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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?

 

 

parkergetdean
ingenear
8 posts
 

I'd second what Mitch2 says. And event though a fair proportion of participants will treat our specialized markets as communities, there will still be traders that will prioritize any sale over respectful arrangements. 

At the other other extreme is Facebook Marketplace - a total Wild-West of a trading place. To lock in a deal - you have to show up with the money, on-time; offer to pay a reasonable deposit with Venmo ahead of pick-up; or get a firm commitment from the seller that they will hold, like "Will you hold for 3 days until I can get there in person?". This latter approach can be a bit hit or miss - I have lost out a couple of times because of it.

So, the two things you could do differently next time are 1) pay a deposit with PayPal/Venmo, 2) get a commitment from the seller that they will hold for 3 days, even if another offer comes in. 

Best of luck in the future .... 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,714 posts
 

@parkergetdean 

You said in your OP that he reached out to inform you he had another buyer and could you pay ASAP? And you didn't read the email until the next morning. That's kind of on you, don't you think. 

I'm sure you are a trustworthy guy and would have certainly followed through. But in my many years of buying and selling, that is not always the case. 

johnto
1,127 posts
 

When buying I always make some kind of good faith down payment to be sure the item is reserved for me and as a seller request the same to hold an item.

knock1
373 posts
 

@ozzy62 +1

The seller sends OP email, the OP does not respond, the OP is surprised and offended!? Really?

roadwhorerecords
337 posts
 

I guess common courtesy in the audio business is expected to be less, much less than in other commodities. I've purchased a lot of used audio equipment in the past 40 years, but typically from established brick and mortar or friends. But I do buy&sell firearms, vintage tools, art, books. When contacted by a potential customer that says they will buy my product in X amount of time, I give them that amount of time and a little more for unseen reasons. I typically don't have any problems, nor have I had problems being the buyer, and giving my word to the seller that I will be there when I say, then they sell out from under me. Guess it's just an honor thing. 

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