For Other Small Breeders - A business question

[janeothejungle]

So I have a feeling I'm about to get some scathing emails from a once prospective buyer and I wondered how other would deal with this situation.

I was contacted by a potential buyer of 2 baby lessers who introduced himself by lowballing me at a fairly ridiculous price considering I tend to stay on the low side of fair market value. I politely informed him that the price he offered was low, but that I would offer them down to XX ($400 lower than market) if he was interested in both. My gut instinct when someone lowballs me is to not do business with them at all, but the emails were polite, so I kept a polite tone. He then led me through a series of emails involving everything from what line they were to pics of the grandsire (which I provided). He then sent me an email stating that his original offer was all he could afford. within five minutes after that he sent me a partial trade offer (which I politely refused). I then pretty much wrote him off.
A day or two later he sends me another email stating that he had talked to his 'partner' and worked out a way to pay for the 2 snakes. He resolves to send me half via paypal at the end of this week, and his mystery partner will mail me a check for the other half. I state that this is acceptable (this is on the 14th). He then wants to agree on the 17th as a ship date. I state that I will not ship until the funds have arrived and cleared. I also state that I prefer to ship mon - wed to avoid the possibility of the package getting held by fedex over the weekend. He says the 18th is the only day he can be home and he has never had a problem with fedex getting there (we are only about 300 miles apart). I state that as long as he accepts responsibility for the shipping, I will go along. No money changes hands.
I felt a little uneasy about the whole deal for a variety of reasons, but nothing seemed to scream 'bad idea' so I let it go. I always prefer my kids to go to a great home with other small breeders. It finally dawned on me to check fauna and see if he had any track record (hoping for great reviews that would ease my mind). Instead I find one bad review from 4 years ago. Again, there was no tangible reason not to do the deal, just my feminine conscience that everything was not quite right. I did not sleep well last night. Around noon I decided it was not worth it and sent the buyer an email stating that I was sorry to have wasted his time but could not in good conscience go through with the deal. I also stated that if the silent partner's check had already been mailed, that I would return it via overnight immediately.

So my question is..... How would you have handled this?? Would you have treated the circumstances differently?

Bear in mind that I only breed a handful of snakes and am heavily invested in each one. I have a hard time parting with them unless I feel the new owner is a good match. I do feel guilty about leading the guy on, yet I just did not feel right about the whole thing from the start and I should have just gone with my gut.

Thanks,
Kat

[Freakie_frog]

Ok from a business stand point..

If the money cleared send the snake. Deal done not every buyer is going to be a good match for the animal they get.

From a peroional stand point its your animal, your business. If you felt uncomfortable with it then good job on saving yourself a possiable long term headache.

[wilomn]

It sounds like he was trying to rush you on shipping. If the check got to you today it wouldn't clear your account by the 18th unless it was drawn on the same bank you use.

Go with your gut. Nothin says you have to do business with everyone who want's your animals.

[joepythons]

So I have a feeling I'm about to get some scathing emails from a once prospective buyer and I wondered how other would deal with this situation.

I was contacted by a potential buyer of 2 baby lessers who introduced himself by lowballing me at a fairly ridiculous price considering I tend to stay on the low side of fair market value. I politely informed him that the price he offered was low, but that I would offer them down to XX ($400 lower than market) if he was interested in both. My gut instinct when someone lowballs me is to not do business with them at all, but the emails were polite, so I kept a polite tone. He then led me through a series of emails involving everything from what line they were to pics of the grandsire (which I provided). He then sent me an email stating that his original offer was all he could afford. within five minutes after that he sent me a partial trade offer (which I politely refused). I then pretty much wrote him off.
A day or two later he sends me another email stating that he had talked to his 'partner' and worked out a way to pay for the 2 snakes. He resolves to send me half via paypal at the end of this week, and his mystery partner will mail me a check for the other half. I state that this is acceptable (this is on the 14th). He then wants to agree on the 17th as a ship date. I state that I will not ship until the funds have arrived and cleared. I also state that I prefer to ship mon - wed to avoid the possibility of the package getting held by fedex over the weekend. He says the 18th is the only day he can be home and he has never had a problem with fedex getting there (we are only about 300 miles apart). I state that as long as he accepts responsibility for the shipping, I will go along. No money changes hands.
I felt a little uneasy about the whole deal for a variety of reasons, but nothing seemed to scream 'bad idea' so I let it go. I always prefer my kids to go to a great home with other small breeders. It finally dawned on me to check fauna and see if he had any track record (hoping for great reviews that would ease my mind). Instead I find one bad review from 4 years ago. Again, there was no tangible reason not to do the deal, just my feminine conscience that everything was not quite right. I did not sleep well last night. Around noon I decided it was not worth it and sent the buyer an email stating that I was sorry to have wasted his time but could not in good conscience go through with the deal. I also stated that if the silent partner's check had already been mailed, that I would return it via overnight immediately.

So my question is..... How would you have handled this?? Would you have treated the circumstances differently?

Bear in mind that I only breed a handful of snakes and am heavily invested in each one. I have a hard time parting with them unless I feel the new owner is a good match. I do feel guilty about leading the guy on, yet I just did not feel right about the whole thing from the start and I should have just gone with my gut.

Thanks,
Kat

The only parts that bother me is all of a sudden his "partner" is wanting to send his half by mail in the form of a check.Then he throws desregard about only having that one day open for shipping of the animals.With these two things in my mind it makes me feel he does not care "if" something happens to them then he will just get his money back from you.If you ship this way i would make sure i get a email or something to show that HE expects them to be shipped on this day and He takes full responsibility.Or just meet half way or something

[littleindiangirl]

I think he wanted to get you to ship before his "check" bounced....

[LadyOhh]

I would have politely told him that you were no longer interested in selling the animals to him, or that they were already sold.

Not worth the risk continuing on a path that already sounds fishy...

[NickMyers03]

seems odd to me too about the partner and the sudden ship date. if he were to send it to you in the mail ( the check) it would take about 2 days to get to you. which would be the 16th. now if you are able to make it to the bank in time ( depends on when mail arrives) you might not be able to cash the check until the next day (17th).. if you try to get cash for the check they still use the account as a base incase the check bounces so no matter what you want to make sure it goes through before thinking about sending the animal out...this may take 1-5 days depending on bank and if they run into problems and time of day it was deposited. there are two reason this guy could be doing this, one hes shady and knows he doesnt have the money, two he is just a bad talker.

[Spaniard]

Silent Partners always scream scam in my eyes. I don't think there is any reason to be in a rush to recieve animals on the buyers part. I'm usually researching an animal/breeder for months before I decide to buy at which point waiting an extra few days would be no biggy.

If it didn't sit right in your stomach then you have all the more reason to call off the deal. After all you produced these animals, you cared for them, its only right that you be concerned about what homes they find. If in fact he did have a silent partner and he did infact mail you a check I would apologize and offer to send the animals when the check cleared.

In the future I would set policies up and follow them with no exceptions. Having policies set up eliminates all the guesswork and stress associated with trying to judge a persons trust worthiness over the internet.

[janeothejungle]

Good Advice, all. I acknowledge that I made a mistake in committing verbally to the deal. It's just frustrating because I'm normally the type to Always go by my gut. This has definitely been a lesson learned.

Cheers,
Kat

[elevatethis]

Agreed...he wanted you to ship before he paid for them...good job not getting suckered in.