Make the "WTB" section the "Bounty" section
Don't know what others think, but I think the WTB section would work a lot better if it was REQUIRED to post a bounty on items wanted.
I see a lot of posts with stuff I may have, but I don't bother even contacting people because I have no idea what they want to pay for it. Likewise, when people post bounties, I can easily decide if it's worth the trouble to dig something out.
Also, you get more helpful posts. If a posted price is too high, the OP usually gets bombarded with offers to sell it. If it's too low, usually someone will kindly tell them," you'd be hard pressed to find "that" for "that much"
Maybe it would cut down on threads needing to be bumped and people finding what they want quicker..
A bounty can always be changed, if it's too high people can lower it, if it's too low they can raise it etc. I just think a bounty helps both parties find each other quicker.
I see a lot of posts with stuff I may have, but I don't bother even contacting people because I have no idea what they want to pay for it. Likewise, when people post bounties, I can easily decide if it's worth the trouble to dig something out.
Also, you get more helpful posts. If a posted price is too high, the OP usually gets bombarded with offers to sell it. If it's too low, usually someone will kindly tell them," you'd be hard pressed to find "that" for "that much"
Maybe it would cut down on threads needing to be bumped and people finding what they want quicker..
A bounty can always be changed, if it's too high people can lower it, if it's too low they can raise it etc. I just think a bounty helps both parties find each other quicker.
Comments
I certainly see your point, but I just don't think it is highly practical for most items. I suggest if you have something just pop a pm and if they are interested than dig for it
It also kills the haggling aspect of dealing on here. The buyer loses leverage because they can't start their offer low, since no one will respond to them.
Also, bounty isn't the best suited word. To me, a bounty is posted when someone actually can't find the item they are searching for and they need to spend over market value to attain it quickly.
As for condition effecting what you want to pay, add more info. State you want a Mint, or average condition.
Even if you are low, if you're close, someone is more apt to say, "hey, I have one, but I want x for it"
I see a lot of posts like this
"Looking for some NES and SNES titles new, factory sealed. Condition isn't much of an issue.
NES:
Galaga
Robocop 3
Star Force
Renegade
Jurassic Park
SNES:
DKC - (non PC)
DKC3 (non PC)
Final Fight
Zombies ate my Neighbors
The Death and Return of Superman"
Throw some numbers on there. You'll get more help from the community and won't have to bump the thread as much. Sure you may get someone to PM you about them, but, you'd get More responses and PM's with some numbers.
I don't think we should require prices in all circumstances. Obviously the seller has the advantage in that case - so of course everyone selling wants prices.
I do feel like giving the titles different names would help a lot though.
Originally posted by: sadikyo
Maybe another option is looking at the thread title requirements. For selling, we have "FS" and "FO" - if you don't list a price you have to change your title. Maybe something similar for buying threads? So "WTB" if you don't have a bounty and something else if you do? Or vice versa? This may make it easier for people to look through the buying threads. Just a thought.
I don't think we should require prices in all circumstances. Obviously the seller has the advantage in that case - so of course everyone selling wants prices.
I do feel like giving the titles different names would help a lot though.
It does appear that most buyers pefer it without a price so far.
I do like the Idea of title thread requirement. Then, you know if there's a price listed ore not without opening the thread.
Don't know what you'd use for a moniker though. Maybe Bounty is the wrong word.
I was working with a member on buying a cart just last week, that I had purchased other items from previously. I offered him what I thought was a reasonable offer. He put it up for auction. The auction ended lower than my offer :-)
The transaction started with him just responding to my wanted ad. If I had a bounty for that item, I would have never got in contact with him in the first place. Coincidentally, I made a few other purchases from him unrelated to my ad once we got to talking.
I did meet someone locally, pretty recently, via a craigslist ad I had up. He said he stopped posting here because it had become eBay Jr. to him. Personally speaking, with only ~10 transactions to my name (I've only been here just over a month), I've found that 80%+ of the people I've talked to are more than happy to wheel and deal when it comes to trading, selling, etc. There have been a bunch, however, that were asking eBay prices, promptly ending the conversation.
Anyway--I digress. No Bounty!