Is this the norm?


I've been trading on Audiogon for 2 years and have had great experiences as both a buyer and a seller. Then I posted an ad for a learning remote control. I received two email within 20 minutes both buyers commiting to buy the unit on the spot. I emailed the first respondent and said the unit was his. I heard nothing back so a few days later I emailed him again. Nothing. After a week and a half I emailed him again expressing confusion because he had seemed to really want the item. I finally heard back from him saying he thought it was a different model, the model # was clearly in the title of my ad, and he didn't want it. Fair enough. I contacted the second potential buyer, explained the deal had fallen through, and offered the item. The buyer quickly said yes, I agreed to pay shipping and he said he'd have payment in the mail by Monday. I waited until the following Monday and emailed him inquiring about the payment. He responded by saying he had forgotten all about it, thanked me for reminding him, and said because of all of the other transactions he had conducted over the past week he couldn't buy the item now. This is the frist time something like this has happened to me once, let alone twice for the same item. So I must ask, is this normal and have all of my other pleasant, professional transactions been abberations?
128x128jond
Jond-Maybe what happened stinks, but at least you didn't loose money or an item just a potential sale....it could be much worse. Sometimes flakey people find their way in here, but they usually don't stay long :)
Tim
Most of the Audiogon transactions that I have been involved in have been great with just a few flakes like the ones that you have mentioned. What amazed me was a gentleman that I saw selling a Musical Fidelity X-Ray CD player and had two very bad feedbacks after only a few transactions. When I looked again someone had added another negative saying that the seller had committed to sell him the CD player and backed out. Why would someone even leave another negative when he ignored the previous negatives? If it wasn't enough to deter him why would he think that it will deter someone else? This is the biggest problem with us, we want the Evictor 2000 or the latest boat anchor so much that we ignore negative feedback and end up eating it. Just say no to unscrupulous sellers and the whole community will be healthier.
I'll second Tim's comment. They probably live on e:Bay & thought they'd buy your item & make a fast buck there. Then they got cold feet. I've had the same thing happen to me as a buyer there.... I won an auction for a Rowland remote. The seller simply ignored 4 e:mails I sent. e:Bay was absolutely no help. I rarely surf there now.

Daniel
Hi Jond; To answer your question, no your recent experience is not the norm for Audiogon IMO. I've had around 30 transactions and not a bad one in the bunch-- knock wood. As Tim noted, you didn't actually have a completed transaction, so your loss(es) were only your time and patience, ie a couple of low-octane types came out of the woodwork and jerked you around. Consider your many positive experiences more the "norm". But I too have had to deal with these kinds of experiences occasionally, and it is discouraging. But please maintain your own sense of integrity and trust.

I do not consider a transaction complete until both money and merchandise exchange is complete, both parties are satisfied, and feedback has been left. Good Luck with future deals, and Cheers. Craig