Is it just me or ?

[Paraman1]

Just curious if other people have noticed a disturbing trend of people backing out on or welching on deals ? I realize no money has changed hands but I didn't come from money and my Dad told me that all we had was our word so I better make it worth something . I have had 3 separate deals on automotive related parts in the last 2 weeks where the guy backed out of a deal after we had already agreed on a price and even had correspondence to the effect of "I will take it at this agreed upon price" in 2 of the instances .

Has anyone else been experiencing this , should I take it personally , should I tuck my feelings back into my skirt and go cry somewhere else ? Just curious if I am the only one .

[Tom Welch]

losers are out there, its up to us as individuals to deal with honesty and integrity. We aren't men if we don't.

[minendrews68]

Last week I read a Craigslist ad for some Camaro interior parts. I'm in Arkansas he was in California. The prices were good so I did a deal with him. All my friends thought I was crazy, but I paid through PayPal. The parts came in about four days later, were exactly as described. I know it's getting to where this is a rare case, but I have to give kudos to this guy. I might not be as lucky next time.
Carl

[Build-It-Break-It]

I had a situation were I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price and the guy was suppose to come out the next morning and buy the parts.

Well the same night another guy left a deposit,paid full asking price and drove 3 hours to get the parts. I immediately contacted the guy the first thing in the morning because it was to late at night . He then proceeded to get upset because I sold the parts but no deposit was left by him. Granted I didn't ask for a deposit either but when I'm personally serious about parts I'll leave one.

Point is I won't hold anything for anyone unless a none refundable deposit is left because I've been flaked on to many times by to many people.

[SSLance]

Yep, money talks... If I want something real bad I make sure to do everything I can to make it an easy decision for the seller to sell them to me. I've sold enough parts to loose out on a few sales to a "sure I'll take it" that never shows up.

Also, almost always a local sale hand to hand is going to take preference over a ship to sale...it's just the way it is.

[jtkirk00]

"I had a situation were I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price and the guy was suppose to come out the next morning and buy the parts." :confused:

[JustJohn]

It is unfortunate but "craigslist" mentality is basically a yard sale. First come, first served. I think it is buyers backing out that has driven this trend. If I knew I could depend on everyone, every time they agreed to buy something I'd be much more inclined to hold out and wait.

[rickpaw]

I had a situation were I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price and the guy was suppose to come out the next morning and buy the parts.

Well the same night another guy left a deposit,paid full asking price and drove 3 hours to get the parts. I immediately contacted the guy the first thing in the morning because it was to late at night . He then proceeded to get upset because I sold the parts but no deposit was left by him. Granted I didn't ask for a deposit either but when I'm personally serious about parts I'll leave one.

Point is I won't hold anything for anyone unless a none refundable deposit is left because I've been flaked on to many times by to many people.


"I had a situation were I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price and the guy was suppose to come out the next morning and buy the parts." :confused:

Build-It-Break-It, not slamming on you, but you did agree on the price and agreed to sell the guy the parts. You can always request him to leave a deposit.

Now, if the buyer said "hold the parts for me and I'll be there the next morning", that will be different.

There are flakes out there on CL, but there are also genuine people. I once sold parts to a guy, and we ended up BS'ing for almost an hour. I also had a guy who supposed to come up and get parts that I gave for free. Spent an hour waiting for him, and he called chewed my ass because he couldn't find my house. Hung up on the guy.

[vintageracer]

There are just as many bad seller's are there are bad buyer's.

How about the new trend in California concerning CL selling of Classic Cars.

Set up appointments with ALL THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER'S at the SAME TIME so ALL the interested buyers are there TOGETHER. The seller then conducts his own auction right then and there OR walks out and states "The first person to hand me X amount of dollars buy's the car"!

Both have happen multiple times recently to a car bird dog in California that several of us back East use to buy Southern California cars for us.

Yes it is happening!

You gotta love CL!

[SSLance]

I was helping the MIL in FL last week move out of her old house, arranged a ton of things for a garage sale and posted pics of a lot of it in the garage sale craigslist ad. Day before the sale, I get a text asking about the dining room set. I take more pics and send them back along with a price. They say thanks and they'll see if they can make it by. Day of the sale I text and lower the price, again..."thanks".

They didn't show and it didn't sell. I'm back home now and they are trying to clear out the old house. I text the guy back and say "it's still available..." He replies right away that they are close to deciding what to do. He then texts back and asks "Will you take $500 cash today for it?" (original price was $650). I reply back "Yes" and gave him instructions on how to arrange a meeting time. His reply back...


Okay thank you. I have a doctor's appointment and then I'll call. The phone battery is low but I'll call again. Thank you again I'll be in touch"

So...if someone else came along an hour later with cash in their hand and a truck to take it away...am I supposed to wait for this guy to "call me back" or take the money and run?

:dunno:

I like to think I'm an honest guy and my word means something but at the same time, how do I know that he is the same until he puts money in my hand?

[jtkirk00]

Nope, you're good, SSLance. The other guy above agreed to a meeting time to complete the transaction. You had not. So if a deal came along with cash in hand, by all means, sell it. The guy above should have honored his agreed upon transaction and not sold the items prior to that.

[Paraman1]

If you agree to wait or tell someone you will sell it to them at "X" price and then back out/sell it to someone else then you are definitely who I am talking about . If you tell someone you will sell them an item for "X" amount and then contact them the next day saying you sold it to someone else then you are who I am talking about . If you e-mail someone saying "I will take it" and you back out of it then you are definitely who I am taking about .

I guess profit before honor is where we are at here . Just know that if I tell you I am going to do something then its gonna get done whether its to my own personal detriment or not . If I have to lose money or miss out on something then that's how it goes because I am nothing if not a man of my word .

And just for the record I am not talking about Craigslist , I am talking about this forum and 1 other that I frequent .

[parsonsj]

I recently sold a Quadralink rear end here. I agreed to a price with a buyer, at my asking price. I put "Deal Pending" in the For Sale thread.

I got many more offers after that, with several people trying to edge between me and the buyer. It was disconcerting to say the least.


I had a situation were I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price and the guy was suppose to come out the next morning and buy the parts.

Well the same night another guy left a deposit,paid full asking price and drove 3 hours to get the parts. I immediately contacted the guy the first thing in the morning because it was to late at night . He then proceeded to get upset because I sold the parts but no deposit was left by him. Granted I didn't ask for a deposit either but when I'm personally serious about parts I'll leave one.

Point is I won't hold anything for anyone unless a none refundable deposit is left because I've been flaked on to many times by to many people.I'm with Paraman. In my book you had a deal. You broke the deal. The fellow was right to be upset with you.

I had a guy do that with me once about a 91 Corvette. I was on my way with the Cashier's check to pick up the car when he called to tell me he had sold it to someone else who had offered more money after we had come to an agreement. I told him that he had broken our contract, while only verbal, a contract nonetheless, and that his behavior was unethical. An hour later he called back, apologized, and honored our deal. He told me that breaking the contract didn't sit right with him, and so he changed his mind. Who knows, maybe the other guy backed out.

When you say "we've got a deal", then dammit, you've got a deal. I don't care if Jennifer Aniston comes by with breathless promises that fulfill your wildest fantasies. Selling it to someone else is breaking your word.

[Build-It-Break-It]

If no deposit is left I'm selling it. If your already on your way I'll hold the parts for you. If someone calls me that same night, leaves a deposit I'm selling it. Period. If no one agrees then you can wait and hold your breath in hopes they potential buyer doesn't back out later.

I contacted him the next day, apologized and moved on. I'm not obligated to hold parts without a deposit. I've had people sell parts I told them I'd pick up the next day or later in the day after work and its understandable to me. Look on ls1tech at there feedback section of all the flakes and scams.

In the end they're the sellers parts and they're not obligated to sell them to anyone they don't choose to and can even keep the parts if needed.

Parsonsj you had a similar situation I believe were you listed a rear end "to cheap", didn't contact people back then sold it and upset people. They were your parts and you sold them how you felt fit.

After getting burnt MANY times I'll do what's best for me and everyone can do whats best for them. It has nothing to do with someone's "Word" its business. Cash in hand or deposit always gets the parts.

I've sold 90% of parts on Craigslist 10% on ebay after members from this forum flaked. Its been about 8 members who have done this to me from here. Should I be upset? No, things happen,life happens. I don't think they're liars, or not of there word. If people want to cry about people not holding parts,buy it from a dealer who has it in stock. If people flake on here and your tired of it, list it on ebay were its a for sure sale, pay the fees and move on.

But don't get but hurt and assume someone's character because they don't want to take you on your word alone.

[Build-It-Break-It]

Now, if the buyer said "hold the parts for me and I'll be there the next morning", that will be different.


Thats exactly what happened

[minendrews68]

C'mon Jim........... Jennifer Aniston? Are you sure? lol

[SSLance]

I think my word to a man face to face and his word back to me face to face is way different than some stranger typing things onto a keyboard over the internet. Shouldn't be that way, but unfortunately it is. I've seen enough people type things onto a keyboard they'd never say face to face...including "I'll take them" with no intention of ever following through.

My point is, if someone has something for sale on the internet in a garage sale type ad (non official auction site) and you want it, you have to make sure you make it as easy as you can for the seller to sell it to you, even if it means sending money up front sight unseen...if you want to get it. Especially if it seems like others want the item as well. Same with selling, first come first serve, money talks...

Feedback is crucial to prevent scammers and thieves from taking advantage of others on the net, but not getting the item you wanted from a seller is not quite being taken advantage of. If you want guarantees...buy your items from retailers at full price. If you want deals on used parts at garage sales, be quick on the draw.

At the garage sale I spoke of last weekend, we had an old side by side fridge for sale. We had it marked at $100 and a couple was looking at it. While they were discussing it, I mentioned to them that we'd take $75 for it. Another guy had looked at it a bit earlier and he heard me...and while the first couple was still discussing it, the other guy handed me $80.00 in cash. Guess who got the fridge?

[rickpaw]

Thats exactly what happened

So what was your reply? "Sure, I'll hold it"; or "no guarantee, if no one buys it before you then it's yours". If it was the former, then surely the buyer had every right to be upset. I would too.

I once had offered a seller a deposit (via paypal) on a 69 Camaro shell he was selling. Extremely clean car. He was selling it cheap because he needed the money. I couldn't meet up with him since he lives 5 hrs away and it was 8:00 pm. He did not have paypal so I couldn't leave the deposit. Of course he sold the car the next day.

Point is, if you're the buyer, either trust the seller's word or jump in the car, go get it or leave a deposit.




At the garage sale I spoke of last weekend, we had an old side by side fridge for sale. We had it marked at $100 and a couple was looking at it. While they were discussing it, I mentioned to them that we'd take $75 for it. Another guy had looked at it a bit earlier and he heard me...and while the first couple was still discussing it, the other guy handed me $80.00 in cash. Guess who got the fridge?

I had a similar experience selling a used under the counter fridge. A guy came out, looked at it, tested it. I told him the lowest price I let it go for, he said he'll think about it. 2 days later, a couple went by and bought it. The guy later called and wanted the fridge, and got upset because I sold it.

Sometimes I'd rather take the stuff to Goodwill, than having to deal with all these people. Too bad Goodwill does not take car parts.

[rickpaw]

When you say "we've got a deal", then dammit, you've got a deal. I don't care if Jennifer Aniston comes by with breathless promises that fulfill your wildest fantasies. Selling it to someone else is breaking your word.

Not sure Jim. I'm a man with a beating heart after all. LOL.

In seriousness, I've turned down several better offers before because I've agreed to sell the parts to someone else. Obviously I could have made more money, but I'll sleep better at night.

[jtkirk00]

"I had a situation were I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price and the guy was suppose to come out the next morning and buy the parts." :confused:

Perhaps what this guy meant to say, and what he actually did, was: "I had a situation where I agreed to sell parts for an agreed price but made it perfectly clear that if someone comes along before him with cash in hand I will sell it to them first. Furthermore, I asked for a deposit to hold the parts until the next day and the prospective buyer refused."

#skeptical

[parsonsj]

Not sure John. I'm a man with a beating heart after all. LOL.

In seriousness, I've turned down several better offers before because I've agreed to sell the parts to someone else. Obviously I could have made more money, but I'll sleep better at night.I'm John. Jim is my brother. :) Anyway, right. I turned down an additional $500 on that QL deal because I already had an agreement to sell at the asking price.

Anyway, good discussion.