Have you ever backed out of a sale?

[iamzip]

I haven't been on here in a while because I've been obsessing about and looking for motorcycles. Anyway, for reasons I won't get into here I told someone that I wanted to buy their bike, then backed out at the last minute. I feel terrible. I feel like a total heel. I didn't mean to do it, and without getting too much into it, I am not that kind of person. Yet I feel that now the seller sees me the same as any other BS time waster.

Anyway, I thought maybe some people here might have some experience with this, either with cameras or something else. Anybody?

 

[Pickett Wilson]

A deal is a deal. Buy the bike. There is no way around it.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I think that we've all been there at one time or another. I had a guy back out of buying a Polaroid 110B with a 127mm f/4.7 lens just two weeks ago, and that was after he'd got me to drop the price to what he wanted to pay.

I suspect that some "buyers" just do it as a game. They never intend to buy anything, they never do buy anything.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I've never backed out of buying a thing... and I don't know why is it that I'm a terrible person because of it. Edit the terms of your poll...

Whenever I approach a transaction of any type, something in my mind reminds me of what I was told it was an Arab proverb: "You're a slave to the words you say, and the master of your silence." Hence, I prefer not to say anything if I am not willing to comply with what I say.

BTW, buy the bike.

 

[iamzip]

I didn't mean you, the responder, are a terrible person. I meant that I, the sleazy OP, am a terrible person.

 

[DougFord]

I once bought a 35mm summicron type 1 from a fellow demented RF user and was very much looking forward to trying it out. They mailed it out and then decided that they didn’t want to sell it after all. I begrudgingly told them that when it arrived, I wouldn’t open the package because I’d probably never send it back. Luckily, they were able to get the package returned to them before it was delivered to me. Good thing, that. 🙄

 

[Keith]

Maybe once or twice in my life but not on a camera. I've had it done to me a few times and annoying as it can be I think it's the buyer's right!

When I think of all the lemons I've bought in good faith over the years that were supposedly perfectly functioning items I think the seller still has the wood over the buyer generally ... the term 'let the buyer beware' comes to mind ... no such saying for the sellers.

"Its a jungle out there!" 😛

 

[tbarker13]

I don't think it's all that bad of thing. But I admit I get a little annoyed when I am selling something in classifieds and someone posts a message saying they'll take it - and then officially backs out of the deal a couple days later. In the meantime, you miss out on other sales opportunities.
Or when they toss up one of those "pm sent" posts intended to claim the item. Then you get the PM and it's for 70 percent of the asking price.

But in the end, it's their money and its your merchandise. Either party can back out before they change hands.

 

[tbarker13]

It's a good idea. And I keep telling myself I'm going to do it. Then I always forget.

 

[marke]

I've never backed out of a sale, but I came close once. I was "interested" in a lens and told the seller just that, but I wanted to see better pictures of the glass. The seller sent me better pictures and said they were trying to portray the glass at it's worse, as to not deceive. But after seeing the close-ups, I realized that the glass was in worse shape that I had originally thought.

 

[iamzip]

It was never my intention to deceive; if anything I was deceiving to myself in thinking that I was in a position to make this purchase when in fact I have significant credit card debt. Unfortunately I was being ruled by emotion ( I think some people here may have some experience with that) and trying to rationalize it to myself.

 

[David Murphy]

I have buyers back out on purchases from me on occasion. It's more common on eBay than here (no big surprise), especially since buyer feedback was eliminated. There are certain countries where buyer reneging is more common (I won't name them). There is always some spurious sounding reason given for backing out of a purchase, but I think the real reason is almost always lack of money.

 

[Keith]

I have had someone back out of a sale at the last minute with the excuse that they just realised they're a little short of the money and wish it was a bit cheaper so they could actually get it ... because it's exactly what they were after! 🙄

And after they've stuffed you around sufficiently they always add ... "Good luck with the sale though!" 😛

 

[David Murphy]

I once bought a 35mm summicron type 1 from a fellow demented RF user and was very much looking forward to trying it out. They mailed it out and then decided that they didn’t want to sell it after all. I begrudgingly told them that when it arrived, I wouldn’t open the package because I’d probably never send it back. Luckily, they were able to get the package returned to them before it was delivered to me. Good thing, that. 🙄

Thanks for sharing that. Realizing and coming to terms with the fact that you are both demented is the first step on your road to recovery Doug. 🙂

 

[kywong]

Well I was quite close to backing out on selling a lens. It meant a lot to me as it was the lens I got with my first Leica, and it was my only lens during my most creative days, but I just don't use it enough, even if I bring it with me I rarely use it as I often find the max aperture too slow.

At the end I decided not to think about it, popped down to the post office, and got it sent. I was sweating quite a bit all the way through though. It helps that the guy I sold it to sounds nice.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I've never backed out of a deal here but,

Someone offered me a Military Kodak 35 once when I was looking for one, I think it was on Photo.net.. I said I was very interested, until he said wanted $1300 for it. 🙁
Now I have one from a liveauction for less then a tenth of the price. 🙂

 

[elshaneo]

I've never backed out of a deal, and when I give my word that I will buy it, I always keep my word ;-)

Sadly, I've met quite a few people who has no honor, they never keep their word or promises. Shame on them !!!

But I can understand that in reality, sometimes on very rare occasion, the reason for backing out is obvious, I'm sure that You had your good reason why You backed out, and I don't think that You're a terrible person...

 

[Krosya]

Well, I have had this done to me plenty. But you'd have to define what they call "backing out". When someone emailes me -" I'll take it" - and than I dont hear from them for a week - I back out from that sale as a seller. I learned not to go by - first come , first sold to policy. I try to respect that, but I'd rather sell to a person who is willing to make things easier and doesnt argue with me for a week as to how I should ship the item. I'd rather sell to someone who is easier to deal with, even if I may lose a few bucks on it. When I email someone and say I'm interested - to me it doesnt mean that I'm commiting to buy it. WHen I say I like the item/price, etc - doesnt mean I'm buying it. If I ask buyer to hold it for me if they can - I alsways say - if they have a firm buyer before I come back with my descision - they should sell to them - no hard feelings here.
I have had people go as far as send me money and THAN ask if they could back out. In some cases I'd work with them, in some - not so much. Some are honorable enough to go through with the sale after all. Some are not. As a seller - I try to flexible yet firm, or I'd never sell anything. As a buyer, I've backed out a few times, but IMO I didnt commit to a sale firmly at that point, but rather showed some interest only.

 

[ruben]

A deal is a deal. Buy the bike. There is no way around it.

This is a right principle to respect and follow, not a religious dogma to commit suicide, like anything else.

Cheers Picket,
Ruben

 

[George S.]

Don't take this the wrong way, but people that post "PM Sent" should be keel hauled.

It does nothing but send the message to hundreds of ad viewers that the item is probably gone and they shouldn't waste their time contacting the seller. And if the PM contains nothing more than a bullshirt offer for less, then the seller has to post a " Item is still available" which further inconveniences the seller. A lot of us don't have the time to hover over our keyboards 20 hours a day once we post an ad. If you want to make an offer, that's fine, but don't post "PM Sent" unless you sent a message to the seller saying "I'll take it at asking price." .