Deadbeat Collectors

[cohibasmoker]

I believe that this topic has been discussed before - and part of this post is a repeat of what I stated in another thread earlier today in a different section of GUU Forum - but I feel that it bears repeating in its own thread as this problem seems to be getting worse.

No one likes to be strung out on a deal and left hanging out to dry. If you say that you are going to buy something and tell the seller that the payment is forthcoming, then either send the payment as promised or else be mature enough to let the seller know immediately that you had a change of heart and need to back out of the deal.

Most of us have been in the position where we had to back out of a deal, and there are usually no hard feelings on the seller's end (even if the excuse is lame). What irritates and frustrates any seller is when a buyer shows a complete lack of common courtesy and respect by failing to communicate their change of heart and then refuses to answer follow-up inquiries from the seller. Making false promises and stringing out the seller is not only unfair to the seller, it is also unfair to others who might have been interested in the item.

Here is a bit of free advice. Your word and your reputation are all that you really have in this hobby. Word gets around very quickly. Play this game enough times with enough people, and you might find yourself sitting at the same table with several other collectors guilty of this type of behavior (whose names will remain silent to protect the guilty) who are now at the point where they have a growing list of collectors and dealers who refuse to do deal with them.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for World Football League jerseys, NFL/AFL durene jerseys, Atlanta Falcons jerseys, and Willie McGee and Darren Lewis game-used items.

Mark,

I'm with you - All you're asking for is a little courtesy - I guess that's too much to ask these days.

-Just an opinion, hope I didn't offend anyone.

Jim

[brewcrew]

Mark,
I hear what you are saying, and I did not mean to be disrespectful. The point I was making is that sadly there are too many people on both sides of this hobby who don't hold up their ends of the bargain, whether financially or morally. And I'm sorry that you've had to deal with folks who have apparently failed to follow through with what they have agreed to do. That's definitely not cool.

On another board I frequent we have a feedback thread for transactions. I suppose we occasionally post feedback for folks on their C to C threads, but perhaps it would be helpful to actually create a thread (or even make it a sticky) so that people could post their positive experiences with other members during trades/purchases.

It gets a bit stickier when we start talking about the negative experiences...and as I have found, much of discovering who the bad apples are depends on who you know and who you ask. Some of that just comes with learning from bad transactions, but that shouldn't happen. You don't want to badmouth people who just had bad communication or had a misunderstanding, but I also think it's fair to folks on both sides to know who's going to jerk you around, whether they're buying or selling. I'm sure that the other people on this board who sell merchandise want to know who to avoid, just like you.

[G1X]

Jim,
You know me well. I am really quite easy and understanding - just a simple communication to cancel the transaction (not even a need to provide a detailed explanation), and an occasional "thank you" when I provide information or assistance goes a real long way with me!

brewcrew,
Thanks for your post and not taking my previous post the wrong way as no malice was intended towards you, frik, or rufusandherschel. I agree 100% with the point you were making as I've been bumped and bruised by both sides over the years. It would be nice to have a feedback system, but I can also see all of the issues it could create if it turned into a tool for negativity.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for World Football League jerseys, NFL/AFL durene jerseys, Atlanta Falcons jerseys, and Willie McGee and Darren Lewis game-used items.