Market Research: What Stops You Trying a New Vendor?

[WickedWords]

I'm going to be running a series of polls over the next few months. These will be designed to look into the consumer psychology of Silk Road buyers.

I'm well-versed in consumer psychology, but I'd be interested to learn how it applies here on Silk Road.

Thanks!

[nathan.burnett]

I need to be confident that the vendor is aware of what he is doing, not just some junkie in their spare time trying to score a few dollars

[WickedWords]

I need to be confident that the vendor is aware of what he is doing, not just some junkie in their spare time trying to score a few dollars

But how is it you judge whether or not the vendor meets the mark?

[cRandom]

If I'm quite honest, the only time I try a new vendor is when the old one fucked up/went MIA. Until that point I stick to what I know.

[rustyshackleford]

2 things :
1 requires FE
2 listings too good to be true

[WickedWords]

2 listings too good to be true

But let's say you're looking for a gram of the most amazing cocaine, and a vendor claims to be selling the most amazing cocaine...

Now, almost every vendor claims to sell the most amazing stuff. But what if a vendor genuinely does have the most amazing stuff? How would you determine if the listing was too good to be true, and do you think you'd be able to spot a vendor who was actually selling the best? If so, how?

Thanks for the answers so far :-)

[telemetree]

Anyone noticed how many vendors atm are asking FE DESPITE not having 35 transactions (in some cases without having almost any)

Unless your willing to lose your money, I prefer not to risk it.

Stick with well known, or vendors you know re legit and you are rarely let down.

Having said that, if I know them from SR1.0 and I know most of the bigger Sr1 vendors out there, I have no issues with trying them at all.

[Freerider]

I honestly usually stick to the same people. If they are out of stock I wait until they are back in stock. I like to establish a good, trusted relationship with a few guys, rather than use 100 different vendors.

[nathan.burnett]

Anyone noticed how many vendors atm are asking FE DESPITE not having 35 transactions (in some cases without having almost any)

Unless your willing to lose your money, I prefer not to risk it.

Stick with well known, or vendors you know re legit and you are rarely let down.

Having said that, if I know them from SR1.0 and I know most of the bigger Sr1 vendors out there, I have no issues with trying them at all.

At the moment people are asking for FE because of SR2 holiday periods
Sounds pretty reasonable to me

[telemetree]

Anyone noticed how many vendors atm are asking FE DESPITE not having 35 transactions (in some cases without having almost any)

Unless your willing to lose your money, I prefer not to risk it.

Stick with well known, or vendors you know re legit and you are rarely let down.

Having said that, if I know them from SR1.0 and I know most of the bigger Sr1 vendors out there, I have no issues with trying them at all.

At the moment people are asking for FE because of SR2 holiday periods
Sounds pretty reasonable to me

I get it and don't disagree.

BUT......either the 35 transaction rule is a rule or it isn't. Thats all I am saying. If you are allowed to ask for FE from your very first sale from now on, staff should say so.

Thats all.

[WickedWords]

BUT......either the 35 transaction rule is a rule or it isn't. Thats all I am saying. If you are allowed to ask for FE from your very first sale from now on, staff should say so.

I really don't think it matters whether asking for FE is allowed or not. If you want to FE with a vendor you trust, then is a rule that stops that vendor asking going to stop you from doing it? Also, if you DON'T want to FE with a vendor, you're not going to even if they're allowed to ask - you're just going to order elsewhere.

What I mean, is you will FE or not FE regardless of whether a vendor is allowed to ask for it, so it doesn't really matter if there's a rule or not.

[telemetree]

BUT......either the 35 transaction rule is a rule or it isn't. Thats all I am saying. If you are allowed to ask for FE from your very first sale from now on, staff should say so.

I really don't think it matters whether asking for FE is allowed or not. If you want to FE with a vendor you trust, then is a rule that stops that vendor asking going to stop you from doing it? Also, if you DON'T want to FE with a vendor, you're not going to even if they're allowed to ask - you're just going to order elsewhere.

What I mean, is you will FE or not FE regardless of whether a vendor is allowed to ask for it, so it doesn't really matter if there's a rule or not.

How can you trust a vendor that hasn't made a sale of any kind before?

I think that was the reason for the rule in the first place.

Provides barriers to obvious scammer systems (low prices, FE from get go, rake in $$, exit having never sent or had any of the product you advertised)

[Mephistophiles]

I wouldn't consider using a vendor with several 1/5s, slow/no response or no feedback at all. I do my research, losing money kills my soul :p.