Bike Hub classifieds vibe

[Jewbacca]

thanks for that...I always rate the buyers but it never actually occurred to me to "coerce"a rating out of them  . gonna try it.

ha! So.....

[MORNE]

ha! So.....

you have feedback in your inbox  

[popcorn_skollie]

I DO wish everybody took the time to rate though...

 

I haven't always rated in the past. But I've since made it a habit to do so if possible.

 

Its not too tedious to rate someone. But it could definitely be easier. 

A simple dialog box once you remove an ad would be helpful. A little reminder asking if you've rated your experience or not. Or once the ad expires. It might swing more people to use the system.

 

But even that won't help in some cases. Sometimes ads go up and I receive a response via email or whatsapp instead of a BH pm. Which makes it harder to track down profiles and give ratings. Now If you've had a few sales like these. Where you just don't have a profile to rate after the sale. You're less likely to rate someone that does contact you via pm. Out of habit.

 

I've previously had to ask people over whatsapp who they are on bikehub. Or ask bikehub which members are registered with the email I got a response from so I could rate them.

Maybe direct email ad responses could include the persons bikehub profile?

[MORNE]

. Sometimes ads go up and I receive a response via email or whatsapp instead of a BH pm. 

 

snip

 

I forgot to ad that I set my adverts up so that only members can see them. If the Hub identity is unknown from a text or phone call I usually ask them to PM me to confirm details so I have a record of the sale.

I wont sell to a "stranger." I use the Hub for bike stuff because it is not gumtree or olx and it is easy to see your history on here and make an informed call.

[Nick]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! 

 

We are busy working on the first version of our new Classifieds update. The aim is to improve and grow the Classifieds but, at the same time, we are very aware of the importance of the community aspects of Bike Hub.

We have been meeting with Hubbers to get early feedback on the updates, and we will be presenting these for comment more broadly in the coming months.

 

We are already working on fixes for a number of the gripes that have been mentioned in this thread, but there are always things that we haven't consider. So please keep this conversation going (here and in the other classifieds discussions).

[Long Wheel Base]

Theory:

 

They are Students/ unemployed/employed at SOE's trying to make money on the side. They constantly hit refresh on latest Classifieds with idea to get items at lowball offers which means they can resell later and make a profit.

 

Agreed, I will not sell to them, so no issue there.

 

But I am pissed that they are probably gobbling up all the bargains and reselling them for profit while the rest of us miss out on a good upgrade opportunity.

So I am not the only one here? I certainly don't try make money on the side by buying and selling here.

[EvanB]

Once you have concluded an eBay transaction they send you a few messages saying they have notice no trader feedback has been left

[throttles]

Something must be said about sellers that have been on bikehub for more than a year, have >80 posts and BS the buyers with regards to condition.

 

From personal experience, sellers also put pressure on prospective buyers by "having other people interested" and "first come first serve"

 

People, should make use of the rating system on bikehub more diligently. I've learnt the hard way.

 

But wont let a lying dog sleep..

[Wayne pudding Mol]

Theory:

 

They are Students/ unemployed/employed at SOE's trying to make money on the side. They constantly hit refresh on latest Classifieds with idea to get items at lowball offers which means they can resell later and make a profit.

 

Agreed, I will not sell to them, so no issue there.

 

But I am pissed that they are probably gobbling up all the bargains and reselling them for profit while the rest of us miss out on a good upgrade opportunity.

not so much theory as fact I believe - I know of 2 guys who definitely use the Hub to earn a living.  The problem is then that the history of the item is now 3rd hand at least

[Vetplant]

Something must be said about sellers that have been on bikehub for more than a year, have >80 posts and BS the buyers with regards to condition.

 

From personal experience, sellers also put pressure on prospective buyers by "having other people interested" and "first come first serve"

 

People, should make use of the rating system on bikehub more diligently. I've learnt the hard way.

 

But wont let a lying dog sleep..

I don't personally pressure any buyer, but I do work on a basis that the item goes to the first person that pays me, which I clearly state in the advert.

 

Calling dibs will only work if I have physically met you in person and we have had good dealings. Otherwise you are just setting me up to miss out on a sale to someone else who actually has the money to pay me now.

 

Once sold I would update the advert to "SOLD" for a couple of hours to effectively let guys who were interested know that it is no longer available before taking it down.

 

This way I don't get stressed by guys who say they are interested or lowball, I see that as part of the stuff you need to deal with to get a sale done. Sale is only made once the money is exchanged.

[Patchelicious]

Once you have concluded an eBay transaction they send you a few messages saying they have notice no trader feedback has been left

Im so occupied by the other thread, I read that as an eBike transaction..... time for a break 

[Dirkitech]

There is a huge overhaul coming on the Classifieds here.

 

We all need to rate the buyers and sellers though. As more traffic comes through the site, more unsavory bodies will unfortunately be dragged through the net.

 

I personally struggle to deal with buyers. Post an add, then someone texts at 11pm saying 'I'll give you R800'... Not, 'Hi, it's Mike Jones here. Just wondering if the XYZ is still available. I have R800 to give you. Really keen on the item.' or some such.

 

Guys also tend to think it's ok to call at any time.

 

08:00 till 19:00 or it's just rude if you don't know me. Seriously 

What I just read is that you don't mind the same 11pm lowball approach, as long as they groom you a bit first...

 

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone! 

 

We are busy working on the first version of our new Classifieds update. The aim is to improve and grow the Classifieds but, at the same time, we are very aware of the importance of the community aspects of Bike Hub.

 

We have been meeting with Hubbers to get early feedback on the updates, and we will be presenting these for comment more broadly in the coming months.

 

We are already working on fixes for a number of the gripes that have been mentioned in this thread, but there are always things that we haven't consider. So please keep this conversation going (here and in the other classifieds discussions).

 

I hope you guys aren't taking only Capetonian's suggestions  

 

Admin & Nick, please also see my next comment below:

 

Once you have concluded an eBay transaction they send you a few messages saying they have notice no trader feedback has been left

Speaking of, I've asked everyone I've traded with and most of them, save 1 or 2, left feedback.

 

A quick solution to this is perhaps a system like OLX, where an ad that gets removed asks you who it was sold to (largely irrelevant "who" as opposed to "whether"), but in Bikehub's case, the user the item was marked as "sold to" gets a permanent pin at the top of every page to remind them to rate their buyers and only disappears once completed. This idea may need more refining, but something along these lines to enforce the credibility system?

[Blackheart]

I must say I'm a bit gobsmacked by some of the attitudes/views here, in both directions.

Sure we all have varying ideas of how to conduct sales, but surely there are some basic values which apply regardless.

If I'm selling something I will first establish what I believe is a fair price. If I post an add without listing my personal criteria for conducting the sale, then I have to expect lowball offers, non constructive comments, and to receive replies via all the listed avenues.

As such I should assume equal importance to each communication.

If I'm buying something I should also know what a fair price and have realistic expectations thereof. I will not engage in communication if I do not have the cash immediately to hand to conclude, and in all communications I will be honest and respectful.

Aren't these just normal, basic ways of conducting oneself in any business dealing?

Or maybe it's just me and this has become a different place to operate in?

[Jewbacca]

What I just read is that you don't mind the same 11pm lowball approach, as long as they groom you a bit first...

 

 

hahahaha I am glad I had swallowed my tea when I read this!

 

I would prefer they contact me between 8:00 and 19:00 AND groom me... Maybe like 1 or 2 of my IG posts and comment #yeeeow or something.

 

Or something

[MORNE]

Something must be said about sellers that have been on bikehub for more than a year, have >80 posts and BS the buyers with regards to condition.

 

From personal experience, sellers also put pressure on prospective buyers by "having other people interested" and "first come first serve"

 

snip

 

I work on the basis that if you contacted me first with a proper intent to secure the item...I will give you preference to complete the deal above anyone else, even though there are X amount of other people interested.

I have had instances where a buyer wants to buy another out of an item by offering me more.

I don't do things that way.

[Schmorglebot]

My favorite question: "What is your best price?"

 

Which is just a short way of saying "I don't want to go through the delicate dance of negotiating with you as a peer, let's skip dinner and go straight to bed"

 

Where has the art of negotiation gone?