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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
thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
6,188 posts
 

@hilde45 , +1.

 

toro3's avatar
toro3
516 posts
 

But I understand: he did nothing illegal. My question was: how could I have avoided it. 
 

I can empathize with the OP since I’ve been in a similar position, but to answer your question OP, I would bet that if you had responded by email within that 13 hours, the sub would still be available to you. Not your fault, but this is what happens to sellers who have experienced quite a bit of tire kicking or lack of follow through from potential buyers in the past. I presume that email from the seller was indirectly looking for additional assurances in your level of commitment.

Interesting angle. So I would send nearly a $1000 to a stranger WITH ZERO guarantees because I must TRUST the seller [in response to: You pay first, and then trust that the seller will ship your purchase to you]

Unsure how else it would work with these transactions on Audiogon and USAM. Maybe I’m misinterpreting, but I wouldn’t expect a seller to send me anything until I had paid in full. If meeting in-person, and as a seller, I would request at least a deposit. But that’s me and my experience of being stood up from at least three different potential buyers throughout the years.

parkergetdean OP
1,098 posts
 

Unsure how else it would work with these transactions on Audiogon

My point was not that it should not work this way. I understand that the seller wants to get paid paypal ff, zero assurances and THEN he will ship it.

My point was that the trust should go BOTH WAYS.

 

Overall, I feel my faith in humanity is restored. A person's word should mean something.

gkelly's avatar
gkelly
1,056 posts
 

a subwoofer is the most violently used piece of equipment. no wonder dude dumped it as fast as he could. Unless someone is practically giving a subwoofer away, buying new is the best way to go. Once again just look at it as the universe was looking out for you. 

yags1
88 posts
 

As a sellor i can count  quite a few times that i have agreed on a sale and and a time

where i tell the person they have to put down a deposit, amazing the number of people

who won't follow thru on such a simple agreement then I tell them sure I will hold the item but if someone else come along and makes me a offer I will give them 12 hours to make a deposit if they really want the item. or its gone.

In today's world cash in hand is king I have lost quite a few sales due to waitnig on some of these people, but that dosen't happen anymore if serious put down a deposit.

 

In this day most of us have cell phones with our e-mail  on them so there is no excuse

not to reply to a sellor if you really want the item. I live near the Chicagoland Area

and treat my sales like a brick and mortor store deposit or take the risk that you will lose

the item you are after.

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