Suggested Guidelines & Tips for Smooth Sales Transactions

krbsailing

krbsailing

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Unfortunately, I ran into a problem here last week....I've received a cue which is not exactly what I expected based upon the listing, pics and correspondence. The seller feels the listing was accurate and the sale is final -- we will have to agree to disagree on this point.

So, I've attempted to list some suggested guidelines & tips which I believe are routinely used by some of the successful Sellers here on AZ.

If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please post them to this thread. I'm hopeful that with these suggestions we can minimize many of these potential problems plus, help make all AZ sales transactions smooth and safe!

Seller - Suggestions:

1. List complete details and specs (see below) of your offering - New or Used. Please, disclose any marks or damage to the cue as best as possible.

2. Shipping ? Included or Not? All Countries or Limited (CONUS only)?

3. Pictures - When adding multiple pictures, please click the drop down next to the paperclip and choose "Insert All". This will allow ALL of your pictures to show without having to click on them.

4. Preferably, post an asking price with all acceptable forms of payment.

5. Subscribe to the thread - This will keep you up to date on any posts to your thread.

Specifications:

-Butt: ____ ounces, Straight or not?
-Shaft 1: ____ ounces, ____mm, ______ferrule, _______tip,
Straight or not?
-Shaft 2: ____ ounces, ____mm, ______ferrule, _______tip,
Straight or not?
-Joint: __________, Pin____________, Piloted? Wood to Wood?
Combo?
-Joint Collars: _____________________________________
-Forearm: ________________________________________
-Points: How many? Even or not?
-Veneers: How many? Colors are?
-Inlays: ________________________
-Wrap: ______________ Original? If not, installed by: _________
-Butt Sleeve: ________________________
-Points: How many? Even or not?
-Veneers: How Many? Colors are?
-Inlays: ________________________
-Buttcap: _______________
-Balance Point: __________
-Weightbolt: Yes or no?
-Logo or Signature: Yes or no? Location?
-Finish: Original or refinished?
-Joint Protectors: Included? Matching? Original or made by?
-Returns Policy: ____________________________________

Buyer - Suggestions:

1. Ask questions. If anything is omitted from the above listing - be sure to ask more questions!

2. Subscribe to the thread. This will keep you up to date on any new posts to the thread

3. Consider using an Escrow service.
 
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And accept a return if the customer isn't happy. Why should a sale here be any different than buying from a store? All sales are final is pretty stiff. I've never had a problem but I could see where it could be necessary at times.
MULLY
 
I like it

Anything we can do to make the forum a good experience for all, I'm for!

Thanks for posting this!

Ray
 
The sale is never final unless the buyer is completely satisfied IMO. This is just a good business practice.
 
Well Said!

lenoxmjs said:
The sale is never final unless the buyer is completely satisfied IMO. This is just a good business practice.
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It seems that for some reason when individuals sell something they consider ALL sales final, like it only applies to businesses.

There is nothing more valuable than your reputation! .....and I ain't talking about the green squares by your name.

Ray
 
lenoxmjs said:
The sale is never final unless the buyer is completely satisfied IMO. This is just a good business practice.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is the way honest sellers operate, but tell that to Koinnkid . . . :(

Thanks for the post Ken. BTW, my pet peeve is "I'm taking offers for the item." This is like running a silent auction, and just invites problems. If you want to sell it, put a price on it. If you're afraid it's too low, then start high and reduce. Just make up your mind and put a price on it.
Mr H
 
Mr Hoppe said:
Thanks for the post Ken. BTW, my pet peeve is "I'm taking offers for the item." This is like running a silent auction, and just invites problems. If you want to sell it, put a price on it. If you're afraid it's too low, then start high and reduce. Just make up your mind and put a price on it.
Mr H
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X2.....as another perspective buyer of cues, when someone lists they are taking offers, I take the opportunity to look elsewhere.....list a price.....some forums actually have this in their for sale rules...."posts without specs, prices, and locations will be deleted"....granted, the location is more for vehicles, but it would be nice to know the guy is local......I'd actually urge buyers to list their general location - knowing that, I could call him and meet up for the purchase.....this might actually help people sell a cue easier/quicker....my two cents :D
 
If you could add a little more detail to this it would be awesome.

1. Explain how to find the balance point.
2. Include the year the cue was manufactured.
3. Wood the shaft is made from if not maple.
4. Does the cue have joint protectors?

At the bare minimum there should be pictures of the following

1. Shafts next to the joint collar indicating they "match"
2. The whole cue with all the shafts screwed apart.
3. The joint showing the pin type and any ringwork
4. The forearm closeup with an additional pic to capture any ringwork.
5. The wrap or handle.
6. The butt sleeve capturing all relevant details including the joint cap.
7. A picture of the signature if relevant.
8. A closeup showing the forearm details.
9. A picture of any letters that go with the cue or other related items.
 
lenoxmjs said:
The sale is never final unless the buyer is completely satisfied IMO. This is just a good business practice.
Click to expand...

Exactly! I would only add that the cost of shipping be paid for by the buyer. A small price to pay for the dissatisfaction.
 
rep for you Ken for great suggestion. Shipping should pay by buyer both way unless upon aggreement. Also package should shipped back to seller the same way they shipped to you.
 
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As a buyer (not on here yet but on other forums) what turns me off is two things.

First, no price. If there is no price I don't even mess with it, I don't like to play games when it comes to buying something. If I see something that I want and it is a price I can justify then I buy it. If it is close to the price I can justify I will contact the seller and see what happens from there. If there is no price then I just move on to the next item. I don't know a lot about the value of a cue so for me to make a blind offer would be a complete waste of time for both the seller and myself.

Second is "all sales are final". I don't go for that. For all I know the pictures of the cue were taken the day before a truck ran over it. If the cue is not as described I do not feel that I should be expected to just be out the money. As a frequent seller on ebay and other forums I never take the money out of my paypal account until I have heard from the buyer or feedback has been left.
 
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Mr Hoppe said:
Yes, this is the way honest sellers operate, but tell that to Koinnkid . . . :(

Thanks for the post Ken. BTW, my pet peeve is "I'm taking offers for the item." This is like running a silent auction, and just invites problems. If you want to sell it, put a price on it. If you're afraid it's too low, then start high and reduce. Just make up your mind and put a price on it.
Mr H
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I agree on the taking offers thing.

I don't think the buyer should always be able to return a cue though. If the item is as described, received as promised, I feel the transaction is fair. If the buyer then doesn't like the way the cue plays and starts making things up to return an item, I feel that's unfair for the seller. Cue playability is too subjective, and I'd hate to see people start abusing some seller's good nature. You bought it, you sell it. Of course this is void if you thought it had a perfect finish, and the original seller didn't mention the wear and tear in the butt.

Also just to mention, I've dealt with Troy(KoinKid) on multiple occasions and never had an issue with him.
 
Hey, just because there hasn't been a problem before doesn't mean there isn't one at some point. Return, purchaser paying for shipping and/or fees associated with paypal, etc., should be a standard policy. That way, no one gets hurt and both parties are protected. If that doesn't work, then they can bare their dirty undies here for all to see. Sort of.

tim
 
maxeypad2007 said:
If you could add a little more detail to this it would be awesome.

1. Explain how to find the balance point.
2. Include the year the cue was manufactured.
3. Wood the shaft is made from if not maple.
4. Does the cue have joint protectors?

At the bare minimum there should be pictures of the following

1. Shafts next to the joint collar indicating they "match"
2. The whole cue with all the shafts screwed apart.
3. The joint showing the pin type and any ringwork
4. The forearm closeup with an additional pic to capture any ringwork.
5. The wrap or handle.
6. The butt sleeve capturing all relevant details including the joint cap.
7. A picture of the signature if relevant.
8. A closeup showing the forearm details.
9. A picture of any letters that go with the cue or other related items.
Click to expand...


Also, when taking pictures of the cue, use a neutral background.
 
The biggest problem I have is trying to keep everything straight between the user name and the paypal name. I' m dealing with 8-10 and more people at the same time and receiving money, it takes quite awhile to figure out who pay and for what set. Plus you add the e-bay stuff my wife does, and now we are up to 15-20 at the same time and each person has 2 or 3 different names. I'm old and confuse easily. Jim
 
If you are buying or selling a pool table please put the location in the thread title.

On an unrelated forum that is well run, if you post an item for sale without a price it will be deleted!
 
I think you will be happier with the package I just sent your way, and it's hard to beat the price.--Leonard
 
"Buyer's Suggestions" ...

I would like to add that "Buyer's Remorse" is NOT an excuse for returning a Cue ... Although I am not party to the (afore-mentioned) so-called "unsatifactory" transaction, I must add that I've had at least two deals go sour because the Buyer changed their mind after the sale and wanted a refund ... In one case, the Buyer deliberately damaged the Cue, then complained to PayPal who promptly "robbed" me of $1275.00 ... After the Cue was returned, I shipped it to the Maker who immediately called me to say it had certainly been purposely broken and was not repairable ... PayPal said they didn't give a damn about my broken Cue ...

ALL SALES FINAL means just that, period ...
 
Definitely Not Buyer's Remorse....

Str8PoolPlayer said:
I would like to add that "Buyer's Remorse" is NOT an excuse for returning a Cue ... Although I am not party to the (afore-mentioned) so-called "unsatifactory" transaction, I must add that I've had at least two deals go sour because the Buyer changed their mind after the sale and wanted a refund ... In one case, the Buyer deliberately damaged the Cue, then complained to PayPal who promptly "robbed" me of $1275.00 ... After the Cue was returned, I shipped it to the Maker who immediately called me to say it had certainly been purposely broken and was not repairable ... PayPal said they didn't give a damn about my broken Cue ...

ALL SALES FINAL means just that, period ...
Click to expand...


....in this particular case, I thought I bought a really nice cue for $1K; but, I received a cue which has a chip out of the buttcap, chips in the finish on a joint, dings in both shafts, joint protectors that don't match which also have finish issues, etc. -- nothing was disclosed in the thread = unsatisfactory to me :scratchhead:
 
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