Buying and Selling Etiquette:
Hello everyone!
With much appreciated help from our fellow TP members (and a big thank you to StrawberryReef and bluerose9978!) , I have compiled a hopefully thorough etiquette guideline for buyers and sellers.
This is not a “rules” post, but more of a resource to help everyone use common courtesy and common sense when it comes to transactions.
As a new buyer/seller, please read through to learn “how things work”. It will make your transactions run more smoothly and can answer some of your questions.
As an established member, I’d like you all to read through this as well, since any of us can be forgetful at times too!
Need a price check on your ponies? Please check out the links at the bottom of this post!
__________________________________________________ ___________
Buying etiquette:
-
Item inquiry: If you find a specific pony that is available from multiple sellers, pick the seller that meets most of your qualifications and only PM one seller at a time. If the first sale doesn’t work out, then PM the next seller. This will help avoid multiple sellers thinking you are buying their item, when really you only want one.
-
Please read a sales thread thoroughly: Firstly, check the date of the sales thread. If it's old, please do not bump it (reply to it). Try to find a sale more recent.Find out what types of payment a seller accepts, whether or not they ship overseas, and if they charge paypal/packing fees. If you’re not happy with any of these, shop around more to find the same item from someone else who can accommodate your needs. If you have a question about something, such as shipping, PM the person and give them your zip code or country in that first PM. That makes things go a lot faster and then you can decide if you want the item or not. Also if you have any questions, try to ask them in the first PM. You’ll get your answers a lot faster! Try to save yourself a headache too by hitting the reply button in the message to keep the whole conversation in one PM so you’re not looking all over the place for info in your PM box.
Special requests: If you need your package by a certain date; ex: asap!, please let the seller know. She/he may or may not be able to accommodate your needs. Again, please ask your questions up front.. I know sometimes people share paypal addresses with family members so please also let the seller know if you want a different name on the package other than the one paypal gives.
-
Asking to put items on hold: Many sellers will post how long they will put an item on hold for. If you asked to have an item put on hold and change your mind, please be courteous to the seller and PM them if you don’t want the item any more. Most sellers will not get upset over this. It helps them update their sales. If they leave something on hold for you, that seller can potentially lose a sale if someone else was interested.
-Making a payment: If you tell a seller that you will pay by a certain date, try your best to keep your word. Real life issues do come up and if you are unable to pay, please let the seller know and they can possibly make other arrangements for you.
-
Communication: I can’t stress this enough! Always keep up with communication until the transaction is complete. This includes Pming the seller about the item, Pming when you have paid, and Pming when you have received your item. This helps a seller know that the item is safe and sound with you and can work out problems if you had any. Be nice, friendly, and use your manners. Treat the seller the same as you would if you were face to face in a store.
-
Feedback: Please leave feedback for the seller. A seller depends on his/her feedback as reputation to buy/sell/trade. Without feedback, it’s hard to tell who’s great to deal with and who’s bad to deal with. To learn more about leaving feedback, please follow the link:
How to leave feedback in New Profiles
-
Knowing your prices: This is especially for experienced sellers. Do not try to manipulate a new seller (offering small amounts of money for rare ponies for example). Instead, please be kind and point them to the discussion forum for price checks (or teach them how to search for price checks). They will thank you for it! For information on how to do a quick price check, please follow this link:
How to Search for Price Checks Easily and quickly
bluerose9978 also has a wonderful and up to date ebay price guide for G1s:
2009-10 G1 eBay Price Guide
__________________________________________________ ______________________
Selling Etiquette:
-
Posting your sale ad- What should be in it? - Clear pictures (if possible)
- If you have a list of ponies, please don't list them as one long run on sentence with commas in between. Instead, make a vertical list with one name per line.
- Detailed honest descriptions of item‘s condition (or brief description, ask buyer to PM if further description is needed-this is usually the case if someone is selling a lot of items at once)
- Prices or letting the buyer know you’re accepting offers
- If you have paypal /packaging fees and how much they are
- How long you will hold an item for
- Postage costs up front or ask the buyers to PM you for shipping quotes
For example:
$3 - Pinkie Pie (Glitter Pony)- two small spots near ear on non-display side. Otherwise in excellent condition.
$5 - Rainbow Dash (Single) - MIB
Accepting offers- Beach Belle/Carribean Delight MIB
-Updating your sale ad: If an item is on hold or sold, please update your thread with either editing it out or writing sold/hold next to the item. Or you can use the strike code. [strike] [/strike]
-
Answering Pms: If you’re trying to sell items, please find time to get back to potential buyers as soon as possible so they don’t have to wait. It helps buyers know if they’re getting the item or not. If not, they can move on and find it somewhere else. Also, to help you keep track of the entire transaction, hit the reply button in the message to include the previous Pms message (so you will be able to keep track of the transaction as a whole, not scattered Pms)
-
Be up front with buyers: If you have not posted your extra fees in the sales ad, please let the buyer know in PM. Tell them what your extra costs are and if they don’t like the price, then both of you won’t be wasting any more time. If you feel uncomfortable explaining the extra fees, just figure the price in with your item; ex: Firefly $3.00 + 30 cents paypal fee + $1.00 bubble envelope…..Firefly ends up being $4.50.
Also, please be up front with a buyer (as a courtesy) if you ask for a paypal payment in "gift" form. There are still a lot of people who don't realize that there is no buyer protection with this method of payment:
Sending money as "Gift" through paypal : BEWARE: No buyer protection
Also please refrain from *expecting* buyers to only use the gift option. I know Paypal charges their fees, but those fees are for the convenience of the seller to accept paypal as a form of payment.
Note to buyers: If a seller claims that their paypal account only accepts gifts, this isn't true.
-Be honest with buyers: Descriptions are very important to people (unless they say they don’t care up front). Be honest when describing the item. If Sundance has pindot mold on her non display side, let the buyer know. Pony cancer spot? Let the buyer know. Does the pony sit next to your ashtray? Let the person know the pony was exposed to smoke. Smoke smells can be removed but some people are allergic to it or don’t like it one bit at all.
-Communication: I could pretty much cut and paste what I said in the buyer etiquette list. Always keep good communication with your buyers. They are your customers! Your Pms to them should consist of item availability, cost, shipping notification, and an “ok, great!” when the buyer lets you know the item was received. Also take care of any problems that arise from the transaction. People will remember you as a good seller and will possibly buy from you again just because of how great your communication was! Remember- be nice, friendly and use manners. Treat the buyer the same as you would if you were face to face in a store.
-Packing items: People are paying you money for the item and shipping cost. Please give them the respect of packing their items well. Use common sense when packing up items. If you use a big box for one pony, fill the voids with simple things you find around the house (tissue paper, paper towels, plastic grocery bags), but don’t use newspaper or anything else with printed ink as the ink can bleed onto the items (unless you put the items in ziplock baggies first). If the box/bubble envelope is too small, find something bigger that will hold everything. Never pack a pony that has been recently washed in a sealed plastic baggie or it could cause mold. If you are unsure if the pony is completely dry, wrap in tissue paper instead. It has also been brought to attention..the subject of shipping a wet/damp pony and making absolute sure items are dry. Water can cause damage to many items!
Making sure your sold items are dry!
-Shipping: If a person paid for priority shipping, you must use that service (don’t try to switch to first class to save money). Same goes if they buy delivery confirmation. I do suggest if something is high priced to just buy delivery confirmation anyway and either absorb the cost or ask the buyer to pay for it (ask them up front!). Once a person makes the payment, don’t wait a ridiculous amount of time to ship it. Also make sure you have that postage money put aside to pay for shipping. Don’t turn around and tell the buyer you can’t afford to ship their item and will have to wait (they paid for the shipping!)
If it turns out you underestimated the cost of shipping, don’t ask the buyer to pay for the difference. It’s best for sales to absorb this cost and learn a lesson from it. If the buyer finds out that they should’ve paid more, it’s up to them if they want to give you the little extra but don’t expect it. If you grossly overestimated the shipping cost, it would be courteous to refund the buyer the difference. This can easily be done with paypal transactions.
-Feedback: Leave feedback for the buyer once the transaction is done (or you can leave it right after they have paid). Buyers rely on feedback to buy/sell/trade and need it to maintain a good reputation within the community. If you don’t have much feedback, please provide additional feedback such as eBay, or from another forum. For more information on feedback, please follow this link:
How to leave feedback in New Profiles
Sample transactions:
Example of BAD Communication: 
1st day: Buyer:. Hi, I'm interested in Pinkie Pie...
Me: Yes, she's still available, can I have your address so I can get you a shipping quote?
3rd day: Buyer: do you have any other ponies with balloons?
me: sorry, just what I had listed. Did you still want Pinkie and if so, I need your shipping address?
5th day: Buyer: Yes, I still want her. oh sorry, zip code is 22222.
me: Ok, with shipping your total is $5.00 and my paypal address is ***.
7th day: Oh, well, will you take a money order?
me: Sorry, I only take paypal...
9th day: Oh, well I don't have enough in my paypal account right now and I don't get paid for 2 weeks so I will check back with you then.
me: Ok, well let me know...hopefully she will still be available for you.
And then I never hear from them again... so frustrating!!!!
This is an example of the best type of transaction!: 
1st day: Buyer: Hi, I'm interested in Pinkie Pie. What is her condition and how much would shipping be to 22222?
me: She has a couple spots on her non-display side by her ear, but other than that she is in excellent condition. If you are still interested, your total would be $5 and my paypal address is ****.
Buyer: Great, payment sent!
2nd day: me: Hi, I shipped your pony out today... please let me know when she arrives:
5th day: Buyer: Pony arrived safely and I'm off to leave feedback. Thanks!
me: Great, I left feedback too!
Thank you to StrawberryReef for providing the examples provided in this thread.
Whew! So that is MUCH longer than I thought! If you have ANY questions about what I’ve written, feel free to PM me or the other moderators. Thanks for reading and good luck to everyone buying and selling!
**PLEASE READ ABOUT PAYPAL'S GIFT OPTION**
Sending money as "Gift" through paypal : BEWARE: No buyer protection
Need a price check? Here's an easy guide to help you search!
How to Search for Price Checks Easily and quickly
Need the current ebay prices for G1s? Please check out Bluerose9978's eBay Price Guide which is always up to date!
2009-10 G1 eBay Price Guide
You can also go right to ebay and search for completed listings
MAIN MENU
Buying and Selling Etiquette
Linear Mode
