Best reasons someone has thought you’re a time waster ?

[Mrs. Jingle]

The other selling phrase that puts me off instantly is the 'first to see will buy'.....but inexplicably the horse is still being advertised a month later! None of those 'first to see will buy' purchasers managed to actually find their way there then?

 

[Cherryblossom]

When I first moved to the country, I stupidly ignored the advice of people on here that liveries are more bother than they’re worth. I answered an ad I saw for someone wanting to rent a yard, and arranged that she would come at midday. At 3pm, I texted to say I was going out, and got dog’s abuse because apparently up until 4pm counts as midday because that’s ‘not a time’. I told her I didn’t think we had compatible communication styles and cancelled her visit. She updated her advert with “STILL looking because of COMPLETE TIMEWASTER”. I commented with a screenshot of the dictionary definition of midday and got blocked!

 

[Abacus]

I love your phrase ‘compatible communication styles’.

 

[sassandbells]

I have so many stories about this, but I think the best one was when a friend asked me to come view a pony with her and her daughter. Pony looked lovely, ad stated was a steady, sane all rounder. Confidence giver, perfect second pony, that kinda thing.

Got there and nothing seemed amiss, pony was lovely, owners seemed nice enough. Friend had asked me to ride first so I did. Pony was a bit fidgety while mounting, but nothing a bit of groundwork wouldn’t solve, or so I thought.

Started walking round the school, just trying to get used to each other, and I asked for a trot. Pony lept into a gallop and pelted full speed around the school before I turned her into a fence to stop her. Was like okay, not a great start, maybe I asked a bit strong.

Tried asking for trot a second time, with far less leg aid and the pony repeated the leaping into full speed gallop, tried to turn the pony into the fence to get her to slow down but this time she dropped her shoulder, span, threw me, ran in the other direction and proceeded to jump the 5’ fence out of the arena. Owner laughed and said she did that a lot.

Owner then suggested the child ride to see how she got on with her, and my friend piped up and said no chance and that we’d be leaving.

Pony was then re advertised “due to a complete time waster”…

AND was re advertised a few months later as unridden and sold as seen from the field. I don’t know where that pony ended up but I really wish I did.

 

[dixie]

I was called a time waster on Facebook.
had a horse vetted and she failed on the foot X-rays big time and it cost me £1k.
she had enourmous side bones and then I realised that was probably why she had had 6 months off.

She re-advertised within a week saying she had been let down by a time waster with all her friends commiserating.

 

[Vetbills]

I secretly die a little bit inside when people talk about their dressage trainer when actually it’s an event trainer. It’s just not the same, not even close. Just nod and smile is my approach now. So whilst I wouldn’t class them as time wasters per se they’d need to be super nice people for me to set up a viewing.

 

[Armchair Eventer]

When I first started looking for a share horse during the pandemic, I tried one that wasn't really my ideal. A 16.3hh spooky but lazy ISH. I knew after 15 minutes or so that it wasn't going to work so was straight up with the owner. Some 6 weeks later the share was readvertised "due to time wasters and people claiming they could ride when they couldn't" - not sure which category I was classified in. I went on to find a lovely little share until the teenage owner decided she didn't me need me once the spring arrived. I now have my own and she is a delight and everyone is trying to get me to enter some local dressage competitions so I clearly can't ride.

 

[asmp]

Just seen this on an ad for a horse. It would put me off viewing:

Serious enquiries ONLY, who can offer him a FOREVER home please. If you can't offer this, please don't waste either of our time.

The seller has taken out the last sentence and reduced the price as I assume she didn’t get any enquiries!

 

[Nasicus]

I have so many stories about this, but I think the best one was when a friend asked me to come view a pony with her and her daughter. Pony looked lovely, ad stated was a steady, sane all rounder. Confidence giver, perfect second pony, that kinda thing.

Got there and nothing seemed amiss, pony was lovely, owners seemed nice enough. Friend had asked me to ride first so I did. Pony was a bit fidgety while mounting, but nothing a bit of groundwork wouldn’t solve, or so I thought.

Started walking round the school, just trying to get used to each other, and I asked for a trot. Pony lept into a gallop and pelted full speed around the school before I turned her into a fence to stop her. Was like okay, not a great start, maybe I asked a bit strong.

Tried asking for trot a second time, with far less leg aid and the pony repeated the leaping into full speed gallop, tried to turn the pony into the fence to get her to slow down but this time she dropped her shoulder, span, threw me, ran in the other direction and proceeded to jump the 5’ fence out of the arena. Owner laughed and said she did that a lot.

Owner then suggested the child ride to see how she got on with her, and my friend piped up and said no chance and that we’d be leaving.

Pony was then re advertised “due to a complete time waster”…

AND was re advertised a few months later as unridden and sold as seen from the field. I don’t know where that pony ended up but I really wish I did.

Words fail me...

 

[TheHairyOne]

Ohhh...i've got one of these. Unbroken 3 year old. Nice pics, right price, decent advert. Only issue 3.5hrs away.

So the price was nice enough to take the horsebox to go and see it. Horse in the flesh was lovely...aside from the ringworm!!

'Oh, that's easy to treat...'

Which yes, it is. But not when the place you have to put said horse is youngstock livery with your yard owners horses.

And yes. I was a timewaster for spending 8 hours of my day going to see a horse I could never have taken back to my set up due to a problem that the seller 'forgot' to mention.

 

[Annagain]

I went to see one horse (luckily locally) that, according to the advert and the questions the seller answered, was perfect for me. The advert described him as a true all-rounder and said he went well on the flat. I watched the owner (an 18 yr old boy) ride. The horse was 12, he'd owned him since he was 6 and he would only canter on the left leg. When I asked him if he could get the horse to go on the correct leg he said "oh I don't bother with that, it doesn't matter unless you do dressage and I don't do dressage."

A baby occasionally striking off incorrectly would be fine but a 12 year old who had been allowed to canter on the one leg (and potentially with a physical reason for always favouring the one leg) for six years wasn't for me so there was no point in me even trying to ride him.

I politely declined to ride the horse, I just said I knew he wasn't the one for me so I wouldn't keep his owner any longer and thanked him for his time. At this point the cheeky little s*d said, "yeah, I knew you'd waste my time as soon as I saw you turn up with your body protector. You only wear one of those if you're planning on falling off." His mother (a friend of a friend as it turned out) was visibly cringing.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I've seen a horse advert that said "price is £12k and don't bother offering less" ?

 

[horsimous]

When I was about 20, a nice cross bred 3 year old was for sale for £800 and I planned to break her in myself and keep her for life. I was working with hunters and expensive dressage youngsters so knew what I was looking at and decided not to get her vetted. The lady then said she’d had a better offer. one-of my well to do friends rang up, pretending to be a buyer and was told that she was still for sale as a complete time waster wasn’t serious enough to get her vetted!! She offered to buy her on my behalf but by then I had been offered a very nice horse for free.

 

[Fransurrey]

I didn't think I had anything to contribute, but just remembered a few years ago when I was looking for a yard. Answered an ad which looked ideal. On way to work, brilliant hacking, private yard with just owner. Went to see it and we really hit it off, but then she said she only wanted someone there after 8 am and gone by 5.30 pm. I said straight away that I couldn't possibly accommodate that as I work full time, but we carried on chatting since as I say, we hit it off. It also transpired she was renting the place (with house) and the owner had 'promised' to sell to her after 2 years. I admired her optimism and inwardly thought she was being taken for a ride, there...

Anyway, I went home and later that eve she sent a long message saying she'd love to have me as livery and repeated all the terms and conditions, including the time limits. I replied to remind her that I did say I couldn't possibly do those times, but I really did like the place. The messages were retracted (Whatsapp) and I saw the advert changed to 'due to time waster'. Two years later, looking for a new horse I went to see one down the same private road and asked if they knew her. Indeed they did, but she'd moved on (surprise, surprise, the owner had not kept to his promise).

Bizarrely I was then labelled a time waster by the vendors of the horse, as I tried her in company (great), alone (not so great but workable), but she failed the vetting to the point he stopped partway through due to temperament and lameness. Apparently me refusing to pay top whack for a lame horse with no record at all was unacceptable! Something about that private road, I think!!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Something about that private road, I think!!

Lead in the water pipes!
There's a rented house near me that changes tenants regularly & there hasn't been a single sane one for donkeys' years.

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

This annoys me so much too! everyone seems to be labelled a “time waster” if you don’t buy it.
I went to see a horse that was advertised as “bombproof novice ride…” apparently the RDA wanted her? on the morning we had set off on a 3 hour drive and halfway through called to say she couldn’t get a baby sitter… we said but we’re half way there and eventually agreed we’d still be coming (she just ended up holding the child which was fine). Showed up and the horse bucked me off TWICE within 10 muns. I did get back on and ended on a good note. Later that night texted to say sorry not quite what I’m looking for and she sent me a very angry message saying I’m a time waster and she had rearranged her day for me… but we had scheduled for me to come a week before? And I’m not sure if she really expected me to buy her after what she witnessed in front of her …

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I went to see a horse and was told on arrival that it had sweet itch.

If they’d told me before I wouldn’t have gone! But I was labelled the time waster ?

 

[Mooresy]

I ve been trawling the for sale ads for weeks. This thread has really helped as I’m off to view a horse next weekend!
I’ll let you know if I get classed as a time waster . It’s actually given me the confidence to say no thanks, should things not match my expectations !!

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I spent 5 hours travelling (there and back) in the peeing rain to see what I thought was a lovely WB mare. The owner had her on sales livery and clearly had no idea what was going on. Anyway I arrive to find a mare in poor condition covered with rainscald which was untreated and sore. Obviously I was not touching this poor creature with a barge pole and left. I then contacted the owner and explained what I'd seen and why I would not be purchasing her. The girl who ran the sales livery of course accused me of being a timewaster... Sigh. I really hope there was a good outcome for that sad little mare but who knows.

 

[greenbean10]

One thing I find frustrating and would like to know if anyone else does.

Message someone on the number listed on the ad asking a simple question ‘Could I get the price of X’ and they reply with ‘Call me if you’re a serious buyer’.

This annoys me! Just tell me the price then I’ll know if it’s worth phoning! Maybe this makes me a ‘time waster’ because I’m unlikely to follow through with it. I am a classic millennial and dislike phoning people, but it just seems such a waste of time to go the effort of calling someone, explaining who you are etc etc and them to tell you the price. Just write it down, it takes 2 seconds - less time in fact than it does to ask me to call you in the first place.

Just me? Anyone able to give me an argument for the other side? ?

Perhaps they think they are more likely to make a sale if they speak to you on the phone?

 

[JBM]

One thing I find frustrating and would like to know if anyone else does.

Message someone on the number listed on the ad asking a simple question ‘Could I get the price of X’ and they reply with ‘Call me if you’re a serious buyer’.

This annoys me! Just tell me the price then I’ll know if it’s worth phoning! Maybe this makes me a ‘time waster’ because I’m unlikely to follow through with it. I am a classic millennial and dislike phoning people, but it just seems such a waste of time to go the effort of calling someone, explaining who you are etc etc and them to tell you the price. Just write it down, it takes 2 seconds - less time in fact than it does to ask me to call you in the first place.

Just me? Anyone able to give me an argument for the other side? ?

Perhaps they think they are more likely to make a sale if they speak to you on the phone?

Agree! I usually just reply that I’d like to know the price to see if it’s within budget before I call
Then if they still don’t give the price I don’t bother ??‍

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I had someone come to try my old boy for a share. We went on an hour long hack (as this is what the share was for). She sung his praises then on the way back stated it was a pity she could not afford a share and it was so nice to go for a ride!
I was so shocked at the audacity that I had nothing to say back....she then tried to hang around after to chat.

 

[JBM]

I had someone come to try my old boy for a share. We went on an hour long hack (as this is what the share was for). She sung his praises then on the way back stated it was a pity she could not afford a share and it was so nice to go for a ride!
I was so shocked at the audacity that I had nothing to say back....she then tried to hang around after to chat.

Honest to god would’ve told her to get off

 

[TotalMadgeness]

One thing I find frustrating and would like to know if anyone else does.

Message someone on the number listed on the ad asking a simple question ‘Could I get the price of X’ and they reply with ‘Call me if you’re a serious buyer’.

This annoys me! Just tell me the price then I’ll know if it’s worth phoning! Maybe this makes me a ‘time waster’ because I’m unlikely to follow through with it. I am a classic millennial and dislike phoning people, but it just seems such a waste of time to go the effort of calling someone, explaining who you are etc etc and them to tell you the price. Just write it down, it takes 2 seconds - less time in fact than it does to ask me to call you in the first place.

Just me? Anyone able to give me an argument for the other side? ?

Perhaps they think they are more likely to make a sale if they speak to you on the phone?

I've had this from dealers who will never tell you a price but ask you for your budget. Then whatever figure you tell them is usually the price they come up with (as long as its not a ridiculous low budget you have obvs).

Also people do that to see if they can bombard you with loads of information so you can't ask questions easily. I had one guy who rattled on for ages telling me about how wonderful this horse was he then very briefly mentioned 'shivers' and quickly proceeded to prattle on. It took me a while to break through the monologue to say 'soooo the horse has shivers then? well sorry I'm not interested.' What a complete waste of time that was for me I can tell you. Another person did a very similar thing - eventually telling me the horse suffered from bouts of lymphangitis 'but it wasn't a problem'. Again took me a while to get her to stop talking long enough to say 'Thanks but no thanks'.

 

[Annagain]

I've had this from dealers who will never tell you a price but ask you for your budget. Then whatever figure you tell them is usually the price they come up with (as long as its not a ridiculous low budget you have obvs).

Also people do that to see if they can bombard you with loads of information so you can't ask questions easily. I had one guy who rattled on for ages telling me about how wonderful this horse was he then very briefly mentioned 'shivers' and quickly proceeded to prattle on. It took me a while to break through the monologue to say 'soooo the horse has shivers then? well sorry I'm not interested.' What a complete waste of time that was for me I can tell you. Another person did a very similar thing - eventually telling me the horse suffered from bouts of lymphangitis 'but it wasn't a problem'. Again took me a while to get her to stop talking long enough to say 'Thanks but no thanks'.

That reminds me of another. When I was looking I saw one not too far away, the seller and I had one or two mutual friends on Facebook so I messaged them, they told me she was a bit eccentric but fine. I messaged her asking for some more info (ad was quite short) She phoned me straight away and I was stuck on the phone for about two hours. It was 10pm by the time I got off the phone. The horse sounded lovely so, with some trepidation (because I knew I'd be trapped there for hours) I made arrangements to see him on the Saturday (this was on Tuesday) and said I'd confirm a time once I'd spoken to my friend who would be coming with me. She kept telling me I sounded perfect for him (god knows how as I barely got a word in) so she wouldn't let anyone else see him before me.

Wednesday, I messaged (I wasn't going to get stuck on the phone again!) to confirm a time. By Friday morning, I hadn't heard back so I phoned. She didn't answer and I left a message. I phoned about 4 more times on Friday and messaged again but nothing came back. I then phoned from my work phone, no more than 10 minutes after the last call. She answered straight away and was very surprised it was me. Apparently, she hadn't got any of my messages and was about to phone me to tell me the horse had lost a shoe. Yeah right (I was always amazed how many horses lost a show the day before viewings - it was obvious they were buying time for them to be vetted for someone else but they didn't want to tell me in case they failed the vet so I was the backup). I left it with her promising to let me know when the shoe was back on - she offered this, I didn't ask for it.

My friend needed to know what was happening so I messaged her to tell her and said about her not answering my calls but answering when I phoned from my work phone so she was obviously avoiding me. Except I didn't message my friend, I accidentally messaged the seller . She messaged me back saying she hadn't been avoiding me and accusing me of completely wasting her time if I wasn't prepared to come again when his shoe was back on. I didn't reply.