Hey guys,

  OK... I want to get something off my chest. Reply as you will, flame me for all I care, but I still want to point it out.

I have had 76 backglasses for sale for about a couple of weeks. I sold 9 of them at my garage sale, but received 211 PMs so far, all asking me the same thing. "Can you put a backglass aside for me".

So far, I have managed to keep my head above it all. It got quite confusing after a while since so many wanted the same backglasses. But out of all those PMs from over 60 people, only 2 people sent me either a deposit or a full payment.

I am not writing this post to make anybody mad, nor to vent, but I have very little free time and the backglasses are priced to go dirt cheap. If you want a backglass and are serious, I will send you more detailed pics, but please at least send me a PM stating if you don't want it, or send a payment if you do.

I plan to go through Ebay within 2 weeks as I will be on vacation from June 24th until July 5th so I will have time to pack and/or crate if needed, but I rather you all get first crack at them.

And if I myself have not answered your PM, I do apologize as it has been somewhat nuts...

Thank you.

Sparky

I'd say with this kinda volume it's only fair that SOME sort of a deposit be made.. ie. $10 per glass.  That's fair, and if you can't even afford that then you probably shouldn't be buying the backglass in the first place  

Ian, a quick question on this though.. since you've got better means to do so, are you willing to offer a glass sealing service on these?  For a fee of course (whatever you decide is fair).  Of course, everyone would understand if you're busy but it could be helpful for sure.. I'm sure a few people would love to buy a glass but might be worried about it flaking even further during transport.

Just my $0.02.

Quoted from machine.slave

Ian, a quick question on this though.. since you've got better means to do so, are you willing to offer a glass sealing service on these?  For a fee of course (whatever you decide is fair).  Of course, everyone would understand if you're busy but it could be helpful for sure.. I'm sure a few people would love to buy a glass but might be worried about it flaking even further during transport.

Just my $0.02.

I have already. I have 24 cans of Triple-Thick at home which I bought right before my sale. I was offering it at 10$ per glass. I was even doing it right in front of people at my garage sale.

Quoted from Sparky

I have already. I have 24 cans of Triple-Thick at home which I bought right before my sale. I was offering it at 10$ per glass. I was even doing it right in front of people at my garage sale.

Nice    You're a saint, sir.

Quoted from Sparky

Reply as you will, flame me for all I care, but I still want to point it out.Sparky

Someone would have to be an idiot to flame you, since you're giving your time and energy to facilitate the sale of these backglasses.

A deposit sounds more than fair.

My tardiness was just absent-mindedness - sorry Sparky.   I also put the oats in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard this morning.

Quoted from Tuborg

My tardiness was just absent-mindedness - sorry Sparky.   I also put the oats in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard this morning.

LMAO... like I have never done THAT before.   I once looked for my wallet for 3 days. I found it in a case of beer in my fridge.

Hmm... is there a weight limit for a crate through Canada Post? I just got a request for 10 backglasses for Calgary...

Quoted Text

I also put the oats in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard this morning.

Before OR after greasing your coils??

Quoted from Sparky

Hmm... is there a weight limit for a crate through Canada Post? I just got a request for 10 backglasses for Calgary...

Found it... 30kg. That means Purolator... ouch

I think for anything sale related or services you offer, you should define in that first post:

- For sales: a "non-refundable deposit is required for any reservations" - amount to be agreed on by you and the seller.  No deposit, no guarantee it will be kept.  I can appreciate some may want to come down and see the item first before buying it, that's fair but they can't expect to have the item reserved while others who pop down can't buy them.  If you want to provide an exception to known buyers, that's up to you, but also can add to your frustration.  Anyway, on a $50 backglass, we're not talking about breaking the bank for a deposit here, right?

- For services: "a x percent deposit is required for the service I offer.  Pending the size of the deposit, cancellation is subject to a pre-agreed upon fee, where a portion of the deposit is refunded and the balance is kept as a reservation fee".

This goes beyond the backglass post but it's relevant in the sense of you're stuck sometimes with the cash and that ain't right.  Still, there is a danger to this Ian.  You are asking for your work to be treated like a business which IMHO is VERY fair; I can't believe the amount of time you've been literally screwed (IMHO).  The danger is that once you cross that road, you're on the other side. The other side deals with "deadlines" and "QA of work".  I'm not suggesting anything, I've been happy with anything you'd done for me, but QA is a headache to deal with and is always suggestive of one's personal interpretation of "QA".  What's good for you, may not be as good for someone else.  Usually the price paid directly relates to expectations, but many don't see it that way. If you were to say "fully restored playfield", some might feel it should like like Picasso did the restoration!  I dunno, my own expectations are pretty low.

As for the deadline, you have stated in the past you weren't a fan of them, so the services you provide such as a mame cab, once you take a deposit, you should probably in return provide a date when the mame cab is ready. You are a family man, so up to you how you feel this is doable via RL issues, but that's for services, for putting aside a backglass, that's a non-issue but I mention it only because you've not received money for items bought and services rendered, so it's very relevant.

If you do this, and more importantly, if you stick to it, this should resolve some of your frustrations.  I'm not a lawyer but I think this should be perfectly legal as long as its clear and transparent but again, I'm not a lawyer and dealing with deposits / business mindset brings along a lot of other challenges not addressed here.  Even if it's just a "mindset" and not the real thing.

Loafer makes some good points, but honestly Sparky if you add that disclaimer to your posts your going to scare everyone away.  I was a little intimitated just reading it. I would never intentionally do anyone wrong, but if that were presented upfront that "binding" agreement for something I consider a hobby, I would have to say "Take care, nice meeting you. Good luck on your sale".