Losing faith

[Blinky]

Just feeling awful and need a little vent...
I recently put ads for my old tank, stand etc. in the AC classifieds, on another forum, and in my neighborhood, but honestly didn't expect much response. I got several responses past the 'I think I'm interested' stage, and decided first-come-first-served would be the most fair approach.
After communicating back and forth for a while, a buyer and I arranged a price for the items they wanted to buy, and a pick up time. They never showed up. Later I got an email explaining why, and it was a very reasonable explanation. We arranged another time and again, they didn't show. I received another email - after giving another reason for no-showing, they finally admitted they'd decided to go with a bigger tank. I'm not remotely upset they decided to go with a different tank, but I feel completely disrespected by the way they dealt with things.
I'm bummed out - I turned down other buyers in favour of this person, and stayed home twice only to be stood up. My first experience selling things to fellow hobbyists hasn't been a nice one. It's made me a little distrusting and wary of selling or buying from other hobbyists online, which is too bad.
Thanks for listening.

[jonah]

I've had a similar experience selling a car. Good manners are rare. Hope you find a legitimate buyer soon.

[schiejr]

Sorry to hear about that. So far all my experiences have been good but then I am usually the buyer. Only thing you could have done different was say sorry, you missed your chance I am going to go with another person that is interested, people almost always come up with good excuses when they are selfish. Hope the next time goes better.

[Unome]

Good manners are rare. You are correct. At least they could have called you the 2nd time when they were a no-show and explained they had changed their minds.

[Blinky]

Thanks guys :)
Someone from my apartment building just came to look at the tank, so all is not lost - he said if it's still here after Christmas, he'll take it, so I feel a little better now.

[happychem]

Good to hear that it's working out!

I had a bad experience selling a cracked tank as a terrarium. I can't even remember what I posted it for, but I was offered about $15 less and I said okay, it was a little lower than I wanted to go, but the tank was cracked (and repaired, but still) and I wanted to get it out of the apartment. We arranged a meeting time, she never shower. Later she e-mailed me and said she'd changed her mind, unless I would go $20 lower! :rant: I was furious, dirty pool and bad business, IMO, after you've agreed on a price and meeting time, the bargaining is over. I've had opportunities since when I've had something that this person was interested in (actually a couple of times I could have really helped her out), but I won't do business with her, either out of spite or because I've no interest in the way she deals, but if she always plays that game I think that she'll soon find that very few people will be willing to do business with her.

Sorry to steal your thunder Blinky, but your story just reminded me of that!

[Blinky]

Interesting - this buyer seemed to play games a bit too, it's frustrating, you're right! We'd agreed on a price (and I kept 'throwing things in' until I felt like it was almost too good of a deal), and I felt as though we 'shook on it' and everything was done. Then, after the first no-show, the buyer asked to buy/trade for my brand new 65g (in addition to the 45g). I explained that it was sort of an early Christmas present and we'd purchased it to replace the 45g - my husband would be crushed if I sold it, I'm really happy with it, and besides, I'd have to change my lighting, filter etc. for a bigger tank. Rather than backing off, they offered me another tank instead!
I'm trying to look at things objectively, and I realize that people work in different ways. I'm still disappointed, but I'm sure things will work out :)

[qtaquaman]

hey, some people are just jerks.

[jonah]

hey, some people are just jerks.

That just about sums it up.

[happychem]

Yup, and don't get me wrong, I've no problem with haggling, go nuts, but once the price is agreed on, it's too late to change your mind. At the very least, in Blinky's case, he should have had the courage and respect to call you and let you know right off the bat that he'd changed his mind.

[Swimfins]

Well, I understand where that last guy is coming from. This hobby can be expensive, but you should play fair. You can sell it on e-bay. The tanks are snapped up so fast. People even squabble over them and end up winning it for a high price. I'd do that. I notice in the Toronto region, they go fast.
You can do 'pick up only' and save yourself the hassle of moving it as well. :)
Bonne chance!

[anonapersona]

If I may offer some advice on the negotiation....

The way it works best, IME, is to set an asking price and a list of stuff included. When people call, they may ask if you'll take something less, and to that you respond that if they come to look at it and want to make an offer, that'd be fine, we can discus an offer then but you are not lowering the price for someone who hasn't even seen it yet. "Until I have cash in hand for it, it is still for sale at the asking price."

If someone says they'll come look, you still tell all callers that it is still for sale. And always get the phone number of the person coming to see it, "just in case you have to step out" while waiting for them. You might want to tell the callers if someone is supposed to be coming to look at it, then take their number in case of a no-show. Or have them call back in a few hours.

You do not want to have people work you down by calling and getting you to knock the price down before they even get there, and then start haggling again when they get there. You should not be "throwing in" stuff during the negotiation, unless you had already made this concession in your head and knew you were willing to do it.

For a lot of people it is not so much the price but the bargain they got. I'll see a 10 gallon tank with a stand, hood, rocks and airpump at a garage sale for $5 and I'll always ask if they'll take $3. If they'd priced it at $10 I'd offer $5. Why pay $10 for something if you can get it for $5 just for asking? So, don't let the bargaining get you down, just know that you need to find out where you are going to stand pat, even if it means the lost sale.



There are a lot of people who are just toying with the idea of a new tank, they are jcalling to see what the market price is for this tank, or maybe they may want to sell their own tank at that price, they want to know whether a used tank at that price is likely to include certain equipment. They may still be wondering if they have room for it. Sometimes they are not very serious and just forget or get busy.