Charging for viewings?

[norolim]

Evening all,

I've been doing a bit of window shopping and looking at horse shares available in my area (new favourite pastime!)

I've seen one that sounds great on paper but the owner is requesting a £20 fee to arrange a viewing due to previous time wasters. No judgement at all and I can understand why they would want to do that to ensure people were serious, but I was just curious at to whether that's a normal request as I've not come across it before.

 

[Xmas lucky]

To be honest it’s sounds more like a scam .

 

[Dave's Mam]

I'd avoid that.

 

[norolim]

Thanks both. I guess if it sounds too good to be true...was trying not to be my usual cynical self ?

 

[Dave's Mam]

Is there a phone number to speak to someone?

 

[norolim]

Is there a phone number to speak to someone?

Unfortunately not, just the option to respond to the ad via the website, which I could still do to get more info.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Nahhhh, sack it.

 

[norolim]

Nahhhh, sack it.

Probably for the best!

 

[Ambers Echo]

Run a mile!

 

[Afon_34]

I have seen people charging for viewings before actually especially if they have to pay to use an arena for it.?

 

[bouncing_ball]

I have seen people charging for viewings before actually especially if they have to pay to use an arena for it.?

I went to try a loan horse, after I left, after I turned horse down next day, they then asked for school hire money. I was a bit surprised. I’d expect to be asked up front when I arranged to view.

 

[Ambers Echo]

The scam alert is the auto pay via website before you even get to discuss the horse! And it’s for a share where discussions about expectations and terms are essential before viewing. If you have had a lengthy chat about a horse and the arrangements seems fine and all that’s left is a viewing to check you and the horse gel then paying for arena hire might be ok. Though I have never either paid or charged for that. And I doubt many people would pay it. Do I get a fuel refund for the god knows how many hours wasted driving to not as described horses? Time wasting works both ways.

 

[Red-1]

So many scams around right now. However, I haven't seen the advert, but if you could message them, speak with them, and then pay a fee when actually there to try and ride, then i would consider it.

Some people go round loans etc as a sort of free riding school! I can understand people not wanting to let people come to 'try' for free.

Last year, before I bought Rigsby, there was a share available locally (but not locally enough, sadly, when I actually made the - busy- drive) and I went for a look see. The owner was lovely, had no facilities other than a field down the road and a set of stables literally in the small back garden, so I hoisted myself aboard on the driveway and went out for a ride.

The horse was old, stiff but lovely. The lady was lovely. It just wasn't a fit for me. I felt bad for having wasted her time, and offered to pay. She turned me down, but had mentioned needing a longer girth, of which I had an old one, so I sent it by post when I got home.

I wouldn't pay anything up front before arriving though, as it is likely then a scam. I would also check the address on Google Maps to make sure it is believable!

 

[Flicker]

I would expect a seller to be making the necessary arrangements to present the horse in the best way possible, including paying for arena hire if necessary. As a buyer, I would not expect to pay for arena hire unless I had specifically asked to see or try the horse in a particular environment.

As for paying upfront for the privilege of trying a horse? No thanks. It’s either a scam or breathtaking entitlement.

 

[Melody Grey]

I wouldn’t pay to view a horse under normal circumstances. If you’ve asked for the horse to be taken to xc, I’d pay for the hire of the course.
I wonder what kind of liability a seller who charged for viewings would be opening themselves up to? Akin to operating a riding school I’d have thought?

 

[norolim]

Strangely enough, the ad seems to have been taken down as I can no longer find it and could not enquire now even if I wanted to!

Appreciate your input though all, it's something for me to keep an eye out for in the future.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Wow that sounds like a nifty little money-maker!!

Anybody want to view a muddy-marvel mammoth pony in all its winter glory ascending from the depths of the mire of a clay-bog field??

Rock on up! A tenner per punter.

PM me!! LOL

 

[Berpisc]

Wow that sounds like a nifty little money-maker!!

Anybody want to view a muddy-marvel mammoth pony in all its winter glory ascending from the depths of the mire of a clay-bog field??

Rock on up! A tenner per punter.

PM me!! LOL

Me! Me! Pick Me! (channeling my inner Shrek )

 

[Cortez]

Charging for viewing? That's a bit mad, although I probably should have charged for riding some of the ignorant, unschooled beasties I've been to view..........

 

[CanteringCarrot]

People and dealers do it here to avoid timewasters and joy riders. The ads I've seen aren't scam like though. A few photos, good description of the horse, a phone number and the name of the seller/yard. I think it a bit odd and I wouldn't do it, but if I really liked a horse from one of the aforementioned sellers, I'd possibly do it. I know they aren't scams though (also, real life people confirm this), and I'd have to really like the horse.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I think if a seller said the viewing fee was refundable when you turn up that would be Ok I guess. But only after I'd done checks to ensure the seller was real and not a scammer.

 

[ycbm]

Me! Me! Pick Me! (channeling my inner Shrek )

That was Donkey ?

 

[Berpisc]

That was Donkey ?

I had got as far as remembering which film it was, so I get one gold star