Does any one else find 'no time wasters' really put them off

F

Finlib

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 October 2008
Messages
1,009
Visit site
I am starting to look around for a replacement horse for my husband as we will probably be retiring his anglo arab in the next year he has Cushings has mild arthritis (managed) is 22 and now needs a quiet life .He can go out for quiet walks and is sound but we feel he won't be able to do longer rides with trot and canter and would really benefit now from retirement.Own land and facilities so he can happily stay with us loved and well looked after until life becomes a burden.
I am starting to look around for a happy hacker possibly an older horse mid teens as my OH is 70 !!!!
A lot of ads say no time wasters but this really puts me off .
I viewed a horse some years ago now and was told when I walked away without even getting on the horse that I was the 7th time waster that had come to see the horse .
I spoke on the phone for some time explaining what I was looking for and agreed the horse sounded ok and worth looking at .I drove 2 hours took a day off work (it some years ago before I retired) I got out of the car the horse was led out of the stable and it was nothing like as described I said 'no' not what I want got back in the car and drove 2 hours home. The seller said I was the 7th 'time waster!!!!)obviously we all went to see the horse that they said they had not the one they actually had for sale!h
What I wanted and thought I was going to see was about 15.2 middle weight 6 years old done a bit hacked out including in traffic established paces ready to bring on.
What I saw was barely 14.2 very light weight never been out on the roads hacked only around the fields never seen traffic never cantered under saddle!
The thought of going through all this again horrifies me.I don't think I want to view anything where the seller says 'no time wasters! as if passed experience is anything to go by it will be me wasting my time
Big Sigh
 
Last edited:
It doesn't put me off at all if I think the horse suits me and I want to view it- seems rather like cutting off your nose to spite your face to discount the horse because of an off the cuff remark from the seller.

I'm much more interested in how the seller responds when I contact them, how open they sound and the rapport we have.

I usually buy the first horse I see and it works out well so my methods are working for me 😀
 
It can make me wary.

Not wanting to buy the horse if it isn't suitable doesn't make you a time waster, it does however give the seller plenty of scope to justify the horse potentially not being as advertised due to 'time wasters'.

People generally don't travel to view horses they have no interest in.

Obviously there are exceptions re: viewers and sellers, I'm just generalising. :)
 
The point is we did talk an the phone twice I was very up front with what I was looking for and never in a million years was I going to buy that horse it was nothing like what I wanted. Maybe they thought that if they got me there they could sell the horse they just wasted my time (as well as their own)
 
I'm not sure it would put me off completely, but if I was interested in 2 I would go and see the other one first.

It always strikes me as an odd thing to put because if you are a considerate buyer you wouldn't consider being a time waster anyway, so you wouldn't need to be told. And if you were an inconsiderate time waster then you probably wouldn't take any notice anyway...
 
I think a lot of people now think that anyone who doesn't buy the horse is a timewaster. I'm looking for a horse (!) and have been called a timewaster after insisting I wouldn't drive to view without seeing a walk video first (dressage). I said I would happily wait and that they would probably get asked for walk video by more people as they were advertising it as dressage, but apparently I was wasting their time as I could just go and look at their wonderful horse (one of those 'first to try will buy' adverts). After refusing and being grudgingly given a walk video I said no thank you, walk isn't to my taste (bloomin lateral mess tbh) and was called a joy rider and a time waster, not a clue why and glad i saved myself a 2 hour drive.

I have started considering poor quality adverts and difficult sellers as time wasters as I spend an awful lot of time trying to get decent picture and video to judge from and more information about these horses and it's like drawing blood from a stone in the middle of a volcano whilst wearing boots made of ice!

I still contact them, and see what their attitude is, some peope have been seriously messed around (buyers vetting and pulling out, viewing multiple times and not vetting/getting back to people etc) but far too many people considering someone viewing their horse and saying "no" as being a timewaster IMO.
 
Yes it annoys me. And "back up for sale due to complete time waster"

Horses are not a small easy decision, they are a full time commitment, and even though when i had my horse for sale three people said they were coming at 2pm and never showed up (example, not actually agreements) i still did not post about time wasters, end of the day im offering a horse and if they want it badly enough they will come, if they don't they are not worth my horse. The only one who called, came and said the truth was the one who took him home. If people selling think people who don't turn up or do and walk away are time wasters they need to reconsider if they have the best interests in the horse at mind or money!
 
The only time waster is someone that arranges to see a horse, then doesn't turn up too see it, or can't be bothered to let you know they aren't coming.

It can work with buyers as well though
 
It would put me off as it really indicates the seller has an Attitude and probably pretty poor judgement (who would think it was a good idea to put something like that in an advert for goodness sake?). And that would set me wondering about the other things they had said in the ad...
 
Kylara said:
I think a lot of people now think that anyone who doesn't buy the horse is a timewaster. I'm looking for a horse (!) and have been called a timewaster after insisting I wouldn't drive to view without seeing a walk video first (dressage). I said I would happily wait and that they would probably get asked for walk video by more people as they were advertising it as dressage, but apparently I was wasting their time as I could just go and look at their wonderful horse (one of those 'first to try will buy' adverts). After refusing and being grudgingly given a walk video I said no thank you, walk isn't to my taste (bloomin lateral mess tbh) and was called a joy rider and a time waster, not a clue why and glad i saved myself a 2 hour drive.

I have started considering poor quality adverts and difficult sellers as time wasters as I spend an awful lot of time trying to get decent picture and video to judge from and more information about these horses and it's like drawing blood from a stone in the middle of a volcano whilst wearing boots made of ice!

I still contact them, and see what their attitude is, some peope have been seriously messed around (buyers vetting and pulling out, viewing multiple times and not vetting/getting back to people etc) but far too many people considering someone viewing their horse and saying "no" as being a timewaster IMO.
Click to expand...

As somebody who breeds and sells the odd horse, I wouldn't dream of not having a video showing its paces, and usually make one according to what the buyer wants to see. I hate the thought of wasting somebody's time, although I've had mine wasted enough times by unsuitable buyers. Nowadays, I put in the ad "approved home only". That seems to work well without upsetting anyone.
 
millitiger said:
It doesn't put me off at all if I think the horse suits me and I want to view it- seems rather like cutting off your nose to spite your face to discount the horse because of an off the cuff remark from the seller.

I'm much more interested in how the seller responds when I contact them, how open they sound and the rapport we have.

I usually buy the first horse I see and it works out well so my methods are working for me 😀
Click to expand...

^^Same here!

I would never consider someone turning up for a viewing and finding the horse isn't right for them a time waster though.
 
To be honest it makes me think the seller is a bit of a moron. Do they presume that some sellers would welcome timewasters so it's not written in their advert? Or as if people do genuinely takes days out of their lives to drive miles to see a horse for no good reason. It also sounds aggressive.
 
It certainly won't stop a time waster!
But remember, its the horse you want rather than the current owner, we would all like to deal with honest and upfront friendly folks, but sadly they are few and far between in the horsey world.
 
It always seems likes a waste of words on an an advert, with just a few lines to really promote the horse it seems a shame to squander them saying something fairly pointless!
The other phrase I've seen a bit recently is "no joyriders". Do people really make a habit of viewing horses for sale just to get a free ride? I'm guessing that's what it means!
 
The sellers who when asked for 3 good photos of horse - 1 from front and 1 from each side stood up in hand - why send pictures of dear fluffy-face tied on a yard with head cranked round, standing up/down hill, badly fitting tack on, or small child cuddling and the like, they get consigned to the 'time waster vendors' bin for me.

Honestly, vendors - if trying to sell anything, let alone a 3-5k plus, then I actually want to see it stood up without tack before trekking off miles away.
A short video of horse walking in hand & in trot also helps.

TFF, been labelled a timewaster only 2 weeks ago for requesting just std in hand photos :rolleyes3:
 
I've never put it in an ad - though I've had my fair share! Latest was for a stunning little Class 1 ID mare. The 'buyer' oganised its vetting BEFORE coming to see her, all went well when they DID come. The vet was desperate to find SOMETHING and mentioned a little bare patch on her udder (probably from itching) and suggested it MIGHT develop into a sarcoid. They started by offering £1,500 less than asking price, then asked what my 'best price' was. I told them they had it - and off they went without her.


Yesterday's was the opposite. Buyer had seen him before we started backing him. Insisted on paying a deposit before she had a chance to try him. Got videos of him doing 1st trot off the lunge, etc. then arrived to try with a trailer and the cash! He went really well for her, her vet friend had a quick look and listen and it was sealed. And THEN he refused to stay on the trailer (it WAS his first time - he kept walking up - and running off! I NEVER have that happen and he was the last I'd have expected it of!!) Vet friend gave him a small dose of sedative - and off they went - and thankfully he arrived 3 hours later happy. A good home for life, I think.

Some buyers do expect the almost impossible - a horse backed for 6 months shouldn't be green, you know! And it would be nice if they could be weeded out before coming - I try to do it on phone or e-mail. And - thankfully - MOST of the horses I have sold have worked for their owners (I've only bought 3 mares back - 1-3 years later, lol) It's hard both sides!
 
Last edited:
Can it jump, oh yes, they put a pole on the floor and it tripped over it, no sign on the farm gate so took ages to find the place, why they bothered telling us the name of the farm fek knows, when we "finally" found the place I said to the farmer you don't seem to have a farm sign with the name, the farmer replied,na tha int wun, he asked "av yu cum to luk at oss, yes we have come to look at the horse I replied, it was lame, woman said it wi av ta b cash, na cheks, we will think about it I said, byeeeeeeeee, pretty sure who the timewasters were. NOFA.
 
I always read "readvertised due to time wasters" as "failed the vet".

Likewise "first to see will buy" = "I am desperate to get rid of the b*gger".

Probably unfair on my part!
 
charterline said:
The only time waster is someone that arranges to see a horse, then doesn't turn up too see it, or can't be bothered to let you know they aren't coming.

It can work with buyers as well though
Click to expand...

Or the ones that rock up just to spend the afternoon riding other peoples' horses for free. I've seen that myself - they had absolutely no intention of buying anything at all. It happens in the housebuying world two - my family home was advertised as having a 1 acre garden and Mum overheard one couple as they came up the drive complaining that the garden looked too big and it would take too much time up. People like to occupy their Sunday afternoons having a nosey around other peoples' houses because they have nothing more exciting to do.
 
The idea of an advert is to interest and attract people of the type you want to target to come and purchase what you have for sale. Thus the advert should be positive and focus upon being interesting and attractive with a view toward promoting such information as will best present the horse whilst at the same time highlighting the key bits of information that should attract the right kind of buyer.

Things like "No time wasters" won't work because nobody sets out to be a time-waster. Even those that have no real intention of buying don't view their activities as time wasting. However it does give the ad an air that suggests initial hostility. Thus you might get less replies; which one might think is keeping out the time wasters whilst in truth it might be keeping out honest buyers.

"Best price" "Fair price" etc... These are annoyances in ads for anything and often suggest the seller doesn't really want to sell so they are hoping someone comes by and makes an outlandishly high offer to force their hand. Such a statement also leaves the potential buyer confused. A fair price to one person is not a fair price to another so you'll get low and high offers. Ideally you want a price or a price range or at least something that sets a rough valuation on the table = though of course once you state a price that will be the assumed maximum potential price for the animal (though you're under no obligation and can raise or lower the price as you wish - although raised prices above those on an ad generally won't work unless you're throwing something extra in).


It's the same for any product; consider if you were the buyer; what information do you need in the ad; what do you need shown and presented etc... And what feels polite and like you want to deal with the person to agree a sale.
 
I'm guilty of putting no timewasters on adverts .. not for horses as never sold one. There are lots of timewasters out there, people who have no intention of buying but they are literally filling their time with ideals and daydreams ... its infuriating! ... People absolutely do set out to be timewasters in my opinion @ Overread. I now tend to put a really positive advert and then clear instructions to call rather than message. I've found people who call tend to be more serious than the ones who keep messaging! If me putting no timewasters on an advert puts people off contacting me then its probably for the best anyway so no real loss :)
 
horselib said:
I am starting to look around for a replacement horse for my husband as we will probably be retiring his anglo arab in the next year he has Cushings has mild arthritis (managed) is 22 and now needs a quiet life .He can go out for quiet walks and is sound but we feel he won't be able to do longer rides with trot and canter and would really benefit now from retirement.Own land and facilities so he can happily stay with us loved and well looked after until life becomes a burden.
I am starting to look around for a happy hacker possibly an older horse mid teens as my OH is 70 !!!!
A lot of ads say no time wasters but this really puts me off .
I viewed a horse some years ago now and was told when I walked away without even getting on the horse that I was the 7th time waster that had come to see the horse .
I spoke on the phone for some time explaining what I was looking for and agreed the horse sounded ok and worth looking at .I drove 2 hours took a day off work (it some years ago before I retired) I got out of the car the horse was led out of the stable and it was nothing like as described I said 'no' not what I want got back in the car and drove 2 hours home. The seller said I was the 7th 'time waster!!!!)obviously we all went to see the horse that they said they had not the one they actually had for sale!h
What I wanted and thought I was going to see was about 15.2 middle weight 6 years old done a bit hacked out including in traffic established paces ready to bring on.
What I saw was barely 14.2 very light weight never been out on the roads hacked only around the fields never seen traffic never cantered under saddle!
The thought of going through all this again horrifies me.I don't think I want to view anything where the seller says 'no time wasters! as if passed experience is anything to go by it will be me wasting my time
Big Sigh
Click to expand...
Well look at it from the sellers view ( not this one but in general ) providing the seller is very clear on the horses details, capability and temperament etc good to load shoe clip and a few good photos. The seller gives up their time too, getting horses ready, tack clean jumps up time away from work or other chores etc, maybe they are fed up with Tyre kickers who come and try out with no real intention of buying. Then the seller would be fed up with time wasters, sheesh I have had enough of time wasters coming to view horse for loan only not to turn up or get back to me afterwards. Coming to see my horsebox and not showing up, there are too sides to the coin and unfair to to dismiss what could be the perfect horse for you because the seller puts no time wasters.
 
Last edited:
rowan666 said:
^^Same here!

I would never consider someone turning up for a viewing and finding the horse isn't right for them a time waster though.
Click to expand...

Yep, each time I bought the first horse I viewed.

I've never sold a horse, but as a buyer I call up and I will interrogate the owner (in a nice way) about all aspects of the horse, ask for a video and extra pictures. I usually find that if they respond well they are a genuine seller. I am a genuine buyer and touch wood I have never turned up to something that was tiny/completely what I wasn't expecting - infact I have usually bought the horse.

I was actually very lucky with current mare as she was re-advertised but it was just one of those things (Seller explained it to me). People liked her, went to get her vetted and she came in lame with a very obvious kick from the field a few days before the vetting and took a week or so to come fully right again. Seller kept buyer in the loop, said the mare is now sound do you want another vetting but they had found something else. It was fair enough. I had her vetted and she passed with flying colours.

Horses cost us alot of time and money, walking away because it isn't right is a buyers perrogative. Sometimes the horse could be perfect but just doesn't do it for you, same as people, you won't get on with everyone.
 
WandaMare said:
I'm not sure it would put me off completely, but if I was interested in 2 I would go and see the other one first.

It always strikes me as an odd thing to put because if you are a considerate buyer you wouldn't consider being a time waster anyway, so you wouldn't need to be told. And if you were an inconsiderate time waster then you probably wouldn't take any notice anyway...
Click to expand...

Exactly this. And depends on what people consider a time waster. From OPs story I'd say the sellers were. Trying a horse and not finding it suitable isn't a time waster, but some people on FB seem to think that's the case ! It wouldn't put me off but I don't think it adds anything to include that in the wording - use your word count for something more useful describing the horse for sale!
 
Mongoose11 said:
To be honest it makes me think the seller is a bit of a moron. Do they presume that some sellers would welcome timewasters so it's not written in their advert? Or as if people do genuinely takes days out of their lives to drive miles to see a horse for no good reason. It also sounds aggressive.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I was mortified when I saw an advert for a horse I viewed last year as "back up for sale due to total timewaster". In truth, she wasted my time and a considerable amount of diesel spent going to look at something that wasn't as advertised and it became apparent that the "recent" videos I had been sent were taken before it had become unlevel in front.
 
I do wonder if sellers have rose tinted specs when it comes to their horses rather than deliberately mis-describing them.

My friend is looking for a first pony for her kids. They're slightly older than your usual first pony customers so need a 13.2hh rather than the 11hh that are advertised everywhere and it's proving very difficult. We went to see one at the weekend and while it was slow, it was slow because it was lazy, belligerent and resistant rather than because it was a calm safe pony. I was also not conviced he was 100% sound although it could have been his strange leg markings making him look like he was moving weirdly.The kids had a trot round on it but didn't want to try cantering, which is a telling sign - when they went to see their perfect last pony, whom they sadly lost in the spring, they cantered him within 10 minutes despite not having cantered before! It was ridden in a Waterford and when my friend, a very good rider, finally managed to get it to canter she found him very resistant and difficult to stop. By this point the seller's daughter was crying as she was convinced we loved him and were going to buy him when he clearly wasn't what we were looking for. I have no doubt they thought the first people to see him would buy him because he was so perfect but he was far from it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top