Posted by amnesia
Here's a new trend that's pissing me off. People don't seem to understand what As New or Mint mean!
I've seen countless "For Sale" threads where people say
"I've got an As New phone, it comes fully boxed with everything, but has a scratch here or a dent there"
While I'm at it, I hate it when people say, "Oh it's totally smashed up and the screen doesn't work, but it's nothing to worry about"
Oh wait, here's another,
people take blurry pics. WTF IS THAT! The pics are useless (except for showing you have the phone) if the pics are blurry. Or sometimes a person has awesome crystal clear pictures and when you ask them to take a picture of the "little scratch" they give you the most blurred out photo in the world.
Here's a few little tips.
Don't lie, it'll make the whole transaction MUCH smoother.
Don't exaggerate! When the phone arrives, if someone gets what wasn't advertised he/she will send it back, and everyone's time will be wasted.
AS NEW means AS NEW! The phone and it's contents are exactly as they would be if you JUST bought the phone and opened it up. (Screen protectors or plastic is NOT required but it helps).
Once there is a scratch, a scrape, a TINY surface scratch on the screen, it's NOT AS NEW ANYMORE!
MINT means, AS New condition, however perhaps it has a bit of oil, a bit of dust in the crevices. Nothing that is totally available.
So try to be clear everyone, it'll help everyone, and boost people's confidence in the For Sale section again.
Note: I'm not talking about personal experience necessarily, it's just that I read some threads and don't talk about it because I don't want to ruin their threads with my comments which might affect them.
Posted by axxxr
I'm glad you bought this issue up,about time someone mentioned this...I myself on a couple of occassions bought stuff and it wasn't how it was described in the sale...Its really dissapointing as you would expect fellow esato members to be 100% honest about the conditon of the phone/item for sale.
Posted by mcrosser
I totally agree, it so much better to deal with an honest person ....
Posted by Sammy_boy
Very very true... though I suspect I've been guilty on a couple of occasions of describing a phone 'as new but with a couple of tiny scratches'!
What does make me laugh though is on Ebay, when I see an auction titled something like 'xxx mobile phone, slightly faulty', and when you look at the auction description, it says 'mobile does not power up'. Excuse me? That's more than a 'slight' fault you moron!
And yes, both on here and on Ebay I've encountered 'as new' or 'excellent condition' phones that turn out to be actually quite scratched! Human nature I guess to exaggerate the condition of products to get a better price
Posted by Luke-the-magic-man
well said mate, all of that is so true, its like when you buy a phone they have one pic of just the phone, but its taken from a meter away lol like arrrr
Posted by masseur
while I agree in principal with the comments, such listings simply turn me away and I don't feel as strong as you.
if I saw "As new with a scratch" I would instantly know it wasn't what I wanted and I would not even be tempted to consider the item
the time I would definitly start getting upset is when its advertised "as new" but it turns up with scratch
Posted by Sammy_boy
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Or those pictures taken with something like a webcam in very poor artifical light - they might as well not bother!
Posted by Luke-the-magic-man
yeh so true there sammy. Also as a example when solid was selling them 2 laptops, he took one really really shite picture of a screen of the laptop, nothing else so you couldnt see the laptop, or what was on screen, or even make out the brand I was so disapointed in the lad lol. Another thing that annoys me with it is stock photos or when you copy other peoples pics or descriptions...
Posted by Sammy_boy
lol yes, when someone copies and pastes a phone, laptop etc.'s specs from that companies' website, a stock photo and no description of condition, what bits it comes with, I like to see the exact item I'm buying!
Posted by amnesia
I'm glad to see that so many people have also noticed this.
Hopefully the section will be better with people that are more honest.
Posted by solidsingh
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good example, they didnt sell on ebay with that pic, i relisted with better pics and they sold and i made a hefty profit
Posted by amnesia
Just thought I'd resurrect this for some obvious reasons.
Posted by supers33d
The worst thing is the people who complain who does this themselves
Posted by bodum
i believe that some sellers insist that their descriptions is a fair fit of the object, and that the buyer is being too 'obsessive' and unreasonable. however, what qualifies as a 'slight' fault or scratch, might be a major thing to others. second hand object condition assessments are often subjective at most, and at times it really is not the seller's description is downplaying the fault, the customer might be exaggerating and also vice-versa.
how about a set standard for description then? we could have an esato moderator rate the items for sale, by having the seller send HIGH QUALITY photos of the item to the moderator before the mod give a rating and list the product? it might be a hassle and time-consuming, but we could give the mod a commision for his troubles? also this way guarantees customer satisfaction and is a good addition to the existing seller/buyer rating system? make esato a good marketplace!
Posted by amnesia
I agree.
It would be nice to have a rating scale with a description set by esato.
What annoys me however is when someone says
"Mint Condition. Only a scratch on the back".
Mint means perfect in every way.
As New means it is as it would be if you had just bought it and taken it out the box.
Great condition means that there is no damage at all to the phone but it may be a bit obvious that it's been tried out.
Very Good condition means there is some damage. Surface scratches, light marks, and used accessories.
Good condition means there is damage. Scratches, Scrapes, possibly hairline cracks, and used accessories.
Anything else like missing accessories and so on should be mentioned.
Do people agree with me?
(Side note: I've not had any problems however I just notice these things in threads; although I stay quiet)
Posted by bodum
agreed. mint does mean sealed, untouched or whatever. however the term is being used quite loosely, and rather misleadingly nowadays. a proper set of standards would be good.
Posted by Dogmann
Hi all,
I agree in principal with all that has been said but not all the definitions, when i sell i phone i take at least 3 or 4 pictures from all angles and clear shots. When i say mint that is really what it means no marks or scratches.
Just ask Merc Man as he bought my N70 World Cup and 8800 Special Edition, I have just sold my treasured N93 and that is also is mint, but has a very slight hardly noticeable rub mark on the flip from being put in Laptop mode it wasn't possible to get it show up i the pictures. The phone is still mint and there is not a scratch or dent on the case it is a rubbing mark and as i have pointed it out and brought peoples attention to it, what is wrong with my description. When i delivered the phone i had to point it out carefully for it to be noticed at all.
But in principle i do agree a lot of posts seem to say mint or brand new and then mention a scratch on the screen but you can't see it when it's on etc etc. I think as long as there are good pictures that focus on the damage or marks if any with a honest description is fine. Obviously starting something is mint or as new and then mentioning 2/3 faults is never going attract much interest. Much in the same way as very low offers or mysterious high bids by Pm's that never seem to materialise, personally i think all bids should be made in the thread but that's just MO.
Marc
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Nokia E61 2gb Sandisk, Fring, TomTom 6, AD-46 with Black Shure EC2g
[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2007-04-28 03:03 ]
Posted by bodum
@ dogmann
i think that the definition for mint is basically perfect, sealed, out of factory condition. i agree that your product description is perfectly honest and brings the correct idea for the buyer, but for some their idea of mint is rather more scrupolous as described above. nothing wrong with your description, but wouldn't a description other than mint suit the purpose for everyone?
Posted by maggflodd
On 2007-04-28 06:25:55, bodum wrote:
@ dogmann
i think that the definition for mint is basically perfect, sealed, out of factory condition. i agree that your product description is perfectly honest and brings the correct idea for the buyer, but for some their idea of mint is rather more scrupolous as described above. nothing wrong with your description, but wouldn't a description other than mint suit the purpose for everyone?