Sellers backing out on sales

[Mr B]

Wondering if anyone else has had issues in recent times with sellers on SD committing to a sale then subsequently backing out, either pre payment, or post payment.

I had a deal on a rifle fall through a few weeks ago for various reasons despite the seller giving me his word that the rifle was mine, and refusing a deposit to secure it.

I’ve just had a deal on a mincer fall through too, despite it being paid for immediately. Seller cited the item not working to which my response was that I’d repair it. My suspicion in this instance is that it’s going to a higher bidder.

In both instances, the selling member subsequently deleted the thread relating to the item.

Seems to be happening more and more these days on SD, has anyone else had shared experiences? Is SD getting worse for people honouring their word? It feels like the Classifieds section is slowly turning into Facebook Marketplace in some instances. A few years ago, word was bond.

Thoughts?

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Not had an issue with sellers, had a few buyers who decided to be tossers, but thankful maybe 3 over 10 plus years. Oh dear god, is that how long I have been wasting my life on here?

At the end of the day, we are a very large forum and there will be a few skanks about, but, overall, most people are good as their word.

 

[jall55]

Never had one issue on here
But in the big wide world we sell van - and oh my life what a pain sometimes !

 

[JockStalk]

Bought and sold rifles, shotties, scopes, bits - 99% fine. Few tyre kickers and chancers.
On the whole, this would be my first port of call to buy or sell to be honest.

 

[Tom270]

Always had a great experience on here I am glad to say good well described items fair prices and prompt well packaged deliveries.

 

[bobt]

bought several things here over the years never had a problem,
you would expect FAC people to be honest,

 

[Len the dog]

Let’s put it this way, I’m fresh out of goodwill gestures for any more SD members. Some people that I’ve had dealings with have been marvellous, others not so.

 

[webley701]

No trouble with sellers but a couple of supposed ‘buyers’ have proved to be time wasters.
Thankfully they don’t represent the vast majority of members of the forum.

 

[Drum123]

Yep. Thought I'd bought something, got told it was mine , arranged , or tried to arrange a meeting to receive and pay . Messages to the seller are ignored even though he's on regular. Not bothered really but been told that there's been a change of mind is just good manners in my opinion.

 

[finbar]

No had no problems fingers crossed

 

[Malxwal]

Had an idiot send back an expensive item uninsured, purely because he had been offered something more Gucci. Tried to show a picture of what was obviously a hair on a lense saying it was a scratch.

 

[ruger77]

Sold a few items on here up to now no problems hope it stays that way

 

[gixer1]

Been buying and selling on the SD for around 15 years, I’ve sold everything from full rifles to ammo boxes and bought several rifles and high cost items with no major issues.

99% of people are honest and great to deal with….but you do get the 1% of people that you don’t want to deal with again and can’t be trusted.

I recommend people look at the length of time people have been on the forum and the number of posts and items bought and sold over the years.

If they are lurkers but never post or haven’t been on for 5 mins I tend to be wary and it’s stood me in good stead.

This is fairly obvious by my recent posts…

 

[finnbear270]

Had a couple of nobheads on here messing me about for their ideas of fun.

 

[old keeper]

Likewise!

Had a couple of nobheads on here messing me about for their ideas of fun.

 

[Phil fox man]

on the whole I've had no problems buying or selling on here except one blurt having arranged to meet me and didn't turn up.
4 years ago I bought a house on a handshake, don't think it would happen now.

 

[slider]

Bought and sold stuff on here for many years and never had any issue.
Saying that messing people about seems to be a new form of entertainment on Facebook marketplace and I have no doubt it will creep in here.

 

[GIMLET61]

Generally experiences have always been good, met some lovely people too.
I have asked questions if interested in an item but if changing my mind, I have always been courteous and notified the seller.
May not be a prolific poster on SD but excellent forum for information, comparisons etc.

 

[moeggesit]

Same as most, buyer backing out not sellers

 

[VSS]

I guess you've just got to trust people.
I've dealt with quite a few members of this site, with individual transactions ranging from £3k down to FOC, and all have been sound.
On a number of occasions I've paid up front for stuff (several hundreds of pounds) and the sellers have kept it for me for many months before I have been able to collect. Bearing in mind these are people I don't know, and my only contact with them is through this forum, I think it speaks volumes for the integrity of the membership as a whole.
Maybe one day someone will burst my bubble, but until then