Buying Etiquette

[Eventer1104]

Interested to hear people views on etiquette when buying and selling a horse.

Whats people's views on phoning/texting. I'm a fan of texting when both buying and selling as I like to reread responses and find it saves time as it's easier to cut out time wasters.

I do find it slightly rude when people say they are going to respond or send you something then never do. It just leaves you hanging on and waiting for ages!

In relation to that, what do people think about chasing, mainly sellers, up on replying?

 

[ihatework]

I’m a fan of old fashioned speaking on the phone!

An initial text or two is fine, but an ongoing text conversation about the horse and I’m afraid I disengage and put them in the time waster category.

IME most serious buyers call to discuss the horse pretty quickly

 

[Glitter's fun]

I start with emails first & then I want to talk on the phone.* You can tell a lot from someone's voice that you can't get from a text & someone can carefully consider a text & say just what they want you to hear while missing other things out. (Horse shopping makes me paranoid- can you tell?!)

*I'm talking about buying. I don't sell. I sold a horse once in the 1980s & I still regret it. That's probably why I'm so twitchy when I'm buying!

 

[ycbm]

I’m a fan of old fashioned speaking on the phone!

An initial text or two is fine, but an ongoing text conversation about the horse and I’m afraid I disengage and put them in the time waster category.

IME most serious buyers call to discuss the horse pretty quickly

I won't buy from someone who won't put their answers to reasonable questions in writing.

You also rule out selling to anyone deaf or with a phone phobia.
.

 

[dottylottie]

i prefer texting - makes me feel a lot better to have things in writing. if i was pickier, or buying unseen, i’d probably opt to have the initial conversation over text and then call to get a bit more background.

for me, most info is something i’d like to know but not a dealbreaker, so i’m happy to just have the conversation when i go to view.

 

[Jenko109]

I'm another who likes everything in writing.

I would generally use email.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I cannot understand why people wouldn't want to talk on the phone though before a viewing?? I've ruled out so many horses based on the phone call...I just don't think you get that all across on messenger!

 

[Bonnie Allie]

im another one for phone in the first instance. A conversation asking the same questions in another manner each time helps you determine how genuine the other person is. Email to create an audit trail once initial contact has been made and to back up conversations around performances, age, height etc.

Text has its place but not for essential data or information.

Have to admit I do like a good scammer over text though. You can string them along for hours. They get very sweary when they realise you are playing them.

 

[I'm Dun]

I am a dream buyer, I dont vet, I dont mess about doing repeat visits. I turn up, look at the horse, see it trotted up, have a quick sit and its a yes or no. I do all of my discussing and arranging via email/fb message/whats app. I hate using the phone, and like to be able to go back to messages and check what was said before I view.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I am a dream buyer, I dont vet, I dont mess about doing repeat visits. I turn up, look at the horse, see it trotted up, have a quick sit and its a yes or no. I do all of my discussing and arranging via email/fb message/whats app. I hate using the phone, and like to be able to go back to messages and check what was said before I view.

You are absolutely my "antimatter" !
Do you re-sell any that end up not suiting you?
Edited to make sure you don't think that's snarky! I'm rejoicing in everyone being so different & that there is no single, agreed best etiquette.

 

[Irish Sally]

I find most time wasters only text when buying a horse. I know genuine people can be the same but I always prefer someone to call me if I'm selling a horse.

 

[ycbm]

I am a dream buyer, I dont vet, I dont mess about doing repeat visits. I turn up, look at the horse, see it trotted up, have a quick sit and its a yes or no. I do all of my discussing and arranging via email/fb message/whats app. I hate using the phone, and like to be able to go back to messages and check what was said before I view.

Ditto but sometimes I don't even sit on them.

 

[ycbm]

I cannot understand why people wouldn't want to talk on the phone though before a viewing?? I've ruled out so many horses based on the phone call...I just don't think you get that all across on messenger!

I don't contact about anything unless I'm happy from the advert that it's a horse I want to see and judge for myself.

I'm also happy to sell if it doesn't work out, which makes a huge difference, I think.

I won't travel more than 2 hours and treat viewings as a grand day out, being retired, so I'm not trying to prevent wasting time.

Different folks different strokes.
.

 

[equinerebel]

Always via email or text. That way it's all in writing and I can think about my questions or responses without rushing.

 

[expanding_horizon]

I would contact via message / email to confirm still available, and if there were gaps in advert ask those questions or insufficient video or stood up photos request those. Once seen good footage, if still interested, I would call up and discuss horse on the phone, outlining what I was looking for and asking any questions. Then if good I would arrange to try the horse ASAP. To include schooling and hacking. If good I would ideally want to come back again with a trainer. And then proceed to vetting and collecting. I appreciate wanting two visits is a hassle but I am looking to buy one horse that is already up and running, once and keep long term. I bought both the horses I visited twice.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would contact initially by text or email then arrange to call the seller.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I would send a brief text saying "I'm interested in the horse you currently have for sale, when would be a convenient time to call you?".

 

[Birker2020]

I initially text then if I want to view a horse I ring the seller.

Sometimes I'd feel so intimidated by the seller on the phone, like they were doing me a favour! There was some dealer chap selling on HQ when I was looking for Lari. He was the hubby of s famous SJ and I sent texts to him re my requirements like he asked me to but I'd never hear back. So I'd end up ringing him and repeating myself. Hed say there's a couple coming over from Ireland next week. When the next week came and went without a dicky bird I'd ring him again. "Tell me what it is your looking for?" GRRR.

This went on and on for weeks. I even sent him photos of Bailey saying I wanted something like that, in the hope something would stick in his brain but it never would.

In the end I got so fed up of repeating myself over and over I lost the will to live.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I facebook messaged about Dex, asked the information, agreed to buy him that same day, put down a deposit that evening, booked the vetting for 2 days time, spoke to the vet on the phone, then said 'have him shipped whenever you can', he shipped 4 days later once the strangles test was back. He was the only horse I enquired about.

I don't think I could have been an easier buyer! I did do my research on him but I realise it could have gone horribly wrong - I think once you get a feeling you get a feeling. I have viewed 3 in person and had to put each one down before they hit 12.

 

[Flame_]

If there's a message option, I might send a message asking if horse is still available and the price and location if either is omitted from the advert. Everything else, I'd phone to discuss but usually I just phone straight away anyway because I'm impatient and messages are slower.

 

[honetpot]

I cannot understand why people wouldn't want to talk on the phone though before a viewing?? I've ruled out so many horses based on the phone call...I just don't think you get that all across on messenger!

From a sellers point of view they have to pass my interview on the phone, normally the first person to view buys anything I am selling, and I have never had anything back, which I would happily take back even though I am a private seller.

 

[millitiger]

Text fine to check still available, after that I would expect a phone call and would judge people who don't want to call as a potential timewaster.
If you're deaf, obviously I expect people to respond to me with that when I ask them to call.

Any horse I buy, I will always call.
I'll follow with a text if no answer but only to make sure they know I want to get in contact!

Whether buyer or seller, once I've spoken on the phone, happy to swap questions, photos and videos by WhatsApp.
I've never really had to advertise a horse for sale as go word of mouth and 90% of horses I buy are the first one I view so doing something right!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Text to express interest and asking for convenient time to call. Thereafter speak on phone.

 

[ihatework]

Text fine to check still available, after that I would expect a phone call and would judge people who don't want to call as a potential timewaster.
If you're deaf, obviously I expect people to respond to me with that when I ask them to call.

Any horse I buy, I will always call.
I'll follow with a text if no answer but only to make sure they know I want to get in contact!

Whether buyer or seller, once I've spoken on the phone, happy to swap questions, photos and videos by WhatsApp.
I've never really had to advertise a horse for sale as go word of mouth and 90% of horses I buy are the first one I view so doing something right!

Interestingly the last horse I sold was to the daughter of a deaf mother (the mother was buying). It was the most lovely sale ever. They had done their research then they got a friend to call first, had a lovely long conversation on the deaf mothers behalf, then completed the bulk of the rest of eventual sale by text - with friend stepping in just to talk through X-rays. You literally cannot adequately cover the nuances of a horse over text/email if you really are trying to make a correct match

 

[I'm Dun]

You are absolutely my "antimatter" !
Do you re-sell any that end up not suiting you?
Edited to make sure you don't think that's snarky! I'm rejoicing in everyone being so different & that there is no single, agreed best etiquette.

Only one, and that was because I bought her to drive, which she did an outstanding job of, but then I wanted to ride and she just was too small for me.

 

[I'm Dun]

Ditto but sometimes I don't even sit on them.

I bought the last one unseen on a whim and he was an out and out superstar. Exceeded all expectations.

 

[Pedantic]

Same as car selling, oooh yes will buy it, will phone txt you tomorrow to arrange payment etc...then. .............

 

[Griffin]

I prefer to message/email/text for basic information about the horse before viewing but will also ask about temperament and vices over written communication. My thinking is if it all goes horribly wrong, I would like to have written evidence that the horse was supposed to be good to load, not a bolter etc.

 

[silv]

I’m a fan of old fashioned speaking on the phone!

An initial text or two is fine, but an ongoing text conversation about the horse and I’m afraid I disengage and put them in the time waster category.

IME most serious buyers call to discuss the horse pretty quickly

This, I cannot be bothered txting essays, plus you get a better idea of the potential buyer and if they will be suitable.

 

[Caol Ila]

With both of mine I FB messaged first. Got some initial information, then I spoke to the sellers on the phone and arranged a visit.

Hermosa's breeder had a couple youngsters for sale who were the right age. Hermosa came up to me amidst a herd of youngsters, broodmares, and the herd stallion, and stood with me getting scratched and cuddled. What's not to like? Plus, her sire and dam seemed calm and looked very Spanish. That was a win. So many PREs I see on the web look kind of warmbloody or non-descript, so I appreciated that someone was breeding old lines, and they still had those stereotypical Iberian features. She was also local, and it was lockdown.

Fin was owned by a lady who runs a wee horse rescue. A friend had mine had adopted a horse from her and had great things to say about her. Our initial conversations were about a couple rescues I could have adopted. One sounded good on paper, so I went to her yard to check him out. It was fairly close to Glasgow, and it still being lockdown, we couldn't gallivant all over East Bumblef*ck looking for a horse. The horse in question seemed like a bit of a thug, and while his owner had warned me he had mallenders and sallenders, I noted it was the worst I'd ever seen. However, she had a three ex-ferals from the Dallas estate, one of which had been backed but not ridden away, and the other had been backed and spent time at a pro yard. I rode him and found he was barely ridden away (depends on how you feel about steering), but he was kind, he carted me around some trails following other horses and foot soliders, and more importantly, he wasn't pregnant and I could catch him (Hermosa, by this point, had lowered to my standards to not pregnant and can I catch it).

Fin's owner knew he was quirky, so she had me ride him about four or five more times before she let me schedule a vetting. He was very civilised hacking in company, and his issues have really come up when I've asked for more. Which is why I guess the pro kind of gave up on him.