Would you bother replying? I put my mobile on the ad so people can RING it, not txt me. I'd have thought it was a sign of a timewaster or am I being unfair?
personally would press the delete button, if they are really interested then they will have more questions to ask than will fit in a text so they would have to ring.
Would definitely not reply to text messages. If someone can't be bothered or have the manners to ring and speak to you, then they are not worth bothering about. If you ad is on-line, can you edit it to say "please ring - text messages will not be answered" or something along those lines?
I have also texted a basic 'is it still for sale'. Bare in mind that horse shopping, like horse selling, can become a pain in the backside. Ringing about horse's that are sold and the ones that aren't are so often nothing like described in the ad when the potential buyers travels miles to see it! I think I may have also texted 'is the horse suitable for a novice'!! if it hasn't been included in the ad. If that is what is required and its not, what is the point in wasting both peoples time - texting is quick and painless!
If the answer to the basic question was yes though, then the further questions would be asked in a telephone discussion. I guess I'm saying, don't assume someone isn't serious because they ask an initial basic question by text.
I think a 'is your horse still for sale?' is acceptable.
To those I usually reply, 'Yes, i can be contacted on this phone at any time'.
Anything else I just ignore.
I've heard this subject before and someone made quite a good comment of 'sometimes people have to txt due to hearing difficulties' which is fair enough. I have sent txts before just to see if the horse is still for sale, its not to hard for someone to txt back yes or no.
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I've heard this subject before and someone made quite a good comment of 'sometimes people have to txt due to hearing difficulties' which is fair enough. I have sent txts before just to see if the horse is still for sale, its not to hard for someone to txt back yes or no.
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Hmm...had never thought of that one...I'll reply then!
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I have texted to ask if horse is still for sale out of hours (i.e. before 9am, after 8pm or on a Sunday).
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Me too, especially as it was an older ad.
I wouldn't text general inquiries though as it would take forever to work through the basic questions alone. Plus, I like hear the seller talk about the horse.
i had a txt enquiry for my horse and answered it, turns out she was a teacher so was txting me at work on the sly! did turn out to be a timewaster after inging and aranging a viewing, she was a no show!
I have texted to find out if a horse is still for sale and asked when is a convinient time to call so as not to annoy the owner and ensure they've got time to talk - that's hardly being rude is it
? I was just trying to be helpful and understanding
If an advert says no texts then of course I wouldn't.
cant see a problem in texting to see if the horse is still avaliable, and then ringing if it still is,
I have done this myself on numerous occasions, and I would reply if people texted me, it is only like someone sending you a email......
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cant see a problem in texting to see if the horse is still avaliable, and then ringing if it still is,
I have done this myself on numerous occasions, and I would reply if people texted me, it is only like someone sending you a email......
It is the modern world and some people text about all sorts of things. I wouldn't book/cancel a lesson or an appointment by text but I know people who do it all the time so I'm pretty sure they wouldn't think it rude to at least make a preliminary inquiry on a horse that way. And I agree many people now text when they really shouldn't be communicating with the outside world so it might really be someone just trying to figure out the best time to reliably get in touch.
Personally, I think it's rude but I also tend to think when I'm selling horses that I need to keep my eye on the prize, which is to sell the horse not, hard as it is to resist the temptation in the face of obvious need, to teach people manners.
Ah good point Cruiser. You see the prize for me, is finding the absolutely perfect person for the horse; if I think that the person is rude from the offset, then sorry they aren't having my horse LOL!! The prize is not the money for me, although obviously as this is part of my business, yes I do aim for the asking price....I have found that I haven't had to compromise at all; all the horses I've sold have been to polite and courteous people.
Over here the oddest thing is when you are emailed about a horse: "Is it still for sale" OR "will you take $xxxx for it?" or something similar....I never ever reply to those sorts of emails - surely people are capable of stringing more than half a sentence together