Classified, What does ( I'll Take It Mean )

I'd take your money order! I'm not applying it to a heart transplant or bill, though so I can wait.

I'm slightly nervous about online payments, I guess.

I also do everything within reason to honor an "I'll take it." Is this me being old?

That said, these things run as pretty loose transactions until money moves imo. Loose meaning that the seller has the final say until money moves.

I'm with the others on this ..... up to a point. "I'll take it" means exactly that. You are first in line. If payment terms were not specified in the posting, then the member with the "I'll take it" is still first in line while payment terms are negotiated, If payment terms cannot be met by the "I'll take it" member, then the seller is free to move on. I think everyone agrees so far with this particular example.

But what if a member posts the first "I'll take it" and stands ready, willing and able to meet all of the seller's terms and then the item is still sold to somebody else? I loathe deals that are done "in the dark", meaning through private messages. There is no transparency for the buyer. I have lost out on several transactions on items that I had been looking for in the following instances:

1) I was the first "I'll take it" on an item, but the seller later responded to me and told me that he had sold to another member who offered him more through a private message. The buyer admitted in later PM's that the other buyer was behind me in terms of response time, but he liked the other offer of more money. In other words, the terms of the sale were changed after my posting to an auction by both the seller and second guy in line. We all know that auctions are not allowed on the site. Due to the lack of transparency, I was not even aware it had turned into an auction. I would have gone higher on my price, but was never given the opportunity to outbid the other member.

2) Same situation as above, but seller was later contacted by another member through private message that was local. The terms of the sale were changed "behind closed doors" and I was left standing outside with payment in hand wonder WTH just happened?

3) Same situation as above, but seller sold the item to another member because he was able to get a response back quicker from him. After I had posted an "I'll take this", I sent a private message to seller to arrange the payment. Several guys jumped in behind me saying "I have seconds", "I'll take this if the others fall through" etc. I kept checking back over the next hour for a response from the seller. When nothing popped up, I left the house to run a couple of errands. I returned a couple of hours later to find the items had been sold to another member. It turns out that the seller had contacted all parties that had responded to his posting and then agreed to sell the item to the first guy that reponded to his private message. I get moving in line to the next guy if the first "I'll take this" poster does not get back to the seller within a day or two. But having the rug pulled out from underneath him for not staying glued to the computer for a couple of hours??

4) Same situation as above, but with another member responding sooner than me in terms of time stamp. Difference was his offer came via private message and was conditional based upon getting some answers to his questions. My offer was public and without conditions, thus meeting all the terms of the sale. This example has more grey to it, but the end effect was the member with the private message 'froze' me out for several days while he decide if he would move forward with the sale. I was willing to take the item as is. I had know idea this was happeneing and I spent several days waiting for a response to my "I'll take it" posting. In the meantime, I came across the same item for sale on another site. I passed on that item because I had already committed to buy the item on this site. I ended up with neither item.

With these life experiences under my belt, my position is as follows: "I'll take it" means exactly that. I will take it exactly as offered with all terms (including payment) willing to be met by the buyer. Posting and selling items openly in a thread is the only way to ensure that all parties involved can see that everyone is being treated fairly. It also provides a strong disincentive for buyer or seller to do anything underhanded, as everything is out in the open where other members can and will call them out. In summary, threads are for posting and selling items, while private messages should only be used for asking clarification or additional info on the item and for arranging payment.

I understand the arguments brought forth by topcat265. But they essentially turn a classified into an auction, which is prohibited on this site. There is legal and then there is ethical. I have sometimes found they are not one and the same.

Again, this is just my opinion guys. I see lots of room for improvement on how things get sold here.

eklarsen said:

Follow on question, who can't make an electronic payment in this day and age? Is it a moral objection or do you have trust issues?

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I can't. I pay by personal check. I also explain I don't have any electronic accounts and ask in the follow up PM if a personal check is acceptable and that I am willing to wait until the check clears before they ship. If it is not acceptable then I would politely explain I wouldn't be buying the item and apologize for taking up their time.
For all the electronic gurus out there, there are ways to cash a check and deposit it in their account using their phone. Checks clear in a few days so it's not like it used to be where it took 2 weeks. I am good for my checks and my feedback should show I'm not trying to rip anyone off. I greatly appreciate the fact people are willing to accept checks for payment although I suppose it would save me a lot of money if they didn't
I think communication and respect when doing business is a key but seems to be a thing of the past in our society these days. I have been very fortunate to deal with stand up people on this and the other forums I frequent.

I have sold stuff using a Walmart pay. Go to Walmart and for about $8 you electronically send a payment the seller can pick up at any Walmart. Western Union does the same for a little more money. But then the onus is on the seller to insure you get your purchase. Selling across the country is shaky at best. You hope people are honest. I have faith in our fellow man.

While I don't disagree with your method, the seller has no obligation to accept your preferred form of payment.
I personally prefer paying with money order. That said, I would like to hear more about the "forged" money orders mentioned in post #2...

I just follow my personal rule of "Do the right thing." That being said, I also believe you should communicate better with the seller to ensure their expectations are met. I have had several transactions via USPS money order and CC. The USPS takes time, but if that is your only method, you can send it quickly. This can be dependent on the seller as much as anything, so check with them; they own the item. If you were at a storefront and said I need to go to the cash machine, they may not wait; if you're ready, be ready. Electronic payment is easy. While you may not want to pay that way again, the seller can dictate terms, and you then can choose to follow them. Just be upfront and understand what each other wants and needs.

I don't see why someone can't wait I usually even let them split the payment if they need to. I usually do require postal money orders and make definite target dates if they have to make payments call me crazy I guess ?/

I think the seller should state in the ad forms of payment they will not accept. I also think they should have informed you that they would not take your payment and were going to next buyer

Korhil78 said:

ALTHOUGH, he could have been more tactful about it and message you back telling you that he wasn't going to sell it to you and told you why before selling it to someone else.

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^^^^THIS^^^^

FEENIX said:

Mutual trust, respect, and two-way communication are needed to make a smooth transaction.

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^^^^^…..and THIS^^^^

I've sold quite a bit of stuff on this site. Generally, at the end of my listings I put "I like PayPal Friends & Family….", but there have been multiple times where someone has said "I'll take it" and then in their PM say they will pay with M.O. I go ahead and honor the transaction because there are some who don't do electronic forms of payment…..AND also because I DID NOT say that I'd ONLY accept PayPal. Details matter when buying and selling and that also applies to your WORDS!!!

comfisherman said:

My preferred method was always to specifically take time stamped pm with an ill take it as preference. With that said I'll always post sales terms upfront.

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^^^^THIS TOO^^^^

taylorms said:

While I don't disagree with your method, the seller has no obligation to accept your preferred form of payment.
I personally prefer paying with money order. That said, I would like to hear more about the "forged" money orders mentioned in post #2...

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Quite honestly Anything and I mean Anything can be forged/fake these days, that is unfortunately a fact of life these days. Cashier checks and bank checks can also be faked. I was sent fake money orders onetime jeez close to 10 years ago now. Luckily I did not sell the person anything so I threw them in the trash.

Accepting personal checks in the mail could be risky also. If the check bounces, then your bank charges you a fee ($25 at my bank), then you have to contact the buyer who sent you the check. At that point he should cover the $25 fee, but if he doesn't and ghosts you, you are $25 in the hole. Electronic payment (venmo, etc) or Paypal G&S if the item isn't described as firearms related are what I use. Although Paypal is really getting to be a PITA, and I try to avoid using them.

The "I'll Take It" publicly trumps all other methods is mostly from SH and I never understood that. I don't always want to post publicly because of scammers and it's also no ones business what I'm buying.

I've been passed up when I've PM'd first and even had a conversation with the seller and he said it was mine and we settled on payment terms, and also let them know that I'd send payment in a few hours because I was just headed out the door and wouldn't be online. But then they asked that I post a public I'll take it. I didn't see that request because I was driving and don't use my phone while I'm driving. 2 hours later, I was back online and he said he sold it out from under me because I didn't post on the thread. But it was his item to sell, I just won't ever buy anything he posts for sale because I'm not a fan of his character.

In this case, the seller didn't want to accept MO or check and he made that clear. I understand. Some people aren't close to a bank or PO, and don't do mobile deposit. It's more hassle for them to actually get the funds. It's like going out to eat at a cash only place and trying to use a credit card, or trying to use Amex at a store that only accepts Visa.

It is not sold until the buyer and seller have agreed on it being sold. A person might say "I'll take it" publicly, but there might be 5 PM conversations taking place prior to that.

An ad for an item doesn't require a person to sell the item. Someone might say "i'll take it", but have poor feedback or in favorable terms.

Even better, some folks use "I'll take it" to stall and ad and then negotiate.

In other words, the seller can choose who they want to sell to, how, and the buyer can do the same. There's no agreement until there's an actual agreement.