Why is selling such a nightmare?

[05jackd]

I know this is not specific to horses but why is selling such a nightmare these days. It used to be that you saw an advert - rang the number had a chat and then viewed or not.

This weekend alone I have had 15 video requests all wanting to see different things (for a broodmare). Of those 10 never responded to the videos.

One said horse was out of their budget after requesting videos and receiving of movement loose jumping etc - price is on the advert
One enquired - Videos sent - they wanted more specific videos - sent - then said horse was too far - location on the advert.

One woman rang/ emailed/ text and rang again in the space of an hour. When I rang her back she couldn't even remember the horse she was enquiring about. Requested multiple videos and then said she was looking for different bloodlines - again on the advert!

Is there an easier way to cut out the non serious buyers? This is a very cheap broodmare just looking for a nice home but I seem to be plagued by timewasters. Poor horse has been pulled in multiple times this weekend to get videos of hosing/ feet picked out/ trot ups/ loose jumping / loading / feeding in stable / caught / tied up inside and outside.

To then be told that she is unsuitable for something that's on the advert is very frustrating and a huge waste of my time.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s frustrating but it is what selling ( anything ) can be like .
Theres a lot of people with disorganised minds out there .

 

[stormox]

A lot of people dont like what you show in the video but are too polite to say or dont want confrontation so make up an excuse

 

[maya2008]

Lady I bought my latest project off said she would only take phone calls, and to message her for her number. Once we’d had a chat she sent me a couple of things I needed to see, then we viewed (and bought) the next day. Maybe try that? You can gauge on the phone if someone is serious or not.

 

[ihatework]

For what you are describing I think there are various potential things going on …
1. Polite excuse because they don’t like horse. Personally I’d prefer a ‘thanks, not quite my type’ response - but people a weird.
2. Possibly dealers wondering if they can make a quick buck on broodie to ridden scam.
3. Daydreamers just seeing a cheap horse

Make sure you have good conformation photo, I’m sure a video of her moving can’t hurt. But then people wanting tying/feet pick blah blah blah are 99% likely time wasters and I just wouldn’t bother.

If feeling generous I’d respond ‘give me a call, let’s see if she might be a good match first and if so I can get you those videos’. I’d lay money you rarely get the call ….

 

[05jackd]

Lady I bought my latest project off said she would only take phone calls, and to message her for her number. Once we’d had a chat she sent me a couple of things I needed to see, then we viewed (and bought) the next day. Maybe try that? You can gauge on the phone if someone is serious or not.

I think this might be the way forward. I do not mind doing videos for serious buyers but I feel like I am being thoroughly messed around.

 

[05jackd]

A lot of people dont like what you show in the video but are too polite to say or dont want confrontation so make up an excuse

Perhaps you are right. On the videos the mare has behaved perfectly but it may be they do not like her size/ type etc.

 

[05jackd]

For what you are describing I think there are various potential things going on …
1. Polite excuse because they don’t like horse. Personally I’d prefer a ‘thanks, not quite my type’ response - but people a weird.
2. Possibly dealers wondering if they can make a quick buck on broodie to ridden scam.
3. Daydreamers just seeing a cheap horse

Make sure you have good conformation photo, I’m sure a video of her moving can’t hurt. But then people wanting tying/feet pick blah blah blah are 99% likely time wasters and I just wouldn’t bother.

If feeling generous I’d respond ‘give me a call, let’s see if she might be a good match first and if so I can get you those videos’. I’d lay money you rarely get the call ….

This is a sensible approach - I like it. Perhaps I just need to be tougher.

The amount of enquired I have had for her as a first pony is staggering. She has never been broken and is a career broodmare.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You have to draw the line somewhere I wouldn't take specific videos for a broodmare just keep the ones you have and send those, people have too much time on there hands and like nothing better than messing around.

Saying that I wouldn't want to be selling a horse at the moment it sounds like a royal pita

 

[marmalade76]

I have decided to sell my little mare (I'm progressively putting on weight and little mare is nowhere near as powerful as the Arab) but as I'm no good at showing them off, I'm in the process of arranging for someone local to sell her for me

 

[Kaylum]

They will be looking to see if they can back and ride your brood mare. They won't care if she is a career brood mare they do want they want once they have bought her.

 

[ycbm]

I refuse to supply extra videos until I run out of people who are prepared to view without. So far, this has never happened and all but 1 sold with no video whatsoever and the one had two very short clips of w/t/c left and right.

 

[MagicMelon]

I refuse to supply extra videos until I run out of people who are prepared to view without. So far, this has never happened and all but 1 sold with no video whatsoever and the one had two very short clips of w/t/c left and right.

Id do this. If people are serious they'll ask everything they want to know on the phone then view surely. A video clip I find pretty useless as they can edit out whatever they want! You could make any crazy horse look lovely if you string together the nice bits. In your case OP I think Id say to people on the phone that you've had so many timewasters and to confirm the price, location, bloodlines on the phone then that gives them the chance to say its over budget etc. I think some people have a huge list of horses and literally forget what was in the advert. I absolutely hate selling a horse. Makes you realise how many nutters there are out there in the horse world!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I wish you had a horse that I could buy from you! I’m a straightforward buyer…don’t need lots of extra stuff just a chat and appointment to view, try, arrange a vetting pay and job done…the most recent enquiry involved 20 plus minutes of me trying to keep the seller on track with answering the questions I needed answering (no I don’t need pictures of him as a foal I’m interested in who he is today, I don’t need the reasons why you wouldn’t sell to that person or this one or why one person pulled out etc) and finally I discovered he hadn’t had any vaccinations since a foal, failed a vetting last week one tenth lame so front shoes put on and then no he wasn’t open to another 5 stage vetting cos seller didn’t want to waste another couple of hours but if I bought without vetting seller was open to offers otherwise seller would sell horse to someone who said they d buy him that morning?? I was being played..so I politely said if there’s money already on the table you should take it, thank you for your time…I feel your pain OP honestly.

 

[Lexi 123]

Op sounds like people want a cheap ridding horse so a lot of them target broodmares when they have no interest in breeding . a lot of broodmare bought never have an another foal again they just ridden horses and are sold on if they are unsound or unsuitable unfortunately. It not just people who have a low budget it also dealers and producers you need to be careful to who you sell your broodmare to because a lot of people have no interest in breeding which is awful because the mares suffers.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

We bought a brood mare years ago we saw 1 picture knew the price went to view in a field, saw her trot and canter round field picked her up the following day job done.

Best mare I've ever known and am scared to buy another as I probably won't ever find another like her

 

[Palindrome]

I think lots of people enquire without being really interested. I would send what you have or is easy to do but not go out of your way. People who are truly interested will call and then come to see.
I find that way I get much less annoyed with requests as I don't reply to everyone or reply in my own time.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

As has been said in an earlier post only accept messages by telephone & speak to the enquirer. Many messages sent to you will probably from teenagers who have no intention of coming to view, they are in a fantasy world. Don't bother putting 'No Timewasters' in the advert because it doesn't deter them. I've posted adverts in the past to sell horses & the muppets who have turned up to view is incredible. One girls came with her family to view & her knowledge & riding ability was not very good. She'd had a few lessons & wanted a horse to go out show jumping with. The horse was ridden first by my daughter, some flat work & then through some jumps we'd put out. She got on & trotted him around then suddenly turned him into a jump & gave him a pony club kick. He was on the wrong stride but managed to get over the fence. The rider & horse parted company on landing. My horse just stood by her looking down to her. She got up, dusted herself off & walked over to my horse with a view of getting on again. At that point I stepped in & said no more, she was going to kill herself on this well educated showjumper. He was affiliated & jumping Foxhunter classes. She was very green, needed more time riding & lessons. He was an extremely fit competition horse, 16h 3" & all muscle & too much for her to handle. I chatted with her parents & gave them advice, they weren't horsey people & appreciated the concern I has for their daughters safety. I advised them to speak with her instructor & arrange for her to see any advert they were interested in & listen to her & arrange for her to come with them to view. She would know what the daughter's ability was & if the animal was a suitable match.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Id do this. If people are serious they'll ask everything they want to know on the phone then view surely. A video clip I find pretty useless as they can edit out whatever they want! You could make any crazy horse look lovely if you string together the nice bits. In your case OP I think Id say to people on the phone that you've had so many timewasters and to confirm the price, location, bloodlines on the phone then that gives them the chance to say its over budget etc. I think some people have a huge list of horses and literally forget what was in the advert. I absolutely hate selling a horse. Makes you realise how many nutters there are out there in the horse world!

Hmm, I'm not so sure about this - one of the things that sold Dex to me was his movement in the video. You can get very economical IDs and the more expressive ones, so a video may add value here as I don't want to waste your time if it's the other type to the one I want. I also find it's good for picking up lameness the owner might not know about, or being uncomfortable in the mouth, or what they are used to being ridden like.. it can give a lot away without having to get them to tell you. So I could understand a video to show movement for a potential breeding prospect, but the rest of it is time wasting

 

[spacefaer]

Any enquiries I get I answer with 'ring me' and my number. I'd say of 60 messages I had last time I advertised, not one phone call when they're put on the spot.

 

[HorseMaid]

I hope to not be selling a horse at any point soon but if I did, I think I'd put an advert on FB or whatever with a relevant good description, good photos and a trotting up video. I'd say I will accept phone calls only between 6 and 8pm and then turn commenting off! I don't know how anybody has the time to deal with time wasters and dreamers they'd drive me nuts!

 

[toppedoff]

was speaking to someone about this the other day, shes had people turn up then try then say they like her then disappear

been trying to sell her for a bit now!

 

[SantaVera]

It's a nightmare because people have become too fussy,want the earth for 1K, won't accept reality and sue at the drop of a hat.

 

[Bobthecob15]

People want a bargain and don't want to speak to humans....in general!

I always ring to discuss any horse we've been interested in, if I was selling I'd do the same. Phone calls only no blooming WhatsApp or messenger! Of course you still run the risk of them being a no show but at least you can gauge some interest in the phone call.

 

[Irish Sally]

Definitely get them to ring you. You get time wasters over the phone as well but less then messages. Go with your gut as well. If you're even thinking they're a time waster they probably are.

 

[05jackd]

It’s just the sheer frustration. The location is on the advert. Today again 3 phone calls within an hour begging for a call back. Called back. 25 mins later. ‘Where are you?’ ‘Oh that’s far too far’.

Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

 

[Bobthecob15]

I also think people don't read adverts, even if price and location is on there..."price and location please"

I think some sellers could be more honest though as we've been led down a merry path with ponies who are definitely not what they have been advertised as, not saying you have at all though!

Also adverts that say general areas are a bit vague, "South" or "South West" etc is just too vague, is it 2hrs away from us or 4? A general postcode would be so useful in adverts!

 

[AmyMay]

I also wonder if you’re selling ‘cheap’ hence attracting day dreamers.

 

[Jellymoon]

I usually use sales livery for this very reason, can’t bear it, don’t have time for it, end up not selling to anyone because I’ve become so annoyed.
But this wouldn’t work in your case as she’s non-ridden…have you tried Right Horse Right Home? I sold a ‘light hack only’ type on there and found it brilliant. You provide very detailed info, people apply to you, and you can make a shortlist. I got it down to 3, second person who viewed bought.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I usually use sales livery for this very reason, can’t bear it, don’t have time for it, end up not selling to anyone because I’ve become so annoyed.
But this wouldn’t work in your case as she’s non-ridden…have you tried Right Horse Right Home? I sold a ‘light hack only’ type on there and found it brilliant. You provide very detailed info, people apply to you, and you can make a shortlist. I got it down to 3, second person who viewed bought.

Have heard good things about them too!
Same here, we used sales livery for the first time ever recently, just as well as the minute the advert went live she had hundreds of people messaging...over 200 and 86 people wanted a call back! bonkers!