A Question for Sellers Here

I think sellers routinely put up with individuals who ask and ask and finally back out at the last moment. Thus, I could understand why so many of them - presumably like the on you dealt with - get fed up when a person asks a last-minute question and presume "they know where things are going". Sometimes they end up saving themselves a lot of time and headache. Sometimes (like it sounds in this case) they end up losing a valuable customer. I don't consider that a buyer owes a seller anything more than a respectable exchange of terms. If a seller is jaded to the point of believing a buyer is wasting their time, that is up to their discretion. Your mistake was an honest one, so I wouldn't hold it against yourself.

I think you may be a tad overeacting on this one Clint. I don't think many people on this forum are over uptight. With the interest on clothing as it is on this forum I think most sellers expect to be bombarded with questions (I know I personally ask a few) and its not uncommon for sellers to take additional photos and measurements on request.

How long has it been since you contacted the seller? Maybe they just haven't bothered logging in to SF or have just been away for a day or two...

I think you had a very fair question, asking for sleeve sizes is normal. It avoids a big mess later if the item doesn't work out and keeps the customer coming back. Usually if there is an item multiple sellers will have it so the distinguishing factor is service and price.

However, if there is another person interested and you are asking about negotiating price and that other person just says I will take it , I think it is fair for a seller to sell it.

I will normally tell people what order they are in asking for something
and give the first person a message before jumping to the next.

The other thing is that there is more freedom when working with a seller you know than a seller for the first time.

This is why with jackets and shirts, I always do an Interest Check, then I provide the basic measurements along with pics.
I agree that there should always be basic measurements:
Chest
Shoulders
Length (from collar and bottom of collar)
Sleeves
Belly

It takes about 45 seconds to do the basic measure of a jacket or shirt if it is hanging or flat on a table.
Equally important each buyer must know their measurements.

It is not enough to say a jacket is a 40R or a shirt is a 16.

I think the ability to interact with the seller, asking questions before buying (construction, style, etc.), getting additional measurements, additional pictures, etc is what makes buying thorough this (and other potentially similar) forum a better buying experience than ebay and online stores

This is right on the point.

I sell here heavily discounted items. Like suits that retail for $1200 sold at $300 shipped.

Pictures and measurements are normally posted. So the sales go very fast.

So IMHO there is not much to debate. If you want it you ask for it, then I reserve it for you and then I have to tell the others that could be interested that the item is taken.

I have seen also that an item can "go cold" fast. That is there are maybe 5 prospective buyers asking to buy it; I reserve it for the first that came in, and he for example makes me wait one week for payment and then comes with supplementary questions and then finally backs off. Then I put the item back for sale, and it "went cold" the interest vanished and the other 4 prospective buyers bought something else or changed their minds etc. etc.

Keep in mind that I am not a professional seller or a shop, I am just another member who happens to live near to discount shops so I buy to resell having a little margin for my time spent, a little margin that normally goes to buy some clothing items for me in the same operation. So I am not happy to get stuck with an stock of items that don't fit me. etc.

What is funny is that sometimes some buyers want to negotiate a $20 or $30 additional reduction on an item that is already discounted by $800+ and they back off if I tell them I'll give them just $10 discount instead of $20.

It is not that I am that cheap that I can't reduce it $10 more. But sometimes I am selling the item even under its cost to move it out and be able to psychologically justify for me another buying trip. So it is not really about the money but about principle. Sometimes I have to spend in paypal fees, packaging material and shipping costs on an already under cost item.


So yes. It happens, not often luckily. But when it happens I feel that the buyer is just searching for an excuse to back off graciously from the transaction as it has happened before.

For the record, you did nothing wrong on your part...I wasn't offended in any way by any of your questions. I'm simply trying to move my items as fast as possible with as little headache as possible

If you agree to a purchase price, but later ask questions about the item, it appears to the seller that your agreement to purchase the item is not as solid as he may have believed. For example, after you agreed to purchase the item, you asked about sleeve length.

The only reason you would ask about sleeve lenght AFTER agreeing to pay a price certain was so that you could back out of your agreement if the answer to your question was unsatisfactory. The seller realised this, and he reached an agreement with someone who he believed was more likely than you to actually pay for the item.

That's why sellers move on when you start asking questions about the item, AFTER you agree to the price. I think you should always ask your questions BEFORE agreeing to purchase the item.

Clint,

Don´t worry! As a seller I can certify that you are a great person to deal with and I rather have you ask before you buy then hold things against me later.

Cheers