Did I do the right thing?

[Ben_M_K]

Ok, I have a question here. First off let me say that I got into RC planes earlier this summer but now have to take a break becaues I just don't have the money or time (my weekends are booked) to stay in the hobby.

So one of the things I'm selling is my radio (trasmitter). Two weeks ago I had a guy from the club (I hadn't met him) interested in the radio. But that's all he said, "interested". We talked on AIM btw...a few days later I contated him about the radio again, and again I got the same response, some like "oh I'm defenitly interested" but no word on if was actualy going to buy it. 3 days later I did the same, and got the same response.

Well, the next day, I got a call from soneone esle in the club, and he wanted to buy it, there was none of this "interested" stuff. So, I sold it to him.

Then today, I got a call from Nick(the original guy interested) and he said he wanted to buy it! Well, when I told it it was sold, he was pretty mad. He couldn't believe that I sold it to someone else. I told him that I was just waiting for conformation and never go it. Then he said, "I had the money and I was ready to pick it up". Well I never knew that. He never said he WAS going to buy it.

So anyways, sorry if this was long, but I just need a second opinion to back me up that I did the right thing. Please, if you think I should have held it for him, tell me, I want to know!

Thanks,
Ben

[Craig.]

You snooze ya loose.
The common courtesy would have been to tell you, yes i want to buy it, but it will take a few days to get the money. You would then have known.
As you say he didnt say more than interested, then you had every right to sell it to the guy who gave you the money then and there.

[Jared]

mhm, that's a tough situation there, if you had waited for him he would have made you wait another month just to tell you he doesn't want it.....

It's one of lifes little choices, you'll be in trouble either way..

I say sell it to whomever wants it, heck I was even "interested" but I'm not going to buy it!

[Triple_7]

Well just like anything people sell...Money in hand is worth more then a possible...Wouldnt feel bad at all.  If he wanted it so bad he should have made it clear insted of "i'm interested"

[C]

Indeed. If he had really wanted but didn't have all the money there and then, he could have given you deposit there and then, and he didn't help the situation by only saying he was interested. As he didn't you had every right to sell it to someone who offered there and then...

[Bazza]

You done right.............."Money in the Hand" is one of those business sayings carved in stone.

Consider what the situation would have been in you were selling a house worth hundreds of thousands....?    Without anywritten contracts you take it whan it's offering.

You have probably learned a little lesson here....next time don't worry about being too polite and ask the hard question, "do you want it or not.?"

I have sold a number of items over the phone after advertising.     There seems to be a strange problem where people ring up, listen to the description of the item for sale, say they want it but never turn up.    In other words, first in - first served.

[Ben_M_K]

Thanks guys! And the other thing is that I'm not desprete for money. If he would have said, "I really want the radio, but it'll be a week or two before I can get you the money" I would have been MORE than happy to wait for him. I just didn't want to turn down the guy with money in hand when I wasn't positive Nick wanted to buy it.

[Hagar]

It's done so there's no sense in worrying about it. Just as long as you're satisfied with the deal. With hindsight it might have been better to have told the first chap you'd had another firm offer & ask for a definite decision. Pay up now or you lose it. I expect he'll get over it.

I had a similar thing happen in reverse. I'd been promised first offer on a digital camera from a friend when he updated to a new one. I waited for several months & when I got fed up & tackled him about it he admitted he'd either given or sold it to his Mum. He could hardly refuse when she asked. I got over the disappointment & went out & bought a brand new one. This is what I should have done in the first place. It cost me a lot more but that's how the cookie crumbles.

PS. I was never any good at selling anything.

[Katahu]

A similar thing happened to me as well... in a not-so-pleasent way.

Back in high school [you might remember this] a friend offered me a used video card for my old computer after a long discussion about computers. Price, $20 [i think].

A month had passed and I asked him again. He said he'd bring in the next day just as long as I brought the cash. Well, I brought the cash, but he didn't bring the card. He said he forgot it and wants to bring it for sure. He also asked if I can give him the money so he can bring it.

BECAUSE I WAS BLINDED BY THE PROSPECT OF HAVING A NEW VIDEO CARD, I just blindly gave him the money. Next day, NADA!!!!!! These were his exact words: "Tough luck, you got ripped".

First thing that ran through my mind, tear his fraking head off [note the Battlestar Gallactica term]. But I coudn't. I can't. BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THIS BASTARD WAS QUESTIONABLE AND TOOK A TOO-BIG A RISK.

To all you newbies, learn from me. Never, ever, Ever, EVER........ give out money without being sure that you'll get what you want on the same spot at the same time.

This was a few years ago and I use that moment in time as an example of what I shouldn't ever do from now on.

*Katahu puts on the dunce cap and sits on a corner*

[Ben_M_K]

Hey, at least it was only $20...

[Stormtropper]

Not much of a firend is he then Katahu

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

Like what I said on AIM during our wonderfully funny Flame War...you get the cash, you give it 'em

[TSC.]

Well if it was me & I really wanted to buy it but didn't have the money, I would've made that clear & said 'Look I really want it & I WILL buy it, but can you hold it for a couple of weeks so I can get the cash' & then if after a couple of weeks (or specified date) then you could take it as read that you could sell it elsewhere - or pay a deposit like you would in a store.

Even if you paid a deposit in a store, they wouldn't 'hold' a n item indefinatley.

But like you said Ben, this guy never confirmed anything, so it's his tough luck & too late to be throwing his dummy out of the pram now.

Don't feel bad about that guy - it's not your job to organise his life for him.

Cheers,

TSC.

[beefhole]

Take the money and RUN Ben

[beaky]

You're clean, but next time, remind those "interested" that it's "first come (with the money), first serve". It won't help them if they don't have any sense, but you'll feel better.