Keeping classifieds as a mechanism for price discovery

[ear3]

I've noticed that when some people finalize the sale of their items in the classifieds, they change the thread name to SOLD (not just appending SOLD at the end), thus wiping out the title that would indicate whatever tool was there.  Another variation on this is when the thread title and other information are preserved, but the asking price is effaced upon completion of the sale.

This is just a suggestion, but it would seem like it would be helpful to leave all of that information in place for the benefit of future buyers and sellers so that they could know how to set their own prices or compare what a seller is asking to previous offers of that tool.

Can anyone think of a reason why it's better to wipe out this information, other than for the general sake of privacy?

 

[Cheese]

I'm with you Edward... [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

 

[six-point socket II]

I'm with you Edward... [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

Me, too!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cochese]

Fourth on that.

 

[blaszcsj]

Are there fifths? If so Ill take it.

 

[bobfog]

Whilst we're on the subject, do the WTB threads annoy anyone else? Either buy new from a store or look on eBay, where these places exist to advertise items for sale.

 

[ear3]

I had success posting one to get my Woodpeckers precision squares.  Ebay deals usually aren't that great on Festool anyway -- too many bidders.

Whilst we're on the subject, do the WTB threads annoy anyone else? Either buy new from a store or look on eBay, where these places exist to advertise items for sale.

 

[HarveyWildes]

I had success posting one to get my Woodpeckers precision squares.  Ebay deals usually aren't that great on Festool anyway -- too many bidders.

Whilst we're on the subject, do the WTB threads annoy anyone else? Either buy new from a store or look on eBay, where these places exist to advertise items for sale.

That's a good case, since you generally can't just go out and buy the one time tools.

 

[DynaGlide]

I had success posting one to get my Woodpeckers precision squares.  Ebay deals usually aren't that great on Festool anyway -- too many bidders.

Whilst we're on the subject, do the WTB threads annoy anyone else? Either buy new from a store or look on eBay, where these places exist to advertise items for sale.

Yup. I keep watching the OF 1400 go for 490 used, no warranty. Doesn't make any sense to save 80 bucks to not get a new tool with 3 years of coverage. I'll just have to keep saving.

 

[semenza]

If people want to delete the info from their For Sale topics, that's what's going to happen.

If they want to leave the info and just add "SOLD" to the topic that's what's going to happen.

Most seem to leave it.

WTB, for specific items on FOG tend to be for things that are not necessarily advertised  and sold on Ebay or are for things that are are Festool or closely related or are for things that sometimes people don't even realize someone else wants. Sometimes people have things they might like to sell but don't want to bother with Ebay.

Seth

 

[ewils91]

Sometimes people see a WTB ad and decide at that moment to let go of the whatchmacallit they've been holding on to and never use. And to think it all began with a WTB ad on the FOG. 

 

[semenza]

Sometimes people see a WTB ad and decide at that moment to let go of the whatchmacallit they've been holding on to and never use. And to think it all began wit aWTB ad on the FOG. 

Yes, I have ended up getting a couple things that way.

Seth

 

[bobfog]

If people want to delete the info from their For Sale topics, that's what's going to happen.

If they want to leave the info and just add "SOLD" to the topic that's what's going to happen.

Most seem to leave it.

WTB, for specific items on FOG tend to be for things that are not necessarily advertised  and sold on Ebay or are for things that are are Festool or closely related or are for things that sometimes people don't even realize someone else wants. Sometimes people have things they might like to sell but don't want to bother with Ebay.

Seth

But sometimes it's "WTB Domino 500" which are on eBay and readily available new.

So what that reads like to me is "I can't find a domino 500 cheap enough elsewhere so I'm being cheap and hoping for a bargain instead of just paying the going rate"

 

[ear3]

I understand [member=1619]SRSemenza[/member] -- and it certainly wouldn't be appropriate to mandate a policy like that.  But it is something that could potentially be added to the guidelines/suggestions governing the classified section.

Any individual instance of title or price deletion is not a big deal, but the utility of a forum like this -- and digital archiving in general -- is its preservation and ability to filter large amounts of data; the more the better, in fact.  And who know, maybe historians in decades to come will want to come back and do a history of Festool resale value?  Or even Festool itself, as part of a marketing campaign to demonstrate how well the tools maintain their value?

If people want to delete the info from their For Sale topics, that's what's going to happen.

If they want to leave the info and just add "SOLD" to the topic that's what's going to happen.

Most seem to leave it.

WTB, for specific items on FOG tend to be for things that are not necessarily advertised  and sold on Ebay or are for things that are are Festool or closely related or are for things that sometimes people don't even realize someone else wants. Sometimes people have things they might like to sell but don't want to bother with Ebay.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Ed ------  good suggestion.

bobfog ------------  nothing wrong with people shopping for a bargain.  [huh]

  I guess I just don't see WTB cluttering the forum that much. Maybe I have WTB blindess  [smile] Excessive bumping is unnecessary  though, and that is addressed in the guidelines and we try to watch for it.

Seth

 

[antss]

I've felt this way for a long time too and am glad this is out in the open now.

Perhaps this discussion will encourage people to leave that info readable in the future.

 

[Ellefty]

Whilst we're on the subject, do the WTB threads annoy anyone else? Either buy new from a store or look on eBay, where these places exist to advertise items for sale.

[/quote]
If you see WTB on classifieds just ignore it and keep on scrolling up if it annoys that much, easy as that I think