Frustrated with dealer...

L

LowenKi

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 May 2012
Messages
188
Visit site
Tried a horse twice now, and went to watch it compete yesterday. Dealer seems uninterested in talking to me - I had to talk to their back most of yesterday at the competition becuase they wouldn't even look at me when I was talking! Both times when I tried the horse they 'couldn't find' the passport or 'it was in the lorry - which is out'... yesterday at the competition they 'forgot it' again!

They have been supposed to text me the competition name of the animal (so I can check the records and do some simple background checks online etc) the past three days and last night when I left another voicemail about it I got a text back saying they were out at dinner. :rolleyes:

Texted back politely again this morning but still no response. Thinking that there must be something dodgy going on and am about to walk away... what do you think? :confused:

They just seem totally disinterested in making the sale, despite me being on the brink of making an offer they don't seem to want me to! I don't understand it really! Yesterday I kind of got the impression that they thought I was wasting their time, but I've done two viewings - one with my trainer who they know - and yesterday took my family along to watch the horse compete... surely I wouldn't do all this and be so focused on seeing the passport etc if I wasn't a genuine buyer?! Feel like I should walk away really. :(
 
Last edited:
Walk away! It's illegal to transport a horse without a passport, so no way should they have been at a show without it. Having heard a story recently of someone who picked up a horse on the promise of the passport being sent, then when it arrived found it was for a totally different horse and the dealers are well known to Trading Standards, I would run fast in the other direction!
 
If you were watching it compete yesterday, surely you know the horse's competition name?

Does sound a bit unprofessional of them, and not a great attitude, but maybe they think you're just tyre kicking. If you like the horse, perhaps make an offer subject to checking out the passport and all being okay - they might take you a bit more seriously then.
 
Walk away.

If they can't be arsed to talk to you pre-sale then imagine what they will be like post sale if you find yourself with a problem horse.

Always go with your gut feeling. This one has alarm bells ringing.
 
ihatework said:
Walk away.

If they can't be arsed to talk to you pre-sale then imagine what they will be like post sale if you find yourself with a problem horse.

Always go with your gut feeling. This one has alarm bells ringing.
Click to expand...

This. And like other posters have said it is illegal for them to be transporting the horse without the passport anyway.
 
xspiralx said:
If you were watching it compete yesterday, surely you know the horse's competition name?
Click to expand...

Well it was only unaffiliated and they entered it under it's 'nickname' that they've given it - prefixed with the name of the dealer. So no, I still don't know the horses passported name! So frustrating!

Thanks for your comments guys, think I'll leave this one well alone. Such a shame - the horse seemed to tick all the boxes each time I've seen it! Don't want to take any risks though, and it certainly sounds like there is something fishy going on here!
 
Most definitely walk away. And if you don't walk away(you should!) & you do try to buy,have passport physically in your hand,get it
vetted&get vet to check if microchip(if it has one) matches passport/horse's ID. They're probably reluctant to sell to you cos there is something dodgy about it and you are being persistent in asking the right questions(good for you!) which is uncomfortable/inconvenient to them. You will find the horse for you&it'll feel right from the start:)
 
They seem to be uninterested in the sale, who knows the reason ?

It could be that they have another buyer in the pipeline or are still waiting for the passport themselves, so they are using delay tactics.
It might be that they think you're not suitable for the horse.
It might be that they want a quick easy sale and if the horse is very sellable, they can get that elsewhere.

Or it might be that they are just downright rude.

They'll need the passport for the vetting, so if you aren't put off, find out the comp name, arrange the vet and attend the vetting in person.
 
Personally, if the horse ticked all my boxes I would just tell the dealer straight - Give me the passport details/scan of passport now or I am going to have to walk away. Why shoot yourself in the foot because the dealer is being rude? Its not the horse's fault.
 
mcnaughty said:
Personally, if the horse ticked all my boxes I would just tell the dealer straight - Give me the passport details/scan of passport now or I am going to have to walk away. Why shoot yourself in the foot because the dealer is being rude? Its not the horse's fault.
Click to expand...

My phone calls this morning and text have been ignored... I left a message saying I could pop by at lunchtime to take a look at the passport... still no response as yet! If I don't hear back/get put off again I'm giving up - perhaps they are just genuinely disorganised - or perhaps they are sitting on the horse until it looks like they can make a sale without someone wanting to check the passport and have it vetted. Hmmmm...
 
Perhaps there is a reason they don't want you to know the horses full history, they probably want a buyer who won't do any background checks etc.
I, too would walk away, they're loss if they are just disorganised but it does seem they are hiding something.
 
mcnaughty said:
Personally, if the horse ticked all my boxes I would just tell the dealer straight - Give me the passport details/scan of passport now or I am going to have to walk away. Why shoot yourself in the foot because the dealer is being rude? Its not the horse's fault.
Click to expand...

^^ this as last try and if no response walk away. If it works then thorough vetting and if possible background check on competition name.

Good luck
 
EAST KENT said:
What more do they have to do to tell you they do not want to sell you this horse???:eek:
Click to expand...

I don't understand why not though - I'm stood here with the cash and have told them I'll put a deposit down today if I can see the passport. They have just told me that they won't be around for me to visit at lunchtime and that they won't do any business after 4pm so basically that means I can't go after work either... so weird!
 
Is it an expensive horse? Seems very odd to me. I am surprised in this financial climate that they are not biting your hand off for a sale.
 
Walk away.

If they show such little interest now you'll have no joy at all if something goes wrong.

My first thought is they are stalling as maybe they have had interest from someone paying more. You know whats its like you do an add for one price, don't get any luck, reduce the price elsewhere and then someone sees the expensive add and shows interest.
 
LowenKi said:
I don't understand why not though - I'm stood here with the cash and have told them I'll put a deposit down today if I can see the passport. They have just told me that they won't be around for me to visit at lunchtime and that they won't do any business after 4pm so basically that means I can't go after work either... so weird!
Click to expand...

Who is this person. Never heard of a dealer trying so hard not to make a sale.
 
Horse is advertised on their website at £4k and was in H&H a few weeks ago with the same price tag. It hasn't been advertised anywhere else, and we've already had a discussion about taking no offers so they know I'm going to put a deposit down based on the asking price.
 
There is no nice way of saying this but....

is it possible that the dealer does not think you and the horse are suited, perhaps they don't want to sell the horse to you because they believe it would be the wrong thing to do and rather than tell you to your face they are trying to discourage you in every other way possible?

No dealer would want to sell and animal knowing that the partnership isn't going to work and they are going to have nothing but hassle when it goes wrong.

Of course, it may be simply they are a bit of a dodgy outfit and just want a quick no questions asked sale.

Either way, take the hint and leave this one alone maybe.
 
Gluttonforpunishment said:
There is no nice way of saying this but....

is it possible that the dealer does not think you and the horse are suited, perhaps they don't want to sell the horse to you because they believe it would be the wrong thing to do and rather than tell you to your face they are trying to discourage you in every other way possible?

No dealer would want to sell and animal knowing that the partnership isn't going to work and they are going to have nothing but hassle when it goes wrong.

Of course, it may be simply they are a bit of a dodgy outfit and just want a quick no questions asked sale.

Either way, take the hint and leave this one alone maybe.
Click to expand...



Most dealers are quite ballsy characters and would just say if this is the case.
 
I would have lost interest after the first muck up TBH. Plenty of nice horses out there, this wont be the only one and to be frank, if that's their idea of customer service I'd be telling them to stick it :D
 
Gluttonforpunishment said:
There is no nice way of saying this but....

is it possible that the dealer does not think you and the horse are suited, perhaps they don't want to sell the horse to you because they believe it would be the wrong thing to do and rather than tell you to your face they are trying to discourage you in every other way possible?
Click to expand...

Well I came to view the horse first through my trainer - who they know as they have sold him horses in the past - trainer had already seen the horse with another client and recommended it as right for me. Trial went well - had a lesson with my trainer on it, seemed to tick all the boxes and I left with a big smile.

If the horse wasn't right (they are selling as straightforward anybodys ride btw - and I'm a competent experienced BD/BE rider so no novice) my trainer would have said as I completely trust them.

It's all a bit weird to be honest!
 
Just a thought, can you not get a friend to ring "wishing to view" the horse and see if they can make an appointment for after 4 to see the horse. If they agree then you have your answer ?:rolleyes:

TBH I think I would walk away ...
 
I'm certain it's what another poster said. They have something to hide and as you are being thorough they don't want to sell it to you because you will catch them out.

I bet if you had turned up on the first day had a ride and then brought it without any questions they would have sold it to you.

If it was me I wouldn't waste anymore of my time with them. It all screams dodgy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top