Private advertiser?? I think not!!

Yubbie

Yubbie

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1 April 2010
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Have just rung in response to an advert that I saw - decent picture of the horse, the write up was a little lacking in details, but advertised as a private sale. Anyway on speaking to the 'owner' it was quite apparent that she was side stepping a lot of my questions, and was a bit too vague. She really didn't seem to know much about the horse whereas I usually find genuine people will talk for hours about their horses -all she kept saying was "do come and have a look as the horse is well worth it!" Anyway the cynical side of me wasn't happy so I googled her number.....surprise surprise at least 5 other adverts popped up. Now I'm not saying anything was wrong but why doesn't she admit she is a dealer and not a private seller - if she can't be honest about that then what other surprises are in store for potential buyers???
 
I was suprised myself this morning to see an advert on Horse Mart for a horse at a yard I used to keep mine at. This too was advertised as private and I know for a fact was bought to sell and the professional does this alot. It made me a bit sad really as although its a nice horse I felt a bit disappointed with the lady really, having been misled myself with an unsuitable horse last year it saddens me to think they would do that to someone else after all the sympathising they did with me! Likewise if you googled the number like you said you would find the other 4 horses she is 'privately' selling all nice but why not just be honest!
 
Also you have more rights buying from a dealer than a private individual so they try to avoid liability/responsibility that way. As well as avoiding taxes... I have no issue buying from genuine bona fide dealers but not when it is underhand like that.
 
What about if it's someone who produces for fun. Would that be someone classed as a dealer? I know someone who does this and advertises as private. I have never thought of her as anything other TBH. She sells maybe 2-3 horses a year - does that make her a dealer?
 
abi31 said:
A dealer has to sell over a certain number of horses in a year to be thus classified. I think it's 5 but not sure.:rolleyes:
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It's a bit of a grey area.

I have bought (or taken on behalf of owner) and sold a handful over the years. No more than 1 a year, though realistically 1 every 2 years ish. I advertise them as private sales although I am looking to make a small profit on them. My justification is that I would full time in a completely different industry, producing and selling a horse is just a side hobby. That said I am more than happy to tell any prospective purchaser exactly that.

However if you are running an equestrian related business, not primarily horse sales, but do sell a few horses as a side then I think you would need to be very careful as this could easily come under the dealing catagory, even if it was only 1/2/3 a year.
 
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