Dry Rot
Well-Known Member
Well, we've had the "Do they really want to sell the horse?", so I thought I'd turn the tables and have a grumble from the seller's point of view!
Do some buyers imagine we are selling because we need the money and will sell regardless of the type of home on offer? Do they think we don't care about our livestock? Or that we will gladly take money from those who deceive themselves about their own capabilties? Would we sell to those who couldn't sit a lead rein pony, let alone the recently backed 3yo we have for sale!?
I've just realised that I have been breeding and selling pedigree livestock for over forty years and I think I've seen them all! First, pedigree working gundogs (sold to over 30 countries world-wide), then pedigree sheep (sold all over the north of the UK including most of the Scottish islands), and now Highland ponies. Obviously, I have occasionaly bought too.
First, like the majority of owners, I DO care about my livestock even though I am selling and I'd rather sell cheap than sell to a bad home for more money. A seller usually has very little to go on to assure him or herself that the buyer will provide that good home or has the necessary experience to manage what they want to buy. Obviously, we can learn a lot from body language and how the buyer reacts to an animal. Horsey people read really well. Experienced people are confident and don't react as if the horse will kill them, but exercise due caution in dealing with a large unpredictable animal they don't know. Just chatting on the phone will usually produce a lot of information.
But judging whether they will be suitable owners starts a lot earlier than that. Sometimes a personal check via Google or Facebook can be very revealing. Like the housewife who wanted to get back into riding but turned out to be a notorious dealer! The post code should bring up a satellite map of where they live. One prospective gundog buyer mentioned that he would be using the dog to shoot game on his farm. What? In the middle of Newcastle?
Of course, just talking to people and introducing some gentle questioning helps a lot. What are their interests? No point in trying to sell a plod to someone wanting a games pony. And it would be discourteous to entice someone to travel a long distance to view something that is patently unsuitable. But, again, we are up against the buyer who has an inflated idea of their abilities. Frankly, the advertiser who is looking for 'a 15HH alrounder' shouldn't be surprised if they get offered a lot of unsuitable animals. They will help themselves, and be left less confused, by being more specific in stating exactly what it is they are after. Sellers will offer plenty that don't even remotely fit the description!
Sellers who don't respond to messages leave a definite impression on a buyer and it is not a good one.
Will someone who is incapable to making an appointment, and keeping to it, really provide that good home? I must say I am always impressed when people arrive on time. I accept that someone travelling a long distance will probably be unable to state a precise time of arrival, but a rough idea helps when we work outside and have stock to feed and hay to make. Otherwise, does the seller stay by the house all day in hope? I did that last week -- and the buyer didn't turn up! People who are discourteous and unreliable with humans are hardly likely to be more attentive to their animals! Lame excuses that they 'couldn't get a signal' when they've just stated they were in a location bristling with public telephones just convinces that they haven't much regard for the truth either. Or the couple who arrived two hours late. That was forgivable -- but not when they did it a second time!
It is a funny thing, but it is a general characteristic that most people prefer to deal with people they like. Some buyers instantly put the seller's back up! Maybe the buyer has been lied to, cheated, or deceived and are expecting the same treatment again. That's a mistake. Most people are honest but we never forget that minority. So, dear buyer, just bear in mind that we judge you by our behaviour and if you treat us, the sellers, badly, we are likely to assume you will do the same to our horses. We may want to sell, we may even need to sell, but you are less likely to be sold the horse you want at the price you are prepared to pay if you do not have respect. The best business deal is the one that leaves both parties feeling that they have a bargain and the best business is from returning customers.
Do some buyers imagine we are selling because we need the money and will sell regardless of the type of home on offer? Do they think we don't care about our livestock? Or that we will gladly take money from those who deceive themselves about their own capabilties? Would we sell to those who couldn't sit a lead rein pony, let alone the recently backed 3yo we have for sale!?
I've just realised that I have been breeding and selling pedigree livestock for over forty years and I think I've seen them all! First, pedigree working gundogs (sold to over 30 countries world-wide), then pedigree sheep (sold all over the north of the UK including most of the Scottish islands), and now Highland ponies. Obviously, I have occasionaly bought too.
First, like the majority of owners, I DO care about my livestock even though I am selling and I'd rather sell cheap than sell to a bad home for more money. A seller usually has very little to go on to assure him or herself that the buyer will provide that good home or has the necessary experience to manage what they want to buy. Obviously, we can learn a lot from body language and how the buyer reacts to an animal. Horsey people read really well. Experienced people are confident and don't react as if the horse will kill them, but exercise due caution in dealing with a large unpredictable animal they don't know. Just chatting on the phone will usually produce a lot of information.
But judging whether they will be suitable owners starts a lot earlier than that. Sometimes a personal check via Google or Facebook can be very revealing. Like the housewife who wanted to get back into riding but turned out to be a notorious dealer! The post code should bring up a satellite map of where they live. One prospective gundog buyer mentioned that he would be using the dog to shoot game on his farm. What? In the middle of Newcastle?
Of course, just talking to people and introducing some gentle questioning helps a lot. What are their interests? No point in trying to sell a plod to someone wanting a games pony. And it would be discourteous to entice someone to travel a long distance to view something that is patently unsuitable. But, again, we are up against the buyer who has an inflated idea of their abilities. Frankly, the advertiser who is looking for 'a 15HH alrounder' shouldn't be surprised if they get offered a lot of unsuitable animals. They will help themselves, and be left less confused, by being more specific in stating exactly what it is they are after. Sellers will offer plenty that don't even remotely fit the description!
Sellers who don't respond to messages leave a definite impression on a buyer and it is not a good one.
Will someone who is incapable to making an appointment, and keeping to it, really provide that good home? I must say I am always impressed when people arrive on time. I accept that someone travelling a long distance will probably be unable to state a precise time of arrival, but a rough idea helps when we work outside and have stock to feed and hay to make. Otherwise, does the seller stay by the house all day in hope? I did that last week -- and the buyer didn't turn up! People who are discourteous and unreliable with humans are hardly likely to be more attentive to their animals! Lame excuses that they 'couldn't get a signal' when they've just stated they were in a location bristling with public telephones just convinces that they haven't much regard for the truth either. Or the couple who arrived two hours late. That was forgivable -- but not when they did it a second time!
It is a funny thing, but it is a general characteristic that most people prefer to deal with people they like. Some buyers instantly put the seller's back up! Maybe the buyer has been lied to, cheated, or deceived and are expecting the same treatment again. That's a mistake. Most people are honest but we never forget that minority. So, dear buyer, just bear in mind that we judge you by our behaviour and if you treat us, the sellers, badly, we are likely to assume you will do the same to our horses. We may want to sell, we may even need to sell, but you are less likely to be sold the horse you want at the price you are prepared to pay if you do not have respect. The best business deal is the one that leaves both parties feeling that they have a bargain and the best business is from returning customers.
