Unpleasant B&S experience with a fellow CSers

[yeoenghwee]

I am refraining from slandering or making enemy in this context but apparently I experience some really unpleasant experience while contacting a of the fellow CSers to purchase some used speedlite. Admin please removed this is you find this post invasive and provocative in nature.

I contact a fellow CSer to purchase his used YN560 II Speedlite last evening after seeing his post. The price isn't cheap for a used speedlite that is a year old. He posted $70 bucks while a brand new YN560 III is selling at $99. Nevertheless, I tried to negotiate a little, explaining that I am trying out high key photography and is trying to get a cheap second light in the process. We manage to meet somewhere in the middle of $60 bucks since he claim that it is in mint condition and $50 bucks is way too low. I requested if I can test the light and check for defects but he sound reluctant on the word "TEST" and mention he will only bring out his flash if it is a confirm deal. I committed since he said I can check for defects if I bring my own battery and equipment. That is around 10PM last evening.

This morning, I contacted him to check on the compatibility of the flash with my YN622 trigger and he mention it is fully compatible and send me some Amazon link. I mentioned that I am unsure if he means compatible is just trigger it of if I can control the speedlite power via the trigger since it is a manual flash since the Mitros flash I am using can have this function. I request nicely if I can try out the function when we meet during lunch. The seller get very offensive and asked me to improve on my buy and sell attitude and to do my proper research before contacting him. I was a little put off by his attitude and ask if it is too much just to test out the function properly, since I already make plan and is heading to Tanjong Pagar, I am using my own time as well. He mention if I do not want the flash, he can jolly well sell it off to another CSers. Being really put off with his statement and am unsure why as a buyer I am not allowed to test out function. To me, he is more concerning letting go of the flash and not my rights as a buyer.

I have been in CS for long and have met numerous people but this is really bad experience. During lunch, my friend mention that he even post my mobile mentioning about his bad experience with me. Again, I do not want to start a war but wanted to understand if asking to test a function if it is working is too much and poor buy and sell attitude. I did not, even once in the conversation said that, if the flash cannot be remotely manipulate with the trigger I will drop the purchase. Again he manage to sell it off so I am glad he manage to do so. Just hope this will create some awareness on what is expected when buy and sell cos I am really disturbed.

 

[edutilos-]

No one is going to hold a gun to your head to buy the item if you meet up. I don't think you did anything wrong other than being too particular about having things down in B&W (apparently). I would have thought it is quite normal for testing of item to be carried out.

I think sometimes sellers can get a little fed up when the buyer is asking too many questions. I personally tend to stay away from buyers that SMS nonstop before a meet-up, because it is highly likely that there will be a lot of nitpicking and there is a wasted trip, whether or not the item is in a good condition or not. You are concerned about making a trip down to meet a seller whose item does not work for you. He is equally concerned about making a trip down to meet a buyer who doesn't really want to deal.

Another potential interpretation of your questioning is that you are trying to convince him to lower the price. It probably doesn't help matters that you have asked to lower the price in the first instance.

My advice is that in the future, just take testing as a given. If he doesn't want to let you test, then do you want the item? Obviously not. But asking too much beforehand can result in seller's reluctance to deal with you out of fear that you are a troublesome buyer.

Life is too short, if fate dictates that the buyer and seller cannot see eye to eye then just keep it in mind and move on, don't need to dwell too much on these things. Also try to remember that a little mutual respect and tolerance goes a long way.

Cheers!

 

[yeoenghwee]

Hi Edutilos,

Thanks for the advice. Apparently, I am just more disturbed as the seller have taken a step forward by listing my number down in the forum. Is it really necessary?

 

[edutilos-]

Btw, sometimes the buyer don't even know what you are asking. You are looking for an item that he has for sale, but he may not use it with a YN622 trigger and thus he may not know for sure. I sometimes get a little exasperated in my dealings in CS B&S when potential buyers treat me as a salesman. The cost of having a person stationed there with product knowledge (and the responsibility to answer correctly) is priced in a brand new item. For B&S I'm just trying to recoup some money from an item I no longer need, from the seller's POV, that premium of "service" is probably absent and thus... Questions like the following are quite tiresome:

1) Your bag can fit my list of equipment or not?
2) Your grip can use with my camera or not?
3) Can your lens be mounted on my camera?
Etc

Compatibility of equipment is something that is pretty well-documented in manuals, on the Internet. I remember a buyer recently that reserved my battery grip thinking that it was a 5D Mark III BG even when the model number of the BG I was selling was clearly stated in the listing and wasn't the same. He reserved it for one week and "suddenly" realized that it was not what he wanted. In the meantime I had rejected many other potential buyers and wasted a lot of time responding to his questions and letting the other guys know that it was reserved.

If you do a quick search the Yongnuo store actually states a response that the flash is not compatible with YN622 trigger:

http://yongnuo.eachshot.com/product/yongnuo-yn-560-ii-yn560ii-flash-speedlight_canon/740.html

vishyclaw asked:Jun 06, 2013
Can I control the power of this flash from the back of a canon 5 mk2 using the Yongnuo YN-622C transceiver?

Yongnuo Store answered：Jun 06, 2013
Sorry, You can not.

I think it is more fair for you to check out the compatibility yourself next time round too.

Cheers!

 

[edutilos-]

Hi Edutilos,

Thanks for the advice. Apparently, I am just more disturbed as the seller have taken a step forward by listing my number down in the forum. Is it really necessary?

Of course it is not necessary, but you can't control other people.

I have thought of listing down the number of people who have made my B&S experience rather painful at times (examples of negative behaviour include: lowballing even though my prices are set at below market rate AND expecting me to meet at their convenience, bargaining every 3 hours up on a daily basis until I just cancelled on them, etc) but life is too short.

Why don't you SMS him and talk it out nicely - here's my suggestion of the points you can include if you want to resolve the matter:

1) Check with the moderators (they should be along shortly) if they can delete posts off B&S if the author agrees, and how to go about doing this.
2) SMS him to apologise (you may or may not be in the wrong, doesn't matter, it doesn't hurt you right?) and say that you were unaware that he was so unhappy about the incident and you did not mean to cause any unhappiness, and that you have checked with the moderators and would like to settle the issue amicably, and ask if he could follow the instructions that moderators give in #1

Then everybody can be happy, and you have been the bigger man about it.

Good luck with the issue!

 

[yeoenghwee]

Hi edutilos,

I know you are being kind as a mediator. I am not expecting him answers all my questions in the first place. In fact isn't testing and checking part and parcel of buy and sell.

If I would rate being offensive and oblivious, I may have miss out some information during research but I think what he have done is equally wrong. Why do I have to step down my pride first?

 

[virtualme78]

I think the flash is sold. In this case, I don't think taking any further effort in communicating with the seller again helps. On the contrary the seller might take it differently and things might worsen. I'd say just let it go.

If I am buying something from BNS and I am not allowed to test the flash for defects, functionality or maybe compatibility... I'd refrain from buying from this seller. As a seller, I always advise my potential buyers to test the item as much as possible just to make sure the item works for him. If I am going to be a petty little **** and whine all day about letting people test the thing I'm selling... I shouldn't even be selling anything at all.

 

[edutilos-]

Why do I have to step down my pride first?

It's up to you la. That's just my personal preference if it turned sour and I wanted to resolve it.

Cheers!

 

[eleveninth]

thought what happen.. like that only. :dunno:

 

[shierwin]

Hi Edutilos,

Thanks for the advice. Apparently, I am just more disturbed as the seller have taken a step forward by listing my number down in the forum. Is it really necessary?

Looking at the seller's thread, the encounter was an unpleasant experience for both parties.
Not in any position to judge. In buying an item, new or 2nd hand, homework needs to be done before striking out a deal.

 

[donut88]

I am refraining from slandering or making enemy in this context but apparently I experience some really unpleasant experience while contacting a of the fellow CSers to purchase some used speedlite. Admin please removed this is you find this post invasive and provocative in nature.

I contact a fellow CSer to purchase his used YN560 II Speedlite last evening after seeing his post. The price isn't cheap for a used speedlite that is a year old. He posted $70 bucks while a brand new YN560 III is selling at $99. Nevertheless, I tried to negotiate a little, explaining that I am trying out high key photography and is trying to get a cheap second light in the process. We manage to meet somewhere in the middle of $60 bucks since he claim that it is in mint condition and $50 bucks is way too low. I requested if I can test the light and check for defects but he sound reluctant on the word "TEST" and mention he will only bring out his flash if it is a confirm deal. I committed since he said I can check for defects if I bring my own battery and equipment. That is around 10PM last evening.

This morning, I contacted him to check on the compatibility of the flash with my YN622 trigger and he mention it is fully compatible and send me some Amazon link. I mentioned that I am unsure if he means compatible is just trigger it of if I can control the speedlite power via the trigger since it is a manual flash since the Mitros flash I am using can have this function. I request nicely if I can try out the function when we meet during lunch. The seller get very offensive and asked me to improve on my buy and sell attitude and to do my proper research before contacting him. I was a little put off by his attitude and ask if it is too much just to test out the function properly, since I already make plan and is heading to Tanjong Pagar, I am using my own time as well. He mention if I do not want the flash, he can jolly well sell it off to another CSers. Being really put off with his statement and am unsure why as a buyer I am not allowed to test out function. To me, he is more concerning letting go of the flash and not my rights as a buyer.

I have been in CS for long and have met numerous people but this is really bad experience. During lunch, my friend mention that he even post my mobile mentioning about his bad experience with me. Again, I do not want to start a war but wanted to understand if asking to test a function if it is working is too much and poor buy and sell attitude. I did not, even once in the conversation said that, if the flash cannot be remotely manipulate with the trigger I will drop the purchase. Again he manage to sell it off so I am glad he manage to do so. Just hope this will create some awareness on what is expected when buy and sell cos I am really disturbed.

It may be your choice of words or English or the number of times u 'disturb' him on your questions

As a seller, he may get irritated with alot of questions from buyer.

As a buyer, you are expected to do your own homework as much as possible, before buying.

If I'm the seller in your case, I will tell you straight to read up or ask others before buying my item. I may be the owner of the item, but that doesn't mean I know everything about this item. I may not use 100% of the functions.

 

[Chillibomber]

You could try to think in the seller's shoe. You deal with 1 seller, he has to deal with many potential buyers. For a relative cheap item, dealing with haggling and multiple questions is no fun. Worse still if there is more than 1 pax. Naturally the seller should answer questions pertaining to the condition of his ware, but he is not expected to know everything remote about it (compatibility and such). Its tough for both, so let it go bah.

 

[virtualme78]

Am I correct to assume that you guys are totally fine with a sales assistant in one of the camera store shouting his head off at you when you ask too many questions, testing different camera bodies, lens, accessories, etc?

You could try to think in the seller's shoe. You deal with 1 seller, he has to deal with many potential buyers. For a relative cheap item, dealing with haggling and multiple questions is no fun. Worse still if there is more than 1 pax. Naturally the seller should answer questions pertaining to the condition of his ware, but he is not expected to know everything remote about it (compatibility and such). Its tough for both, so let it go bah.

It may be your choice of words or English or the number of times u 'disturb' him on your questions

As a seller, he may get irritated with alot of questions from buyer.

As a buyer, you are expected to do your own homework as much as possible, before buying.

If I'm the seller in your case, I will tell you straight to read up or ask others before buying my item. I may be the owner of the item, but that doesn't mean I know everything about this item. I may not use 100% of the functions.

 

[huatman]

Am I correct to assume that you guys are totally fine with a sales assistant in one of the camera store shouting his head off at you when you ask too many questions, testing different camera bodies, lens, accessories, etc?

Think it different for a sales assistant and someone selling own 2nd hand stuff? (Unless it 2nd hand store like cash converter etc)
Sales assistants are there work, to make living and provide customer service.

 

[SNAPDINER]

I think edutilos is correct to note that TS has asked to lower the price (which was agreed) prior to enquire about compatibility. Seller is merely to sell, not impart knowledge of the uses of the item. I believe most of us will agree that the onus of knowing how to use and what it could use for lies with the buyer when we are talking about dealing with individuals.

 

[virtualme78]

Think it different for a sales assistant and someone selling own 2nd hand stuff? (Unless it 2nd hand store like cash converter etc) Sales assistants are there work, to make living and provide customer service.

How is it different when it is still an exchange of money and goods? A customer do not care if the seller or sales assistant depended his life on selling the item. To a customer, I only care about getting what I want hopefully at the price I want.

 

[edutilos-]

How is it different when it is still an exchange of money and goods? A customer do not care if the seller or sales assistant depended his life on selling the item. To a customer, I only care about getting what I want hopefully at the price I want.

Unfortunately it is not any B&S person's job to sell the second-hand goods for a living.

Even if I turn away one potential buyer because he irked me for some reason, there will be plenty of people out there who will be interested in buying the item. The supply of second hand goods doesn't work quite the same as store items, unless you are a second-hand store.

 

[huatman]

One is doing a job, a rice bowl. One clearing unused stuffs to get some spare cash.

 

[virtualme78]

Unfortunately it is not any B&S person's job to sell the second-hand goods for a living. Even if I turn away one potential buyer because he irked me for some reason, there will be plenty of people out there who will be interested in buying the item. The supply of second hand goods doesn't work quite the same as store items, unless you are a second-hand store.

Same goes for camera store. They are not going to end their business because of losing 1 or 2 customers. I'm only talking at the first basic level where it is simply a money-goods transaction and it's totally unnecessary to get worked up over a few questions and testing the item.

I find this totally unacceptable if the seller gets all worked up when I ask to test the set. Moreover, TS is being polite to the seller all the time, so is it even necessary to react this way? Why must TS be the first to apologize to a rude POS?

 

[virtualme78]

To me, I'm not giving 2 hoots if the seller is selling because he is offloading for various reasons or his life depended on it. I do not expect to be snapped at over asking a few questions and asking to test the set. Please note I said ASKING not DEMAND.

How many sms could TS and seller exchanged, more than 50? I don't think so... From TS's post, it's likely to be less than 10. Is it necessary to be rude?