Another rant: "Buyers" behavior?

[windshieldbug]

How about, if someone offers you $2400 for your ultra-sparkly HB50, you are hereby authorized to not even dignify the offer with a response and waste your time and effort. Let them figure out "Don't be a dope!" and find that well-known auction site on their own time!

[threedognate]

How about, if someone offers you $2400 for your ultra-sparkly HB50, you are hereby authorized to say to that person "Don't be a dope!" Wouldn't that be more effective and satisfactory, than to berate the world at large in the hopes of reaching a bunch of people who by your own account probably aren't really paying attention?

Words to live by!

[iiipopes]

I'd like to provide an illustration....

Never explain. Your friends don't need it, you enemies won't believe you anyway.

Yeah, I know...follow my own advice....

[MartyNeilan]

...I'd also gladly sell them the pair of boxer shorts I've only worn once...

I'd like to provide an illustration....

....

[MaryAnn]

ok, counter-rant.

I've just plain given up on having tubas shipped to me for play-testing, because the sellers aren't even kindergarten graduates when it comes to packing up a tuba. The last one...came loosely floating in a box with a few peanuts, with a bunch of loose cardboard "filling in" the top of the box. Damaged, you say? What!? How could UPS/DHL/Whoever be so rough on my dear tuba? The bell is crinkled? Bottom bow have a big dent in it? How COULD they?

MA

[Chuck(G)]

As a seller, my burden is to be courteus and polite. No one likes an abusive seller and that alone will chase business away.

So, when someone makes me a ridiculous offer, I try to be as polite as I can in saying "Sorry, that's way outside of the range that I'll consider. However, I might be willing to consider something in the range of (my original asking price)." On the other hand, when I say, "or best offer", I usually mean it.

Looking at the topic from the side of the buyer, there's no harm in asking and perhaps getting a bargain is there?

Sometimes, I'll even try to bargain with local merchants if I know they've got something that isn't moving that I can use. Often, the final sales price is half of what the asking price is. My dad used to bargain for almost everything, from groceries to TV sets.

There's no room for thin skin in business dealings. If you don't like the nasty business of business, sell your instrument on consignment wtih someone who doesn't mind dickering.

[WilliamVance]

ok, counter-rant.

I've just plain given up on having tubas shipped to me for play-testing, because the sellers aren't even kindergarten graduates when it comes to packing up a tuba. The last one...came loosely floating in a box with a few peanuts, with a bunch of loose cardboard "filling in" the top of the box. Damaged, you say? What!? How could UPS/DHL/Whoever be so rough on my dear tuba? The bell is crinkled? Bottom bow have a big dent in it? How COULD they?

MA

I agree completely and don't consider this a counter rant at all. I would just like to include in the "sellers" some of our retailer friends, too. The sales folks can't control how everything is packed because it's not always their "job", but I've received some horns packed so poorly that it was a miracle that they arrived without looking like a ball of tin foil.

I'm sure rushing to complete packing, low wages, poor training, and lack of proper equipment all play a role, but for such expensive items, going the extra mile seems in order given the lack of care that the items will receive from the carriers.

Just a thought.

How could someone be bothered to spend no more than $50 for a doublewall box, bubblewrap and peanuts when a sale of thousands of dollars be at stake, or even remember to check the box and pay the $5.00 to insure it? j/k!