buyers/sellers that DEFAULT on contract

Similar thing just happened to me. I paid via paypal, got an email in return saying he was going to ship it the next day, and it is now 2 weeks later (he said 2-day for shipping), and he hasn't responded to several emails. I'd take him to court if it was more than $30 (just a single MIT T2 interconnect for a center channel). My question is, is it legal and/or ethical for me to post this person's name and email address here? The item wasn't listed here, but was on both ebay and audioreview (didn't sell on ebay, so can't leave feedback there, i think). I feel the need to warn folks about a seller when this stuff comes up. If he'll do it for $30, he might do it for $3000.

Soundsgr8tome, if you've paid already and don't think you're getting the equipment, good luck with the lawsuit. Please let us know how it went.

I have had many deals fall apart when I am selling here on audiogon. There are a lot of flakes out there. I've heard every excuse except the "dog ate my email" and I'm not even a dealer. Cables seem to be flake magnets. But the most outrageous one where some one was agressively bargaining with me over a piece of equipment while he had listed the exact same piece of equipment on ebay, at a time identical to his first email to me, and with a reserve of my asking price! A few things I do. If there are multiple offers I let the second and third person know they are on the list if I don't receive funds. I mark the item sold and keep the ad up until the deal is completed. For all COD's I require good funds in advance for shipping and handling plus 10% non-refundable deposit. No funds in 48 hours, I'll sell it to the next person. I disclose this up front but dealing with these people is always annoying. Now I'm more likely to cut a curt Dealer some slack after about two years here.

I've had a lot of people change their minds for various reasons after "committing" to a deal, but since they let me know ASAP and seemed to be honest, decent people, I haven't left bad feedback or anything. No funds or equipment had yet changed hands. It's frustrating, because I had marked my ads "sold" and everything, but like someone else said, that's just doing business on the net. People do have second thoughts, the check they were waiting for doesn't come in, the amp they thought they had in hand doesn't come in, and that affects their plan to purchase the preamp I had for sale. Oh well, at least they let me know before any funds were lost. I've never had anyone cheat me on this site, or eBay, and I hope I never will. I think Audiogoners are the best buyers/sellers out there.

Bill, You need to let Audiogon know. It's your responsibility. They can't be everywhere, but they can be where you point them. Go for it and good luck!

Don't look to A'gone for help. This type of person is good at what he does. I had a buyer say ship;"Postal cod" / I did, he paid with "bad" check. I'm still holding a bum piece of paper/ he has my cables/ he still posts to threads here. However he explained it to A-gone / all they said to me was "work it out".