[Closed] Is it bad form to comment on classified adverts?

By all means email the seller directly but any comment along the lines of "you want how much?" or "I can get that cheaper at CRC" is considered poor form.

Well there goes my evening then. 😉

comment away, whats the worst that can happen?

I think I actually commented on this one ages ago and no price change or reply. Not wanting to be a douche but for some reason it annoys me.

Is it something you might want?

If so, email them with your estimate of its value, if they turn you down, nevermind.

There was the great Classifieds Conference of Todmorden in 1271, in the presence of Pope Mark, and all the Cardinals of Bigg Hittering at which it was decreed that Classifieds users are lost souls with no godly right to guidance. And that the heathen that dwell in that foul place shall caveat their emptors, and the enlightened will not pass high words of advice on pain of smiting or banhammering. And so it came to pass, that the traders did shill their overpriced tat, and nothing more was said.

Lemme guess, is it a carbon specialized? Maybe 650b?

Yep, selling stuff for what it cost new 18 months ago and listing some laughable rrp is all good, pointing it out puts you on a par with Jimmy Saville.

It's nothing I want it's just a minor annoyance I notice everytime I look on the classifieds. I couldn't possibly ailment on which popular wheel sizes frame from a major manufacturer it is. But yes.

I had to smile when I noticed that a wildly overpriced jersey (£50 and used) had made its way onto here from a local FB group that I use.

Don't get stressed, just take comfort in the fact that STW users are the stingiest around and the offending items have no chance of selling.

Slightly OT but there are similar optimists on ebay. A certain Litespeed Niota Ti 26" wheel frame has been relisted at least five times at the same price........
I have it on my watch list just to see how long it will be popping up for. I might be interested if it were half the price ( which I guess confirms the stingy comment above)

Beautifully said Stoner
Its a strange one there were to items i was interested in last week but both were , literally, available new for cheaper

Given how vocal i was, at the conference mentioned by Stoner, I knew saying something risked the ban hammering mentioned above. Shame as I may have bought them assuming they have halved their price.

I guess the classified drives views hence why we cannot comment when they are trying to rip folk off

Hairyscary wouldn't let me pay him anything yesterday. Wouldn't even take postage costs the stingey get. I'd have commented if I wasnae so a feared o' the hammer of bannage.

Always makes me laugh the money people ask for on there. Why waste your time though, pointing out how they're wasting theirs?

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£5 posted, PPG WW?

Slightly miffed that an item I wanted to buy off someone got ignored. Posted on the thread, emailed, FB messaged and then see he has relisted it!

Couldn't give my money away!

All is well as I ended up buying a different one 🙂

The sidewinder gloves that have a description befitting of a 5 pound pair of gloves?

repaired and a bit tatty.....i admired the honesty.

They started at about 25 quid each.

I then chuckled.

[quote=johnw1984 ]Slightly miffed that an item I wanted to buy off someone got ignored. Posted on the thread, emailed, FB messaged and then see he has relisted it!
Couldn't give my money away!
All is well as I ended up buying a different one A couple of times, I've replied to a "Wanted" post with something I was happy to give away for postage cost and still got no answer. It's those folk that say "email me at "...". Nah - just look at the bloody thread you started moran!

I wish people would do it more to be honest .

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Some people are in no rush to sell and just trying to find a buyer who has done zero research. See it on eBay all the time with used items with a Buy It Now price higher than brand new. They all show up in the same results so doesn't take much research to spot the new items that are cheaper.

Having said that I have sold used items listed as auctions and they have sold for more than you could get them new (found by a quick Google search) so not much I can do about that. Fools and money etc,.

Every so often there's on one etc stuff that I think was very similar money to when it was discounted new.

Got stung with this one years ago. Someone selling an arm load of half used tyres under the banner statement of 'buy one of these to give them a test before shelling out to buy new'. Only snag was they were priced way above what anyone with google and single digit could find new from pretty much every store. Instead of private messaging I commented below that I was interested in X,Y&Z if he could come up with a price that reflected their actual retail price and the (self confessed half worn) condition. That unleashed a shitfest of expletive ridden emails and abusive comments from both him and other classified regulars.

That and a couple of poor experiences with tossers (one as a buyer, one as a seller) and sadly I concluded classified now has too many throbbers on it for my liking and tbh I'm not in so much need financially to bother with the hassle of second hand parts so have not ventured into Mordor for a good while.

I do remember (when it was all fields) and classified was mostly folk emptying sheds at a price that was better than putting the stuff in the bin but was barely mates rates. Then ebay happened and all the cheap mates rates stuff was bought up by opportunists and shoved on the bay and the happy bubble burst.

Every so often there's on one etc stuff that I think was very similar money to when it was discounted new.

As said make people an offer.

If you want to spend your life trawling through and price matching on classifieds then take a look at yourself.

Slightly different approach in HK where on a popular FB Bike classified page people will openly proclaim if the item can be bought elsewhere and even provide where to get these items on occasion.
Prospective buyers will often be asked for the item to be held in the comments section and then not follow up leading to the thread being constitutionally updated with either 'on hold' or 'still available'.

Aren't we forgetting the first rule? Check poster's history. Classified only poster seems to exempt them from sympathy/tact. Ime

TBH, if I'm selling something and it's way over-valued I'd rather someone let me know than have me constantly reposting it.

Maybe make it a rule that only Premier members can comment. It's not like the opinions of the riff-raff really matter.

Nothing wrong with commenting in my view. If the ads were actually ads (where someone has paid for media space to reach a given audience) then complainers may have a point, but this isn't the case – it's an open forum with a section dedicated to passing on unwanted bits.

[i]Nothing wrong with commenting in my view.[/i]

It used to be quite common but the mods got fed up moderating so it was banned.

There were a few long running advertisers who defended asking more than retail for second hand stuff despite sometimes repeated posts with good intentions telling them they'd never sell it at the price.

"I did sell it in the end so Nah! to you"
"Yes, but not through stw and not what you were asking for it on here"
"Well, yes. but still Nah!"

My particular fav at the moment is the stump jumper frame for £1500 poster has had it pointed out that he is more money than can be bought for new with a manufacturers warranty. But still insists on reposting saying he is not bothered....eh?

My particular fav at the moment is the stump jumper frame for £1500 poster has had it pointed out that he is more money than can be bought for new with a manufacturers warranty. But still insists on reposting saying he is not bothered....eh?

It has been known for folk to be told by their other half the bike has to go for mortgage/baby/calamity reasons. You put it up for sale at an unreasonable price, have evidence to show the boss that you are trying happy in the knowledge it's never going to leave your shed.

Need bike jumble sale, tons of decent stuff in the shed but can't be bothered with the posting etc that the classifieds entails.

I think it is fair game, keeps sellers on their toes and and all that 😆

There are a few odd ones in the classifieds that I never understand.

My part is broken but "only needs a XXX" and it will be as good as new. I will therefore sell it to you for 50% of the RRP.

I have half a well used gear cable, its a bit tatty but will do for somebody. 5p and it is yours if you cover the postage or happen to be in Redditch on a bank holiday Tuesday between 3:00 and 3:02.

I may, possibly, perhaps, potentially sell my bike but I am not sure so I wont put any photos, the spec or the size and will see who wants to buy it.

And my personal favourite, I have a YYY for sale, £10. 6 replies to say they will take it but the seller then goes offline for 5 weeks before relisting it 3 months later.

😀

I've been on the receiving end of this type of comment once. When I advertise stuff, I generally price it to sell so it's not hanging about.

I had a pack of 32mm bottomless tokens spare (when they were like hen's teeth). I advertised them for what I paid (unopened) with free carriage.

A user kindly posted the amazon link where I actually purchased them from and said "they are that much brand new".

I basically said that's really helpful to people who want to wait for 3 months for delviery. Sold them within hours. I wouldn't mind but it was only about £12 with free post 🙂

This was on Bikeradar (I was naive back then).

Nah - just look at the bloody thread you started moran!

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I like when someone advertises for sale some lovingly assembled, ti-framed, bling-encrusted, matching-everything bike for some entirely reasonable fraction of its RRP and you get comments along the lines of "Interested in the valve dust caps if you decide to split."

For me if something's inaccurate- not necessarily as far as dishonest, though that applies too, just inaccurate- then it's fair game.

Every so often I really want to post "these are awesome, someone buy them" or "you ****, I just bought some of these new"

Stoner +1 - nicely put.

The response of Mark et al to posting of justified comments on classified ads threads which might protect other "community" members, and even help people sell their stuff faster, a few years ago, was when I realised that this place was not actually really a "community" in the eyes of Singletrack Towers.

Which is fine - their house, their rules. Still don't understand why given that the posters of ads aren't paying for the priveledge... hey ho...

I do remember (when it was all fields) and classified was mostly folk emptying sheds at a price that was better than putting the stuff in the bin but was barely mates rates. Then ebay happened and all the cheap mates rates stuff was bought up by opportunists and shoved on the bay and the happy bubble burst.

+1

Old STW - a load of middle class people clearing out their sheds of UN72 BB's, King headsets and other bling trinkets for cheap (ebay - 15%)

New STW - a load of chancers who've been told on Pinkbike, Bikeradar and Facebook that STW is full of middle class bike riders and will pay over the odds for anything. I doubt there's even enough 'genuine STW' stuff on there anymore to make it worthwhile trawling with the intention of selling it on ebay.

I've never really understood the classified section on here. When I started I just assumed it was the place where members of the "community" traded their stuff, but that's clearly not the case. A quick look at the posting history reveals a number of people who seem to be basically small-time traders and who are just using the classified section to get free access to a large pool of potential buyers. Given the current stance on "sponsored riders" punting their videos, it seems strange that this is allowed to continue, but maybe it does drive new traffic to the site or something.

I've sold a few things recently as a result of comments in the main forum. In all cases the process has been smooth and pleasant (hopefully on both sides 🙂 ). Personally I'm not looking to rip anybody off. Knowing that an item is being used and enjoyed by somebody rather than cluttering up my shed is worth more than a few extra quid, but if I can get some funds to help finance my next flight of fancy then so much the better.

thisisnotaspoon - Member

New STW - a load of chancers who've been told on Pinkbike, Bikeradar and Facebook that STW is full of middle class bike riders and will pay over the odds for anything.

I used to mod Bikeradar's classifieds, it was much more "businesslike" than STW classifieds. And Pinkbike ime consistently gives higher prices, and stuff sells there I wouldn't even bother listing here.

I do like the current "Rare slot dropout 26" inbred" Hang on a minute, the most popular single speed frame ever made is "rare"?

I suspect that one might run for a while.

[i] basically small-time traders and who are just using the classified section to get free access to a large pool of potential buyers. Given the current stance on "sponsored riders" punting their videos, it seems strange that this is allowed to continue, but maybe it does drive new traffic to the site or something.[/i]

There is a 'no traders rule' - a few have been banned for it over the years. If you think someone's trading then email the mods - they won't be checking unless pointed at a specific account.

I did wonder if there should be a 1 ad per hundred forum posts rule or something but I think we'd end up with lots of duff(er) forum posts...

I realised that this place was not actually really a "community" in the eyes of Singletrack Towers.

But the rule that is in place came from the community. It was asked for and we responded. The classifieds is where the vast majority of moderation happens every day. Moderators do not step in when that rule is broken - they only respond if the OP reports it.

The principal is sound. If you have an interest in buying the item then engage with the seller to your hearts content. If you don't then don't.

Do you contact Wiggle to tell them that X is cheaper on Evans website? Yes, I imagine you do, if you are planning to buy it. But do you deliberately browse the Wiggle site to find prices of stuff that are cheaper elsewhere and then tell them when you have no intention of buying? Of course you don't. That would make you a bit odd.

The exact same principal applies here and the rule was implemented because quite incredibly, there ARE people here who like to trawl through the classifieds deliberately searching the internet for places that are selling X for less as if the people who are actually interested are so incapable of doing that for themselves.

The rule works. Moderation issues are down, sellers and buyers seem quite content. The only people who aren't are the self appointed classified vigilantes who don't get to play their very odd game of googling the prices of things for sale in a classifieds forum on a bike site.

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😉

To the topic, I agree with Mark, except when there's a blatant attempt to mis-sell something in which case I'd say it's fair game.

There is a 'no traders rule' - a few have been banned for it over the years. If you think someone's trading then email the mods - they won't be checking unless pointed at a specific account.

Thanks and fair points Mark. To be fair, it probably isn't really "traders" just people whose only interaction with the site seems to be to sell us their stuff.

My perception is the issue came from a community of sellers who didn't post in the other sections and got upset that their unpaid-for ads were being challenged by people who [i]might [/i]actually be giving some dosh to you. And that rather than warning people who might have been so sad as to spoil things repeatedly, a one-size-fits-all-rule was imposed. If you had a PM function here, people could have communicated issues privately, but you don't.

But it's your gaff. I'm not complaining, just sharing a perception.

The only people who aren't are the self appointed classified vigilantes who don't get to play their very odd game of googling the prices of things for sale in a classifieds forum on a bike site.

Name and shame!

There are quite a few adverts not just on here, where the item is cheaper new.

It's up to the buyer (beware).

I try to sell my parts for reasonable prices but I never get them myself lol except when buying in a sale (new).

Also find that parts sell quickly compared to whole bikes - common sense I guess.

There is a 'no traders rule' - a few have been banned for it over the years.

While we are talking about bad form and classifieds, can we ban the coming into the main forum to (not so) subtly generate interest to an ad in the classifieds.

'How much is this/would this be worth?'
'Why isn't this selling?'
'Classifieds are a bit slow at the moment...'

Pretty please?

But the rule that is in place came from the community. It was asked for and we responded

That said, mods are volunteers, and its an easy rule to enforce and I suspect that played as big a part as right and wrong. Its a practical solution that is easy to enforce.

I think the comparison with actual shops is a little unfair as its a market. I think we would all say to the car boot trader Bloody hell mate that is steep I can get that cheaper new especially if someone we knew was speaking to them.

sellers and buyers seem quite content. The only people who aren't are the self appointed classified vigilantes who don't get to play their very odd game of googling the prices of things for sale in a classifieds forum on a bike site.

Its your forum and the rule wont be changing

I do think its decent of you to allow dissent on here - probably more than I would if I were you tbh.

I think they are trying to stop "friends" from being ripped off and that is a pretty uncharitable description of them.

Surely the seller should do this as they want to sell rather than "rip folk off"

One of those the debate has been done the decision has been made
Its STW consensus wont break out

He's finally dropped the price!

I've had people make comments on my ads along the lines of too pricey or something like that, and then the stuff sells to someone else the next week...

I've also been amazed what some people are happy to pay for - used tyres, inner tubes, chainrings etc.

This is the beauty of capitalism - one buyer and one seller happy to come to an agreement and everyone's a winner!

So everyone's entitled to an opinion but personally I wouldn't spend time making comments on someone else's pricing/selling strategy - none of my business really. If I do want something and I think it's overpriced then I'll make an offer...

If you think those gloves are too expensive then go ahead and make me an offer and they'll no longer be there for you to get yourself in a lather over 🙂 Like Mark says I think it's a bit odd that people are so obsessed about it!

I once bought a new, labels attached, jacket off of Jamie at something like 5% off what he paid for it, as he [s]couldn't be bothered to take it back[/s] wondered if a stwer was after one, about a dozen folk chimed in with what a mug I was/monster he was 😆

convert - Member
My particular fav at the moment is the stump jumper frame for £1500 poster has had it pointed out that he is more money than can be bought for new with a manufacturers warranty. But still insists on reposting saying he is not bothered....eh?
It has been known for folk to be told by their other half the bike has to go for mortgage/baby/calamity reasons. You put it up for sale at an unreasonable price, have evidence to show the boss that you are trying happy in the knowledge it's never going to leave your shed.

I have always disagreed with the no commenting saying it's a ripoff rule...

Until now!

This entire thread was started regarding that frame. As I posted above - he's finally dropped the price! A bit.