Online Buying And Selling Part 2: The Forum Option.

This thread will follow on from the one in the link below:

https://goscf.com/t/11288

I know it has been mentioned before, at least by me, but I cannot find the thread/s where it has been debated. But I do not recall that it was in any great depth so I will pose the questions/thoughts here in a thread of it's own.

Having read again Litho's 'Online Buying and Selling', one can see the positves and negatives of buying and selling on auction sites such as ebay,Delacampe and Bidstart.
But what about buying and selling on a Forum like SCF ?

I have been 'experimenting' the last couple of weeks and have found the results to be mainly positive. I started some auctions and a sales thread to offload duplicates or unwanted items in my collection. I did not make a profit as such [when compared, if I could recall, against original outlay] but many of the items found a home and I hope at a good price for the buyer.

The big advantage for both buyer and seller is the trust aspect. It is highly unlikely that any member here would cheat on another, so one of the biggest problems I have seen [and heard] on ebay etc, is erased. One can deal with another without worry.
Obviously, if everyone was doing the same thing, a forum such as ours, would be overloaded with sales and auctions and the discussions would be left in the crowd. But this can be avioded by a allocatiing a maximum number of sales at any one time, or by a Moderator assigned for the purpose [minimum time needed I believe].
So far, it is not a problem here.

I enjoy very much the sales and auctions of Mr Lovell,Philb and others [I would enjoy SV's too except for those damned Frogs ] and of course the banter that each one contains, part of the fun side to buying and selling on a forum.

I know from the last week that others do appreciate it by comments made privately to me, and I wish to thank them for that. It's a bit like a feedback without a score !

But what do others think about buying and selling on your Forum?
Advantages and disadvantages?

I did not make money, the idea [at least for me] is to offload unwanted material and give friends here on the forum a chance to grab something at a low price.
I would welcome too any criticism about the sales,auctions and ideas.

Thanks for reading my drivvle.

Londonbus1

I am new to the SCF forum; however, I do make stamp purchases on ebay and Delcampe and would consider doing the same on SCF once eligible. Unfortunately, at this point in time I can not provide substantive advantages/disadvantages. Once I get my legs under me here at SCF I'll respond back with better feedback.

Thanks beezer, look forward to it.

50 posts will come soon enough for those with a good forum attitude.
Nice to see you posting.

Have fun.

The only disadvantage I see selling on SCF is that you have a more limited market.

I agree with you about the advantages and would add that of finding someone who knows what you like and will keep you in mind for certain items when it comes time to dispose of them (that would be you, Phil).

For me, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

i would say the above posts just about cover it... true for selling and I suppose for buying as well the field is limited...When I sell here I feel I am trading with friends..as opposed to ebay where when I sell a cover or postcard I have no idea who the buyer is !!

One of the advantages of SCF is that as you get know people here, you get to know what they collect and are looking for. I haven't sold anything directly here, but I probably will sometime in the future as I organize some of my material. I know I have some odds and ends folks might be interested in. I know I have some exhibition material Londonbus might like :) Old exhibition tickets, stickers, etc...

Though I have not sold anything here (mostly because I haven't really sold anything anywhere), I have made quite a few purchases. All experiences have been very positive positive, I personally find that people go out of their way to ensure a great result.

Dianne

The collector in me wants to keep SCF as just that.
Somewhere the collector can relax and be just a collector.

Always Happy Stamping. KGV

Battlestamps if you list those items Londonbus will suck them up like a vacuum cleaner !!

Hey, what kind of talk is that. Vacuum cleaner indeed

Huh!

Vacuumcleanerbus1.....Oops!

I feel very fortunate to be able to buy on SCF,
when stamps, no matter what marque generally start at 10c each
how can one possibly go wrong?
and covers at a buck a cover is a steal.

I have never been disappointed with any purchase here

Londonbus1, this is an interesting topic and I thank you for bringing it up. I have only been on SCF for two months and haven't sold or bought anything here mainly because my collection isn't organized and I haven't sold any of my stamps to anyone.

I have monitored some of the auctions and have noticed that they are are a pleasant experience for everyone involved. It's like friends interacting with friends.

I would like to see more of these auctions and will make a purchase when items become available that fit into my collection.

SCF is a great information site. I check out all the sell/auction/trade threads and as of yet have not found anything that fits my collection. The listing and final prices are always very reasonable and as philb says, basically unloading dupes to buy more. It really feels like friends selling to friends.

The commercial selling that comes with delacampe, bidstart and ebay is in a totally different format with anonymous selling and buying, and the problems that go along with it.

I think the members here really show their passion for the hobby. The support and help to others is what separates this forum from so many others. The trust factor here is the difference.

Pretty much "Ditto". In the last 4 weeks I have had to return 5 lots because of reperfs, regums, and repairs that were tried to slip by in other sites auctions. This would cause almost a instant outing here as many of us know each other. Maybe you can not always get higher end material here but you basically are getting a great deal nonetheless. It is pretty much trading and selling to your neighbor sometimes. The only draw back I see is a limited crowd to buy but maybe someday that will change.

I have never been in a selling situation where the buyer will up the price on something because they know it is worth more. That's what other I think are referring to as the trust factor. As well as being comfortable knowing that the seller is not trying to put on over on any buyer. The pieces that I am selling, I have looked at, I have seen, I have enjoyed, I have scanned and now it is time for someone else to enjoy them. My only hope is that if they receive something really unwanted, they feel comfortable sending it back (NOT THAT ONE ROD!) This is a very unique and powerful forum.

I have bought once or twice on SCF and it has been a positive experience. I would/will sell a few stamps when I get organised (echoing a few others there, I think!)
I think its a great place for hobby collectors to sell to other hobby collectors.