On the topic of internet buying/selling

[84c10]

Let me start off by saying I hope nobody tries to turn this into a flame post specific to certain transactions. I think it would be interesting to get an idea of opinions form different members on what their idea of a "normal" internet transaction is and what they've experienced thus far.

As far as mine goes: Some sellers are very quick to respond, eager to close a deal but then after money changes hands, it becomes at their leasure when things get finished off. This would be true on probably 80% of the stuff I ever bought. Some people are very busy so its hard to get ahold of them, but once the check arrives the stuff is here almost immediately. I'd have to say it was only like one or two times that Emails werequickly responded to and the stuff sent immediate. The inverse on this is also true with alot of buyers. Some of them ask for prices and shipping quotes, then you dont hear anything for weeks until they pop up and get upset that you had sold something to another party not having heard from them in a long time. Others like to keep saying "the check is in the mail" but when it gets there its only dated a day or two before lol. My favorite is the ones who wait a little while and try to change the price that was agreed on after, thats why you save the emails... this one usually happens with people who show up to get theitems themselves. I've managed to have a few good dealings locally speaking, including one recently (sorry I missed your call yesterday Harry if you're reading this lol). Anyways, just trying to get an idea of what "normal" seems to be here, and vendors can feel free to respond too. They get caught up in things and busy just like the rest of us so I assume they have their share of occasional problems as well.

Just my rant and two cents etc, but interested in what others have experienced. Just to set an informal rule here amongst ourselves, I dont think anyone should post specific names and instances

 

[myclone]

Ive purchased everything from $2 model train do dads to the dually in my sig off the net and have to say the 80% figure is accurate for the most part in my case. However, it seems to me that purchasing the bigger ticket items (like autos) can be dicey because the sellers idea of "excellent/mint condition" might not be YOUR idea of excellent if you purchase without seeing it in person.

Also, IMO it pays to learn to read between the lines of an ad and look over any/all photos VERY closely. Photos can hide a lot but if you educate yourself on what to look for then youre already one step ahead. I also wont deal with mom n pop type car dealers as I have yet to find one that didnt try to purposely misrepresent a vehicle in a big way and the bigger dealers have enough sales that they dont need to flat out lie. Not that I dont think the bigger dealers are thieves too but they dont have to make every penny of their profit off of one or two cars.

In my experience part vendors are usually timely in their transactions but good communication by both parties involved seem to be the key. Goofing up your shipping addy or other important info is not the vendors fault and only adds time to the entire transaction as well as customer needs to understand that an internet store is usually a part time deal for most ppl. They have regular jobs/lives they must attend to first so your ~$12 part isnt top priority every single waking minute for them.

Lastly, mistakes happen and life throws you a curve sometimes so both parties need to understand that and that their is nothing that can be done at times. An understanding customer goes a long way toward a vendor being more willing to go to great lengths to help out any way possible. This goes for vendors too as a vendor who is understanding usually gains a customer for life. Least thats the way I look at it because if a vendor is honest with me on shipping delays or what have you then I feel comfortable that they will be on the up and up in the future. Hence, I will spend money with them again.

My .02

 

[bruce]

Luckily I rarely have to deal with anyone that I haven't meet at Bowling Green. To a man, I've never had a problem with a TR vendor, that I've shook his hand. None. That said, I also investigate what I'm buying before hand, and I understand what a warrantee/ guarantee mean, to include the phrase, Racing Parts, and for Off Road Use Only. Not as a dig, but it seems some folks like to holler about things, that should just be written off. Life ain't fair, parts break, IMO.

Knock wood, I haven't been bitten on ebay.
I'd won an I/C on ebay and once I saw who the seller was passed on the deal. Tony somethin, and his reputation was well established on the TR boards, so a pass was just a common sense thing.


Buying parts, means being an informed/ smart shopper.
And sometimes emotion can let you make the wrong desicion, a too good of deal, just might be just that.