Online selling etiquette

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MileHighDart

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I put some stuff up for sale, it's a bunch of items that all work together, so selling it as a lot.

Put the stuff up last night before going to bed.

This morning I have three responses.

First guy: interested, send me a pm, I'd like to come see what you got.

Second guy: I'm interested also.

Third guy: I'll take it all, I can be there this afternoon, when can I come, my number is ***

Typically I would respond to the the first one who responded to my ad. This time I replied to the third guy cause he was the first to just say "I'll take it all, when can I come".
Did I do right? Or would you have responded to the first guy first.

Just curious
 
No specific rules about that but it's recommended just to be fair that you take the offers in the order they come in. I usually take them as to who pm's first to be more specific. They are your parts and you can sell them to whoever you choose.
 
As long as you don't offer them to one and then sell to another there shouldn't be an issue.
 
MileHighDart said:
I put some stuff up for sale, it's a bunch of items that all work together, so selling it as a lot.

Put the stuff up last night before going to bed.

This morning I have three responses.

First guy: interested, send me a pm, I'd like to come see what you got.

Second guy: I'm interested also.

Third guy: I'll take it all, I can be there this afternoon, when can I come, my number is ***

Typically I would respond to the the first one who responded to my ad. This time I replied to the third guy cause he was the first to just say "I'll take it all, when can I come".
Did I do right? Or would you have responded to the first guy first.

Just curious
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I always sell to the first person that puts the money in my hand, or pay pal account. So unless one of the other folks have paid in full, the parts are still for sale.
Also consider, just because the third guy is looking at the parts today, that does not mean he is going to buy them. That goes for all three, you have not yet made a deal.
 
It really comes down to the first guy that commits to buying rather than the people that want to look.

Hate to say money talks, but when I want something, I never say "I'm interested". I say "I'll take it and how do you want to get paid". I think that really puts you first in line when you are the first to commit.
 
hard one.. no way of knowing if the first guy will buy it after looking at iut.. last guy says he is taking it.. i'd probably sell to him. for me its whoever is there first with cash too.
 
1st in line gets the first opportunity. Everyone has their own style of purchasing. The first guy could have fully intended to purchase it and wanted to verify. And the 3rd guy could have seen what you had and walked away.

I've been in this situation and just try to be fair. But in selling there is no fair. I got clipped on a car last year and really made me say screw it to anything I purchase now. If it was meant to be then I will end up with it. If not oh well......

JW
 
Sounds like your transaction was part online but local pick up. In this case you did it right by taking first offer to come through with payment.

If it were an online only transaction with shipping.. then I would give the first PM person dibs and let them know I have serious buyers in line (and to make a decision bunch amount of time or have to move on to next buyer).

Im helping my father sell his B body cars and this exact scenario comes up all the time. We’re inclined to want to hold vehicles for the first interested potential buyer but, realistically the first buyer with monetary means to close a sale is 100% the way to go.

So to recap: On FABO/FBBO first post gets dibs but, if selling an item that needs to be picked up locally (like an entire car) ... first buyer with cash in hand. Be overly communicative to manage everyone’s expectations.
 
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People are not going to keep their word when it comes to $$, believe me I just was reminded of that recently. So when it comes to selling I do first come, but with the understanding that there are people in line. So you need to move if your interested and I notify the others they are in the queue. It frosts you a bit getting screwed, so communication is important to not burn anyone.
 
If guy one or two wants to cherry pick what you have and guy three isn't interested after the tree is trimmed... well you get the picture.

Call guy three on his offer, have him F&F paypal to you and let him come pick it up. If he balks even the slightest, move on. Never take payment via good and services in paypal for a local pick up... you WILL get burned.

Give 1 and 2 a shot after that.

Or tell guy 1 you have someone that wants it all, if he also wants it all he's welcome to come get it, no partial purchase. Move down the line.
 
Don't wait for buyers that "will you take payments so I can sell it higher to someone else before I pay for it?"

Or don't be a seller that commits to a sale and never communicates when another buyer wants to pay a little more.
 
I’d go with the third response, seems like it’s a done deal. I try to go in order when selling on FB marketplace, here on FABO when I sell stuff it’s always the first to reply or send a PM.
 
MileHighDart said:
Did I do right? Or would you have responded to the first guy first.
Click to expand...

You did right for you, and that's all that matters. I don't believe there is any etiquette to it other than try and be polite.. You didn't have to deal with any tire kickers.

It sounds as though you feel guilty, lol. I sure wouldn't. As Steve Miller Band said, "take the money and run". :D
 
gdrill said:
Guy #4: "I'll take it all and give you $20 extra."

Now what?
Click to expand...
This seems to happen to me on Facebook mostly (meaning I was first but then got snaked by somebody offering more money), not that much on craigslist.
 
MileHighDart said:
I put some stuff up for sale, it's a bunch of items that all work together, so selling it as a lot.

Put the stuff up last night before going to bed.

This morning I have three responses.

First guy: interested, send me a pm, I'd like to come see what you got.

Second guy: I'm interested also.

Third guy: I'll take it all, I can be there this afternoon, when can I come, my number is ***

Typically I would respond to the the first one who responded to my ad. This time I replied to the third guy cause he was the first to just say "I'll take it all, when can I come".
Did I do right? Or would you have responded to the first guy first.

Just curious
Click to expand...

You're the seller. You can sell to whomever you damn well want to. You did fine.
 
Until the third guy gets the money TO YOU it's just talk just like the other two
 
Etiquette. Some have, choice is yours.
Contacted a guy about a visor, offered to pay electronically. He was basically trying to hold an auction and sell to highest bidder. I gave up and chalked it up to experience.
 
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