Being gazumped (pointless moan)

pookie

pookie

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Some of you might know I had a horse vetted earlier in the month and was gutted when she failed - a real surprise for everyone. I found another and have arranged a vetting for tomorrow. Today the seller contacts me and says she's got other people coming to view the horse tonight and will let me know how that goes but if they don't want her we'll speak after the vetting.

Ok, not quite gazumped, but still disappointing. I know there are millions of bad 'buyers' out there and sellers can't rely on just one who shows interest but a bit of notice so I could cancel the vetting would've been appreciated. No idea whether I'll incur a change for cancelling on the day if the horse is sold this evening.

So now it's just a waiting game as I'm second in line all of a sudden :(
 
Stay positive - these other people might want her vetted too, in which case your vetting will be first in line and if she passes, hopefully you can stil get her. I hope things go your way - buying horses is such an ordeal, I'm almost dreading the time when I can start horse shopping!!
 
Did you offer a deposit subject to the vetting?

If you've tried the horse and said yes to it subject to vet, the vendor is cheeky letting other viewers come IMO.

ETA Maybe they know it's likely to fail?
 
Thanks, both of you :)

I really hope the people tonight either don't want her or want her vetted but (biased! :D) I can't imagine anyone not wanting her and not everyone vets (for some bizarre reason!)

I didn't offer a deposit and I really should've. I'm a really honest buyer and hate the idea of messing anyone around, but equally I've wasted another weekend not looking at horses as I thought everything was fine.
 
If you're confident she'll pass the vet is it too late to call the seller and ask to pay a deposit, so she can let these other people know before they turn up?
 
If you really want the horse, ask if you can give a deposit subject to vet and take it to them now. If they think the horse will pass they should be happy with that.
 
If you have to cancel your vetting will you have to pay a cancellation fee? I think it's quite cheeky of them. Unless they are just getting someone else to look as a reserve.
 
Kaylum said:
If you have to cancel your vetting will you have to pay a cancellation fee? I think it's quite cheeky of them. Unless they are just getting someone else to look as a reserve.
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No, I got the impression it was a 'if the people tonight don't want her, you can have her' situation.

Honestly don't know about the cancellation fee as some places want one, some don't. I suppose this can affect any buyer if a seller pulls out for any reason, so maybe vettings aren't subject to fees like that?
 
Don't let them do the price thing on you when they play one of you off the other.
Like the others say it sounds like they are hoping that they won't vet her. Hope it works out ok
 
If you were prepared to pay the asking price I think you are right to be miffed, but if you asked for a discount and left no deposit, you would be in a more tricky situation, but if you arranged a vetting you are a serious buyer, not a timewaster. she may not have told the other person she was due to be vetted in case it failed, but then she could have arranged visit for Tuesday :rolleyes:
Maybe unsound, this is why I would always tell buyer I intend to vet before I even go to see a quality animal.
 
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I was more than happy to pay the asking price and arranged a vetting to suit the seller. I also wasn't asking for delivery or anything...had told the seller I'd collect. I stupidly thought arranging a vetting (and this one's not cheap!) would be as much security as a deposit :(

The seller does seem really genuine but if she'd just told me last week I could've cancelled with plenty of notice.
 
yep - this would put my nose out of joint as well to the extent that i`d be thinking along the lines that there are a lot of other horses out there and pull out of this one.
 
brucethegypsycob said:
yep - this would put my nose out of joint as well to the extent that i`d be thinking along the lines that there are a lot of other horses out there and pull out of this one.
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I've thought this too. It's becoming altogether far too complicated, and buying horses is complicated enough. I'm glad you said that as I thought perhaps I was being too stubborn.
 
If you made it clear you wanted the horse and would arrange a vetting, the seller's out of order doing this. By rights, you should have offered a deposit, but equally the seller should then have requested one if they weren't happy to hold the horse without one.

IIWY, I'd get on the phone to the seller and give them a bit of earache. They either accept a deposit now subject to vet, or if they won't hold the horse for you, I'd let them know that you will be canceling the vetting whether today's viewers want the horse or not, and any charges will be going straight to them. I'm pretty cross on your behalf tbh.
 
I think the seller is wrong too. You have arranged a vetting so obviously want the horse.

I'm prob too suspicious but it does sound like they are hoping other person will like the horse and not get it vetted. Maye the seller knows the horse will fail :(
 
I think you would have to whistle for the vets fees.

Like when you buy a house (England) you incur costs on surveys, mortgage fees etc and the seller can still pull out on a whim, accept another offer etc.

Until you pay them a deposit then to my thinking they are under no obligation to hold the horse for you other than a moral one of not dumping on people.

They may also think it is easier to sell to someone who isnt going to get the horse vetted, even if they think the horse is ok, vets do like to write something on the sheet to show they have contributed to the process, or it may genuinely fail.

The vet might be willing to carry forward any fee to a future horse you might find locally, or they might not charge you cancellation fees.

But I think it is fanciful to suggest that the seller would have to pay them when no deposit has been left on the horse, although I do think they are being a bit shabby.
 
The seller is doing ok in my opinion, since they do not have a deposit from you. Just call and offer a deposit and put the cash in the sellers hands in time for seller to let tonight's appointments know.
 
Let us know how you get on OP - if it all falls through see if your vet will let you use the booked vetting for another horse in future, you never know :)
 
Thanks everyone. Thinking about it, I'm not sure she's used to selling horses...she seemed surprised at the things the vet would need for the vetting (dark stable etc). Very tempted to tell her to forget the whole thing but the types of horses I like are few and far between at reasonable prices down here.
 
Be careful it's not a ploy to encourage you to pay for her and take her home without the vetting.

I'm viewed many horses and the seller has said, "oh well there's someone coming to see him later so you need to decide now." And I'd reply, ok, after I've thought about it, if I want him and he's gone, it's my tough luck. Suprisingly other buyers have them not wanted him for some reason/didn't turn up, blah, blah and then some failed the vet! :rolleyes:

If she's meant to be yours, even if there are some other viewers, she'll be yours :D
 
pookie said:
Thanks everyone. Thinking about it, I'm not sure she's used to selling horses...she seemed surprised at the things the vet would need for the vetting (dark stable etc). Very tempted to tell her to forget the whole thing but the types of horses I like are few and far between at reasonable prices down here.
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Yes I have to laugh, in my experience a purchasers vet uses a dark stable for vetting, but when, as an owner I wanted my boy's eyes checked, and also lameness query, the vet just did it in the covered barn and asked horse to be trotted up and down a short road.
I think they are a lot more thorough for a vetting than when asked by an owner for a check, I am not insured, and do not intend to pay megabucks for work done by a professional, I expect to pay up to £60 -100per hour, but I expect the same level of examination as an owner as a prospective purchaser.
If it takes my own vet two minutes to tell me my horse has no lameness issues, why does it take a purchasers vet forty minutes to come to the same conclusion?. btw it was the same vet, as I was so impressed, I changed vets, different horses.
Same vet senior patner, told me my horse would be spun by him, as he has weak hind legs, well yes he does but has never been lame in four years of having him, and now he is so muscled up, any vet would be hard put to identify his conformational defect, he looks a million dollars.
Vet does not know he is the same horse he once told me was weak and useless.
He could do one day eventing and RC and low level dressage, and is as sound as many horses I have put on the racecourse.
 
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9 hours after I started this thread and I haven't heard anything from the seller. No idea if anyone viewed the horse tonight nor where I now stand. I think I'm going to politely pull out and just deal with any cancellation charges.

This horse-buying malarkey is utterly heartbreaking.

To any sellers who've been messed around: there are nice, considerate buyers like me around (even if I say so myself! :D). Bit of a doormat, actually.
 
Pookie buying horses can be a very dispiriting experiance if does not work out give yourself a shake eat a magnum ( or whatever ) and move on the right horse is out there.
 
Poor you, it's always the nice people it happens to! :( Your horse is out there, be it this one or one who hasn't found you yet!
 
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