Selling Etiquette

[goat]

I found an exhaust system that I liked, and after talking to the seller we were going to meet this afternoon to complete the transaction but I just got an email from him saying that he sold it already.

Is this normal? I'm mostly venting, I think this is pretty assholeish. Granted, its his stuff and he found a buyer, but I contacted him several days ago and made arrangements to get off work early to meet with him. I would have sent a deposit if he asked for it.

Eh, you win some and you lose some. I didn't really need the exhaust anyways, but it would have been nice.

[Roadstergal]

It's impolite, but there are a lot of impolite bastiges selling stuff out there.  It's the price you pay for trying to save over retail.

Although there's an online retailer of SV parts that I don't patronize because he did the same thing with a closeout undertail.

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Yea, definitely impolite. Not much you can do though, unfortunately, other than never deal with the person again  :dunno:

[shenphong]

same thing happened to me when I was looking for my first gs500 though.  Called 3 days ahead, got off work that day, traveled 50 miles down to bay area here in cali and the guy calls me while I'm on the highway and tells me he sold it...

[davipu]

you can always go kick him in the nuts.

[Firewalker]

you can always go kick him in the nuts.

Roger that!

A Nut kick and an "eye jammy" thrown in for good measures. :x

[manofthefield]

His point of view:  1st cash in hand buys it.  If someone shows up and wants to buy it, then why should he take the chance of you showing up later and not liking/buying it?  He could get screwed over and have no buyer.  It sucks for you, but I think it makes sense for him, unless he promised to save it for you.  Like you said, a deposit would have been a good idea

[vfrocket]

I'm sorry but I agree with you goat. That is not just impolite, it shows a lack of integrity. I understand that some would take the first person with cash in hand, but to me that is just greedy. If I were selling something, and someone made arrangements with me to buy it, there is a part of me that says that this thing is already sold.

It not only shows greed on the part of the seller, but a lack of integrity as far as I am concerned.

you should be upset.

[RVertigo]

When I buy anything from Craigslist I always assume a "Cash-In-Hand" policy...  I've found that 90% of the time you have to be first to arrive to get good stuff for a good price...

Most people don't mention that they have this policy...  That's the only thing that makes them "assholeish."

[Chris.t.Collins]

I agree with you Goat but.... You have to ask the seller what they think is fair.  If they need a deposit and if they intend to sell it to the first buyer that shows.  Not everyone out there will deal a straight deck.  
On the other side I have had guys not show that say they want the merchandise and will be there in an hour.

[goat]

I agree with you Goat but.... You have to ask the seller what they think is fair.  If they need a deposit and if they intend to sell it to the first buyer that shows.  Not everyone out there will deal a straight deck.  
On the other side I have had guys not show that say they want the merchandise and will be there in an hour.

I shouldn't have assumed that he does things the way that I do. I also forgot that I had his phone # and didn't call. I didn't ask about a deposit, call or anything like that.

In the end, it really isn't important. So I didn't get this exhaust. I learned something from the experience, so it isn't a total loss. This post was just me venting, anyways.

[Firewalker]

I think it would be easy on the part of the seller to just tell everyone who inquires this "Look, I would love for you to be able to get it but I can't afford to miss a sell, so I will sell it to the first person to come up with the cash."  If I knew that was the deal then it means I should have got up earlier.

If there was no mention of it I would be pissed........a non refundable deposit is a good way to see who is for real or bullchitting.

That is my .02

[jiggersplat]

i have had stuff like this happen to me on multiple occasions.  most recently, i was trying to buy a bicycle rack.  this woman says she'll meet me outside my office.  i wait there for 30 minutes.  no phone calls or anything.  i finally get a hold of her the next day and she says "oops, i fell asleep".  so i try and set up another time to pick it up via email.  basically after me leaving a couple phone messages and a couple emails she emails me back and tells me she sold it to someone else for $5 more than what i was going to pay, and was acting all cute about it.  i told her she was an inconsiderate Buddha Loves You, especially after she stood me up and wasted half an hour of my time waiting for her.  people are boneheads and lack integrity.