Say a seller has a firearm, ammo, memorabilia, whatever for sale.

Two guys want that same item...what is the rule for deciding the outcome...?

First one to POST "I'll take it"...followed by a PM

OR

First one to PM the seller, followed by a POST : "I'll take it"

This is happening right now on another forum...

I usually do the first one to PM me. I feel like the buyer takes an extra step by PMing me.

Not exactly the way it's done on almost all the other boards I belong to...here's the story:

Seller starts a thread...posting : I got X, Y, and Z for $$

Me and another guy see X...had to be at the same second...

While I was typing a POST in that WTS thread...saying "I'll take X"...the other guy wanting the same item PM'd the seller. Then I PM'd the seller, exactly 1 minute behind the other guys PM, and lost the bid...and, the best part, the other guy never posted in the thread.

Usually the protocol is:

Claim the item ( thus time stamped ) via the Post ... "I'll take X"

Then PM the Seller to arrange the details on buying X....

Then the Seller marks X with the code...SPF (SOLD Pending Funds ) in the thread.

Suggest we put it in black & white...your way or mine...don't matter to me...so it's clear and concise.

Admin...can we get this done...>

That seems like a more efficient way and feel should be the standard. Thanks for the input.

No problem....should it come up, that will be the protocol this board uses.

Thanks DT !!