Question regarding forum etiquette…

[kbraker]

Is it against forum policies in outing registered members who have scammed other members? Complete with description of situations, forum names and email addresses. I understand and agree that it would be gauche, but possibly necessary.

[srick]

From our FAQ:

The Classifieds section of this forum is provided as a secondary courtesy to allow you to place classifieds for guitar-related items for sale. We do not provide a secure transaction environment. The actual transactions and interactions are, and should be, entirely separate from this forum. This is NOT a trading community. As a result, since it is part of the transaction, transaction feedback, positive and negative, is NOT WELCOME.

So feedback on transactions is not allowed. Because there are two sides to every story, there is no way that AGF can serve as the arbiter of these issues.

Rick

AGF Moderator

[kbraker]

Thanks for the clarity Rick. I wasn’t wholly intending to take someone over the coals. I put myself into a situation that is more than frustrating. In reality I have no one to blame but myself . Thank you for the the guidance.

[srick]

Sure thing K.

I think most of us have found ourselves caught in situations like this, no matter how careful we try to be. Sorry that you got caught in a bad situation and I hope you were able to get some resolution.

[kbraker]

None as of yet. Despite my efforts, both good and bad, it is a stalwart.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by kbraker

None as of yet. Despite my efforts, both good and bad, it is a stalwart.

standoff? stalemate?

[kbraker]

*stalemate. Sorry.

[Murphy Slaw]

Wait.

There's such a thing?

[dbintegrity]

Unfortunately, dealing with online guitar (Forum) sales and trades is very difficult. I got the raw end of a deal a few years back, cost me 2k to recover... its the cost of being trusting... I now limit who I buy from, to well known forumites... Any trade offers to me must be in my hands to look at, before my guitar gets shipped out... its too bad we have to be that way, I know I would never want someone disappointed with something I sold them, thus they would always have an out with me, but other sellers don't particularly care... so you have to protect yourself.

[LAPlayer]

Originally Posted by dbintegrity

.. Any trade offers to me must be in my hands to look at, before my guitar gets shipped out... its too bad we have to be that way,

Why is that "too bad". When someone wants to trade you a guitar for a guitar you have for sale, their "trade" is their payment. Would you send out your guitar to anyone else who hasn't "paid" for your guitar? When I place a guitar for sale, I get trade offers all the time, on Reverb for example.

First, why would I take someone's uninspected unwanted guitar for a known guitar I have for sale? Second, even if I wanted their trade (which I would have already purchased if I wanted) why would I/you/anyone ship off their property without any security or payment?????? Unless, of course, they were a trusted friend, family or well-known dealer. They are offering their property for payment - so that payment must be received prior to thinking about shipping my (the seller's) property.

The only other viable option, to me, is if the offer was to send their instrument to a trusted intermediary (escrow) for me to inspect and evaluate, and leave my guitar with that intermediary for them to inspect and ship off to their client - if the trade worked out.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by srick

From our FAQ:



So feedback on transactions is not allowed. Because there are two sides to every story, there is no way that AGF can serve as the arbiter of these issues.

Rick

AGF Moderator

Good rule for protection of the casual seller, but there are sellers that are really guitar vendors who hide behind their "forum member" badge that sell guitar after guitar after guitar on the forum. These "members" should be identified as vendors and fair game for discussing their customer service, just as Guitar Center, Sweetwater, Sam Ash, etc. issues are discussed. I think it is a loophole that should be addressed.

[kbraker]

My situation was over some guitar strings. Small potatoes sure, but money is money. I did have a possible transaction on bass forum. I’m we had an agreed price to meet in person. When he showed, 20 mins late, he tried to lowball me with cash. When I said no, he wanted to try the bass anyway. He said my bass was faulty because it wasn’t working through his amp. Sometimes it not worth the hassle with people. This forum doesn’t take to deceit very well and people know that.

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by srick

So feedback on transactions is not allowed. Because there are two sides to every story, there is no way that AGF can serve as the arbiter of these issues.

Darn, I just had a positive experience with an AGF transaction and would have liked to say so.

I can see why negative feedback is disallowed, but maybe positive feedback should be allowed. It gives (at least an anecdotal) indication of one's trustworthiness....

[LAPlayer]

Originally Posted by kbraker

...I’m we had an agreed price to meet in person. When he showed, 20 mins late, he tried to lowball me with cash. When I said no, he wanted to try the bass anyway. He said my bass was faulty because it wasn’t working through his amp. Sometimes it not worth the hassle with people. This forum doesn’t take to deceit very well and people know that.

That's why I never "meet" anywhere but where the item is for sale. They might not show, they might be late, you're on neutral turf (or theirs) and have already spent the time to get there............ nope. The item is for sale, as is, where is. That's how it was advertised and that's where the sale happens. Added: As a buyer, I plan on going where the item and seller are.