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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?
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- 93 posts total
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. |
Clear communication is critical. Examples of communication that could have occurred: You:
Seller:
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. |
@mitch2 when I commit to driving 4 hours for an item, and making time for it in my schedule, I think it’s normal to expect that I am turned down for a reason. A DECENT REASON. Selling it to someone else for the same price is not fair, when my inquiry started 4 days earlier, I committed to buy it 3 days earlier. Everything in remote communications and deals in based on trust and fairness. That’s why there is a rating system of buyers and sellers. You are siting contract law - which has zero applicability here. Nobody writes contracts in person to person few 100 bucks audio sales. My question was: is this fair? It is a question of people treating each other FAIRLY which I know is out of style these days, it’s dog eating dog.
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- 93 posts total