Just wondering, isn't there a sort of etiquette for selling items on the marketplace part of the the forum? For example if you PM someone about an item for sale, express interest in purchasing, PM back and forth, maybe negotiate and start to plans for meeting to see or buy ...doesn't that usually mean you would be the first one who can purchase the item? And shouldn't the person selling the item PM you if they had someone interested before you or if they planned on selling it to someone else? I'll would think there would at least be a PM about that...instead of not hearing anything back for a few days after discussions about meeting and purchasing started and see the item listed as sold on the marketplace forum. Am I wrong? Do I not really understand or know something about selling and buying items?

You would think that but I can see both sides. I've held many things for folks in order of a reply to an ad only to never hear back from them. There seem to be a lot of tire kickers today. Even more so now that initiative isn't required to 'view' the item on a board. 

On here, I would think most potential buyers would be good to work with.  I'm getting to the point where the first one with cash gets it, regardless of where it is posted. Times appear to be changing. If I really want something, my first contact will be to set up a meeting and look at the item. Negotiate there and buy it. No string of emails or texts.  To me, that signals a lack of seriousness. I've had it done to me and I've been guilty of it too. Food for thought.

What he said. ^^^^

Funny, I had a very similar experience.  Agreed by PM to buy a bike at full asking price, was willing to meet at that time but the seller was out of town and asked to meet after the weekend.  I agreed, expecting him to honor his word.  When I contacted him on Monday he said it was sold?!?  His word is worthless IMO.

I was raised different than that--thankfully.

Let me play Devils advocate..

As a seller, it's hard to gauge the true interest of a buyer based off a PM or an email.
I suspect some buyers back out at the last minute also. Especially on big ticket items. Or in the worst cases, fail to show at the designated time. 
I don't think it would be very smart for sellers to reject a potential buyer in the case that another buyer backs out of the deal. In a perfect world, the seller would explain this on the front end and I would encourage them to do so.

I agree, if you were first in line, you should have had the first shot.   

As a seller, people you deal with can be real flaky.  When selling big ticket items, you hate to turn away number 2 or 3 on the list when your not sure number 1 is really going to buy.  I try to push the transaction to get it done to give other ones on the list a chance without the having to wait too long.  I also try to keep all parties involved informed on how things are going.

As a buyer, I have expressed interest in an item to have second thoughts and backed out.  In that case I let the seller know up front that I may or may not be interested and it should be available to someone else until I decide what I want to do.

IntheBush wrote on 02/13/17 at 2:07pm:



His beef is he tried to meet up for the purchase but the seller said he couldn't do it until after the weekend.  Sounds like he was under the impression that the seller was going to let him see if first when the seller was available and then sold it to someone else.  If that is the case I would feel slighted also.   

I've gone to look at cars where the seller lined up several people to look at the car at the same time and tried to get people to bid against each other.  I leave.  I have also rushed to purchase an atv 1.5 hours away to get there before someone else could.  I didn't agree with the way the seller handled it but it was his call.

I never assume anything buying from individuals anymore.

With Big Ticket items I get a down payment via PayPal right away.  That way I know they got some skin in the fight.....

Dibs.