Rant what even happened to??

A mans word is his bond?? Had some one tell me they wanted a car I had for sale. They knew it had engine problems. They asked me to hold it for them 2 or 3 weeks which I did. Well today they came to get it and then said sorry we don't want it. So now I still have it and I had taken it off the market because they had asked me to hold it. Guess I'll stop being so nice and if some one say hold it for me I'll say money or no way

It has happened to all of us at one time or another, and probably will happen again. Some folks just do not understand what your word and a handshake mean anymore.

If someone asks you to hold it for them, tell them you will hold it only until someone else comes along with cash in hand.

I,as you know, run a business and used to live with, "your word is your bond" mentality. Not any more, if someone ask to hold something....only if they will leave a non refundable deposit. I figure if the are not interested in leaving a deposit, they are blowing smoke up your keister and do not want it anyway. So, now he who has the cash first owns it.

Been covered here at least 100 times. It is your fault. ALWAYS tell them first buyer to put cash in your hand owns the item; end of story. Tom

"A mans word is his bond" used to be the way to do business. Now it is "In God we trust, all others must pay cash!"

Rich, some people are just not very polite about making a deal, problem is not all will follow through, so you have to make that judgment call, I'm all for being nice to people, but when it comes to selling something, sometimes you have to be like that, money talks, and.....

It's hard to figure who is for real and who is not, you get that sincere person, who just needs a bit of time to finish the deal, someone you don't want to see miss out on something they want or need and will follow through on completing the deal, then those that just jerk people around, they ruin it for others and force you to tell em cash N carry or it's still for sale.

I'm a firm believer, if you don't have the money or are not serious, don't waste someones time, if you are in a bind to complete the deal, give em a decent deposit, get a receipt and follow through to complete the deal per the agreement, exactly no if's and's or but's ! If you can't do that just let it go, don't even bother trying to make the deal in the first place. Some people just can't do that, or they change their mind and drag you with em, it's safest just to be like you said, even if you don't like being like that, money is money, cash is king !

I also agree, always make good on your word, goes a long way in life, show em better then you can tell em !!!!

A good rule of thumb is, friend or stranger, to require a deposit to hold an item. If they're a good friend and they change their mind, you can refund the deposit. If they're not so good a friend and they change their mind, keep the deposit. And if they're a stranger, let them know up front that the deposit will be non-refundable.

Is he car no longer salable because you had to wait? Or did you just lose time? If all you lost was time, you're not really out anything, and the folks who asked you to hold it owe you nothing, IMHO. But if you had a "hot" buyer on the line that you had to tell you were holding the car for someone else, and then the "hot" buyer died, THEN you might've lost something.

Otherwise, sounds to me like [as Grand-dad would have said it] you're hollering before you're hurt.

Cash now talks, BS blows in the wind and smells bad always has.

I know. I did that 6 years ago for a whole lot more than an old used car. Had somebody wanting me to hold an entire herd of dairy cattle until they got the check from the lender. Assured me that the loan had gone through. Missed out on another good sale because I was holding them for that useless bum. He wouldn't even come to the phone when I called him after 2 weeks. I could hear him telling his kids to tell me that he'd call me back. Never did. A whole bunch of money on the line on that deal.

Rich,,, When I offer an item for sale; I give a good, honest description of the item, and usually include photos (when on Craigs list) and put my town location and phone number in the ad.....I attempt to put what is a reasonable price on an item so it sells.. I make no suggestions as to being a banker or a K-Mart layaway representive... I am very fair, honest and polite in doing my sales transactions... But, I have to be fair to myself also,, so that is why I don't do any holding or "banking" for anyone.... I am simply a guy with an item for sale, not a banker...