1. Home
  2. misc-audio
  3. 196047-210665

seller etiquette

I have been reading here for a decade, first recent post under my newly found login.

I have contacted a seller about a subwoofer for a fair price. I asked if local pickup was an option. I got a response that it was. I wrote him that I would drive up, from 2 hours away, in 3 days. I told him I don't want to disturb him by plugging it in, I would just pay and pick it up, as I'd trust his word that it works. I was ok paying full price.

I then yesterday afternoon got an email that I needed to pay asap or he'd sell it to someone else as he got another offer. I didn't read the email until this morning when it had already been sold.

Is this normal? Fair? How could I have avoided it? Should have offered to pay in advance?  Should he had been waiting for my response and payment for a little longer?

 

 

parkergetdean
parkergetdean OP
1,082 posts
 

@gkelly why is buying a used subwoofer a suspect?

foggyus91's avatar
foggyus91
612 posts
 

Check your spam folder. 

mattsca's avatar
mattsca
70 posts
 

If I have a buyer who has been clear and straightforward about a transaction to be completed in a few days, with no price haggling, I go first come first served and let the second or third offerer know they have to wait to see if the sale was completed. I just sold a piece of equipment in this situation. Sure, I could get burned.  But I think my buyer and backup buyers understood and respected the process. I like to think of this place (at least USAM) is more than a flea market - more of an affinity community.  So a little trust seems right. 

parkergetdean OP
1,082 posts
 

to everyone who says its normal:

we agreed on a time and place. What should I have done to not miss out?

Offer to pay?

mitch2
4,747 posts
 

Clear communication is critical. Examples of communication that could have occurred:

You:

  • So you are confirming this is a completed deal, and you are holding the sub for me until I drive over to pick it up in three days, on Saturday between 1 and 3 pm?
  • So you are holding the sub for me and I will pay you in cash when I pick it up on Saturday, or do I need to pay you now in order for you to hold the sub until Saturday?

Seller:

  • I am holding the sub for you until 3pm on Saturday. If I do not see you by then, I will sell to the first qualified buyer.
  • You are welcome to pick it up in person on Saturday but in order to hold the sub for you, I need your payment via PayPal, otherwise the sub will be sold to the first qualified buyer.

Unless the communication is rock solid, either party may have their own version of the meaning of what was said.  At the end of the day, money talks.  The safest solution would have been to pay the seller as soon as you finalized the offer.  Contract law 101: offer, acceptance, and consideration or, you do not have a consummated contract.  I don’t mind tire-kickers and answering questions when I sell stuff but I am always clear that the first acceptable offer from a qualified buyer takes it.

Not a great outcome for you, and it sounds like maybe more of a foul on the seller who could have called you to verify your commitment before selling to someone else, but, hopefully a learning experience.

More to discover