Thread: Grading Standard for Classifieds

I posted my first add in the classifieds a couple of days ago and was torn when asked to provide an overall condition of the razor. The blade itself has no rust/pitting/stains on it, but there are a couple of marks around the pivot. I chose to rate the razor at the lower Good, instead of Great. I then tried to take ample pictures of the blade.

Some sort of guidelines would be much appreciated.

It is a good idea and the chart is good but I do agree with Utopian as I too have razors that are cosmetically challenged with a bit of surface corrosion but are great shavers. I guess that as long as a price point is up to the seller and not dictated by parameters within the grading standard the seller can list the item for what he feels it is worth and the buyer can take it or leave it. To me the satisfaction guaranteed is the important thing.

I have to apologize for this ahead of time but I am going to digress into a Rant here....

I personally don't agree one bit here, I think any system other than the Gentleman's system is a bad, bad, idea and is sliding down a slippery slope....
You either establish a reputation or you don't, you are either honest or your not, I guess I have an automatic knee jerk reaction to "Rules" of any sort....

I realize that things have changed in the last year or so, with a HUGE influx of new members, and some of those members are selling razors that they really have not the slightest idea of what they are doing... But still before somebody slaps down a chunk of change it is ultimately the buyers responsibility to check out what he is getting himself into...

The ultimate thing here is for each seller or provider of services needs to go out of their way to establish their own rep... I learned this from Joe Chandler way back when...

You want to establish yourself as a Honemiester then offer to do some work for free, pay it forward, and help out somebody that is having a problem, they will tell people how good your edges are...

Want to establish yourself as a restorer then again help out, and restore some blades and donate them to the giveaways, let those that receive them brag on your abilities...

If you are just going to join the forum and try and jump in and make some quick cash, basically you are a re-seller and guess what, this forum will know very quickly, and they will spread the word....

end of rant

6gun,

Good rant and well said. I agree, for what that's worth.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think any system other than the Gentleman's system is a bad, bad, idea and is sliding down a slippery slope....

Right now it is already mandated that members choose between poor, fair, good, great, and excellent when posting an ad. Is it best to improve on that or remove that requirement for sellers when posting ads? I'm not sure what alternative your opinion is driving at - or maybe that it's fine as is

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Right now it is already mandated that members choose between poor, fair, good, great, and excellent when posting an ad. Is it best to improve on that or remove that requirement for sellers when posting ads? I'm not sure what alternative your opinion is driving at - or maybe that it's fine as is

Lee I have to apologize to you personally here and now... I by no means meant to offend you in any way, you do tons of great things on SRP and this is just another one that you are just trying to help out on... and trust me, it is appreciated....

I see your point of trying to implement a standard grading system, but I also see where that one step might lead, that is what worries me... I was not in favor of the classifieds in general as it made selling razors etc: a separate entity from the general forum, I see where it was needed because we have grown so large... I just fear when the classifieds are just another e-bay, that, I never want to see... So when we take steps to "standardize" sales here lets do so very, very, carefully...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Lee I have to apologize to you personally here and now... I by no means meant to offend you in any way, you do tons of great things on SRP and this is just another one that you are just trying to help out on... and trust me, it is appreciated....

Thanks Glen, but rest assured I know you mean no offense. You're class all the way around. My initial response to your rant was one of surprise!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I see your point of trying to implement a standard grading system, but I also see where that one step might lead, that is what worries me... I was not in favor of the classifieds in general as it made selling razors etc: a separate entity from the general forum, I see where it was needed because we have grown so large... I just fear when the classifieds are just another e-bay, that, I never want to see... So when we take steps to "standardize" sales here lets do so very, very, carefully...

Yes, I had forgotten about that. I see where you're coming from with that and it makes sense and now your rant makes more sense to me as well I do believe though that a gentleman can use a chart or guide as easily as someone who is not a gentleman - whether or not it invites abuse I dunno, maybe such a system would embolden the rare shady member

Thanks for clarifying!

I do think it would help sellers new to straight shaving who are more likely to unpurposely misrepresent a razor describe its condition accurately. I don't see how this empowers a non-gentlemanly attitude.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I personally don't agree one bit here, I think any system other than the Gentleman's system is a bad, bad, idea and is sliding down a slippery slope....

Yup. That is also the prevalent super mod opinion.

I actually agree with Glen, in a non-ranting way. I think the grade scale that is currently in the classifieds is a perfect opportunity for the "gentlemen's code" to work within.

If I have a razor that is a great shaver, like a Genco I sold there last week, but has some cosmetic issues (the blade leaned to the left, there was some minor inactive pitting) I'm not going to say it's "excellent", or maybe even "very good". However, being primarily interested in getting whiskers off my face and helping others to do the same, I'm not going to list a razor like that as something like "restorable" or "fair". So I listed it as "good", made a note that it was a very good shaver, posted some pics that were as clear as I could get, made notes of the razor'd defects and went my merry way.

I've since heard back from the buyer that he was perfectly satisfied with my description of the razor and the shave it provided.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a perfect Gentlemen's solution on a Gentlemen's forum. Sure, some may stretch the rating system that now exists, but it will come back to bite them eventually. Far better, I think, to allow gentlemen to act like gentlemen and establish a reputation as such.