Too much coincidence to be true...

[gp_hebert]

Originally Posted by analogbox

But what does it matter what the seller does if he paid for the item in no fouled way and he has the right for that item at the time of sale?

Doing that is alright (though not something I would do), but what the seller did is creating two different accounts to influence the prices of the items he's selling. That's pretty close to scamming...

[Akabeth]

To TC:

How long have the "buyer" account you "suspect" to be the "person-in-responsibility" been in existence in this forum?

I have no idea how long this problem has been going on in head-fi but I'm not a big fan about raising post limits to buy/sell in the FS forums. I thought this whole forum ordeal was based around trust, as are so many things in the internet and life itself. Therefore imposing rules such as that may make things worse.

[jp11801]

Originally Posted by analogbox

But what does it matter what the seller does if he paid for the item in no fouled way and he has the right for that item at the time of sale?

I'm not trying to defend the seller here, I'm just being devil's advocate.

There are a few things wrong with this one buying items with the intent to sell for a profit is not supposed to be allowed we call it flipping. This can be difficult to address as if I buy an item from you lower than market price get it and just do not like it I am free to resell at market price. This is different than acting as a business buying items then selling them for a profit simply for the profit.

Secondly manipulating people through the use of multiple accounts to gain a better price is awfully low don't you think??

The FS forums are there are a nice add on and are not the reason for the board people that are here solely for that function are not part of the community IMHO and should not be allowed to participate.

[analogbox]

Originally Posted by gp_hebert

Doing that is alright (though not something I would do), but what the seller did is creating two different accounts to influence the prices of the items he's selling. That's pretty close to scamming...

So who's the victim here? Is it the buyer that this seller sold the item to? Because, the buy paid more that what he/she should pay? Then wouldn't every transaction that involves inflated price should be considered scam too?

[analogbox]

Originally Posted by jp11801

There are a few things wrong with this one buying items with the intent to sell for a profit is not supposed to be allowed we call it flipping. This can be difficult to address as if I buy an item from you lower than market price get it and just do not like it I am free to resell at market price. This is different than acting as a business buying items then selling them for a profit simply for the profit.

Secondly manipulating people through the use of multiple accounts to gain a better price is awfully low don't you think??

I personally hate to see these things happening. I felt somewhat violated when I saw my item getting re-sold in just a matter of days with higher price. I thought this was a community, not an auction house. No matter how much you got it at, as long as the item is not unique/antique, shouldn't you sell it at, at least, the price you got it at? As someone already mentioned, it seems awfully bad etiquette.

[jjhatfield]

Originally Posted by Fitz

Oh snap, I guess I might be a sketchball too.

DO NOT DO BIDNESS WITH FITZY

nah you are a good crazie.

edit: another bit of unsolicited advice I'd like to lay in this thread is that post counts really don't mean anything when it comes to how much we can trust a seller. You have to look at the collective relationship the seller has had with the community, the quality and substance of their posts, the way they treat other forumers in general, i.e. do they treat others with respect, or do they treat others with condescension? Do they engage in argumentative conversations or do they make personal attacks? Do they offer constructive gear recommendations to others or do they just shove the gear they like down everyone's throats?

[AudioCats]

Originally Posted by jjhatfield

i.e. do they treat others with respect, or do they treat others with condescension? Do they engage in argumentative conversations or do they make personal attacks? Do they offer constructive gear recommendations to others or do they just shove the gear they like down everyone's throats?

which symptoms indicate the seller will be a bad seller to deal with?

[Dash]

The problem with these situations is not directly related to the original offenders. The ripples left behind negavitely affect the honest ones that use the "FS"' forums as an avenue to explore this great hobby. I for one do not post a tremendous amount. I am more of listener, but I would be willing to give up my individual sale privelages(provided I do not meet the new requirement) for the security of Head-Fi. The risk squarely falls on the buyer in the FS thread. Feedback can be manipulated and post count can be inflated rather simply. I know that in my line of work there are certain minimums for listing. I would like to see photos as a requirement for posting an ad. I also think that some sort of membership requirement for the FS forum to be good as well. In order to become an active seller, one most post a small annual registration fee that "activates" sellers for posting. That would allow a list of "registered" posters to be maintained rather easily.

These ideas are off the top of my head. I have not had any trouble with transactions here on Head-Fi. I will admit, based of my experience with people every day, I tend to gravitate toward well established members when looking to purchase anything. Head-Fi is a great community but everyone needs to stay guarded, especially newer members.

[Samgotit]

Originally Posted by analogbox

I personally hate to see these things happening. I felt somewhat violated when I saw my item getting re-sold in just a matter of days with higher price.

It was no longer your item. You're at fault for not originally selling for a price that would help alleviate your emotional attachment. The seller did nothing wrong unless he continues to flip for profit (Do you know if he's a perpetual profit flipper or just another member auditioning gear?). That's not for you or any member to decide. That's the work of the moderators, and that's why they ask you to report things, as far as I understand it.

I thought this was a community, not an auction house. No matter how much you got it at, as long as the item is not unique/antique, shouldn't you sell it at, at least, the price you got it at? As someone already mentioned, it seems awfully bad etiquette.

No.

It is a community, not a commune.

[analogbox]

Originally Posted by Samgotit

It was no longer your item. You're at fault for not originally selling for a price that would help alleviate your emotional attachment. The seller did nothing wrong unless he continues to flip for profit (Do you know if he's a perpetual profit flipper or just another member auditioning gear?). That's not for you or any member to decide. That's the work of the moderators, and that's why they ask you to report things, as far as I understand it.

No, It wasn't my emotional attatchment to the item that made me upset. It was seeing my good intention being flopped to a totally profit based intention. If mods decide to do anything againt these practices from keep happening then I'm totally supporting it, although I doubt it will happen.

[juniperlater]

I think the req's should be based more on time because I for one don't like to give nor get spam. Maybe move it up to 100 - 200, but more than that and it gets stupid.

I would think 1 year + 200 posts + contributing member to list items.


FYI: Audiokarma has a lame classified system that costs money or if you are a contributing member, you get a good classified system that is free.

[krmathis]

Originally Posted by analogbox

Ok. I was in a similar situation where the buyer sold an item which he got from me in less than a week with more than what I asked from him and then when I posted the story in another thread, numerous people all told me that it's not the sellers fault but rather mine. But here people are saying we should ban sellers like that? Which is right? I'm confussed.

We (at least not me) don't want to him banned for potentially making money on a newly acquired headphone. Its because he operate under two different user names. Which is considered really bad etiquette, or perhaps even against the rules..

[synaesthetic]

Since when has making a profit become shameful?

Using two user names at once is against the rules, though.

[ronnielee54]

I am glad this came up. I have been stewing over a previous transaction for a week now. First of all, let me say that I am all for a free enterprise system, but if a member is flipping goods, then he should declare himself a MOT and then all is fair. I will not out this member because I have no proof positive, but to me if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, it is a friggin duck. Recently tried to sell a pair of very desirable cans (easy to sell on forums lately as they have been discontinued) to fellow headfier. Dicked around with me for 2 days over price (poor college student) and I was about ready to take a loss and help the kid out. While I was waiting for a relply from him, I cheched his feedback out. This "poor college student" had 4 pages of feedback. Among his sales were three AD900's (in a nine month period) D2000, AD2000, ESW9, K701, W5000, W300, and two W10vtg's. This is not all, just some of the better. I then checked out threads started in FS forum by this member and found that most of the FS threads followed a WTB 1 to 2 weeks prior (that is how our deal started - I responded to his WTB). After this I sent him a PM telling him it would be best if we went our separate ways. IMHO that is a lot of nice cans for a "poor college student".

[gp_hebert]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Since when has making a profit become shameful?

Using two user names at once is against the rules, though.

Using the FS forum in order to make money is shameful in my opinion. We're hobbyists, not salesmen, and our objective shouldn't be to rip ourselves off. There are exceptions like vintage headphones gaining in value, but otherwize, buying an item to sell it for more a couple of days later IS shameful.