BST slowdown

[dcmidnight]

Not to derail this thread but...

Hey...you know...here's a good idea. If you're going to openly admit to not following one of the basic tenets of the BST - maybe dont do it in a thread a mod is trying to actively participate in.

Just a thought.

Ask anyone that frequents the DND forum. Every single time - OK, at least 99.8% of the time - a scammer has ripped off someone here - every single time - it always comes out that they were talked into sending F+F. We cant always do a lot but where we can, our job is to do the best we can to protect the members in sales like this. And thats why gifted payments - or any form of payment that does not offer buyer protections - are strictly against the rules.

If you are going to refuse to follow the rules - the BST is absolutely not for you. Please sell somewhere else. I dont care what you sell elsewhere, we dont want your business here if you're just going to sort of make up your own rules. If using a free forum and a completely free listing service isnt enough for you to follow the basic rules, please feel free to utilize ebay or other golf forums you may find.

[Bad9]

X10! If anyone asks/demands I give up the only real protection I have in an anonymous online purchase I assume they’re trying to scam me and No way in heck ami buying anything from them. In most transactions here it works out to be a couple of bucks so why ask.

[deadsolid...shank]

See some old familiar names here! That’s always good.

Im one of those types Irish mentioned. Long(ish) time member who was very active. Feedback in the triple digits. Now when I peruse the for sale (rarely participate in it anymore) I seldom recognize any of the sellers. And most are very low post count sellers. Sure, I know we always have Paypal protection if something goes wrong, but who wants to go through the hassle of a dispute. eBay has feedback for a reason. Losing it was a bad mistake (which everyone already knows).

Believe it or not, I think I’ve sold more stuff since the changeover by responding to the Want to Buy forum.

[third-times-a-charm]

Calm down dude lol

 

I said I DONT sell here BECAUSE of the rule.

 

I didnt say I broke the rule and kept selling.

[third-times-a-charm]

Its actually common practice in the watch world to do something even 'worse' - direct bank wire transfers that have no recourse. It happens daily! Freaks me out.

[GoIrish17]

Thank you for not participating on the BST.

[third-times-a-charm]

When feedback is reinstated and WRX does another BST marketing push I will very much do so, and I will have 100% feedback, and use goods and services. Much to your disdain I guess.

[BYK]

Given the amount of time it has been down, it seems like the feedback system is never coming back? Still have no idea why that would be the case.

[clinkinfo]

It’s not about WANTING to donate 10% to eBay (and let’s not forget sales tax collection). There’s no one here buying on BST anymore. The 10% you pay to eBay is offset by the 20-40% higher selling price you’re getting (as a seller). It sucks...that’s what started this thread on my side. I DON’T want to use eBay, I’d rather sell it for less here (factoring in the savings). But man, it’s gotten just impossible this year, there’s just no buying population here anymore it seems. Unless you are selling Jordan shoes you’re marking up 100% from the outlet. Is it a generational change going on?

 

i genuinely also think part of the BST issue is the “noise” with so many sellers trying to avoid the eBay fees, but asking the same or more than eBay prices suddenly, on a lot of non equipment stuff like clothing. It just makes it tedious as a buyer to bother going through the listings, because so many are priced silly. There used to be a “unspoken” guideline that you’d kinda split or give up the eBay fee portion as a seller, and ask less here. That doesn’t seem to hold true anymore, and there are many ads here that seem to ask MORE than the current eBay pricing. It doesn’t even make sense to have a conversation, many even have the balls to write “no low offers” in the ad! Um...ok, so as a buyer can I say “no high offered prices” somewhere? This site seems to be transitioning to some weird “retail arbitrage” outlet where people are trying to sell outlet crap, or stuff they find on sale for a profit. It’s not the enthusiast equipment outlet it used to be imo.

[courcy75]

I have had more luck on Facebook groups selling clubs than I have here. Just follow the basic idea of using Paypal G&S for all transactions and you'll be fine. People are less inclined to scam you if their picture is there for you to see. I know people can create fake profiles but do some basic research (not stalk) on the person or use the references they provide in those groups and you're all set.

[mister2cool]

LOL Originally I thought it was a typo.

well.. yes it was rule and it was added when a wave of scammers showed up on BST selling highly desirable items at couldn't-say-no prices and demanding gift payments right away. Surely a number of the members here fell victim to the scam. That's when they instituted post count rule and no gifting rule. It's really the best they can do to give people some protection but ultimately it's down to the buyer to use common sense.

I had done transactions with a number of new users, and almost all of them gifted their payment without me asking because they were told by other sellers that they must pay gifting simply because they were new. It really left them wide open to be taken advantage of by someone dishonest. I always took the time to explain to them that sellers are actually not allowed to demand gift payments and that they should not send payment using that in the future.

Yes the goods payment does leave seller at risk for buyer abuse. It forces me to vet my buyers a little bit too. For all the transactions I did on Ex-BST.. I never had a single issue with any of my buyers.

[agood3putt]

This year is really the only year I got into starting to sell on BST. Previous to that I would just comment on the threads but realized that all of my purchases once used could never be returned for what I paid for them so figured all you guys on here are genuine to an extent and I can trust that a) Im getting a good price for something I'm selling & b) it goes to someone who may really need/want it because we all love golf. So its a win win. I dont do eBay just because it screams scam to me, even if that isnt true I'd rather just stick with BST and you guys to support the site.

[mlwenzlick]

 

I'm certainly not going to disagree with you, there are a couple instances lately where I priced something intentionally UNDER trade in value just to see if I'd get a response and still nothing. Basically i'd have lost my shirt after shipping vs trading the iron set in and still couldn't rouse anyone. The same is going on with Facebook GCT though, so I think time of year is playing a bigger part than some are letting on.

 

[SubaruWRX]

I’ve bought & sold firearms/optics the same way at snipershide forums. That said, when it comes to buying F&F, I only buy from certain established and trusted members. I’d rather send $2,500 F&F there than try it here for a $100 wedge.

[clinkinfo]

There’s no doubt the time of year contributes, but honestly, I’ve been experiencing this all year here.

[Mr. Grumpy]

Not only time of year, but the market is saturated, added with top prices and little willingness to haggle. I am a cheap "sob" who loves to deal so the BST has become much like a trip to Golf Galaxy for me - a lot of looking, but rarely find a fun value buy...

 

 

[mister2cool]

In that world, if you mess up, you'll get a hitman coming for you... not quite so when it comes to a wedge.. LOL

[GoIrish17]

Have I seen posters lately with something along the lines of "paid BST member" in their avatar/member info area, or was I imagining it? (I don't follow any site update threads, so sorry if this has been covered)

 

[Yanki01]

possibly just paid the $5 to place an ad since that member is under 75 post (although has more than 10 points - for whatever that is). still this is an easy place to scam people with that crap rule.

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1760313/please-read-temporary-bst-rules

[GoIrish17]

I know all of that. I’d just never seen people who paid to play on the BST be identified other than the ClubWRX tag, which isn’t the same thing. I think it sucks that you can buy your way on at all, but identifying those who have is at least a token step in the right direction. Especially lacking a feedback system.

[md_mueller]

I certainly don't have the post count or experience that most people posting in this thread have, but my feedback was in the double digits and 100% before the redesign. My first several sales were using the $5 paid ad because even though I'd belonged for years I rarely posted and didn't hit 75 until this year. Generally had great interactions with both new and longtime members, even with my limited feedback/post count.

That said, my last ad received significantly fewer views than I would have anticipated based on prior experience and literally 1 message inquiry. Not like I was selling extremely hot goods, but I do try to list 10-20% less than what I see similar items selling for on the bay and do the standard drops once hitting page 2 oblivion. I know things usually slow down come winter, but I'd have to agree it's much more noticeable this year.

[eddiebigeddie]

I've been following this thread and hadn't commented till now, but its absolutely true that since the site redesign that the BST and site both have taken a downward turn. I've been a member going on 6 years this coming February and accumulated a 330+ positive feedback (should have been easily over 400 if everyone actually left feedback). I've been able to sell a few things this past fall (Aug. - Oct.) but for the most part my BST ads only get 1-3 people even reaching out with questions or offers. I know the feedback would definitely help the site, but it just feels like a lot of the long time members have either left or don't post hardly any anymore.

 

I really hope it changes as I really enjoy the site and have always enjoyed buying, selling & trading here.

[NAM2212]

I agree completely. I know I visit less and less. And the last time I did post something to the BST during the changeover I had a couple of people PM with questions. I would have to use the search tool to find my own ad since this site was such a cluster**** at that time. I thought since people asked that I could add the answer to that original ad but the edit option had disappeared. I added it as a reply to my own thread and was promptly warned and my ad removed for bumping my thread to the top.

[jschwarb]

I get to carry the "BST BANNED" label like a Scarlet Letter, though I had massive perfect feedback at the time and nothing but happy customers who rarely paid above retail for my stuff. Oh well.

[GoIrish17]

Did you deserve it?

[jschwarb]

I would argue no, but it's not my sandbox. Msg me if you're dying to know.

[Russ757]

Pretty much same. Member for 10+ years here, 300 or 400 rating, but also should have been way higher. The changeover was painful, but the responses were more off putting. (some of us understand website design and server migration). So that turned me off. Then deployment happened and since I got back I realized a) gear hasn't changed all that much. B) prices on the bst are silly inflated c) it's cyclic in that a year or so after I joined.. There was a bunch of member turnover.. I mean multiple guys with 500+ bst ads. Then some rules changed and that drove them off. Then my group came in and similar fashion.. We are leaving. I used to recognize many members across the forums but now I feel like I only see them in this, or other threads abt the site shortcomings.

Kinda feels like my 10 years were wasted but it was a good fun, and my wallet is so much happier

[clinkinfo]

Man you are correct with:

B) prices on the bst are silly inflated

IMO that’s what’s killing the BST. And the dying BST is killing the site, (along with moderation and censoring that has gotten silly).

 

I mean just look now, there’s a guy asking $2500 for a copper set of mp20’s when you can just ORDER that same set at $2020, the retail price. They aren’t sold out with retailers and it’s debatable if they will ever be “collectors items”. Come on, what’s the point? That one is so bad people are breaking the rules and bashing him in the thread!

or the set of epic pros that the guy is asking more than Callaway Preowned does......

or the spider tour putter that someone wants $7xx for when the heads sell for $160 on eBay....

 

 

[RH82]

Agreed but at the end of the day people will ask whatever they want and in that case its an easy decision for me. I simply don't buy and move on.

[clinkinfo]

Agreed too, BUT that’s what starts to make it cumbersome to go through the BST section. When there are so many inflated ads and stupid prices, browsing the BST becomes less fun and less interesting, and I stop coming. It becomes more interesting to go look on eBay or another forums sales section.

‘sometimes I think it’s a bad rule that we can’t comment on prices in the BST ads. I think a few friendly (lol) posts from people over asking prices would stop the practice pretty quickly. I also think if someone has the “you know what’s” to ask over retail for stuff they deserve the pushback. Not to use the same example over and over, but the guy asking $2500 for the copper MP 20s is the perfect example. Retail was $2020 and they can STILL be bought through stores, they haven’t sold out. So why are you asking $500 over retail?