At what point is a deal final?

[Hank Dodge]

This is just a question about making a deal over a forum like this. At what point should a deal be considered final? When I post on here I'm serious about my offer whether I'm buying or selling an item, and I'll stand by it when we finally meet to make the transaction. I've had a bunch of really strange dealings on here lately through PM with members. I've had a few where I've committed to make a purchase or trade with someone and then they back out at the last second. My guess is that they may have had a better offer after they already agreed to making the deal with me. In one instance I actually made a payment to a member "selling" something who ultimately did not even have the item in their possession at the time. I understand that this is just a social network sight for people with like interests, but where has the integrity gone? I never use to have an issue with people in this community. Lately, I've had so many flakes and at least one outright fraudulent individual that I'm questioning the character of folks on here at the moment. Am I the only one seeing this, or have other folks been seeing this continual decline in character as well?

I've certainly made good transactions on this sight in the past. Lately, I'm just feeling like I'm being jerked around. Sorry for the gripe, I'm just frustrated at the moment......

[tonyxcom]

There are usually different meanings of stand-up and "deal" depending on the member.

As a buyer, when I tell someone "I'll take it" - I mean it.

As a seller, I never give anyone that much credit. Way to many flakers out there so a deal isn't final till the money is in my hands. I won't hold anything longer than 12 hours without a non-refundable deposit. Then we know we are both serious.

FTF transactions are actually harder than shipping something. When someone buys something to get shipped, you are paid right away. When you have to coordinate two peoples schedules it gets a lot easier to find better offers, not only in price, but convenience. But as a seller, once I make a deal to meet someone I won't sell it from under them. Even to a better offer.

What really pisses me off is when a price is agreed to via phone or email/pm and then the stupid haggling or excuses start when FTF. This is more typical of craigslist than here though.

[junior40er]

i pay a deposit via paypal to a seller to show im serious and to encourage deal being considered done. if they back out on ME after I send a deposit then I will not do business with that person as well and inform others.

[hellayella]

legally, WHEN MONEY IS EXCHANGED

[Hank Dodge]

I guess I'm just giving folks too much credit then. It's like you said, when there is time involved making schedules to finally meet up is when my problems have occurred. I've only had one dirtbag say "I'll take it" and then try to drag down the price considerably at the time we met to do transfer. I told him to "take a hike"....he wasn't impressed. Funny thing was that I might have come down a bit on my price had he been straight with me in the beginning. Oh, well....

I guess with services like paypal and such in effect out there now, taking / giving a bit of a deposit on an item to hold it would make sense. Would that deposit then "legally" make it a done deal? I hate to think we have come to that, but it might be something to consider. What ever happened to a guy just giving his word on something?

[Germz]

I do all of my business (between calgunners) FTF. Anyone who has done business with me knows that I lay out all the stipulations, prices and etc before contact info is given. I even reaffirm via text.
I have had ONE person who tried to lowball me out ofabout $40. I said nothing except for "I'm sorry we cannot do business" and got in my car to leave. Once I started my engine he magically "found" $40 more dollars.

[RP1911]

legally, WHEN MONEY IS EXCHANGED

Actually when all terms of a deal are met. Money maybe a component of an overall deal.

[Fishslayer]

Pretty much everything's been covered. My dealings have been almost all positive.

The worst was some douchenozzle that backed out & not only had the chutzpah to PM me & run down the details of the better deal he'd found but...

...douchenozzle called me "bro!"

[blazeaglory]

There are usually different meanings of stand-up and "deal" depending on the member.

As a buyer, when I tell someone "I'll take it" - I mean it.

As a seller, I never give anyone that much credit. Way to many flakers out there so a deal isn't final till the money is in my hands. I won't hold anything longer than 12 hours without a non-refundable deposit. Then we know we are both serious.

FTF transactions are actually harder than shipping something. When someone buys something to get shipped, you are paid right away. When you have to coordinate two peoples schedules it gets a lot easier to find better offers, not only in price, but convenience. But as a seller, once I make a deal to meet someone I won't sell it from under them. Even to a better offer.

What really pisses me off is when a price is agreed to via phone or email/pm and then the stupid haggling or excuses start when FTF. This is more typical of craigslist than here though.

Sounds about right...

[Ed_Hazard]

It's not that hard a concept to grasp really. As a seller, deal should be locked in when you have a buyer who agrees to your stipulations and has made contact via phone call to confirm time and date for exchange. Same for the buyers.

It's true, we've had a large influx of new members as well as casual members who simply don't put the same amount of stock in honoring their word. Sad, but with growth comes problems.

[decepticon6551]

legally, WHEN MONEY IS EXCHANGED

^^^This

If the buyer and seller agree on the terms and a deposit, and the deposit then is paid by the buyer, that's it.

[67goat]

Food for thought:

The UETA of 99 (state law) and the E-Sign Act of 00 (federal law) both basically state that a sound, symbol or process attached to a contract or agreement is considered a legally binding signature the same way an ink signature is (think check box on a terms of service agreement). Depending on how each party forms their PMs and exactly what happened, it is conceivable that in such a situation the wronged party could take up a small claims case for breach of contract.

All the parts for a successful case might be there. A contract could exist depending on the wording (even if the word contract is never used). No showing would be a breach of said contract. The person no showing is the correct person to take action against. And, at the very least, monetary damages relating to time and gas money could be shown (as a seller, you would probably have to prove you lost an actual sale to another person to get any of the sale price as you would still have the gun).

Keep in mind, I only suggest this as a thought experiment. I don't actually recommend doing this. Unless you were retired or were your own boss, the hassle and cost of doing this would hardly be worth the few dollars you might get (at least in judgement, if not actual dollars from such a d-bag). Plus, it is kind of a dick move.

On the other hand, making the law work against a d-bag can be satisfying. And given the golden rule (no, the other one you learned in kindergarten), if somebody is an @$$hole to you, that means they want you to treat them the same way. Interesting thought, any way.

This is why all my responses to purchase (I do not understand selling guns, instruments, cars, or most of the things I buy for myself) a used gun are written something like, "I'll take it at the agreed price dependent on inspection, function test (including use at a range if we can meet at one), and condition being accurately represented." That way the seller and I are both on the same page.

[tamalpias]

I never had any problems on here before, except 1 time I had a seller listing 1,000 rounds of 223 for $280. I was the first to say I'll take it and pm the seller. After we set a time and place he later called back and said he had an offer for $300 and will i be willing to pay him more. I said this is not an auction site and as a courtesy I should at least have the rights to match the other offer but I will not bid it up any higher. He finally agreed to the price and i got the ammo. Sad part is not what the seller did but that another member would contact him after seeing my post and solicit a higher offer.

[SanPedroShooter]

I usually want a phone call least. Ive put money down before.

A conversation over the phone goes a long way in nailing a deal down in my experience.

When guy says 'I'll take it' and leaves a phone number, I know hes serious.

[Gem1950]

Pretty much everything's been covered. My dealings have been almost all positive.

The worst was some douchenozzle that backed out & not only had the chutzpah to PM me & run down the details of the better deal he'd found but...

...douchenozzle called me "bro!"