Carousell etiquette
Hey guys. I’m back. I’ll save the stories of my travels for another blog post but today, I would like to talk about something else.
Having used Carousell for years now, I would like to talk about the etiquette that I believe people should practice when using this platform. (Items discussed in this post are mainly small ticket items.)
First let’s bust a myth. Carousell is NOT CHATUCHAK MARKET.
You do not go on there thinking you can slash prices you would at Bugis street or Chatuchak. Especially if you are only buying one single small ticket item. For example, if the listed price of a pair of shorts is $8, please do not low-ball the seller and quote like $3 or $5. First, it makes you look like a cheapskate and the seller’s first impression of you is out of the window. Online shopping is all about the experience right? If, as a buyer you are pleasant to talk to or negotiate with, as a seller, I would be more inclined to sell it to you (perhaps even throwing in free mailing because you made me feel good, and as a token of appreciation, I waive off the extra cost to get my item to you).
Of course, that said, for bigger ticket items, like shoes, branded bags or whatever, I think it is okay to negotiate slightly. Because when people sell high ticket items, they really want to clear it and if you quote them a price that is beneath their pain point, they are most likely going to let you have it. Like if I’m selling a shoe for $180. If you quote me $120, I’ll just ignore you la. But if you quote me $170 and that you would come meet me or pay for mailing, I would get the item ready for you.
Second. Getting angry/impatient, when as a buyer, you don’t have the right to.
All my carousellers (haha get it?) out there, you know what I’m going to talk about. I have had so many encounters with buyers who get angry at me for not replying and I really don’t understand. First, if you are in a rush to get something, perhaps don’t pin your hope on just one seller. Or if you are really in a rush, perhaps try RETAIL SHOPPING. Of course in the ideal situation, the seller responds instantly. But LIFE HAPPENS, and sometimes it is just not a priority to try to sell my $8 or $10 dress.
Even worse, when someone tells me they’re interested in something but go MIA and then someone else comes and say ok fast deal please sell me this item. As a seller, what would you do? Wait for someone who expressed only interest but hasn’t gotten back to you or sell it to someone who has not only expressed interest but could also close the deal within the next few hours? Excuse me, but if you went MIA on me, you have no right to be annoyed that the item you want has since been sold. If it was that important to you, you wouldn’t have gone MIA.
Again, retail shopping would not disappoint you the way some carousellers would.
Third. Paying for postage.
This is to all the cheapskates out there. If you are already buying an item at a discounted price, please PAY FOR POSTAGE. Please understand that first and foremost, you are not paying for my service. For me to: take out the clothes, take pictures of them in good lighting, crop them so it fits the dimensions that Carousell specifies, before adding all the details to make the product desirable,
ALL REQUIRE TIME AND EFFORT, THAT YOU ARE NOT PAYING FOR.
So please, just pay for the god damn postage.
I once had this person express interest in an item, could pay me within the next hour and all. But when I told her normal mail would cost $1, her reply was “pass”.
Up yours man.
P.S. Normal mails are not FREE because of cost incurred in:
a. buying the envelope/ paper
b. buying the god damn stamps since parcels are supposed to be paid by the weight.
Fourth. Normal mail v.s. Registered mail.
This really depends on how important the item is to you as a buyer. Opting for normal mail means you are okay with it being lost, essentially you are taking the risk of losing however much you paid for the item. As a buyer, you need to understand this because normal mails do not come with guarantees.
It MAAAY reach you in 3–5 working days, or it MAAAY have dropped along the way, or it MAAAY have been misplaced in the sorting room, to which as a seller, I have no control over.
So if you opt for normal mail and it does not come to you, throw your bitch fit at singpost and not in the chat with me, because you are getting angry over something I have no control over.
Also, registered mails are usually only a $1–2 top-up away. So if you are risk-averse, just opt for it. You may think; but it means I have to be home to collect it. Well not really! If it is unfortunate that you weren’t home, then go to the post office the next day to collect it yourself!
Again, if this is too much of a hassle, may I suggest retail shopping?
Lastly, meet ups or no meet ups?
Okay so this to me is a rather thorny issue. Again, the context here is small ticket items as I understand for bigger ticket items, sometimes it is preferable if you could meet to physically examine the condition of the good before purchasing.
Honestly, meet ups should always be at the convenience of the SELLER. Why this is so is because again, you are not paying for the service to list the item up, nor are you paying for postage OR transport fees. The least you could do as a buyer really is to accommodate to the seller’s schedule.
Absolutely hate it when buyers say “let’s meet at town. I will be there between xxpm to xxpm.” Hello!! You are not the president, nor are you the boss of me. I should be the one telling you my schedule and you should be the one saying Okay I will meet you there at xxpm and you better be there 5 minutes before so the seller does not have to wait.
Or buyers who fly your aeroplane……… this one I have no words…… just….. sickening.
Again, if this is too much of a hassle, perhaps consider registered mail, or the more expensive but readily available option: retail.
And with that, Imma end my post with a link to my recently updated carousell account. I will be updating regularly when I have time because my mom has been on my case about having too much clothes.
I hope you enjoyed this post.