Is it Time? Buying, Selling, Hoping, Praying… (1 Viewer)

[merkong]

Is it time to begin the process of taking a good long look at the buying and selling of poker chips and swag? With the uptick of “Thisgate” and “Thatgate” and “Where’d the seller go?” one has to at least consider it.

I’ve been around for a few years and haven’t transacted much in the last year. I can’t even imagine the thousands and thousands of transactions that have gone off without a hitch since this amazing community has been in existence. There has been plenty.

I mean the mechanism isn’t flawed per se. Amazon doesn’t send you something and wait for payment. Target doesn’t let you haul something home and then remit payment later. We’re doing it right. I think.

We have the feedback which “most” people contribute to. Buyers take a look at feedback v. just looking at the percentage. It should be enough. The guiding principle is trust. Then how do we explain a seemingly on the level seller disappearing into thin air for weeks at a time? Poorly packed items resulting in damage from someone who has sold many times?

At present, the buyer assumes all risk with the transaction. That the chips will be as described or portrayed, that they’ll be packed safely, mailed promptly, and eventually a third party (USPS) will get it there as anticipated. “File a claim with USPS” is a dead end. “I had a family thing” is an excuse. “They were packed bullet-proof. I don’t know what happened.” Pfft.

I get it. Do the homework on feedback. Deal with trusted sellers and buyers. Cross your fingers and toes and hope. Gotta be some middle ground.

I have more questions than answers I know. A “Preferred sellers” status? Harsher consequences in the forums for missteps? Consequential feedback hits? Warning labels on profiles for overt and provable certain actions? Double the shipping and using reshippers? Holding monies in “escrow” until delivery is complete?

This isn’t Amazon or Target. But if those institutions trusted their patrons the way we’re asked to trust each other they would let you haul stuff home and pay later and “give it a whirl and we’ll figure it out later.”

Taking a break from an absolutely brutal day of folks needing, needing, needing… Have a nice week and weekend.

 

[ProperPokerPlayer]

I found PCF because I wanted to develop a very niche product and wanted a good test market for my racks and tube. I have had all but good experiences so far with members on the site and have sold or given away quite a few racks. If I were to critic the systems I would say the fault lies in the feedback prompting. If you look at my feedback I only have one positive review from @allforcharity and zero negative. I have also bought some chips and don't every remember being asked to leave any feedback. So I didn't leave any feedback so I am part of the problem. I am guessing if you DM to set up payment and such then you are never prompted to leave feedback. I like the "preferred seller" status idea and even would be willing to pay PFC a little extra on top of my supporter plus membership to get that status. Then have rules that PCF can take it away if another chipper complains about a preferred seller.