3ds Sales Etiquette
18 messages in this thread
To all sellers and buyers of used 3DS software:
In general, it is better not to post prices here. If you can, take the actual
price negotiations to email.
I realize this may seem minor, but consider this — public price negotiations
are an invitation for others to step in the middle of your deal.
Publicly asking a seller "how much you want for that" is a real good way to
have someone else waltz in and take the deal away.
Evan
I'm not sure what you're driving at… are you saying that someone can come
along and out-bid a previous bidder? That sounds like a benefit to the seller.
And the public posting of all bids lets previous bidders top any subsequent
bids – again, I'd think that benefits both buyers and sellers… unless of
course you like snapping up stuff at a discount price, without public scrutiny.
🙂
Part of what I'm saying is that open price negotiations can turn this into a
swap meet.
If you post a message selling 3DS for $2,000, I might post a message
selling it for $1,950.
If you post a message offering $2,000, I might post a message
offering $2,100.
It just makes things a mess. But mostly, I object to turning this place into
too much of a swap meet.
Consider this — Autodesk makes money selling *new* 3DS software. And this is
their forum. Coming here to sell your used 3DS is a little like going to the
local car dealer, camping out in their showroom, and trying to sell your used
car to their customers.
In the end, Autodesk allows the commerce to go on here, but only because it's
fairly low key. The public negotiations make it much less low key.
Evan
Very eloquently put, Evan.
– G
From what you describe, one man's mess is another's benefit. If Autodesk
doesn't want a 'classified' section, then they should remove it. If anyone
should have a complaint with open sales of 3DS, it would be the dealers… but
a good aftermarket for used software, with an established "street" price is a
tremendous benefit. Autodesk products are one of the few types of software
that do have re-sale value. I've got a spare copy of Paradox for Windows.
What's it worth? Nada.
This is the first suggestion I've seen that this forum is "low key." 🙂
"This is the first suggestion I've seen that this forum is "low key.""
Rereading Evan's message, I realize that he's saying that "commerce is low key"
– not the forum! Here:
"In the end, Autodesk allows the commerce to go on here, but only because it's
fairly low key. The public negotiations make it much less low key."
I'm really not trying to put a damper on the used 3DS market here. All I was
suggesting is to keep it low key. This is not a policy statement, It is not a
dictate, it is only an informal suggestion! If you think I'm out of line, feel
free to ignore me.
In the end, all that can happen if the sales of used 3DS software here becomes
too overt is that Autodesk or CompuServe will issue a formal policy prohibiting
it. Actually, there already is a formal CompuServe policy regarding the issue
— but we ignore it because, in most cases, the benefit outweighs the good.
Evan
FWIW — As an Authorized AutoCAD and 3DS dealer, I don't sell products on this
forum. In general, you won't see authorized dealers offering their products
for sale here. We just don't want it to become a circus.
Hey, I wasn't tell you what to do, either. 🙂 I agree that "low key" is
better than a free-for-all, but a little haggling is fun and absolutely
necessary to trim the price of people who don't know what the current street
price might be on a used 2400 baud modem.
"But I paid $300 for it!"
Evan:
>> If you think I'm out of line, feel free to ignore me.
But how will you know if we are making a statement about the policy or just
treating your comments as we normally do? <g,d,& r>
Greg (& Susan) Pyros
Greg,
>> treating your comments as we normally do? <g,d,& r><<
Who turned-on the "Evan bashing light" on without inviting me <G>!
Ang
Ang:
>> Who turned-on the "Evan bashing light" on without inviting me <G>!
You may just not have realized it was on – it is on permanently, and the bulb
went out!
Greg Pyros
How *does* Susan put up with you?
Evan
Evan:
It's not easy for her, believe me! A saint, truly a saint. See you at A/E/C
Systems!
Greg
>>> "Evan bashing light"<<<…>>> , and the bulb went out!<<<
Were talking about the "Bulb"…Not Evan, here…as far as he
knows….right!<g>.
Murph'
Ang:
Watch it, dood. I can give as well as I can get.
BTW, I'll be in DC for A/E/C Systems from 6/18 to 6/26. I'd like to spend some
time harrassing you then.
Evan
I always liked the circus. All those clowns, and the smell of sawdust and
elephants…
– Jack
Evan,
>> If you think I'm out of line, feel free to ignore me. <<
How could anone even consider such a thing! <g>
Murph'
I definitely think one of the cool things about 3DS is that people can actually
INVEST in the software, since the resale market is so strong. It's a big
strength of the product and justifies the relatively high entry cost.
While I understand the desire to keep sales up in the first place (putting food
on the table at the Yost household), it seems reasonable to acknowledge that a
market does exist for 2nd hand software.. I commend Autodesk for doing so and
keeping this area around.
—- Brian