Sellers Beware

This is how members get negative feedback, selling speakers and then have to ship them! If you are going to ship speakers make sure you have the original packing materials. 

Any way if you are selling, having people contact you with questions goes with the territory. I know it's annoying but eventually it could lead to a sale. Be patient, be nice. 

these stories are why I'm doing a lot more selling to TMR ... lose some on each sale, but so easy and no conflicts...

To OP. Yes offers must go through the official offer process. Know shipping cost beforehand. I have started to differentiate between East of Mississippi shipping and West of Mississippi shipping cost. Shipping across country invites problems with damage and delays. Offers on the East coast are more welcome. 

Here's the biggie. Filter people out by how they communicate in writing. Do they write in complete sentences? Do they come across as an adult? Are they knowledgeable? They must be polite. I'm not greedy. If red flags are raised I am polite to that person, but really don't try to do business with them. This works. I buy and sell on Craigslist, Reverb, USAUDIOMART, and Audiogon. I have made friends and met cool people by following my own rules. If people can't communicate properly, I don't deal with them.

@ancient_tones + 1, but for me, West Coast is preferable. But yes, communication can tell you a lot, though these days, it's possible that written communication could have been written by AI; I would have a chat with the person on the phone to discuss audiophile things to get a better idea if they're legit. 

@yragteddy I am a careful buyer!! Caveat Emptor is my closest buddy when looking at used sale items.

I have at times asked more from a seller than they are usually willing to go to, but my inquiries do at times put the genuine seller in the place where they have to stand behind their statements made.   

One Example being Vintage Valves being Purchased, I can have these measured within a few days of their being received. I always buy with the condition Valves will be tested on a Particular Measuring device and if not a close match to measurements shown with the Sale Info, the Valves will be returned with a full remuneration of monies paid. To have this option I will incur the cost to deliver and the cost to return.  More importantly why shouldn't I invest the little extra, to look after my own interests by utilising such an available local support.  

Being a Buyer of used items in audio, is for the buyer, One Big investigation into what is out there in the market that relates to their interest for a purchase. What is available for certain monies seen as a typical value and what is the lowest that is to be found where the Seller has shown their asking price.

Such an investigation is able to show what was thought of a unobtainable for a particular budget, might just be realised if a sale items appears that is a close mimic of one having been seen in a portal that shows a sale history.

When knowledge is gathered, the next for the Buyer becomes a period of inquiry and for some buyers, an offer is a very consolidated method of an inquiry. It certainly is an avoidance of making inquiries about the product in general. A follow up to learn the full bottom line associated with the purchase is not strange.

There are always shifting sands in the used market, an Item can appear, maybe a more expensive item, seen to be more affordable than typically seen and definitely seen to be the better option as a purchase. 

The seller has no authority over the Buyer and how they wish to spend their funds.

If the Buyer fails to do something to secure the sale for themselves, the seller should consider the item still for sale to anybody.

If the buyer having communicated with a seller, does not fully communicate their final decision, that is their business and if there is flak, that is theirs to take.

The seller has not said if they would have dropped the Buyer 'Frank', following their offer, if an offer came from another Buyer with an immediate offer of a deposit to secure the sale??  

To Publicly declare Frank as untrustworthy and to be avoided - WOW!!!

I hope Frank sees this post from the OP, I'm sure he will be totally contented not a Cent went to this sale from his coffer. 

My advice on the Gon is to a Buyer who may look at a Sale Item from the OP. The Buyer should express extreme caution in how they communicate, as there may be an outcome they are not deserved off, which becomes a very Public expressed content.