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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
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. 

fastfreight
1,288 posts
 

Send a deposit.  Works every time.  Some people say they will come or buy and never do.

secretguy
1,988 posts
 
knock1

283 posts

 

@ozzy62 +1

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

This.

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,451 posts
 

If you want traditional customer service - buy from a retailer or direct from the manufacturer. You want to save some bucks buying private, here is the only rule which matters: the seller doesn’t owe you anything until money changes hands. 

This one was probably mishandled on both sides. Frankly these future payment promises are annoying, and as seller I would not agree to it if I thought the item was desirable enough to get a faster sale. And if I were they buyer, I’d offer to pay up front if it really had to be a pickup in 3 days.

Don’t like it, don’t trust the seller enough? Pick a seller you do trust (feedback research), or go through retail channels. I know some guys don’t like to use shipping carriers but I generally prefer it - works well into the flow of a private transaction. Mishaps with UPS or FedEx are exceedingly rare with proper packing (factory packing). To be fair, a large subwoofer sucks to ship, especially if you’re going between east and west coasts ugh. 

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