27 replies to this topic

[wolster]

This is not the first time this has been mentioned but many of us here get frustrated in doing research in the classifieds when the sale price on listed items gets replaced with the word 'SOLD'.
We do not need to know the final negotiated price but the original asking price is useful, particularly for newer members finding there way and searching for price guidance.

My suggestion is simply that the classifieds sticky post for For Sale guidelines includes a request that the sale price be left intact when an item is sold.

In a perfect world, 'SOLD' could be added to the title of an item but we are unable to edit titles.

Should a change to the guidelines be considered, then I also suggest that the 'Donation' paragraph be moved to the top where members might read it.

[Yamaha Man]

+1........

[sjay]

i added sold to mine because i thought it was the done thing around here and when in rome......

anyway, i have now put my sold prices back up because i also find it annoying....

it will certainly help us track market values and fluctuations etc...

Peace

[Tony M]

I totally agree, Wolster, even though sometimes it's better not to know about the bargains I've missed out on.

However, I think this has been suggested before. Anyway, it can't hurt to have another go.

[Jventer]

+1
Fully agree

[Telecine]

+1 It would be very helpful if this could be done.

[cfcjb]

I don't disagree with your suggestion, but regardless of the sale price, an item is always subject to supply and demand.
What you get for a sale is what the market will bear and so as you say, it is only a price guide and not to be taken as gospel.

J.

[Whatmore]

Agree in general, but sometimes the seller may not want to disclose the price (eg if it ends up selling at a very low price)

[kdoot]

This is why I changed mine to say "SOLD (for $xxxx)"



If only there were four digits involved. In reality I think it's only been three. Bummer.

[wolster]

Agree in general, but sometimes the seller may not want to disclose the price (eg if it ends up selling at a very low price)

My suggestion was for the original asking price only.

[brumby]

Agree in general, but sometimes the seller may not want to disclose the price (eg if it ends up selling at a very low price)

I too agree totally with Wolster on this.

Whatmore, the OP did not suggest that the actual sales price be revealed. He merely suggested that the asking price at the time of the sale be left in the ad. The actual price at which the item changed hands is nobody's business except those involved in the transaction.

Surely the simple addition of a prominent SOLD at the top of the original ad would be the way to go. I know that many SNA sellers already do this. I have always done it. I think it should become standard practice.

[JA]

This is not the first time this has been mentioned but many of us here get frustrated in doing research in the classifieds when the sale price on listed items gets replaced with the word 'SOLD'.
We do not need to know the final negotiated price but the original asking price is useful, particularly for newer members finding there way and searching for price guidance.

My suggestion is simply that the classifieds sticky post for For Sale guidelines includes a request that the sale price be left intact when an item is sold.

In a perfect world, 'SOLD' could be added to the title of an item but we are unable to edit titles.

Should a change to the guidelines be considered, then I also suggest that the 'Donation' paragraph be moved to the top where members might read it.

I agree with you Wolster, I would prefer to see it remain for reference purposes, but short of having it entered into some protected data filed or something, the advertiser can change the price at any time, unless his post gets quoted, which I have sometimes thought of suggesting, except that it doesn't keep up with the final (sometimes reduced) sale price. I think it is reasonable to expect that the final sale price should remain in the advert, as a way of giving something back to interested forum members who may have read, commented or considered purchasing the advertised product.

Best
JA

Edited by JA, 25 November 2011 - 08:26 AM.

[Drizt]

Perhaps the original asking price in the thread title would work? At least then it can't be removed. The problem is that price drops get out of sync with the thread title price. But perhaps that is only a minor issue. It might mean people start with more realistic prices, or not. Just a suggestion, probably not a good one.

[JA]

Perhaps the original asking price in the thread title would work? At least then it can't be removed. The problem is that price drops get out of sync with the thread title price. But perhaps that is only a minor issue. It might mean people start with more realistic prices, or not. Just a suggestion, probably not a good one.

I think it's a good suggestion, for maintaing reference to the initial price in a way that cant be altered easily. The only downside I could see is that vendors would want that price updated to draw people to the adverts and we would get a myriad of requests to continually update the price shown in thread title manually. If it could be automated in some way, with a price field input and updated by the user, which would then update the thread title it would be solid gold, but would unlikely be directly supported by the forum software. Who knows? Perhaps just the initial price!

Best
JA

Edited by JA, 25 November 2011 - 08:43 AM.

[Whatmore]

If I were a seller I would not want the original price in the heading unless it could be changed.
If I'd subsequently reduced the price, I may miss potential buyers who see the unchanged original price and then don't bother reading the thread itself

[Drizt]

Perhaps the mods could quote the initial price in the first reply in the thread as they approve the FS thread? That way the info is always there for future reference?

[JA]

Perhaps the mods could quote the initial price in the first reply in the thread as they approve the FS thread? That way the info is always there for future reference?

Yes, we could - I hinted at that above. Maybe the way to go.

Best
JA

[Drizt]

Great minds think a like.

[davewantsmoore]

This is not the first time this has been mentioned but many of us here get frustrated in doing research in the classifieds when the sale price on listed items gets replaced with the word 'SOLD'. We do not need to know the final negotiated price but the original asking price is useful, particularly for newer members finding there way and searching for price guidance.

Strongly support this.

Yes, we could - I hinted at that above. Maybe the way to go.

Sounds like an easy solution. I think it would be appreciated by many. :-)

[Braddles 63]

WELL I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THIS SUGGESTION.................... Nah just kidding:). I just thought the thread was going far to smoothly.

I liken this to when i forget to put a item on my watch list on ebay and then it finished and i missed how much it went for..

Good idea wolster.

[xtrachewy]

It's perhaps unworkable - it's the seller's listing and their prerogative to ammend the pricing any time (incl. after sale, i.e. 'SOLD').

Besides I'm far more interested in the final/negotiated price than original listing.

[JohnA]

i actually dont see the big deal.
I mean whats the big deal of what the original asking price was?
i can advertise something for $5000 then sell it for $3000, how does it help anyone?

I dont know, maybe i am missing something here, i just dont get it.

[houdinifangs]

Perhaps in the template a note could suggest that either the original asking price or final sale price be provided out of courtesy for other members. A gentle prompt might encourage "the spirit" of the classifieds better than a mandate.

[atavid]

I agree,being able to see even the original asking price is useful, even it it actually sold for less.Its helpful because it gives people who want to sell the same or a similar item an idea of how much to ask,or what the 'market will bear' and can adjust their asking price accordingly.
What i would also find useful is some way of adding "sold" to the heading so that when i look back through previous pages i can see at a glance what has sold and what hasnt without having to go into the post.Probably not a big deal for those of you on fast ADSL2+,but a tedious process for those of us stuck on slower speeds.

[xtrachewy]

Perhaps the mods could quote the initial price in the first reply in the thread as they approve the FS thread? That way the info is always there for future reference?

However the first post should always be allowed to be edited to make corrections or expand further information relevant to the sale?

Though it is easily circumvented by listing a silly original price and amending subsequently in follow-up replies/posts. So $8K for a 1m pair of VDH D102Mk3 interconnects but in #2 post a reduced price of $300 etc. Sellers may elect to revise the price in subsequent updates to give them the freedom to alter prices. Therefore original price isn't representative of true requested price ?

[xtrachewy]

FWIW - surely a PM to the seller should suffice?

[Drizt]

You guys are over thinking thing

[rantan]

I must say I agree 100% with you John.
I don't wish to appear to be critical or negative, but I am sure that most people realise that quite often, the original asking price is what the seller would like to receive and as such, it is somewhat of an ambit claim if you will.

i have seen many, many classified advertisements where "item X " is listed at say, $5000 and eventually sells for $3000 for example. Surely, the $3500 is more of an indicative value instead of the $5000?
It is often said that something is worth "what the market will pay" and IMHO, this sale price is what I would base any price research upon.

Just my 02.

i actually dont see the big deal.
I mean whats the big deal of what the original asking price was?
i can advertise something for $5000 then sell it for $3000, how does it help anyone?

I dont know, maybe i am missing something here, i just dont get it.