Originally Posted by Max

Great idea Kevin. I will definitely consider using that method whether I am buying or selling. Its a good idea but does have its downfall.

For example, when I am buying, I am a "inspect it in person before I pay" kind of guy; Sometimes what is advertised is not always what you have in your hand when you finally get your hands on it. What if when you meet the guy and see the product you discover that what he is selling is nowhere near what was described or worth the value of what he is asking? If you already sent him 20$, you stand the chance of him not returning it once you decide its "no deal" (and he has every right to not return your money if you back out).

So it works both ways....

Originally Posted by YoungestPiperCub

Here is a really simple way to weed out 99% of the "talkers"

EMT him 20 bucks to hold it for you. That makes backing out a lot more difficult for them. They have to EMT you back and pay the $1.50 fee. I do that frequently. I also ask buyers to consider it. If they want something held to meet up in a day or 2 I ask for $20 bucks sent to me. Then you have some leverage. If they ever do back out and wont send you 20 bucks you have a very strong case as you have record of payment with no product. If you did your research ahead of time (google the email prior to the deal) you can find out real names, addresses phone numbers etc. Send an email to the police with them copied in on it with there address phone number and transaction details and you generally get your money back quick. In the 5 plus years I have bought and sold online I have never once lost a $20. I bought a dirtbike for $350 bucks this way and there were people offering 500-600 dollars to the guy I sent the money to. He turned them away. I got the bike and flipped it for $1100. If i would have said hey lets meet tomorrow night I would have lost it for sure.

Simple trick folks and then you have some leverage. Plus don't sweat the small things. Buying online has very little "man of my word" I once held a guitar for 3 weeks for a man of his word old school gentleman, handshake is good guy who backed out because his wife found out. I have heard it all. Kijiji scammers, Ill pay you more and give me a refund, Ill be there at 6:30 and dont show up etc. Don't assume the deal is ever done until it is sold and you are driving home. If you don't want to get burned then stay away from the fire. I also find a phone call accomplishes a lot more then emails. Call them and talk to them. More often then not a text message didnt go through or an email went to spam.

Originally Posted by YoungestPiperCub

Everyone needs to chill out a bit. Is it right that he backed out? Nope, not at all.... I would not do that but does this need 4 pages of linching because he got a better offer? Come on guys. I bet lots of you would have considered selling to a friend over someone you have never met online if he offered more money. The "offender" also says his appointment wasn't kept. Who knows!!!! People just assume that because we are all members of a website they are bound in blood to one another. If I have never met you, how do I know you are a good guy. Becuase you joined my website? Hard to justify that as an excuse. I buy and sell hundreds of items a year on here, kijiji and other websites. I don't trust anyone until I have cash in hand. You get used to people talking a biggame and backing out last minute. Lots of times people try to burn you way worse then this.

Here is a really simple way to weed out 99% of the "talkers"

EMT him 20 bucks to hold it for you. That makes backing out a lot more difficult for them. They have to EMT you back and pay the $1.50 fee. I do that frequently. I also ask buyers to consider it. If they want something held to meet up in a day or 2 I ask for $20 bucks sent to me. Then you have some leverage. If they ever do back out and wont send you 20 bucks you have a very strong case as you have record of payment with no product. If you did your research ahead of time (google the email prior to the deal) you can find out real names, addresses phone numbers etc. Send an email to the police with them copied in on it with there address phone number and transaction details and you generally get your money back quick. In the 5 plus years I have bought and sold online I have never once lost a $20. I bought a dirtbike for $350 bucks this way and there were people offering 500-600 dollars to the guy I sent the money to. He turned them away. I got the bike and flipped it for $1100. If i would have said hey lets meet tomorrow night I would have lost it for sure.

Simple trick folks and then you have some leverage. Plus don't sweat the small things. Buying online has very little "man of my word" I once held a guitar for 3 weeks for a man of his word old school gentleman, handshake is good guy who backed out because his wife found out. I have heard it all. Kijiji scammers, Ill pay you more and give me a refund, Ill be there at 6:30 and dont show up etc. Don't assume the deal is ever done until it is sold and you are driving home. If you don't want to get burned then stay away from the fire. I also find a phone call accomplishes a lot more then emails. Call them and talk to them. More often then not a text message didnt go through or an email went to spam.

Originally Posted by Max

In this case, the ad never mentioned OBO. It only mentioned " $×××.00 firm"...

Originally Posted by Midair

Interesting observation I've always considered OBO to be the best price below the asking price, but that's my perspective. Even if I concede that OBO may mean the best price offered above the asking price, the decent and proper way to do business would be to allow the original buyer the opportunity to meet the new price. From the limited text trail provided by the original buyer it would seem that this was never done; bad form

Peter

Originally Posted by Fuzzydog

If I am selling something to someone and try to arrange a meeting time and place, I expect a definite "yes, absolutely I will 100% be there with my cash in hand".

Your reply to him was somewhat wishy washy - 'ya I think so' just doesn't cut it. You are asking him to say no to anyone else who comes along wanting to buy the goods, yet you aren't even able to tell him where and when he will get paid by you? That is asking a lot from him.

Originally Posted by rome

How would you guys translate "OBO" going higher or lower.