Clasifieds policy change: 'Best offer' is no longer permitted

I have updated the classifieds policy with the following:

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Due to the rise of ebay-type sellers who are using the Classifieds to offload questionable items, at any price they can get, we will no longer allow 'best offer' ads.
The problem with these best offer ads is that it is hard for inexperienced people to make a good offer. they are likely to bid too much, and simply be ripped off.

And as we already stated earlier, we want this to be a place where even newbies can shop in trust, rather than having to go through the ebay school of hard knocks.
After all, the classifieds is not supposed to be a private storefront.

If sellers post their asking price, they will be forced to use realistic prices or expect a flood of messages and mails. And if a seller doesn't know how to come up with a reasonable price for an item. he can always ask a more experienced member, or wait until he is more experienced.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no way for us to restrict the option to make a best offer add.
this means that we will have to moderate this ourselves.
So don't start any ads with best offer. If you do, we will contact you to edit the ad.
If you notice someone with a 'best offer' ad, please contact either the seller himself or -if you are uncomfortable doing so- contact a mod.

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To me, "Best Offer" always meant I am maybe willing to take less than my asking price, not as on ebay being more than my starting price.

Tony

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

To me, "Best Offer" always meant I am maybe willing to take less than my asking price, not as on ebay being more than my starting price.

Tony

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I think here the problem is not "or best offer". It's just "best offer" with no asking price at all?

I find it annoying when a seller doesn't have his asking price listed. Glad to see this policy put into effect.

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Originally Posted by Quick

I think here the problem is not "or best offer". It's just "best offer" with no asking price at all?

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That would make sense. I agree everyone should state a price but see no issue with "or best offer". Without it I assume a firm price and am not the type to bargain otherwise and possibly insult the seller. With it I make a choice immediately, if it looks worth the original price and i don't want to lose it I pay full price. If on the fence and willing to take a chance "or best offer" tells me it is worth tendering a reasonable offer.

Just a "best offer" with no price just looks like someone fishing.

Tony

It's a positive change from my perspective, which goes to prove that we have a great administrative team :tu

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

That would make sense. I agree everyone should state a price but see no issue with "or best offer". Without it I assume a firm price and am not the type to bargain otherwise and possibly insult the seller. With it I make a choice immediately, if it looks worth the original price and i don't want to lose it I pay full price. If on the fence and willing to take a chance "or best offer" tells me it is worth tendering a reasonable offer.

Just a "best offer" with no price just looks like someone fishing.

Tony

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That is correct. the problem is that we don't have an 'or best offer' option. Best offer is what you'd get if you did not enter a price.
And we've had a lot of fishing lately.

Best offer is not a problem if the buyer and seller are experienced enough, or if the item is of such value that the inexperienced offer is unlikely to be too high.
Inexperienced sellers, selling junk razors with bad descriptions is / was the current problem.

i see that post is gone...i was just about to ask that guy what the hell he was trying to do?!?

anyway i agree i think that this change is for the best personally i would only buy from a person with the upwards of hundreds of posts. To buy from a seller on here with only like 2 is kind of obvious i think but good thinking admins :rock:

He was a spammer. Now he is gone.

OUTSTANDING:tu Great decision, if someone has something to sell-THEY KNOW what they want for it. B.O. is BS:D

I agree with this policy. If somebody would like to sell something and they really don't know the value, they can PM one of the "old guys" on the SRP and get a good reading on value.

this is great. i had a discussion about this in the chatroom one night. stayed friendly, but still an issue till now for me. thanks mods.

vgod

Thanks again mods for maintaining the high degree of integrity we all appreciate at SRP.