Question for the record sellers
skel
You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
Why do you let people put records 'on hold'?In your shop, on your list, on your stall at the record fair.I don't understand the benefit to you.Please speak on it.
Comments
Let's face it, I can't go into another business and behave the same.
Hello Ferrari dealer, can you put that nice shiny red one on hold for me? I'll be back later to tell you I found one cheaper somewhere else. In the meantime, and without deposit, don't dare sell it to someone else, even if they're offering you full and immediate payment for it.
GTFOOHWTBS
Examples or you are soft.
If I sell a record now or three days from now makes no difference to me whatsoever.
It makes a big difference to the customer, however. It's a chance for me to them a favor without it costing me. D-D-Discounts, on the other hand...
The only "loss" is that, if it's a sexy record, it's not up on my wall for people to gauk at.
then he strolls up just before close and says he's blown all the dough?
What kind of success rate do you get in the hold vs actual sale scenario?
I don't do fairs anymore, but when I did I only put records on hold for close friends who I knew were good for it.
Fairs are different - you only have a limited time to sell. My stores are open every day of the year except three.
There were always a few jerks who would pull 30-40 records, hand 'em to me and say
"I'll be back" - that never worked.
It is not hard to place a time limit upon holds. At a record fair, that time limit would be the time it takes for said buyer to hit an atm or borrow cash from his buddy. For someone I did not know, 15-20 min max, depending on the cost of the LP. $1-$5 record, I would set aside indefinetly. A STACK of $1-$5 records, 15 minutes or less.
In a store, it's all about reliability. If I was someone who regularly put on hold and DIDN'T buy, I would expect that privelege to dry up quick. I think a good store is one that allows this option, and a good customer is someone who lets people know asap if they intend to buy or not. If it's a record that will go, it will go regardless, and if it's not, what difference does it make if it's behind the counter for a minute?
Sounds like someone burned you!
This isn't Dorothy Morrison related is it Skel?
Quite the contrary - I lucked out this weekend on a SS ss (that's Soul Strut set sale, kids
Duder please, I'm 'rocking doubles' of this modern soul neccessity.
btw seriously, no sarcasm, ??50 is a steal for that record. BUY IT NOW.
Guys who go to the record fair and ask you to hold 50 LP's only to come back later and purchase 2 of them can be a problem.....especially since you may have had the chance to sell them to others who couldn't see them while they were being held.
I'll do this for a few friends but overall it's not a good look.
It's called customer service, and is part of being a fair and honest business.
I would much rather hold a record and have someone not come back for it, than have them hide it in the bins.
Most people pick up their records, if they don't I just put them back in the bins.
No problem.
I have never had someone not come back to buy their holds at a record show.
Some people who regularly abuse the hold policy don't get to use it.
I used to shop at EM 2-4 times a week.
I would put stuff on hold until I had more than $20 to put on the charge card.
I don't do that no more because clerks were regularly raiding my holds.
Now if I find one $2.90 record, I just put it on the visa.