Am I doing it wrong?

I've been on AM for almost nine years, but recently two (near-)deals didn't go down as expected:

1. A few months ago a well-known individual (I guess you can call him the Ed Ting or Todd Gross of a certain specialty observing community) but relative AM newbie posted a setup for sale at a good price. I was the first in line to respond with the usual "I'll take it" and he acknowledged my "first-in-line-ness" and confirmed the deal. Within three hours of my first message, he first emailed me saying that there are other people interested, then another email demanding immediate payment, and the third one saying the deal was off because I did not respond promptly. Problem is, it's a weekday morning and I was in an off-site meeting, therefore cannot respond immediately. I'd have thought a firm "I'll take it" from a long-term AMarter would have bought me a few hours to send payment.

2. Recently another individual posted a scope for sale. I sent him my usual "I'll take it" and he also acknowledged me being the first responder. A day later he notified me that the scope is sold.

Since no transaction was made in either case, I did not leave any feedback and I will not name any names.

I always thought "I'll take it" would have secured the deal unless the prospective buyer drops out of radar for a few days. Have I been mistaken all along???

If I read you correctly your "I will take it" messages are pretty much just that....Most of the time I am prepared to make immediate payment when I respond and if I am not I state exactly what the plan is up front.....

This sounds like you simply stated "I will take it" with no indication how or when you intend to follow thru....I can see what you describe happening in some instances particularly if you are dealing with someone who had been around the block a time or two and perhaps been burned before by someone who didnt follow thru....I have not had this happen to me but I would say you should perhaps try being more concise than just stating I will take it in your initial message

Well, all I know is that if I am selling something, the first "I'll take it" gets it, no ifs ands or buts.

Along the same lines, recently I have been revamping my eyepieces, as I tend to do from time to time, and I have had a few solid "I'll take it" replies that will inform me a day later that they are unable to actually buy it.

I've also noticed a sudden trend of buyers not giving a rating of any kind. I've been using Astromart since the days that Robert Fields ran it, and there just doesn't seem to be the same ethic in the hobby these days. Maybe I'm just more cynical than I used to be.

Doug
Midway, FL

If I am serious about buying, I always include the phrase "Paypal stands by, or I can send a personal check and wait for it to clear." This way there is little room left for misunderstanding.

I sent him my usual "I'll take it" and he also acknowledged me being the first responder.

Once the seller acknowledge that you were the first responder, did you reply immediately?

I believe in making sure that the seller knows I am serious. As soon as I was acknowledged as the first in line, I would move immediately ahead and begin firming up the deal, discussing payments, addresses, etc...

Of course one possibility is that someone offered the seller more money. I have had sellers on Craigslist treat a sale like an auction, telling me someone has offered say $150 for an item posted at $100 and asking if I were still interested. I walk away.

I don't think this would fly here on Astromart, that would be an auction and prohibited in the Classifieds. I imagine that sometimes an AM seller succumb to the temptation to accept an higher offer than the posted price but but both parties would be need to makes sure it was done in secret as it is basically unethical.

Jon

Three hours is a short fuse, but payment is the key that opens the lock. Last year I held a yard sale and had a portable air conditioner at a bargain price of $75. A nice older gentleman said he would buy it, but asked sincerely if I could hold it for him until 4PM because he had to meet some friends and didn't have time or space to load it in his car. How could anyone say "no" to such a salt-o-the-earth guy?

Yep, I foolishly held it for him, and the nicest man you could ever meet never showed again. During the day I turned away multiple offers, some at higher bids, for that A/C unit, and it's sitting in my basement now.

Sounds to me as if you've just had bad luck. Or maybe I've just had good luck: when I've acted as you have, more or less, in response to an Astromart ad, I've never had a problem completing the deal. I admit, though, that I haven't done a lot of buying or selling here, so I may not be a good test case.

Jim

Tinchi Lee said:

I've been on AM for almost nine years, but recently two (near-)deals didn't go down as expected:

1. A few months ago a well-known individual (I guess you can call him the Ed Ting or Todd Gross of a certain specialty observing community) but relative AM newbie posted a setup for sale at a good price. I was the first in line to respond with the usual "I'll take it" and he acknowledged my "first-in-line-ness" and confirmed the deal. Within three hours of my first message, he first emailed me saying that there are other people interested, then another email demanding immediate payment, and the third one saying the deal was off because I did not respond promptly. Problem is, it's a weekday morning and I was in an off-site meeting, therefore cannot respond immediately. I'd have thought a firm "I'll take it" from a long-term AMarter would have bought me a few hours to send payment.

2. Recently another individual posted a scope for sale. I sent him my usual "I'll take it" and he also acknowledged me being the first responder. A day later he notified me that the scope is sold.

Since no transaction was made in either case, I did not leave any feedback and I will not name any names.

I always thought "I'll take it" would have secured the deal unless the prospective buyer drops out of radar for a few days. Have I been mistaken all along???