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A'gon transactions: When is it legit to quit?

Need some help here. I posted an ad for a speaker and rec'd a response from a A'gon member indicating he definitely wanted to buy. Despite that I indicated I wouldn't ship, he said he'd have a box sent from the mfr and I agreed to ship if he bore the risk of loss and paid for shipping.

After extended back and forth (initial contact was on 3/13), he indicated on 3/22 he sent a check and ordered the box. I emailed him Tues. (4/2) and noted that I had received neither and asking if he might have sent it late or whatever, and sought confirmation we had a deal.

He replied the next day and said the check was shipped out timely, he'd contact the mfr, and said we were still on, but that he was going to stop payment on the check. I indicated that if he did that, how would he arrange for me to be paid? I heard nothing back.

I emailed again today asking what was up, and (stupidly) finally checked his member status. Turns out it was canceled or withdrawn, and there is lots of bad feedback from other A'gon users, including one on 3/17 indicating he reneged on another deal. I followed up with an email that if I didn't get a check and the box by Mon. 4/8, I would consider that he reneged on the deal for failure to tender a timely payment.

My question: Is this a reasonable stance to take in the A'gon community? I don't want to be a hard-a**, but I want to complete a sale and get this speaker out of my study.
edesilva
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
Well the first thing one should do --when you get an offer-- Go to "my-page". There is your offer/ and user name of the prospective buyer. If the offer is from a member-- do the sales feedback check-- before you answer his email. If the offer is from a non member-- take your chances.

Deals that never materialize-- no money or goods change hands-- aren't subject to feedback.--And IMO, shouldn't be.--Treat every offer as a potential troll;till you see a Postal MO/or get the Paypal notice.That way you don't have to start threads of this sort.
rwwear
2,867 posts
 
Use PayPal.
tk4qmmt
25 posts
 
I had a somewhat simliar experience, and I would like to hear whether my action is justified.

I recently responded to an ad on A-Gon for a CD player clearly stating that I would purchase the item at his price. I then got an e-mail from the seller asking me to mail the MO. I was also told that I was the third person to make an offer to buy and whoever gets the MO first in his hand would get the CD player. The other MOs will be returned to the respective party. I was dumbfounded by this request, in that I should send my MO without an express agreement/confirmation that I had the deal. So I e-mailed him that I did not believe this was the standard practice on A-Gon to mail the MO without the express agreement for sale and I did not want to pursue this item further unless I had his confirmation that we had a deal. I then got some choice words back from him, and I broke further conversation.

I checked his feedback (before offering to buy the item) and he had two positive feedbacks, so he probably was not a completel troll (but who knows really). But is this a standard practice to ask multiple people to send their MOs without making a deal first? Did I do wrong to balk at his request? I don't believe I did anything wrong, but just wanted to make sure.
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
TK4: that guy is a jerk. When one commits to a purchase one is committed--that's it. I doubt someone will go for such a business practice.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Tk4- Not standard practice in my experience. I've bought 20+ items here over last 3 years, and never had anyone request that.
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