Timewaster scams??

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plumpie

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Is this a recognised time wasting prank/scam?

If someone places an advert online, and very quickly they receive an email reply from a prospective buyer. The prospective buyer emails back, saying they really want to buy, asks the right questions and sounds genuine, etc...but they can't come to view for a week, and persuades the seller to hold the sale until then.

On the agreed viewing day, the prospective buyer fails to turn up, and cannot be contacted.

----

I know it's not a scam as such, as no money is stolen, but by doing this the seller probably has to place a fresh advert, and has probably lost any real buyers that contacted them. (I'm wondering as I think this has just happened to me)
 
To be honest, if I was selling a horse - I wouldn't turn someone else away on the basis someone can't view said horse for a week.

If they like the horse that much, they 'll view sooner. If they can't & other people view in the meantime? That's unlucky for them.

I'm sorry it's happened to you, but I don't think it's a scam - but perhaps, just be a little savvier next time? X
 
Sometimes people, for some unknown reason, can't call up and say "sorry found another" or "don't think this one's for me". They find it easier not to call. Don't think if you're holding it for them, they're not still looking...
Also, there's more than one suitable home for your horse, it's better to have lots of people interested, coming to view etc as if any of them make you feel it's not a good match you can not sell to them.
 
The time to hold others off and give somebody extra time is when you've discovered the perfect purchaser and they maybe need a bit of time to organise a vetting. Even then I'd be keeping any other suitable purchasers on the hook if I could, whilst being honest about the stage the preferred purchaser is at. They have to earn the right to extra time, and just sending an email enquiring about the horse isn't enough!
 
I've just had the opposite of that! Contacted advertiser and everything seemed fine on both sides. It's a 300 mile round trip to view so I make extravagant arrangements so that if I decide to buy (which seems likely), I can go straight ahead without further delays. The seller is making all the right noises, I have the transport arranged, and it appears to be perfect for everyone.

Then nothing. Nada. Total silence. Presumably they have another buyer which is fine, but why be so rude? What would it take to send a short email? That seems to be the norm these days. I sold some items on Ebay. Again, the buyer doesn't pay and doesn't communicate. People lie, cheat, don't answer emails…. Honesty, politeness, and respect for others are things of the past.
 
Had almost exactly this with a good rug and buyer sounded plausible, was on hol, lived local and couldn't collect for a week.
Chased on the morning of the day she was going to collect and then sudden back pedal as had family problems.
Luckily, another who was keen came up same evening with the money.
would never hold back for a horse but this seemed okay at the time, sigh
 
As said, if they are really intereseted they will come sooner. I saw one i wanted and was there that night, and am getting it lol
 
Obviously not in the same league but I over catered for my daughter's birthday party by 100% due to people not RSVPing. It was the first party we had invited non family/close friends to and I suddenly panicked about what if they all turned up so bought lots of extra food. I was eating buttons out of the party bags for days. All it would have taken is a text, at least I'll know next time.

I did view a potential loan pony a while ago (only viewed once), decided it was not for me and let the owner know the same day. I was irrationally put out when the advert was suddenly altered to say "absolutely no time wasters". I know, stupid to be bothered.
 
You get time wasters even when you're trying to give things away. I'm a member of my local Freecycle group and have had people not turn up to collect things and judging by the re advertised posts, there are a lot of people who are just too rude to say 'sorry, I've changed my minds'.
 
It really does seem to be the "usual custom" these days. Let's be honest now, how many here thank those who reply to requests for advice on HHO?

When I first started contributing to forums, I assumed my advice had been dismissed as worthless if I got no reply, but that's not it. It is no longer considered necessary to thank people and I'm just as guilty. Of course, if the advice is rubbish, the silence may be justified!:)

Up here in the far north, a unilateral arrangement is often accepted because historically there were difficulties in communicating over distance (no phone, let alone email, etc. back then). So, I might write to some one suggesting a meeting on such-and-such a day. If there is no reply, it is assumed the other party agrees and will attend. A strange custom in my opinion and I'd always want confirmation or just assume the opposite.
 
All scammers are <insert rude word... Will go with plonkers due to forum rules> plonkers but not all plonkers are scammers.

I think this time they're just plonkers. Scammers don't have the market cornered on impoliteness unfortunately.
 
plumpie said:
Is this a recognised time wasting prank/scam?

If someone places an advert online, and very quickly they receive an email reply from a prospective buyer. The prospective buyer emails back, saying they really want to buy, asks the right questions and sounds genuine, etc...but they can't come to view for a week, and persuades the seller to hold the sale until then.

On the agreed viewing day, the prospective buyer fails to turn up, and cannot be contacted.

----

I know it's not a scam as such, as no money is stolen, but by doing this the seller probably has to place a fresh advert, and has probably lost any real buyers that contacted them. (I'm wondering as I think this has just happened to me)
Click to expand...
I had a similar when my Horsebox was advertised on here, some foreign @"@" asking me stupid questions and saying he will buy it even though not seeing it.

Time waster ignore
 
HGA-12 said:
I had a similar when my Horsebox was advertised on here, some foreign @"@" asking me stupid questions and saying he will buy it even though not seeing it.

Time waster ignore
Click to expand...

That sounds more like a regular scam that is doing the rounds. If you had continued with the communication, they would have sent you the money via Western Union or something similar, then asked you to pay an agency fee up front on some excuse or other. When you've forwarded the fee you discover that the purchase money hasn't been transferred after all. Not sure how it works, but be careful out there!

Here's an example:

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5...-WATCH-FOR/td-p/631754?profile.language=en-gb
 
Last year I had 30 bales of hay that I couldn't fit in my barn. I put a message on a local horsey FB site giving it away. Lots of very interested people, One girl said she would take the lot & pick it up the next day. She didn't come. Gave her another chance & so on & so on. A week later the bloody hay was still sat there, it got soaked in a load of rain & I decided to let it dry & burn it because I was so fed up with the rudeness of people.
 
asmp said:
You get time wasters even when you're trying to give things away. I'm a member of my local Freecycle group and have had people not turn up to collect things and judging by the re advertised posts, there are a lot of people who are just too rude to say 'sorry, I've changed my minds'.
Click to expand...
I have had more trouble with giving things away for free. I you are doing is trying to help and you are made to think they are doing you a favour or somehow they have a right to it. More trouble than its worth.
 
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