Thread: Was I dishonest here?

I have an item listed in the classifieds, someone PM'd me asking if I'd consider selling it for less than the listed price.
I sent a reply asking where I would be shipping to, as that would factor into deciding to sell at a lower price.
In the meantime someone else offered to buy at the full purchase price. I decided to sell to that person and notified person #1 that I had sold the item to someone that offered the full price for it.
I hadn't actually agreed to sell to person #1, but as I'm sitting here I am feeling like I may have done something wrong...

Thoughts?

Good reason to use the 'buy it now' option, but no, I don't think you were dishonest or unethical. There was no offer or acceptance in the first case.

Thanks John, but that brings up another question for me...
The reason I don't use buy it now is because there are so many international members of SRP, and I don't see a way to have shipping calculated in the classifieds software.
I didn't want to have a situation where I agreed to sell to someone, and then the BIN would get used by someone else.
So, I've been asking for PMs when people want to buy.
If there was a way to use a shipping calculator, or have someone commit to buy and then figure the shipping once the item is reserved, that would be great.

Does anyone know of a way to do that on the classifieds?

Well that is a consideration. What I have done is note that International will be extra, meaning to be determined, or a flat additional amount which I have learned the hard way will cover the costs.

As an additional observation, International also means I have to go to the PO and stand in line rather than purchase postage on line and drop it in any mail box or the PO at 5:30AM. More hassle, more expense.

IMHO, you were not dishonest at all...don't torture your soul that much and don't lose sleep over it. There was NO contractual obligations on either end...Even though you offered to ship it, nothing was signed by either party on any proverbial dotted line...As a buyer, I totally understand and anticipate these happenings.

-Robert

If it had been me I would probably have notified the first person who made the offer and given them the chance to get it at the full price. OTOH, if I knew the second person and liked them I probably would have just sold it to them without notifying # 1.

I've listed stuff with the buy it now CONUS and added that international shipping would be more. My most recent item was not a buy it now so that if it sold internationally there would be no misunderstandings.

I often forget to do this, but one way to avoid all these questions is to put in your ad some kind of line that states the following message:

This item goes to the first person who gives me a definite "I want it and am ready to pay."

I always have the same types of question when I'm in your shoes, but I don't actually believe that it's wrong to do that.

I think you did the right thing.
Getting the full asking price is, after all, what you were looking for.
And as a Norwegian, I know how much international shipping can amount too
Letting the guy know what you did, is in my opinion, all you are obliged to do.

I don't see anything dishonest. There are not many rules and I've learned that every seller does things their own way to whatever level of comfort they have.
I think the main thing that is not kosher is to go back on one's word. But until there is an agreement there is no sale.
If I get into back and forth conversation with a prospective buyer I try to remember to disable the buy-it button, so that the buyer doesn't get screwed or pressured, but if somebody offers the asking price it would depend on the situation, probably I'll give a chance to the first person first.

As far as international shipping, yes it's a bit more expensive and the paypal fees are slightly higher, but for me simplicity is more important than a couple of dollars. I've seen a lot of sellers ask for an additional payment for international purchases, so that's an option too. Insured and tracked shipping is a lot more expensive internationally, so if the buyer wants that option they can have it if they cover the difference.

Originally Posted by Birnando

Letting the guy know what you did, is in my opinion, all you are obliged to do.

When he goes back to the ad and sees that four letter word ..... SOLD .... he'll know. Then he can say his own four letter word.