how bad is it to NOT disclose certain details?

[Steven]

I've experienced first-hand sellers who did this.

"Game is in good shape. Label no damage."

And somewhere in the auction it will state "feel free to ask any questions."

I would win auction, receive game and find either stickers on back, or sticker residue. Obviously, the seller forego these "little details" so he would get a bigger draw and price.

So, do you guys think if one states "ask me any ?'s in advance" -- does that cover them for not stating that there's some clear-cut "minor defects" to the product? I mean, wouldn't you be a little pissed if you bought a game that had a sticker on it that the picture or/and description did not disclose? (say, sticker on the back of the cartridge, but there's only 1 picture and that's of the front only)

Is the seller at fault?

Or the buyer, for not asking and making sure?

Where do you stand on the general issue of sellers not disclosing every detail on their items... is it right, wrong, or do you feel the buyer should always cover his own tracks and ask if the description is not 100% clear?

[udisi]

personaly as a seller I try to discribe my items as best as possible. I want my buyer to be happy with their purchase.

On the other hand technically yes, I believe "ask any questions" covers the seller, but if this were me I would have stated that it had stickers on the back.

[Nes]

I've gotten stuck with games that had stickers on the back. I've spent a lot of time removing them, too. As long as the label itself wasn't damaged and the stickers came off without ruining the cart, I didn't care enough to leave negative feedback.

Should it be mentioned in the auction? Absolutely.

[Damaramu]

If the pics aren't to my satisfaction, I'll ask the seller a series of questions about the condition: Water damage, tears, dings, label rips, whatever.

If I don't get a response, I just don't bid. *shrug*

[ryborg]

If a seller knowingly leaves minor defects out it is tantamount to completely lying about the item. However, if the seller truly doesn't know any better (like those "garage sale" old ladies who sell video games), they should be cut a little slack. For example, big time video game sellers who have hundreds of NES games posted should know better than to not mention "Property of Brian" written in huge black marker on the back of the cartridge.

If stickers or any other defects are such a big issue, you should always ask beforehand. If there's no response, it typically means there ARE defects and the seller is choosing to ignore them.
________
VAPORIZER CHAMOMILE (http://vaporizer.org/reviews)

[unwinddesign]

I am sorry, but when it comes to carts, I do not list all the defects of said cart. I include a picture of the actual item, and if someone asks, I will go and check the cart out. I guarantee that they work, and nothing else. There is nothing dishonest about this; it's just a gigantic pain in the ass to check out and mark down every little detail about a cart's label. Because, believe it or not, not that many people care if there's a rip on the back, or if there's some discoloration in one area.

I'm not trying to get a "higher" price or anything like that; it's just totally impractical when I have 25+ carts to list. I mean shit, should I list all the scratches on the labels/minor dings, when the majority of my buyers don't give a crap about that sort of stuff? No, that's a waste of time.

On Dreamcast games, I'll mention the condition of everything/if there's any imperfections (that I can see from a cursory look over), because people care more, and I think it's an ass move sending someone a fucked up disc as listed in "good working condition." Carts, it seems, most people want to play, or give to little Johnny who recently picked up a Nintendo 64 at a yard sale for $5.

Again, that's why I say ask questions on all my auctions. It seems that everyone comes out happy. I haven't had a complaint about condition for about two years now.

[dunkoff]

I am sorry, but when it comes to carts, I do not list all the defects of said cart. I include a picture of the actual item, and if someone asks, I will go and check the cart out. I guarantee that they work, and nothing else. There is nothing dishonest about this; it's just a gigantic pain in the ass to check out and mark down every little detail about a cart's label. Because, believe it or not, not that many people care if there's a rip on the back, or if there's some discoloration in one area.

I'm not trying to get a "higher" price or anything like that; it's just totally impractical when I have 25+ carts to list. I mean shit, should I list all the scratches on the labels/minor dings, when the majority of my buyers don't give a crap about that sort of stuff? No, that's a waste of time.


Amen to that! If you are going to list 1 item per week, then feel free to spend as many hours as you want describing the item, but for those of us with other things to do, it's a gigantic waste of time.

Why stop at stickers (they aren't all that hard to get off)? Why not take the time to describe every scratch, every particle of dust. Hell, take it apart and describe the inside, just to cover your ass.

No, I don't describe every mark on a cart. I take a picture, give a VERY brief description (like the OP's remark about the label), and let it go at that. If you're that concerned about it, ask a question or don't bid.

Leaving a negative because there was a sticker on the back?! Ludicrous...

EDIT: I just wanted to add (before I end up on the blacklist @_@ ) that personally, I take the time to take all stickers off of carts before I list them. I actually just spent 20 min taking off 5 of those annoying foil-type stickers from a Superman cart. Why? I have no idea... I also, most of the time, describe most noticable marks (writing, torn labels, etc), but nobody can be expected to describe every little defect. Even if a sticker was left on, I'd hardly call it a defect. Annoying? Maybe, but it IS used. Take it off and enjoy.

[Alucard79]

In my opinion the seller should be truthful in their descriptions. If it's completely obvious that there is a defect, (sticker, torn booklets, cracked case, scratches, missing pieces) it should be noted. When I sell my items, I always take the time to make sure I am listing the item as well as I can. But...when I am buying items, I am aware that many sellers don't take the time to inspect their items, or don't want to mention the defects, so I do always ask questions about the item.