Selling moral question

[J king]

I place a object on Craigslist.doesnt matter the item. If someone calls and says they will be able to come the next day to purchase the item should you blow off others that can see the item right away?

I received 4 replys to an item listed. One of the people said he would be right over and buy the item. After a little persuasion I told him to come. I did explain to him I had someone coming tomorrow that said he wanted it.He insisted that he would take it today.I hate to do that to the first caller but I felt that the opportunity to sell now was better than maybe tomorrow. I sold the item and sent the original caller a email that I sold the item.He was very upset and told me that I said he could come tomorrow.I feel bad but cash is king.I really feel bad but it is business...I guess...

What are your thoughts.

 

[JimVonBaden]

It depends on how you responded. If you promise to have it for a guy tomorrow you should honor that promise.

In general this has worked for me. If someone else says they want it, they will usually understand a promise. I let them know that, should the first responder fail to show, that the item will be theirs. Usually this works well.

IMHO, do not be one of "those CL guys"!

Jim

 

[Bull]

I would say that if the fellow said he would definitely take it and be by tomorrow to get it, and you agreed, then all others who try to push to the front of the line need to be told to wait. If cash is king then you are its servant. Be your own king and make choices that you don't need to feel guilty about.

And holy geez, I just noticed your user name! Now that's funny what with all this "king" talk!

 

[Mike Miller]

First come, first served. I tell people I won't hold an item unless there's money down on it and even then I have them agree to a time and date to finalize the transaction.

 

[J king]

Well I sold it to the guy that came right away.The problem is those people that never follow thru..been burnt before waiting and no one shows..I felt like I should have waited but the buyer made a good argument.I let him see it and he pulled out cash...That was the main goal..

 

[Todd.Brock]

I agree cash is king, IF you stated it that feel free to look at it tomorrow but call before you come b/c it may be sold. If I get a good feeling about the guy on the phone, I will hold it the one day for a guy. I have been burned doing that though. So...I just have taken a first in, wins rule. The difference is, I am VERY clear about it. In my opinion, If I was the guy on the phone, I would be pissed too.

I have found that some folks say, well, I really want it, but I am going to go shopping and then I will be by for it, or not too motivated b/c its not really fitting into their schedule. I also tell those folks, first in, wins. If it is a smokin deal, I will all but drop what I am doing to make the sale. Thats why I have a decent number of successes on CL. There are times when I cant make it, and the good deals have slipped away.

 

[d.mcfarland]

First person that shows up with money gets the item when I sell.

 

[stratman977]

You will learn really quickly selling things on craigslist that what you did is about the only way to get something sold. That guy who says he's coming tomorrow is about a 25% chance that he will actually come and 75% chance no show no call. Some people are the exception but usually if you play the nice guy your item won't get sold and it will be a headache for you. I only hold if they tell me they are on their way. I ask them when they will be there and tell them to call if they will be late. I also state that I will only wait until such and such time before its back up for grabs.

You have to be very clear an up front with your intentions with the buyer. You set the terms and if they don't like it sell it to someone else.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Well I sold it to the guy that came right away.The problem is those people that never follow thru..been burnt before waiting and no one shows..I felt like I should have waited but the buyer made a good argument.I let him see it and he pulled out cash...That was the main goal..

You did the absolute right thing. I learned my lesson when selling my mustang. Had 3 different "buyers" tell me they'd be by to purchase it Friday or whatever. Not a single one showed or called. I called one guy the day he was coming to buy it and he wouldn't even answer his telephone.
Never again will I hold something.

 

[noslocars]

First come, first served. I tell people I won't hold an item unless there's money down on it and even then I have them agree to a time and date to finalize the transaction.

X2 I always tell people that I will hold it for a deposit for a limited time but if there is not some cash up front then it is fair game for someone who does. I wouldn't expect anything less if I was the one trying to buy an item. There are way to many no show calls not to.

 

[Bull]

They key here is whether the OP told the first fellow that he could have it tomorrow. If so, then pulling the rug from under him wasn't cool. If not, then he owed that man nothing.

 

[Craftsman86]

I always put in my ads that its first com first serve, I also have been burned a couple of times from no shows. So I take the first person that shows up with cash, on that note I am very straight forward with people that want me to hold an item that I will be selling it to the first person that is able to show up with cash. I have had people send me a paypal deposit to hold the item as they could not show up right away and have had good luck with that as well.

 

[sselander]

I just sold something on CL for $800. The lady gave me a $150 deposit to ensure she was serious about buying it after looking it over. Cash talks

 

[JimVonBaden]

They key here is whether the OP told the first fellow that he could have it tomorrow. If so, then pulling the rug from under him wasn't cool. If not, then he owed that man nothing.

Exactly! That was what I was trying to say. If you told the guy you would hold it for him, YOU become the ****! If, however, you said first with the cash, then all is well!

I suspect, because the way you posted this, you made a promise and broke it.

Jim

 

[Jack Olsen]

You asked.

If you tell a buyer that you're going to hold an item for them, and then you don't. Then you've done the wrong thing. There are no two ways about it, and it doesn't matter whether you've been burned in the past or not. The way to navigate your situation honestly is to tell each potential buyer that the first person to show up with the cash will get the item.

 

[Strouty]

I have a situation like this, guy sent a check for deposit and has not responded to my emails. I have to call him tomorrow. He is suppose to pick it up sometime in July, but I am tripping over the damn thing and I have another guy that can pick it up next week. I want to give him a chance, but it is more of a burden holding on to the thing for another month. I would feel guilty, except I am trying to get things cleaned up and a 5'x2'x4' 500 pound item keeps getting in my way! I am worried he won't show, then I have no buyer at all. I just hope I can get him on the phone.

 

[jhelrey]

I have a situation like this, guy sent a check for deposit and has not responded to my emails. I have to call him tomorrow. He is suppose to pick it up sometime in July, but I am tripping over the damn thing and I have another guy that can pick it up next week. I want to give him a chance, but it is more of a burden holding on to the thing for another month. I would feel guilty, except I am trying to get things cleaned up and a 5'x2'x4' 500 pound item keeps getting in my way! I am worried he won't show, then I have no buyer at all. I just hope I can get him on the phone.

Or the check will bounce...

 

[Strouty]

Or the check will bounce...

No, it has been three weeks with no bouncing. I am probably being too concerned. With the holiday last week, the buyer most likely hasn't had time to get back to me. I am just frustrated that I agreed to a long drawn out timeframe. As I said before I would feel guilty and as Jack said I would become the ****, but I don't feel like it would make me want to string myself up or anything like that.

 

[J king]

To clear thing a little.first caller says he was really interested. Said he couldn't come today.said he could come tomorrow and would bring his truck.said he would call before coming...this was a motor..I really didnt think I would get any calls right away.. Next thing I know is I get 4 more people interested in the item.who would of thought? An old used engine!

 

[Twiggss]

First person that shows up with money gets the item when I sell.

this..

 

[Strouty]

To clear thing a little.first caller says he was really interested. Said he couldn't come today.said he could come tomorrow and would bring his truck.said he would call before coming...this was a motor..I really didnt think I would get any calls right away.. Next thing I know is I get 4 more people interested in the item.who would of thought? An old used engine!

I think you and I are in a moral dilemma together. I would wait and see if he shows. Tell the other guys you will call them to let them know one way or the other if the item sold. I on the other hand have buyers that are both over 700 miles from me.

 

[hoffman912]

if they cannot come today i ask them to send me a deposit on paypal. i have done the same thing when i have bought items (offered to put a deposit on it).

 

[zkling]

I have held things for people and have had people hold things for me. I understand that most folks cannot drop everything they are doing to go pick up and item. Only once did I have someone not show up. We will agrees on a time for both of us, and I will not give out my address until the day the item is to be picked up (bad experience with that one).

When I am asked to hold an item for someone I always state that I can only hold an item for full price. That weeds out folks that want me to hold it and then have them show up just to make a low offer. Likewise when buying I hold myself to the same standards. Only once did I not purchase something that was held for me. I felt bad, but the seller completely lied about the item's condition, brand and size (was a tool box).

More than one I have driven ~30+miles to be told that someone shows up before I got there, having the seller tell me on the phone they would hold it till I got there.

The people that really piss me off are the items in the free section. "Pick up at the curb", then they leave their address and no contact information. I don't even waste my time with these. If they don't have enough respect for me to not waste my time, then I have no use for them.

Craigslist will cause you to loose faith in most folks though, sadly


It all depends if you gave the first person your word that you would hold it for him. If so, then yes I think you made a mistake. If you didn't say you would hold it then you are fine IMHO.

 

[JimVonBaden]

To clear thing a little.first caller says he was really interested. Said he couldn't come today.said he could come tomorrow and would bring his truck.said he would call before coming...this was a motor..I really didnt think I would get any calls right away.. Next thing I know is I get 4 more people interested in the item.who would of thought? An old used engine!

The question is, did you tell him you would hold it, tell him first come, or nothing at all?

If nothing at all, it is on you to contact the first guy right away and tell him the item sold.

Jim

 

[J king]

No I didn't tell him I would hold it..I sent him a email that it was sold.no reply.

 

[24X26]

No I didn't tell him I would hold it..I sent him a email that it was sold.no reply.

If that's the case and you emailed him to let him know it was gone then you did nothing wrong.

 

[jonathan75]

I have had very good luck with people coming when they said they would and always keep people in line of call or email time.

One time I offered free used tires and got 10 calls in 15 mins. The 5th caller even said he would pay me $20 and come right away. I turned down his offer and gave it to the first caller for free. I think that these things come back to you and it is better to treat them how you want to be treated.

 

[JimVonBaden]

If that's the case and you emailed him to let him know it was gone then you did nothing wrong.

Jim

 

[Ign]

Let this be a lesson to you on how to handle CL transactions in the future. If a guy says he'll be by tomorrow, your response should probably be ok, call first because I'll sell it today if someone shows up with cash.

I do allow reasonable drive times, such as if someone tells me they're leaving now and will be here in 2 hours, I make it clear that after 2 hours it's gone. I'm not holding indefinitely and I'm not putting up with a lot of excuses.

I'm amazed at how many sob stories I've gotten: "I don't get off work until late tonight." That's not my problem. What am I to do about your work schedule?

 

[Rodhotz]

First come first served no excuse. I cannot count the number of times i have held onto something only to have them no show or call and lost sales because of it. If they tell me they are on the way i will tell them i will be here for the next hour or whatever, tired of the no shows that are "on their way" and i put something off only to not have them show. Same when i am buying i will tell them i am going to be there in x time and if i am running late i will call and let them know.

 

[Ed Litsch]

You asked.

If you tell a buyer that you're going to hold an item for them, and then you don't. Then you've done the wrong thing. There are no two ways about it, and it doesn't matter whether you've been burned in the past or not. The way to navigate your situation honestly is to tell each potential buyer that the first person to show up with the cash will get the item.

2nd this to a "T". You broke you word when you told the first guy that you would hold it for him..

 

[Dara]

i never hold anything for anyone unless a deposit is givin an even then a time limit is set to collect thats agreed upon between myself and the buyer.

you get too many time wasters these days when you try to sell stuff to hold stuff for people on their word that they will be there tomorrow or the day after an they will take it
its first come first served or a deposit if you want it to be put on hold
thats how transactions work whether your a full blown business selling all the time or just a regular joe selling tools or parts on line when you have no need for them anymore

 

[InsanePyro]

First come fire severed. Just don't leave anyone hanging without a response. Then you would be a ****.

 

[Andamo]

I tell whomever contacts me about something for sale that the first person that shows up with the money gets the item. I've been burned too many times trying to accommodate someone coming at a later date and them never having the common decency to contact me that they're not showing up.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Sad how so many of you have been burned by no-shows. I don't think that has ever happened to me. I will hold something for a day if asked. I also will tell anyone else that responds that I am holding it and will contact them if they wish to wait. It has worked out fine for me.

Jim

 

[Nascar4401]

First come, first served. I tell people I won't hold an item unless there's money down on it and even then I have them agree to a time and date to finalize the transaction.

I agree. too many times I have had people no show the next day and lose other potential buyers.

 

[graffix000]

First person that shows up with money gets the item when I sell.

This, just too many flakes in the CL world to be "honorable". I do state first come, first served in my ads.

 

[bdamico]

Only time you hold item is when someone is actually on way to pick it up

 

[Davefr]

I tell prospective buyers to call me right before they're ready to come out to buy/look at the item. If it's still available I only hold the item for their travel time. (I give them 1-2 hrs)

Other then that it's first come first serve.

If you promised to hold an item you should follow through.

 

[jerryd68]

Depends on what you told the guy in my opinion, I have been burned by people telling me that they will show and never do, but I have also been on the other side of it, call on an item and the guy tells me that he will hold it for me while I drive the 2 hours to get to him and once I do he has sold it, so much for 50.00 in diesel, thanks ****!