Let's be honest in our dealings

[91558]

First off, I want to say that I very much appreciate this forum and have had very good dealings with several of you. Last week, however, I contacted a gentleman regarding a Remington rolling block saddle ring carbine that he had for sale. He texted me his phone number and I called him, after chatting for a bit i asked if he was willing to ship it since it was an antique and didn't need to go through an FFL. He agreed to get me a shipping price the next day and call me back. I told him that I would send him a postal money order when he had a price. At that point I feel we had a deal, however after contacting him again several times through the week he texted me on Saturday morning saying he had sold the gun. He stated that "frankly it was a lot more convenient for me". I realize that it was his gun and it probably was more convenient for him but a deal had been made and he broke it. Even if he had called me back to explain instead of stringing me on for a week before telling me he had sold it. So I guess I want to say that if you make a deal, stick with it. Keep your word even if it turns out to be not quite so convenient. Thank you.

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[Alexx1401]

First off, I want to say that I very much appreciate this forum and have had very good dealings with several of you. Last week, however, I contacted a gentleman regarding a Remington rolling block saddle ring carbine that he had for sale. He texted me his phone number and I called him, after chatting for a bit i asked if he was willing to ship it since it was an antique and didn't need to go through an FFL. He agreed to get me a shipping price the next day and call me back. I told him that I would send him a postal money order when he had a price. At that point I feel we had a deal, however after contacting him again several times through the week he texted me on Saturday morning saying he had sold the gun. He stated that "frankly it was a lot more convenient for me". I realize that it was his gun and it probably was more convenient for him but a deal had been made and he broke it. Even if he had called me back to explain instead of stringing me on for a week before telling me he had sold it. So I guess I want to say that if you make a deal, stick with it. Keep your word even if it turns out to be not quite so convenient. Thank you.

This is the kind of thing that does happen sadly.

 

[2Wheels4Ever]

After selling on here, Craigslist, arms list, and quite a few other places for over a decade, I have come to the conclusion that it's best to sell the item in whichever manner that gets the deal done with the least amount of suffering on my end. Too many times I held an item, agreed to meet, or made a deal that ended up falling through. I've learned my lesson. When someone shows up with cash, you take it. Also, the seller in your scenario may have been in conversation with multiple parties at the time of your agreement.

So yes, it sucks when an item gets sold under your feet, but it sucks even more when you, as the seller, turn down offers only to have the original deal fall through.

 

[arakboss]

Unless the buyer had agreed to pay any amount of cost for shipping, it sounds like a deal was close but not finalized. What if the seller came back with $150 for shipping cost and the buyer refused to pay that much? The seller could have missed out on a local cash sale.

 

[Zingularity]

It's about gotten to the point where I will no longer meet in person to sell something - shipping only, with payment up front. and it goes to whoever pays me first. Do I wish it were otherwise? Yes.

 

[robertvarner]

I've found the best thing to do is also provide a bad feedback on NWFA. Many of us just don't become engaged in a sale with a seller or buyer with a bad review without a good explanation.

 

[JuglansRegia]

You almost had a deal, an I'll take it with cash in hand beats an I'll take it if you can ship it.

 

[Koda]

Did the seller agree to ship the gun?

 

[RVTECH]

What if the seller came back with $150 for shipping cost and the buyer refused to pay that much?

Well, that would have been unfortunate for the seller as he never mentioned the buyer having a shipping amount limit.

HOWEVER , since it's just a 'What if a' maybe the seller didn't expect the shipping to be that high, and might have assumed the BUYER didn't either but as such he would have at LEAST been giving the FIRST prospective buyer the 'right of first refusal' - which should be done with anyone a seller talks to and has essentially a tentative deal.

 

[Member 55555]

Sorry, it sounds to me like you were still talking about price/shipping cost so, in my opinion a "deal" was not agreed to.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

After selling on here, Craigslist, arms list, and quite a few other places for over a decade, I have come to the conclusion that it's best to sell the item in whichever manner that gets the deal done with the least amount of suffering on my end. Too many times I held an item, agreed to meet, or made a deal that ended up falling through. I've learned my lesson. When someone shows up with cash, you take it. Also, the seller in your scenario may have been in conversation with multiple parties at the time of your agreement.

So yes, it sucks when an item gets sold under your feet, but it sucks even more when you, as the seller, turn down offers only to have the original deal fall through.

Agree have had tons of car deals happen that way where they got sold out from under me. Several as I'm driving to meet the owner. It sucks but first one there with cash gets the car and title and only then is the deal done. It's a fact of life unfortunately. I've had buyers and sellers promise stuff they knew they would never do and stuff they intended to do but changed their mind.

In the end you can only control your own actions. Keep your word, follow through, don't flake out on poeple. But can't expect the rest of the world to have that kind of integrity. In fact you will be much more successful I think if you assume they don't.

 

[91558]

Unless the buyer had agreed to pay any amount of cost for shipping, it sounds like a deal was close but not finalized. What if the seller came back with $150 for shipping cost and the buyer refused to pay that much? The seller could have missed out on a local cash sale.

All he had to do was call me and tell me, not string me on for 5 days.

 

[91558]

Did the seller agree to ship the gun?

Yes, he said he would ship it after getting a price and I told him I would send him a money order when he had the price.

 

[RVTECH]

It sucks but first one there with cash gets the car and title and only then is the deal done.

And it only happens this way if the seller has no morals or scruples.

I have sold TONS of things over my lifetime an have always put the prospective buyers in a list from one to on down.

#1 (if I was given an 'Ill take it') gets the priority and MAYBE a 'little' time to get to me. In the meantime I let #2 know he/she is next in line if #1 backs out - BUT I ALWAYS give a 'right of first refusal' to #1.

 

[91558]

You almost had a deal, an I'll take it with cash in hand beats an I'll take it if you can ship it.

It was 5 days later that he texted to say he had sold it. He would have had my money by then.

 

[JuglansRegia]

It must have been a good deal, l missed out on some like that, because l asked for more photos or couldn't meet that day. As a seller l would not ship but always mentioned it but still got requests to ship.

 

[91558]

He had another person contact him shortly after I had talked with him saying he was interested. At that point the honest thing would have been to say that he had a deal pending. There's still a lot of honest people out there who end up missing out on things because others have been burned. When you are dealing with someone on line, especially on this site, check their feedback, it can tell you a lot.

 

[2Wheels4Ever]

It was 5 days later that he texted to say he had sold it. He would have had my money by then.

That's just piss poor communication. I'd be mad at that as well.

 

[Koda]

Theres some subjectivness here because its hard to say a deal is struck before a price is agreed on. But I agree the seller should have followed up with the shipping cost before moving on to the next person, or at least messaged back same day that he was working a local sale first.

 

[echo1]

Kill a chicken and spell his name with the blood on a west flowing riverbank. That'll give him bad juju for the rest of the year PAX