TIMEWASTERS are absolutely driving me CRACKERS!!!

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

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So, following on from my previous thread. Not getting into slanging matches or rights or wrongs btw.

I have re-advertised my boy and am trying to sell him. When he was advertised the first time round, the only people that were actually pro-active, called me and actually ARRANGED to come and see him were the people that had him on trial. I had a lot of other responses but none of them ended up going anywhere at all and were all just dead ends.

EXACTLY the same thing has happened this time around, but multiplied by 10 it seems! Tues afternoon and evening and Wed afternoon and evening AND all this morning I have been inundated with responses. However, I am astounded at the amount of sheer timewasters and they just keep on coming. Tues eve and last night I sat up until midnight both evenings answering inquiries/queries/telling people all about him. There have been about 6 people who have kept the messaging/email exchange for hours and then right at the end ‘awww, bless, he sounds and looks lovely, might get back to you sometime this week.’ Arghhhh, so are you interested or not? Needless to say I have heard nothing at all back from any of them.

Yesterday I had a lovely lady email me who is actually in the next village, again, exchanged fair few messages in which she told me all about her current horsey problems(!) said he would be absolutely perfect for her...got all my hopes up……….then on the very last message ‘So if we could do a swap that would be good’ :eek: has a nutty TB that she’s lost her confidence on and wants me to take that and do a swap as hasn’t got a spare stable otherwise. Errr no and if I’d have known that at the start I wouldn’t have wasted time exchanging messages.

Another lady last night, only about 45 min drive away…..wants something safe and quiet to hack etc etc, sounded perfect for him, I dropped the price for her as the home sounded perfect, all sounded good and then ‘but he will be okay kept on his own wont he if he has lots of TLC?’ :eek: I calmly but wearily explained that horses are herd animals and really should be kept with another horse or some sort of livestock or something, or at least other horses in sight. ‘Oh, okay, well if we get another will get back in contact.’ Again, I’m not being mean but another 30 mins of my life wasted.
Lady this morning, messaged me a few times, wanted to know all about him, reason for sale etc etc. After giving her all the information ‘Would you let me have him on loan?’ NO, in fact I have had LOADS of people saying ‘will you loan him.’ Fair enough, but they know the price of the horse, he is going for a v nominal sum, what would be the point in a loan?!

Another lady who has been messaging me since Tues eve. She is upset at having to have her mare PTS and bless her, she is really upset and does seem lovely and I got into general convo about the mare and the PTS Tues eve and last night but she keeps saying she wants my boy but when I say ‘right, when would you want to come and see him then?’ all I get is a ‘ohhh don’t know really, am probably an hour and a half away.’ I just didn’t message back and then got ANOTHER message from her last night saying how she was sat at her comp bawling her eyes out because of having her mare PTS, AGAIN I sympathised and chatted with her but stopped because I just didn’t have the time and don’t see what the point of the convo is if she isn’t going to take her interest in my boy any further? Just ‘bumped’ his ad again and she’s just messaged me AGAIN saying she’s still crying over her mare, her mare would have loved a sunny day like today etc. I am not heartless in the slightest and really feel for the poor woman but I have problems of my own and don’t really have time to play agony aunt.

Yes, I probably sound like a cow but I now have two horses and work full time and am feeling a little bit stressed, am losing the will to live and tbh just want a GENUINE buyer who is straight to the point and efficient in arranging to come and view him.

I have advertised on all my local horsey FB groups, Preloved (well actually am trying but it keeps saying server error but he WILL be on there) have emailed adverts to both my local hunts and two friends both on very busy livery yards, have put the word out everywhere. He is for sale for pittance so don’t see the point in doing Horsemart, Quest etc. Plus, he’s really just a happy hack/light schooling/pleasure ride type now so not sure I would be advertising to the right audience on those.

Are there any other not bank breaking, popular sites to advertise on? There must be SOMEONE who wants a safe, fun, genuine hack and horse for virtually nothing, he even comes with full wardrobe for gods sake.

Rant over.
 
pets4homes is popular around here. FB probably isn't the best in terms of avoiding getting into conversations with people who aren't really looking to buy. I feel for you, but you'll probably find you'll get more responses from the advertising sites at the weekend - I just sold one that I had no responses for until the weekend and then could have sold him at least 3 times over.
 
Stop the messages, update your advert with "Please call for more information". If you get an email/text asking if he's still for sale, respond with "Yes, please call this number" and then delete any more emails/texts from that person. Do NOT get into email/text exchanges, genuine buyers will be on the phone wanting to see him.

Ignore the crazy lady now, she will eventually go away.
 
In fairness, I don't think people enquiring about your horse and saying they will get back to you are time wasters. People need to make contact and discuss potential horses, who may or may not fit their bills. They may say "he sounds lovely" but that doesn't mean they think he's the horse for them or what they want.

As for the one who wanted to keep him alone. Sure, it's not something I'd do, but people do keep horses by themselves. you're totally at liberty not to sell to someone like that (I wouldn't either) but it's not her being a timewaster. She just has different ideas about how to keep horses. I wouldn't sell to someone who planned to stable 24/7 over winter either, but I couldn't blame them for me not wanting to sell to them!

The one asking for a swap and the cryer are a bit odd, but the world is full of oddballs.

Chill out. There's no point getting so worked up. It will make you seem a bit nuts to potential buyers and could put them off if they see these posts / it bleeds through in your ad / responses. And aside from that, it won't get him sold any quicker, so take a deep breath and keep at it.
 
Read your previous thread but didn't comment- sounds like you are having a bit of a rough time with it all at the minute so just wanted to say good luck, hopefully someone sensible will come along soon! Shame it didn't work out with lwvtb people.
 
I wish i knew of someone looking right now- Id send them your way. I guess the best thing is word of mouth and local adverts, although a few people i know have either bought or sold from online places- horse hunter, horse select etc.

id also maybe print of a little advert with some pics and drop it around to competition places/yards/tack shops etc, and of course all things horsey norfolk/east anglia!

Good luck and i hope you find a good home for him.
 
9tails said:
Stop the messages, update your advert with "Please call for more information". If you get an email/text asking if he's still for sale, respond with "Yes, please call this number" and then delete any more emails/texts from that person. Do NOT get into email/text exchanges, genuine buyers will be on the phone wanting to see him.

Ignore the crazy lady now, she will eventually go away.
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^^^This. You're selling a horse, TALK to the potential buyers, you are wasting your own time with all this messaging crap.
 
You could try paper ads in your local tack shops - old fashioned but it can work. Also gumtree and how about up at local competition venues (might find a mum who wants to hack out with competitive daughter) and e-mail local riding clubs.
 
I Know exactly how you feel. I advertised my rising 4 YO unbacked mare for what i classed as a fair price. Was innundated with emails /texts etc. i replied to them all, sending photos, videos etc. had several people booked for viewings, all of them wanted her. No one turned up ! The excuses i got where unreal, IF i ever decider to advertise her again, I will put a health warning on the ad. ' Beware if you show interest in this ad you may well experience bizarre and unexpected misfortune.

Chin up, sounds like you are advertising in all the right places, you will find the right home for him

Good luck
 
I think you just have to be patient, I know you want to sell him ASAP but it doesn't always work like that. I've just sold a lovely little mare for peanuts, I paid for advertising on Horsemart but eventually found the buyer through Preloved. I started advertising in March and she only went 2 weeks ago, I had the usual text messages, people asking for loans or installment payments and people not turning up for viewings and even with the people who did eventually buy her that took the best part of a month with poor weather at the first viewing, them not being able to come again until the following weekend for another trial and then a week waiting for the vetting etc. At the time I was pulling my hair out as I had 4 horses, a young baby and my own business but now I am glad that she has found a lovely home and they are really pleased with her.

I think you maybe need to accept he's not going to get sold overnight and keep updating the advert and you will get a genuine buyer eventually.
 
Lol- don't get me wrong, I understand people have to enquire and asking a few Q's doesn't make them a timewaster. It is just when they ask a million and one Q's, then make all the right noises and 'OMG- he is perfect, I SO want him' etc and then 10 mins later after you've said 'Would you like to come and view?' 'Oh...well, I'll get back to you maybe.' that pees me off.

I have started to not answer, give my phone no and say 'ring me to discuss futher, thanks' but surprisingly none of them have rung :rolleyes:

I am all sweetness and light to everyone- noone would ever know I was irritated, I just have a sore head from banging it against desk so much instead!!
 
Everyone who sells more than likely has to deal with their fair share of timewasters. Such has been the case with everyone i've known that have been trying to sell. It comes with the territory, i'm afraid. Though certain places (FB) are more likely to encourage timewasters as they can simply PM you or comment on your post - whereas if you posted elsewhere and only included a number they'd HAVE to phone you and thus are likely to be more serious buyers as they have to actually go out of their way.
 
Yes- know what you mean that's why I'm thinking Horsemart or similar may be the way forward, just not sure because of what he is being sold as and his price whether it would be the correct demographic as it were.
 
What about flyering local yards/riding schools? I almost bought a horse that way before this one (it failed the vetting, owners weren't so honest it seems)
 
I had the worst time waster ever a few years ago when I was selling my slightly quirky horse. A mother and daughter came to view for the daughter, she rode the mare in the school and they seemed to get on well together, then the YO took her out for a 30 minute hack, when they left the yard I said to the mother "they seemed to get on well, what do you think?" Mother replied, " oh, we aren't looking to buy, it's just that my daughter's got her Stage 2 shortly and I want her to experience riding lots of different horses and lessons are so expensive!"
 
Bless you. I must admit i have bought and sold the kids ponies, then their horses on horsemart. It would be my first port of call to have a look whats for sale too. Fingers crossed for you.
 
sue_nf said:
I had the worst time waster ever a few years ago when I was selling my slightly quirky horse. A mother and daughter came to view for the daughter, she rode the mare in the school and they seemed to get on well together, then the YO took her out for a 30 minute hack, when they left the yard I said to the mother "they seemed to get on well, what do you think?" Mother replied, " oh, we aren't looking to buy, it's just that my daughter's got her Stage 2 shortly and I want her to experience riding lots of different horses and lessons are so expensive!"
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:eek: :eek: :eek:
 
sue_nf said:
I had the worst time waster ever a few years ago when I was selling my slightly quirky horse. A mother and daughter came to view for the daughter, she rode the mare in the school and they seemed to get on well together, then the YO took her out for a 30 minute hack, when they left the yard I said to the mother "they seemed to get on well, what do you think?" Mother replied, " oh, we aren't looking to buy, it's just that my daughter's got her Stage 2 shortly and I want her to experience riding lots of different horses and lessons are so expensive!"
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That's unbelievable!

You will generally get a more serious type of buyer from horsequest/mart though so I would say that it's probably worth the ad.
 
Meant to say PP, good luck, your horse sounds a sweetie, such a shame you are so far from me as I would love a sane sensible happy hacker.
 
Would he be suitable for a pony club home? If so it might be worth putting him in their site and emailing local branches to see if anyone's looking, the same with local riding clubs.
 
I feel your pain. Mine is actually away on livery to be sold as I couldn't face the prospect of time wasters! My personal favourites are "can we have her on loan or LWVTB" when advert says in capitals NO LOANS!!

Sigh! I think the market is just bad right now. Honestly can't see why some horses are still for sale that were for sale months ago. It's frustrating but to me, finding the right home is most important. It only takes the right person to see your advert. Hopefully the right person will see my advert soon lol
 
It is so frustrating. We are trying to sell my TB mare at the mo (bought her last summer and its just not working out on top of exams). We have had one inquiry and she completely wasted our time....

First she phoned several times with LOADS of questions, we didn't feel we could answer them all so gave her a) my instructors numbr and b)number of previous owner (we had agreed this with both of them)

She then asked fo us to send her some pics on her email...we sent her the few pics we have and explained that we didn't have much experience in selling etc. (because we've only ever sold ponies that we've outgrown etc.)...she then emailed back saying she wanted more of her on the flat and as we didn't actually have any we organised a session with my instructor and my friend took some (rather nice) pics on her ipad. We had to send them to her one at a time bacause otherwise they blocked up the computer. She then emailed back saying that she had asked for pics of her without tack just on the yard....

.. sow e went to the yard and took picturesof her stood without tack, trying our best to make sure the pics did her justice....sent them to which she complained she could not seee the whole horse (and the whole horse could be seen). So she told us to take pics of hyer stood perfectly square from the front, back and side....so we did....snd on returning from the yard we found she had sent another email saying she was no longer interested.

It is o infuriating as a) having talked with her she sounded really suitable for Peggy b.) it wasted so much of our time and c.) we haven't had a single inquiry since....:mad:
 
Having seen the ad, I wonder if people are put off post-phone call by the fact the reason he can only be used as a hack/ light schooling isn't stated?

I'd also say all things horsey is not a great place to advertise. A horse would have to be very special for me to phone up off there. I would also say that you could say permanent loan considered... And then insist on them paying you a pound or so and you giving them a receipt? So he is theirs, but for a very nominal sum. I can't imagine you're asking much more than £600...
 
Lolo said:
Having seen the ad, I wonder if people are put off post-phone call by the fact the reason he can only be used as a hack/ light schooling isn't stated?

I'd also say all things horsey is not a great place to advertise. A horse would have to be very special for me to phone up off there. I would also say that you could say permanent loan considered... And then insist on them paying you a pound or so and you giving them a receipt? So he is theirs, but for a very nominal sum. I can't imagine you're asking much more than £600...
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Yes- you're probably correct, I should've stated the reason in the ad.

No he is not even £600!! Bless him!!
 
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