a deal and something I am particularly looking for, i will pass over it without even contacting the seller.
 
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Yeah honestly the main reason I started using my real name was on yellow forum I couldn't get guys to even talk with me with a handle hardly when I was new to the sport . AGN I have to say is WAYY more new guy friendly . I honestly don't mind answering questions about a gun I may have for sale . But at the end of the conversation I really appreciate guys who man up and say I think I'll pass , rather than let me think on it and know they aren't gonna buy .
But to me there's a difference to me between a tire kicker and a new guy who saw you had a gun for sale like he's wanting to try and just called to pick your brain . I talked with a very well known member here and on yellow forum today and we had a good time visiting . He saw my ad for wanting to buy FWB 300s . And the one and only thing we got accomplished was some Airgun gossip and what kinda finish remover we both use ..Lol... But it was a great time and I'm hoping we get to chat again soon . Most times I find if its priced right , and your polite with folks its a win for both parties whether a sale was made or not , you never know they might look you up next time ?
 
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I agree... I've been in the real estate business for 20 years and in my experience those that are selling something that is not marketable at the price they want...there will be limited information. In contrast those that are selling items that are fairly priced will give plenty of info and lots of pictures, so that buying public can see the product and see that the price is very reasonable/marketable! When done correctly you will get the best most qualified buyers and sell whatever quickly. Home for sell with no pics= a dog that needs lots of fix-up.
 
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I always try to have at least 4 or 5 pics minimum for my ads. I also usually pass short no pic ads mainly because I dont have the time or patience to contact someone on the phone to get info that should already be offered for the item in question. We all know we wont buy sight unseen so why even post a no pic ad. Tire kickers are always going to kick tires even if the ad is short and no pics but thats my opinion and it isnt always right.
 
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"LDP"I always try to have at least 4 or 5 pics minimum for my ads. I also usually pass short no pic ads mainly because I dont have the time or patience to contact someone on the phone to get info that should already be offered for the item in question. We all know we wont buy sight unseen so why even post a no pic ad. Tire kickers are always going to kick tires even if the ad is short and no pics but thats my opinion and it isnt always right.
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I agree !
 
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I understand what you guys are saying about wanting to see pictures and all. And I believe a good description, what you know about the product and how you got it goes a long way. Thing is there are people like me out there that have never posted a picture and have never sold anything on the forum. I also don't have a PayPal account. With my Impact arriving I have a 25 Wildcat and some scopes to sell that I've been thinking about the last couple of days. And this scammer thing just scares me. Guess I should just man up and get it all set up and learn how to do it, but every time I think about it I just go shoot instead. It will cost me 15%, but can just trade it back to AOA on my next project. 
 
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Kit just do what I did till I FINALLY got photobucket figured out ..Just tell buyers to email you or text you and you'll send pictures . All of us pretty much know what a Wildcat looks like but with scopes its harder . I have been looking for a particular Leupold scope and its one they have made in several styles so a picture tells me right away if its the one I'm looking for . Post your stuff , ask to be contacted by phone , scammers won't call almost 100% percent of the time . There is no way someone who knows nothing about airguns can " bluff" their way thru a conversation about them .
Your on the forum a lot and guys recognize your name here . Post something small and let them know upfront that you don't have PayPal . Plus its a cool way to talk with fellow BBgun guys
 
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I agree.

One of the ways to reduce the number of tire kickers is to post more info upfront in your ad. Every bit of info missing is another question somebody needs to ask. Sometimes ads don't even state the caliber...

I need to see pics, a price, a reason for selling, the condition and any issues as a minimum. I don't know if I'm a tire-kicker or a buyer until I know if it's a good (or even a fair) deal or not. 

When I see "couldn't figure out how to post pics", I generally skip it. With photobucket, they prepare the link for you. You just have to copy and paste it. None of us were born with this knowledge, we all had to figure it out. 

I also always skip ads that won't accept PayPal or only friends and family. Scammers rely on people trusting them to use non-secure payment methods. I don't think anyone should ask a stranger to trust them with money online. It's free and easy to set up a PayPal account so no excuses are valid. 

One other thing is... make the price realistic.... Your Benjamin Marauder is not worth $1000 used because you bought a bullpup stock for it. ads like that are a magnet for "tire-kickers" aka people who want to know if you can be reasoned with to accept a fair market rate. Good deals don't get nearly as many tire-kickers....

 
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"zebra"I agree.

One of the ways to reduce the number of tire kickers is to post more info upfront in your ad. Every bit of info missing is another question somebody needs to ask. Sometimes ads don't even state the caliber...

I need to see pics, a price, a reason for selling, the condition and any issues as a minimum. I don't know if I'm a tire-kicker or a buyer until I know if it's a good (or even a fair) deal or not. 

When I see "couldn't figure out how to post pics", I generally skip it. With photobucket, they prepare the link for you. You just have to copy and paste it. None of us were born with this knowledge, we all had to figure it out. 

I also always skip ads that won't accept PayPal or only friends and family. Scammers rely on people trusting them to use non-secure payment methods. I don't think anyone should ask a stranger to trust them with money online. It's free and easy to set up a PayPal account so no excuses are valid. 

One other thing is... make the price realistic.... Your Benjamin Marauder is not worth $1000 used because you bought a bullpup stock for it. ads like that are a magnet for "tire-kickers" aka people who want to know if you can be reasoned with to accept a fair market rate. Good deals don't get nearly as many tire-kickers....

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X2, Well said. 
 
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