PM'd Seller first, Sent funds but took another member's higher offer after

[ckay]

Sucks. There’s no right or wrong. I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum. 

[ELL92399]

I guess I don’t understand why some buyers will be hot to buy something, message about price, PayPal info etc. then not immediately pay?  If someone is talking to someone about an item and asks about these things, then why wouldn’t they just pay immediately especially if they’re already online?  Asking about something, asking for PP info and then paying 45 minutes later, while not unreasonable, could definitely create doubt in the sellers mind.  And if they have someone willing to pay immediately, can’t really blame them for taking the instant sale.

[straightshot7]

It looks like maybe your title is incorrect. From the PMs, it appears maybe he took the higher offer while he was waiting for you to pay. Not “after” you paid.

[ode]

Lol, welcome to the dog eat dog world of the wrx BST.  You will get folks on both sides of the fence, just like flipping threads.  Do yourself a favor and close this thread and move on, it's not worth being pissed off about.

[golffeen007]

On 1/23/2021 at 9:16 AM, Eastflava0 said:

Requested paypal for item. Waited ~8 mins. Went to shower. Came out saw the messages. Sent funds within 5 mins of "still want it" and few minutes later received the last messages. 

 

I've never flaked as a buyer and have always quickly sent payment over but I'm definitely at fault here for not being more proactive.  I assumed generally 15-30mins might be a fair time to allow buyer to pay? And let others know they are next in line? I was the beneficiary of "next in line before".  

If it were me and we had verbal deal and you didn’t pay right away , I’d message you to let you know someone else is wanting the item and if you aren’t sending funds over , I’m going to give them my same opportunity if you don’t respond or pay after that. If you have the ability to respond with you want it , you should have the responsibility to pay at the same time. A lot of tire kickers that say they want something but never pay. 
Bad situation for you but the seller has the right move forward with the sale If you wait to pay. First to pay gets it in my eyes. 

[Hateto3Putt]

Like they say, "Money Talks".

 

Too many buyers (not necessarily here, but Internet wide) make "solid offers" then disappear.

 

If your doing real time communications, and want the item, then send the loot NOW. Any delay and you run the risk of someone else's money talking first.

 

Sorry you feel you got burned, but that's the web.

 

[vspin1]

So he waits 8 minutes for PP info. It doesn't show up so he jumps in the shower. When he gets out he sees the messages and sends money. That doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Greedy seller.

[Hobbs]

On 1/22/2021 at 7:25 PM, Eastflava0 said:

 

Yeah I sent funds (asking price) within 20 mins and he told me sorry sold because someone offered him a higher price.

 

On 1/23/2021 at 7:16 AM, Eastflava0 said:

Requested paypal for item. Waited ~8 mins. Went to shower. Came out saw the messages. Sent funds within 5 mins of "still want it" and few minutes later received the last messages. 

 

I've never flaked as a buyer and have always quickly sent payment over but I'm definitely at fault here for not being more proactive.  I assumed generally 15-30mins might be a fair time to allow buyer to pay? And let others know they are next in line? I was the beneficiary of "next in line before".  

 

After re-reading the post, I'm not sure the 20-30 mins delay in payment is the main issue (although a small one IMHO).  The buyer (OP) stated he agreed on the asking price.  And it took him 20-30 mins to send the payment.  BUT the seller stated he accepted a higher offer instead after agreeing to sell at asking price to the OP.   

Therefore, the seller must have received another offer and told that buyer it was sold at asking.  That particular buyer then probably stated they'd pay more (who knows how much more) and the seller agreed to sell to that buyer, thus canceling his original agreement with the OP.

I totally understand the "money talks" mentality, but when an agreement is made at asking price, I think it should be honored.  Otherwise it's an auction, which if I'm not mistaken, not allowed on BST.

Regardless, lessons were learned.

[SubaruWRX]

Too bad the seller doesn’t jump in and give his side of the story...

[e-man]

8 hours ago, Hobbs said:

 

 

After re-reading the post, I'm not sure the 20-30 mins delay in payment is the main issue (although a small one IMHO).  The buyer (OP) stated he agreed on the asking price.  And it took him 20-30 mins to send the payment.  BUT the seller stated he accepted a higher offer instead after agreeing to sell at asking price to the OP.   

Therefore, the seller must have received another offer and told that buyer it was sold at asking.  That particular buyer then probably stated they'd pay more (who knows how much more) and the seller agreed to sell to that buyer, thus canceling his original agreement with the OP.

I totally understand the "money talks" mentality, but when an agreement is made at asking price, I think it should be honored.  Otherwise it's an auction, which if I'm not mistaken, not allowed on BST.

Regardless, lessons were learned.

This is a great point.  It had to happen that way (unless buyer #2 offered above asking price from the beginning, but why would he do that).  Buyer #2 must have offered asking price, was told by the seller that someone else offered asking price before he did, then buyer #2 offered above asking price, seller accepted and then told buyer #1 no deal.  

[mikewohlwend]

On 1/23/2021 at 12:11 PM, jj9000 said:

First to PayPal gets the item.  Period.

 

You snooze...you lose.

 

Unless I'm missing important details...in this case...you decided to go do something else as opposed to sending PayPal ASAP...and someone else beat you to the punch.

 

A good rule of thumb...you ask for PayPal...you wait for PayPal info...you pay immediately...you get item. 

 

If you deviate from the above you take the risk of someone else buying the item.

 

On 1/23/2021 at 12:28 PM, nikeblades00 said:

It sucks but if it took you 20 mins to pay after the verbal agreement then I don't blame the seller either. This is why I pay instantly and appreciate the same.

 

With the screenshots that were posted it's hard to get an exact timeline.  But if you go by the logic that both of you posted, then the seller should also send their PayPal information immediately after the agreement.

[mikewohlwend]

On 1/23/2021 at 12:11 PM, jj9000 said:

First to PayPal gets the item.  Period.

 

You snooze...you lose.

 

Unless I'm missing important details...in this case...you decided to go do something else as opposed to sending PayPal ASAP...and someone else beat you to the punch.

 

A good rule of thumb...you ask for PayPal...you wait for PayPal info...you pay immediately...you get item. 

 

If you deviate from the above you take the risk of someone else buying the item.

 

On 1/23/2021 at 12:28 PM, nikeblades00 said:

It sucks but if it took you 20 mins to pay after the verbal agreement then I don't blame the seller either. This is why I pay instantly and appreciate the same.

 

With the screenshots that were posted it's hard to get an exact timeline.  But if you go by the logic that both of you posted, then the seller should also send their PayPal information immediately after the agreement.

[J Bez]

I prefer to think that the BST is a more "civilized' place, especially when dealing with people who have been members a while and have good feedback history.  Once you tell a buyer "yep" and send him paypal info you have committed to a deal (just as the buyer has).  Although immediate responses are nice, people on here work different shifts, live in different time zones, have kids,etc.  I would think if you send paypal and havent received $$ in an hour a reply back asking if still interested would be nice.

[Ty_Webb]

8 minutes ago, J Bez said:

I prefer to think that the BST is a more "civilized' place, especially when dealing with people who have been members a while and have good feedback history.  Once you tell a buyer "yep" and send him paypal info you have committed to a deal (just as the buyer has).  Although immediate responses are nice, people on here work different shifts, live in different time zones, have kids,etc.  I would think if you send paypal and havent received $$ in an hour a reply back asking if still interested would be nice.

The seller did send a message asking if he was still interested.

 

Reading the messages back, a feasible set of events would be:

 

Seller offers it for sale

OP sends a PM saying he'll buy it and asking for paypal

Seller sends paypal info

Second buyer PMs saying he'll take it

Seller replies saying someone else has already said they'll buy it

Second buyer replies saying they'll pay over asking price and have the funds ready to paypal immediately

Seller PMs OP to ask if he is still interested because he has another interested party

OP doesn't respond for 30 minutes

Seller PMs second buyer to say the original buyer has gone silent and he'll accept if the guy sends it immediately

Second buyer sends paypal

OP sends paypal but it's already gone

 

I don't really spend too much time on the BST, but when I do look on there there are things I see that I want. I could easily see someone sending a PM to say they'll buy it, then trying to figure out how they're going to pay for it. Why deal with a potential flake when you have someone willing to send the money right then and there? That said, I don't think 30 minutes is too long to wait for the OP to send the paypal and the fact that the other person offered more does make it smell a little funky to me. 

[PittShark]

I'm inclined to say that while there's too many holes in the timeline for us to know 100% what went down, the seller likely received another offer (whether it was above asking or not is debatable) while waiting for the OP to send funds and got impatient.  As someone who sells pretty frequently, it's not what I would have done but with no hard/enforceable rules around it....it's the sellers prerogative.   Playing the waiting game stinks, I get it.....however if the item is in demand enough that you're getting multiple people wanting to take it at asking price, you're not in danger of losing a sale by waiting 30-60 min.  And that's exactly what I would do - message the OP and say hey, got another interested party but you were first.....as long as I see your funds within the hour we're good.  If not, I'll have to move on.

 

Just had a similar situation a couple weeks ago.  Sold a SIM Max head to the first guy who messaged me with an acceptable offer.  While I was waiting for him to pay, I had another user message and offer the asking price.  Being that the first guy hadn't paid, I certainly could have told the 2nd guy that if he pays ASAP it's his, but just couldn't do that.  I responded to him and explained that I have a sale pending but if anything falls through or buyer #1 goes silent, he's next in line.  Waited about 15 minutes, received the payment from the first guy, and all was good.  Lost a few bucks on the deal but the guy I dealt with was a good dude and it was a smooth transaction....can't ask for too much more.

[Bad9]

5 minutes ago, PittShark said:

I'm inclined to say that while there's too many holes in the timeline for us to know 100% what went down, the seller likely received another offer (whether it was above asking or not is debatable) while waiting for the OP to send funds and got impatient.  As someone who sells pretty frequently, it's not what I would have done but with no hard/enforceable rules around it....it's the sellers prerogative.   Playing the waiting game stinks, I get it.....however if the item is in demand enough that you're getting multiple people wanting to take it at asking price, you're not in danger of losing a sale by waiting 30-60 min.  And that's exactly what I would do - message the OP and say hey, got another interested party but you were first.....as long as I see your funds within the hour we're good.  If not, I'll have to move on.

 

Just had a similar situation a couple weeks ago.  Sold a SIM Max head to the first guy who messaged me with an acceptable offer.  While I was waiting for him to pay, I had another user message and offer the asking price.  Being that the first guy hadn't paid, I certainly could have told the 2nd guy that if he pays ASAP it's his, but just couldn't do that.  I responded to him and explained that I have a sale pending but if anything falls through or buyer #1 goes silent, he's next in line.  Waited about 15 minutes, received the payment from the first guy, and all was good.  Lost a few bucks on the deal but the guy I dealt with was a good dude and it was a smooth transaction....can't ask for too much more.

 

Kudos to you for what I think is the honourable way to handle this type of situation.

[bubbagump]

Interesting to see the variance of people's threshold of when the "deal is done", and the lengths of perceived community/honor/morals among complete strangers for the most part and expecting things some stores wouldn't do. 

 

Have had over 100 deals, and have never really come across an issue if somebody has wanted something they paid for it.  Imaginary spots in line don't really exist to me here especially if something garners lots of interest and funds are coming in.  If nothing has hit, its available and still for sale so waiting is fine as that's what I'm doing anyway.    

 

If seller got funds first from somebody, and that $ hit the inbox first and he went with it...bummer (we have all missed out on stuff), but don't think its a crime.  

 

 

 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by bubbagump

[SwingBlues]

On 1/25/2021 at 7:18 AM, PittShark said:

I'm inclined to say that while there's too many holes in the timeline for us to know 100% what went down, the seller likely received another offer (whether it was above asking or not is debatable) while waiting for the OP to send funds and got impatient.  As someone who sells pretty frequently, it's not what I would have done but with no hard/enforceable rules around it....it's the sellers prerogative.   Playing the waiting game stinks, I get it.....however if the item is in demand enough that you're getting multiple people wanting to take it at asking price, you're not in danger of losing a sale by waiting 30-60 min.  And that's exactly what I would do - message the OP and say hey, got another interested party but you were first.....as long as I see your funds within the hour we're good.  If not, I'll have to move on.

 

Just had a similar situation a couple weeks ago.  Sold a SIM Max head to the first guy who messaged me with an acceptable offer.  While I was waiting for him to pay, I had another user message and offer the asking price.  Being that the first guy hadn't paid, I certainly could have told the 2nd guy that if he pays ASAP it's his, but just couldn't do that.  I responded to him and explained that I have a sale pending but if anything falls through or buyer #1 goes silent, he's next in line.  Waited about 15 minutes, received the payment from the first guy, and all was good.  Lost a few bucks on the deal but the guy I dealt with was a good dude and it was a smooth transaction....can't ask for too much more.

 

 

Bravo.

 

I think we have 2 types of sellers here: those who just say "first to paypal gets it" and those who make the deal with the word.

 

I am the latter and I treat my prospective buyers with decency. I have had an instance where the buyer PM me and said he will take it but he will pay in the morning and he had reasonable feedback so I agreed. I had other offers come in after but I still honored the 1st buyer and he paid in the morning. I didn't even have to remind him. Now, I wasn't stupid as I did let anyone know who PMed me that the sale was pending. I believe in karma. Yes, I did PM the other buyers and told them the item was gone.

 

As a rule of thumb, if I am going to buy - I will paypal right away asap. If you want the item bad enough, you'll do the deal and not muck around.

Edited January 28, 2021 by SwingBlues