Payment and Delivery Paradigm

[mountainrivera]

So, a buyer and seller agree on a deal. Presumably the trust has been built and the deal is ready to go. It is customary for the seller to wait for the $$ to hit their account before shipping but why are we so ready to send thousands of dollars before we get the goods but in no way willing to ship merchandise before we see the $$. Same risk both ways I would think.

[Eric88]

I have developed some buying, selling and trading relationships with various folks on watch forums. I'm to the point where I'll put the watch in the mail even if payment might arrive a week later. No issues.

[MAWhite]

You know the old saying;

"Buy the Seller".

[drgleeds37]

The seller is the one who is generally responsible for providing solid references from previous transactions not the buyer...

-Daniel

[xhype]

So how do you trust the seller even with ref.

[kilyung]

Someone who's spent years building up their seller reputation isn't going to blow it for a few bucks.

[dddrees]

I can understand your concern, however are you able to walk out of a store with goods before paying?

No one says you have to buy a watch this way. You can always buy your watches from an AD.

[chicfarmer1]

Originally Posted by mountainrivera

why are we so ready to send thousands of dollars before we get the goods but in no way willing to ship merchandise before we see the $$. Same risk both ways I would think.

Buy a car, fridge, puppy, bag of groceries, whatever, and certainly you don't get the goods without first paying the vendor. The same notion applies with online transactions. For that matter, before the internet there were catalog sales, and that too required payment before items shipped.

It's true that buyer and seller both have risk, but in terms of recourse in case of things gone wrong, sellers are the ones taking the bigger risk. Many systems are set up to favor buyers in case of disputes.

[77T]

Interesting question - I think the answer goes along with trust, but verify. It reminds me of an old Japanese saying, "The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour."

I have seen this work here as well as trusted eBay sellers.

[GradyPhilpott]

I think this is a traditional model that has evolved because it is the most workable of arrangements.

[Ebruner]

Simply the way business is conducted. Sellers are the established institution.

-Eddie

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Ebruner

Simply the way business is conducted. Sellers are the established institution.

-Eddie

This.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Ebruner

Simply the way business is conducted. Sellers are the established institution.

-Eddie

Exactly. Seller paid--watch is sent. That is the way it works.

[mountainrivera]

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

Buy a car, fridge, puppy, bag of groceries, whatever, and certainly you don't get the goods without first paying the vendor. The same notion applies with online transactions. For that matter, before the internet there were catalog sales, and that too required payment before items shipped.

It's true that buyer and seller both have risk, but in terms of recourse in case of things gone wrong, sellers are the ones taking the bigger risk. Many systems are set up to favor buyers in case of disputes.

True. But, with internet transactions the buyer jumps without a parachute so to speak. Once we hit the button, we are trusting that the seller will put the watch in the mail. Conversely, we won't put our 10 grand watch in the mail and trust that the buyer will pay. I have a west coast deal ( I am on the east) and the wire is coming Monday. I got to thinking about what a PITA it is going to be to wait till mid day to see the wire and then compete with the day's priorities at work to find time to ship. I could make my life easier by dropping it at fedex on the way to work. Then I thought, "can't do that till I get paid." Then I asked myself why? My buyer checks out so not worried. I know it is my choice to ship or not but it got me thinking so I posted.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by mountainrivera

True. But, with internet transactions the buyer jumps without a parachute so to speak. Once we hit the button, we are trusting that the seller will put the watch in the mail. Conversely, we won't put our 10 grand watch in the mail and trust that the buyer will pay. I have a west coast deal ( I am on the east) and the wire is coming Monday. I got to thinking about what a PITA it is going to be to wait till mid day to see the wire and then compete with the day's priorities at work to find time to ship. I could make my life easier by dropping it at fedex on the way to work. Then I thought, "can't do that till I get paid." Then I asked myself why? My buyer checks out so not worried. I know it is my choice to ship or not but it got me thinking so I posted.

Then in this case it's your choice. I have actually conducted three trades with two different sellers on this forum. In all three cases both partys shipped their goods at the same time. Of course this may not be the right thing or it may not even work for everybody but there are a lot of real good trustworthy people on this forum.

[robrobin]

Sellers are also buyers and conduct business in most cases along the same paradigm. Long term relationships are more give and take.