Minor problem (but a SERIOUS one to me)

Recently posted an ad for some shooting related stuff on this web site as well as on the ColoGunMarket site. Had a guy send me an email on Saturday 4/23 at 3:03PM indicating he wanted the advertised stuff and furnished his phone number. Told him OK via email at 7:19 Sat 4/23 saying that "it's his" and since the Easter holiday was with us, I'd contact him on Monday to work out a shipping/payment arrangements. Posted a SOLD pending funds immediately on both web sites. Tried calling twice on Monday but got a recording both times so I then recorded the message to him that I need for him to call me back as soon as possible as another chap wanted seconds on this stuff. Called him again yesterday and got the same recording for the third time. Sent him another email yesterday at 10:26AM advising that since I have not been able to make contact with him, I would hold the stuff for him until 9PM last night then if still no contact, I'd have to take it that he is no longer interested in my stuff.
Our brother-in-law out on the West Coast just passed away and will now have to be out of town for a while which kinda complicates things even more.
I am now wondering what is a reasonable time to wait on this chap. Since I am of the old school, my word is my bond but there is a limit to just how long I have to wait to see if this guy REALLY wants my stuff or was/is just "rattling my chain" and playing a prank on me. This kind of crap discourages me from placing any more internet ad's on this site or the other one. What the hell do I do now.[Help]

I'd say you gave the first guy enough time. Move on to the next person and get your stuff sold.

i would say 72 hours after loss of contact

I say after 48 hours if he won't respond them move on to the next interested person. His loss.

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Originally Posted by mutt

I'd say you gave the first guy enough time. Move on to the next person and get your stuff sold.

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Agreed. I think you have provided enough time and communication with no response......time to move on to the next "chap"

If he wanted it bad enough he would have followed through. If he had an event crop up that prevented him from following through, well tough noogies. It's just business....

I have had bad experiences there too, I had a guy get furious with me because he wanted me to meet him to "make an offer" and i called him back to let him know that i had sold it for my asking price, he tried to berate me and i just hung up.

As soon as they don't do what they said they would, you owe them nothing. Even if they had some kind of emergency, it's okay for you to move on. If the emergency was so bad they couldn't contact you, buying something is probably not on their mind. If it's someone I know, I'll give them all the time they need. If I don't know them, they better do what they said or I'm out.

The other night I had a guy offer me a deal. I contacted him back within a few minutes. He said he just made another deal and didn't have the money for both deals. I didn't give him a hard time but darn, it just pisses you off.

you are more patient than I

It's the age of complete connectivity (the internet)... 48 hours, then move on. Family emergencies, other excuses happen, life goes on, better luck next time. 48 hours tops.

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Originally Posted by BlasterBob

Sent him another email yesterday at 10:26AM advising that since I have not been able to make contact with him, I would hold the stuff for him until 9PM last night then if still no contact, I'd have to take it that he is no longer interested in my stuff.

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Sounds like you told him 9PM last night was his deadline to contact you to make arrangements. If he didn't contact you as you asked he knew what the consequences would be- you would sell your stuff to the next guy.

If I were in your shoes I would sell it. If I was in his shoes I would understand you selling it.

Yeah I have to agree 48 hours is more than enough time for him to contact you back. Sorry to hear about the loss of your family member as well. I would worry about that and take care of your family and worry about the for sale items until your return.

I was looking for a shot gun a couple of weeks ago, I found one on Armslist and contacted the guy asking if he still had it, took him 36 hours to respond(no biggie) His reply was "yes, call me 303-xxx-xxxx" thats it nothing else. I replied asking a few questions about the shotgun, 3 days no response. So I decided to call him and I left a detailed message saying who I was and what I was calling about, no return phone call. I sent him another email 3 days later asking if he still had it and if he wanted to sell it? Never heard anything back...I just dont get some people, is it that hard to just reply and tell someone what your situation is????? Man tell me anything, no it's gone, no you suck, no I'm going on a mission to mars and wont be around, pound sand....I dont care just say something you fricken coward!!

Ok rant off, I just wish more folks had more integrity nowadays.

Put it back up for sale i would, you waited and I would assume he is not interested any more

48 hours is enough.

what everyone said. When I deal with someone, I give them a time-frame to complete the deal or contact me next. If that time comes and goes, it goes back up for sale or to the next buyer.

If the buyer says they are sincere but I suspect they may back out, I ask for a non-refundable deposit.

I know a lot of you hate it, but PayPal can be your friend here if you don't have a business and a merchant (CC) account.

If somebody really wants something, but can't meet you right away, tell them to put a down payment on it via PayPal. 10% would be enough to give them some skin in the game. Tell them that the deposit is refundable only if they show up at a scheduled time and place to look at the goods and then decide they don't want it. Otherwise, they lose the $$. If they're not willing to do that, just keep trying to sell it to someone else. This will keep them from just "forgetting" about it, or screening their calls.

It's your sale. YOU set the rules, they don't.