Classifieds etiquette

[Tony]

So lately i havn't had the best of luck in the classifieds with item's purchased and not getting them, or poor communication with the seller.
And rather than get on here and start some sort of shit storm, i thought i'd write down a few thing's that i learned through other HAMB deal's in the past, and through face to face deal's personally that might actually help instead of creating more drama bs that none of us need. Doing these simple thing's alway's seemed to end on a good note for everyone involved.
These are VERY simple and if followed will make for a smooth deal for both the seller and buyer..and are pretty much common sense, although common sense isn't so common anymore.

To the buyer.....
If you buy an item from the classifieds, SEND the money! Don't wait two week's, don't rely on your friend, wife, girlfriend, pet monkey etc...DO IT YOURSELF so you know the job got done!
Also, keep receipt's for the money spent........just in case the deal go's south you can prove it was paid for and have a record of the day.
By sending payment quickly, the seller will get the money right away, and in turn you get your stuff right away as well..
See, everyone's happy.

Now, for the seller's..
When you receive your payment, contact the buyer to let him/her know, and SHIP the item's asap. I'm not saying they should be sent when your wife's in labor, but in a timely manner.
IF something happen's to where you can't ship right away, LET THE BUYER KNOW!
I myself have had time's where i made mistakes, taken too long to ship, or sent money later than i should have...But i still do my best to let the other party know..

It seem's that communication isn't something many people think about around here anymore..
A simple email, pm or phone call IF you have the number will go a LONG way toward's keeping thing's on the up and up if a problem should arise, PLUS show's respect for your fellow HAMBer/Hot Rodder.

I've been dealing here since late '02 with very few issue's.Those issue's happening within the past year and a half...and all have been solved but one which i'm still working on..
I've given and received item's with other HAMBer's for FREE at time's, because i've alway's felt this was nothing more than a virtual garage. I've had trust in people here as i would friend's..
That's the way it alway's was here..
Now, i'm not so sure as of late.
It dosn't take a lot of effort to be straight up in dealing. And many of us, myself included, are not made of money so the loss of even the smallest amount will have an effect..

Like i said, the thing's i've written are NOTHING more than common sense and respect..it sure would be nice if people would use these a bit more often and keep the honor of our classified's strong.
I know right now i'd have a hard time buying from anyone i don't know personally..

Just figured i'd put my thought's on here in hope's that MAYBE something i wrote help's in future classified deal's, even if it's just one. Hopefully this dosn't get deleted..

I'm done now, back to your regular scheduled program.

Tony

[CURIOUS RASH]

I'm sure it won't get deleted but it will probably be moved to the Q&S where NOBODY will read it.

I dig it though and it's been a while since I've seen that much good info in one post.

I'm going to figure out a way to work this into the forums. Maybe a link in the rules that NOBODY reads....

:D

[slepe67]

sticky

[jerry]

Well put.

It seems to just come down to common sense, which seems to be getting a little scarce at times.


jerry

[Cajun Kenny]

im in total agreement well said ... yes some of us do read this kind of stuff..

[hot-rod roadster]

Well said, I've also for the most part had very good luck dealing with others here on the HAMB, and appreciate the space that has been provided to do that even though I don't think it is what this forum was created for. That being said I think COMMON SENSE and communication is great advice. Gary

[50dodge4x4]

That sounds like great wisdom.
May I add one thing for the buyer?
When you recieve something you have purchased, let the seller know you got the stuff. With the shipping issues happening these days, it gets a bit nerve racking from a sellers standpoint when you have shipped an item to someone across the country and a week or two have gone by without any word from the buyer. Is it that hard to send that email, PM or make a call and say "I got the stuff, Thanks."
Gene

[Tony]

That sounds like great wisdom.
May I add one thing for the buyer?
When you recieve something you have purchased, let the seller know you got the stuff. With the shipping issues happening these days, it gets a bit nerve racking from a sellers standpoint when you have shipped an item to someone across the country and a week or two have gone by without any word from the buyer. Is it that hard to send that email, PM or make a call and say "I got the stuff, Thanks."
Gene

EXCELLENT advice! I actually do that, but forgot to add it in, thanks.

Rashy, thanks..
I was going to put it in the suggestion's thread, but know that by putting it here it would get read by more members.. hopefully it dosn't get moved so soon that no one see's how easy it is to make a smooth transaction.....
If it make's at least one or two people think about how they handle a deal i'd be happy, especially if i'm one of them.:)..

Tony

[Paul]

thanks for this
as an old friend of mine would say

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

how about a suggestion
with your private message include a phone number

make actual one on one contact with the other party
close the deal

and follow through...

that reminds me,
Steve,
I haven't forgotten
I will tear the transmission apart and get pictures to you this week
I promise!

you have my number,
feel free to call me when you do the same.

[phat rat]

I agree wholeheartedly. I call it COMMON COURTESEY. I posted something similar a few months ago and was roasted by some

[Zombie Hot Rod]

The few transactions I've had thorugh here have been extremely positive. I agree, communication is extremely important.

[Crestliner]

Very good advise. Seems we have several members want things and say they will take the item. Get it ready,( as I like to ship as soon a funds get here ) and funds never arrive.

[fordcragar]

That's one of the reasons I hate to sell stuff, just dealing with all of the drama. So I keep it and my wife gets pissed, go figure.

[sololobo]

Well deserved post!! I would pull my hair out if I was a moderator, just over the rule to p.m. communication and not post it. It seems real simple, but seems to be hard for some people to figure out. Maybe the mods need to be tougher? The split format has been wonderful on classifieds. Hats off to our Mods!! Unsung heros!!-Sololobo

[HOTRODPRIMER]

I have been lucky with the buyers and sellers here on the HAMB.

I am a firm believer in not letting any grass grow under my feet,,,,probably from being in a retail business dealing with the public instilled the get it done now ethic in me.

And all the guys I have purchased parts from have treated me much the same way,,,

I also know that I grew up in a time when a mans word was his bond,,,If I said I would I did and do to this day.

Tonys post is to the point,,,and from some of the storys I have heard,,,,,needed to be addressed,,,the hamb has grown more than any of us would have ever dreamed and has helped many guys find parts and most have parted good friends,,,

Communication is a must,,,,, HRP

[wlspdshop]

Thats some good truth!! Thanks...I have stuck to buying from alliance members...and like fordcragar I hate selling stuff now days because of the drama....just a pain if I don't know the guy...

[pitman]

Great help here from Tony. How to carry a deal out, and the specifics. Rashy deserves some respect, for the BS that he gets into sometimes.
The respect "component" will remain a valuable part, of deals made on-the-HAMB! This means to me, that the seller will follow thru, period. 2. That as a buyer, I have the funds to provide my half of the bargain. 3. That descriptions are as straightforward as one's biased eyes can make them.
Solving the results of poor communication is a tough task. When I have doubts about on-line transactions, I go back and read Leon and Doc's thread handling HambAndy's build. It's got to be better, to maintain this, than to have the "auction site" mentality pervade.

[FiddyFour]

since some of the rules have changed, and the HUGE amount of people registering here as of late only to sell parts in the classifieds, i am REAL fukin careful who i buy from, or sell to for that matter... i'm almost more comfortable buying on ebay to be completely honest

[Ryan]

I'm thinking about just getting rid of the classifieds all together... Then, you guys won't have to worry about it.

[Cajun Kenny]

please dont Ryan ..

[Jalopy Jim]

Most of my 38 Ford project has been bought from HAMB members. I have had no problems with any of the transactions. I have also sold many old parts on the HAMB and hopefully everyone was happy with me.
I also think the current classifieds are an improvement over the old ones. The moderators do a great job and deserve a big thanks.
Lets hope the classifieds stay.

[Tony]

The upsetting part for me is that i've alway's felt very comfortable dealing on here, but lately i've gotten bitten pretty good on a few deal's that have left a bad taste for future deal's.
And NO, i'm not whining..stating fact is all..
As i stated in my first post, most have been handled and i have gotten my money back...But the fact is people are just not taking these deal's as serious as they should.
If the table's were turned, most if not all of the same people would be PISSED if an item they bought never showed and there was poor contact.
It really come's down to just keeping your word and following through with the agreement that was made, and IF you can't , just say you can't and make it right by refunding the money.
Again, respect and common sense..

I know for a fact i'm not the only one, and i am also very aware that these thing's happen all the time and that just because we are on the HAMB dosn't mean it's not going to here..
But i do feel that if you are here reaping the benefit's of the HAMB by either selling or buying, there should be a protocol as to the way thing's are done. There alway's was, and that should stay in tact..again, to keep the honor of this place..
Plain and simple

The Mods DO a great job of handling thing's, as does Ryan when he's needed.. Unfortunately they have no control over someone elses laziness.


Tony

[Ryan]

This isn't a classified site though... was never intended to be. And frankly, I don't like dealing with the issues behind the classifieds.

The section will either be gone completely or limited to Alliance members within a year... Prolly much less...

[Tony]

I'm thinking about just getting rid of the classifieds all together... Then, you guys won't have to worry about it.


It would suck to lose a good outlet on part's and help because some folk's just can't do for other's what they expect to be done for them.

And i TOTALLY understand it's not a classifieds site. I just hate to see guy's with some real talent that could add to the main board lose interest in being here because some moron screwed them over there..
Out of respect i'll let this go...
I wasn't trying to stir the pot like i said in the beginning.

Tony

[Ryan]

Nope, I agree Tony...

[CURIOUS RASH]

I don't think the majority of folks understand how much work goes into the classifieds.

All the time arguing behind the scenes with people who feel they have the right to do as they want, "the right to free speech". It just drags a dude down.

Posting in the classifieds is not a right, even for Alliance Members. It's a privilege and should be treated as such. I'm about to start handing out 1 week vacations to a couple guys who are wearing me thin.

I don't think you stirred the pot Tony, the pot has been on spin cycle for YEARS.

[corncobcoupe]

I spend a large majority of my time Moderating the classifieds with enjoyment as it gets me away from the everyday job world.

Sometimes guys who repeatably post over and over the same stuff when they know that it should be PM'd wear on ya now and then ( like constantly posting picture requests) as a example.

Other than that, I enjoy the classifieds and have done both selling and buying with ZERO problems.

Always a few boneheads in every garage to leave a mess every now and then.

Would hate to see it go away but with respect to Ryan, this is his website.

( Hmmmmm - I've never been fired or downsized from a job before - that would be a first, then again, it's not a job when you want to enjoy it...hmmm still got to think about that one I guess )

Cob
Classifieds Moderator

[Chris Casny]

I have sold quite a bit of stuff lately, and I believe communication is key.
As a seller I am adamant, about making it, a smooth, pleasant experience for the buyer.
I even feel bad if I don't ship the same day I receive the payment.
I think some sort of a ratings system would be great, but it would also add a huge workload to the classified guys.
Alliance members only? That would seriously cut down on some good parts.
I think there are too many people that use the HAMB only to sell stuff, certain member should establish themselves first, blah, blah, blah. It's the same shit that was discussed about a year ago before the big classified change came.
I feel deadbeats, sellers and buyers should not be let off the hook so easy anymore.