So, I have noticed quite a few people respond to BST threads with "PM sent". It seems innocuous enough. But what does it really do?
Normally when you are sent a PM you get notice of it by e-mail and by alert when you log on. It seems that putting "PM sent" in a thread really would be necessary only if the sellers mailbox did not accept PM's. That is an unlikely and exceptional possibility.
Also, if I (the seller) have not already noticed the e-mail notifying me of the PM or the alert when I log on then perhaps the note in the thread would have some utility. But is this theoretic utility (at best) worth anything?
Does the response "PM sent" represent an opportunity cost to the seller? In the past, when I had seen "PM sent" I thought it meant "I have agreed to your terms and I am ready to start closing".
I have come to find out that many times "PM sent" really means "I have sent you an offer, lets negotiate". That is fair. But I recognize this now after a number of years this forum. For many years I have seen "PM sent" and thought, no need to consider this knife any longer it is wrapped up. So I forget about that specimen and the seller does not get my offer.
So the question I have is, does the "PM sent" have the effect of diminishing the sellers chance of getting his best offer? I now know that if I want something I will send an offer anyway despite seeing a post in a BST thread of "PM sent". But I have been here a number of years. The question is Does writing "PM sent" in a BST thread potentially hurt the sellers chances of an optimal deal. What about the new guys looking to build their collection? Does "PM sent" put then off? and thereby hurt the seller?
If it is even a possibility; then "PM sent" should be banned from BST threads.
Please discuss...
Normally when you are sent a PM you get notice of it by e-mail and by alert when you log on. It seems that putting "PM sent" in a thread really would be necessary only if the sellers mailbox did not accept PM's. That is an unlikely and exceptional possibility.
Also, if I (the seller) have not already noticed the e-mail notifying me of the PM or the alert when I log on then perhaps the note in the thread would have some utility. But is this theoretic utility (at best) worth anything?
Does the response "PM sent" represent an opportunity cost to the seller? In the past, when I had seen "PM sent" I thought it meant "I have agreed to your terms and I am ready to start closing".
I have come to find out that many times "PM sent" really means "I have sent you an offer, lets negotiate". That is fair. But I recognize this now after a number of years this forum. For many years I have seen "PM sent" and thought, no need to consider this knife any longer it is wrapped up. So I forget about that specimen and the seller does not get my offer.
So the question I have is, does the "PM sent" have the effect of diminishing the sellers chance of getting his best offer? I now know that if I want something I will send an offer anyway despite seeing a post in a BST thread of "PM sent". But I have been here a number of years. The question is Does writing "PM sent" in a BST thread potentially hurt the sellers chances of an optimal deal. What about the new guys looking to build their collection? Does "PM sent" put then off? and thereby hurt the seller?
If it is even a possibility; then "PM sent" should be banned from BST threads.
Please discuss...