Am I too naive for Preloved?

[soloequestrian]

Casually looking for the next potential project, I have answered a couple of adverts on Preloved. The first said they would send more pictures, then said they wouldn't, then their phone number didn't work so they sent me another number that also didn't work and then I gave up. The second has just totally ignored my message that asked some perfectly reasonable questions about the horse they were advertising. I sent a second message to follow up (just after the ad said 'updated a moment ago' so I presume the horse wasn't in the process of being sold) and still haven't heard anything. Are these indicative of some sort of scam or are people just weirder than I imagine them to be?

 

[lannerch]

Try ringing most people like to speak to the potential purchasers, to identify time waiters and unsuitable purchasers .

 

[Red-1]

I agree, speaking is what you need to do, pronto too.

I just bought mine on Preloved, I rang up and sold myself to the owners. That is the state of the market right now, you have to sell yourself to them. I did have photos, but they were from me to them, to show where he would be living! Also offered references, about me not him!

 

[Brownmare]

Two of my horses were bought through Preloved, both had relatively normal vendors, and both are lovely animals who are everything I wanted. However, I will say I screened the adverts very carefully and wouldn't call any that sounded in the slightest bit iffy! I know the most recent one I messaged rather than phoning but the other I phoned first so maybe phoning would get you a better result.

 

[cauda equina]

I've been messed around just as much by people advertising in H&H
Flaky sellers aren't just a Preloved thing

 

[scats]

I bought Diva off a preloved ad. Best thing I ever did!
I think you get odd people on all platforms though.

 

[stormox]

As a seller I.dont answer texts - keen people phone.

 

[soloequestrian]

Fair enough, I'm not in any rush so perhaps that comes across. The second ad doesn't have a phone number though, just messaging through Preloved. I wouldn't text.
Oddly, I posted here a while back to find out whether asking for references from potential buyers was a thing and got soundly ridiculed. I'm glad it is a thing!

 

[Wishfilly]

I agree, sellers who mess you around are a thing on all platforms! I'm not sure if it's more common on pre-loved because it's a cheaper way to advertise, but there are also genuine sellers on there as well. I did have more luck with horsemart/horsequest though!

I think some ads are getting a huge amount of interest at the moment, and if sellers feel overwhelmed, they may not reply to everyone. I don't think it's usually a scam, just people who don't sell horses professionally tend to not be the most professional about communication.

 

[MereChristmas]

I have recently replied to adverts on Facebook, Horsemart, Horsequest and Preloved.
These have had a variety of results, including
I leave a phone message, no reply
They reply on website message and are unobtainable after
No reply on website message
Phone rings out repeatedly, no ansaphone
Ansaphone message saying I am overwhelmed by responses, sorry you are probably too late
Long chat about horse, arrange viewing, day before get message they have decided not to sell
Arrange viewing, view, agree to buy, before collection am told they have sold to someone else
Ring, speak to seller, everything goes like clockwork, I have a new pony

With sites that have their own message system I think sometimes the messages are not seen. The seller looks at their emails, texts and phone and forgets the website.

I don’t think the website is relevant. I have had good and bad dealings whether sellers are professional or not.

 

[COldNag]

I got an amazing loan pony through preloved.

I don't think it is any worse than any of the other platforms. You have to do a lot of sifting....

 

[millikins]

I dislike Preloved, apologies to those here who sell through it but I tend to look at the "project" types, most seem overpriced with dodgy sellers. Odd as it sounds, I prefer Dragon Driving, I think the ads are based on the premise that "you can't kid a kidder" and what you see is probably what you'll get.

 

[shamrock2021]

Preloved it’s the same as the Irish done deal . You can get brilliant horses but for every good one there is a lot doggy seller.

 

[honetpot]

I think some people have no idea about selling. I am selling my van, it's just been through its MOT, so I spent yesterday doing the photos and drafting the ad for eBay, for Monday because we are busy this weekend. Tells my husband this, oh put it on now he says, so like a fool I did. The messages started at about 8.30, I have had two offers unseen, and had to put two people off because we are out. I give this information to my husband, and he is surprised and had forgotten we have a busy weekend.
I am also trying to buy a composite door second hand, and I have seen one local, will the chap selling it give me a clue where he is, so we can work out how long it will take to get there, or answer messages, no. So we have arranged to do something else. Just had a message, are we coming tomorrow.
I don't know if its because men don't buy or sell much, but they are useless. Have no idea of prices and no idea how to communicate. I picked some chairs last week, the bloke did not tell me the house which had a name was cut in half, and I was outside an empty side of the house, with the name on the drive.

 

[dogatemysalad]

I agree, speaking is what you need to do, pronto too.

I just bought mine on Preloved, I rang up and sold myself to the owners. That is the state of the market right now, you have to sell yourself to them. I did have photos, but they were from me to them, to show where he would be living! Also offered references, about me not him!

Absolutely this.
If you're selling a good horse, you get lots of enquiries. I've only sold 3 horses, but they went to the buyers who understood that they needed to sell themselves and demonstrate from the offset that they were genuinely interested and were going to be a good match for the horse.

 

[Red-1]

Absolutely this.
If you're selling a good horse, you get lots of enquiries. I've only sold 3 horses, but they went to the buyers who understood that they needed to sell themselves and demonstrate from the offset that they were genuinely interested and were going to be a good match for the horse.

It was quite nerve wracking for me, mine was an older horse with many, many issues, and I had a full adoption interview. The whole family came out, 3 generations to the yard. I walked him round a field (the only trial possible as he came back into work the day before after box rest) and at the far end of the field was a livery standing there. Then, back at the yard, a load more liveries came to inspect me. LOL.

Happily, I passed muster.