Update on Audiogon policies

miklorsmith · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 09:15 pm »

If you try to process feedback without a paid sale, they'll kill your children.

Hey, the HiFiHock photo feature is WAY better, you can actually see the piece!

http://www.hifihock.com/index.php?a=2&b=485

shameless plug

toobluvr · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 09:25 pm »

Quote from: miklorsmith on 28 Oct 2008, 09:15 pm

If you try to process feedback without a paid sale, they'll kill your children.

feedback?....we don't need no stinkin' feedback!

I can get by with my current feedback profile, but I realize not all can.

dragan13 · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 10:21 pm »

Quote from: cryoparts on 28 Oct 2008, 08:05 pm

Quote from: richidoo on 28 Oct 2008, 06:34 pm
Why don't audiophiles organize in order to switch en masse to AudioXsell.com?

AudioXsell.com is a great site run by great guys! Tom and team are dedicated audiophiles with a good business sense.

There is also http://www.hifihock.com. Dragan (owner) is VERY responsive to requests and is trying really hard to make his site a go.

Peace,

Lee

Thank you Lee! Appreciate the mention of HiFi Hock very much. It's been up and running for about five months now and those of you not familiar with the site, please take moment and check it out.
Hope to see you there!

dragan13 · « **Reply #23 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 10:37 pm »

Quote from: miklorsmith on 28 Oct 2008, 09:15 pm

If you try to process feedback without a paid sale, they'll kill your children.

Hey, the HiFiHock photo feature is WAY better, you can actually see the piece!

http://www.hifihock.com/index.php?a=2&b=485

shameless plug

miklorsmith, thank you. Many things are better on HIFi Hock but let me give a full description of the one you mentioned. If an ad has a photo attached to it, an icon will appear in the "list view" in category browsing indicating presence of it. You don't have to open the listing detail to view the full size of the photo, just click on the photo icon while in list view and the popup will open with a full pic in it.

If a listing contains multiple pics, popup window will provide navigational buttons to enable you to view all photos in full size.

Now, that's a shameless plug.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #24 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 10:40 pm »

Have you started a thread for your site yet? Get user opinions, suggestions, etc?

dragan13 · « **Reply #25 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 10:50 pm »

Quote from: miklorsmith on 28 Oct 2008, 10:40 pm

Have you started a thread for your site yet? Get user opinions, suggestions, etc?

Yes I have, some time ago.. and updated it as I went along, installed new features etc. I'm getting ready to make another announcement (here and elsewhere) soon as I work to implement a completely new UI for the site, all based on member's comments and suggestion. I expect it to be ready in about two weeks and I think you guys are going to love it.

The next thing will be audio blue book. I've been working with UsedPrice.com to integrate the two sites and, once done, this feature will be free to all members.

Thank you for registering and your comments. Appreciate it!

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #26 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 10:53 pm »

Dragan, your site is coming along very well. It seems more straightforward than Gon. Anything to knock the status quo is welcome. Wish you more ads and more fame and in case I want to do something with all those goodies that I have laying around, I will visit your site first and Gon dead last, if ever.

dragan13 · « **Reply #27 on:** 28 Oct 2008, 11:05 pm »

Quote from: Bemopti123 on 28 Oct 2008, 10:53 pm

Dragan, your site is coming along very well. It seems more straightforward than Gon. Anything to knock the status quo is welcome. Wish you more ads and more fame and in case I want to do something with all those goodies that I have laying around, I will visit your site first and Gon dead last, if ever.

Bemopti123, Thank you very much! I'll be very glad to see you there. Please, don't hesitate to email if you have any questions, I'll be happy to help.

Dan_ed · « **Reply #28 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 01:51 pm »

Instead of relying on second and third hand info, I thought I would post the A'gon policy concerning seller fees.

"Seller fees are the various costs and charges incurred in listing an item on Audiogon. There are two types of fees a seller may be expected to pay.

The first type is the Listing Fee. Listing fees are the cost associated with placing an ad or auction on Audiogon. Presently, the base cost of an ad or auction is $4.00, this includes three pictures. Additional options are available for additional costs as labeled while posting.

The second type of seller fees are the Transaction Fee. The transaction fees are only applied to a seller's account if the item listed is sold. They are equal to 1% of the reported sale price and will be expected to be resolved before any further ads may be posted. It is possible to Dispute transaction fees if a sale has fallen through by using the Audiogon Dispute Resolution Process"

vman71 · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 01:53 pm »

The best chance for success to migrate away from using A'gon to buy & sell is to have a single one-stop-shop. Right now, there are multiple sites being used (AC, AA, Hi-Fi Hock, AudioXsell, etc.), which isn't as effective as a single one-stop-shop.

I'm not wed to any of the ones that are out there, I just want the greatest chance for success to take down A'gon.

A thought that comes and goes through my mind as I think about this subject/topic:

While the economy is tanking and people's disposable income for this hobby is significantly reduced A'gon goes against the grain and increases fees along with making ZERO improvements/enhancements.

There's something very wrong about that!

sts9fan · « **Reply #30 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 02:06 pm »

Quote

Why don't audiophiles organize in order to switch en masse to AudioXsell.com

This is very easy. They want to sell thier stuff fast. Audiogon is still the best way with the most readers.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #31 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 02:17 pm »

Ever used or seen the dispute resolution process? That's what you have to go through to "dispute" their black box assessment of fees?

I will list anything I sell on HiFiHock first. If it doesn't go there, after a while Agon may get a crack at it.

toobluvr · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 02:23 pm »

Quote from: Dan_ed on 29 Oct 2008, 01:51 pm

........

The second type of seller fees are the Transaction Fee. The transaction fees are only applied to a seller's account if the item listed is sold. They are equal to 1% of the reported sale price and will be expected to be resolved before any further ads may be posted. It is possible to Dispute transaction fees if a sale has fallen through by using the Audiogon Dispute Resolution Process"

My original question remains:

What triggers the application of this 1% transaction fee?
In other words, how does AG know:

(1) that a deal has definitely occurred, and
(2) what the agreed sell price is

Also, when is the fee charged?

Is it not possible for the two parties to simply email and transact privately outside of the AG system?
If so, the seller could just let the ad expire and AG would have no knowledge of the transaction.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 02:39 pm »

Yes but then you're using their "facilities" and "cheating" them for the privilege. Some people will care about this, others won't. If you ever expect to get any more feedback you will need to pay for it though.

toobluvr · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 02:45 pm »

Quote from: miklorsmith on 29 Oct 2008, 02:39 pm

Yes but then you're using their "facilities" and "cheating" them for the privilege. Some people will care about this, others won't. If you ever expect to get any more feedback you will need to pay for it though.

They will be getting the listing fee, so it's hardly "cheating".

It is their responsibility to put in procedures and controls that insures the collection of transaction fees, not mine.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #35 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 02:47 pm »

Nice! I don't think they would agree with your assessment though.

macrojack · « **Reply #36 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 03:10 pm »

I just checked and discovered that I have a $6 credit on Audiogon at this time. I said I wouldn't do any further business with them and I have not even browsed the "For Sale" listings since then. Should I list something with my $6 or just let them keep it? What would you do?

miklorsmith · « **Reply #37 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 03:17 pm »

If they weren't a nameless, faceless wall of anonymity I'd send them a cordial letter explaining my dissatisfaction and requesting to have the money credited back. As-is, that would be a waste of time. I'd just sit on it, you may need it someday.

wilsynet · « **Reply #38 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 04:48 pm »

There's something raw and unpolished about Audiogon that I've always liked. Not very busy, not very fancy, primitive even. Cheap to post an ad, and pretty decent group of people posting in the forums too.

It's too bad they want a little out of every dollar spent. I figured they were already doing brisk business and would never be something hugely profitable (too niche for that), but as a little side business, I thought they'd do alright. I suppose if you're a Primedia property it can't just be a hobby.

Having to use the dispute resolution system to contest the charge is ... awkward to say the least. It doesn't seem like they have the right processes and procedures to properly register a successful transaction. I'm not sure what I would change, but trying to have both systems (make an offer, send this seller a message) exist concurrently doesn't seem like a particularly good idea.

I'll give HiFiHock a whirl the next time I want to sell some gear. It's a bit busy on the front page to tell you the truth, and I dislike all those little GIF "play buttons" for the links to the different categories. Would prefer cleaner, brighter, happier. But ... that's just me, and I know this isn't a HiFiHock feedback thread. =)

doug s. · « **Reply #39 on:** 29 Oct 2008, 05:32 pm »

Quote from: richidoo on 28 Oct 2008, 06:34 pm

Primedia is a large publishing corporation. They own audiogon and Stereophile. They see rich people selling luxury items for only $6 per transaction on Agon and they smell profit. In their other online classified ad websites like Hotrod magazine, you can sell anything for any price for free. But because Audiogon is a monopoly, they understand correctly that we will pay any fee until an alternative comes around.

Why don't audiophiles organize in order to switch en masse to AudioXsell.com? If we did it all at once, the market would move there and there would be traffic. How do we organize? That's what we should be talking about. We are in control because we have the dollars and hobby interest, but exercising the control is the difficult part. Primedia could care less about serving our industry.

primedia does not own agon. and primedia recently (last year) sold their ownership in s'phile to another group - source interlink...

doug s.