I don't see dibs as a step below "I'll take them".
I see it as 100% "I'll take them".
It's that discrepancy that drives sellers nuts. You're either calling it that you want them with the conditions listed, or you shouldn't be calling.
I will agree with you that "dibs, based on split price" is bullshit. It means nothing.
I guess you could say "If you decide to split these, I'd like to have first crack at it when I know how much you want."
I understand, and appreciate your perspective, and I don't necessarily disagree.
To me - 100% would be as follows;
"Sold". Or, "I'll take 'em".
Why use "dibs" then, instead of just saying "I'll take 'em"? And I say that, as some sellers specifically say to "post dibs".
I drove 350 miles once to look at a car. I told the seller that I'd take it, based on what they'd conveyed and the pics I saw. When I got there - the pics were from 10 years previous, and a lot of the things the seller said were OK - were not OK. Window regulators broken, door bottoms rusted out, one door hinge broken, and so forth. Way I view it (again - my perspective) - is that I dibs'd the car based on the info. Other info came forward, and I negated the deal.
I am in total agreement regarding not feeling favorably towards those that have retracted dibs fairly often. And I'd like to urge everyone to call backup if interested and dibs already spoken (although - calling backup has yet to work out for me).
I am of the opinion that if the assumption going forward is that "dibs" is a binding "I'll take them" - then let's also hold sellers accountable to including all the specifics. Include the price, how much shipping is, where the chips are (US, UK, Canada....), approximate time to ship, and more than a single picture top-down of a rack. Are the faces messed up? Can a 'splash pot' pic not be provided? I sell chips as well once in awhile, and I know how much shipping costs. Don't try to tell me a rack (loose packed) is going to be $20 shipped, that's ridiculous.
Accountability goes both ways, and to imply that "well, if you know these chips you don't need more pictures or information" is beyond stupid. Quite some time back I saw a half barrel of Mapes $1's in a rack (NOT HERE). That was the only pic. Price was a good price, I inquired, and turns out they were cancelled with the saw cut on the edge - but they were rotated down in the rack so you couldn't see they were cancelled. And what was then a $10 chip was actually worth a buck.
There's a LOT of hypocrisy here in the forums, and there's both a cry to bring in new members, and an equal cry that "newbies should know how things work and should stay away if they don't". This is bullshit, when there's nothing concrete. I don't give two shits if member A, B, and C say something should be a certain way, when there's members D, E, and F that don't play by those rules. As I mentioned previously - one of the most egregious selling faux pauxs was from a VERY long time member here, that should have known better - but because "they've been here", it was somewhat minimized. I'm sorry - but a 60-year old asshat is no less an asshat than a 30-year old asshat. In fact - the OLDER asshat that's been here longer should be held to a HIGHER standard because they've been here longer and should know better.
Get some WRITTEN standards that are written by ADMINS, and I'm good. Otherwise - to me, it's a case-by-case basis, with me making notes about those that frequently back out of deals. Othewise we might as well be arguing whether a hotdog is a sandwich, or if pineapple belongs on pizza or not.
