OKG, I do not trade knives. And I understand your frustration with Emerson, and your desire to 'sell' your place in line. However, this is essentially a contract between You and Ernie. A small amount of money ($25?) was paid several years ago for future delivery of a knife. This amounts to legal 'consideration' making the contract valid. Unfortunately, it does not sound like you had the delivery date in writing.
Only Ernie could decide whether or not to let someone else take your place in line (transfer the contract). Selling the invoice is a strange idea (at least to me). If you sell it for a lot of money, then YOU have entered into a contract with a third party, sort of obligating You as well as Ernie to make sure the knife gets delivered for the invoice price. I don't think this gets you off the hook.
Selling something that does not yet exist is a risky business. I think you offered your place in line for something like $1000. Now. I dunno. I think at best it should be worth your invoice price, and maybe only the $25 deposit. It is after all, still a risk with no future guarantee of delivery.
Why would Anyone want to 'broker' such a deal and get tied up in it as well? If I were you, I would speak to a dealer like Les R and see if he would be interested in buying your invoice directly.
I understand your frustration, and desire to get out of the deal. But I do not see how you can sell something you do not have. If I were you, I would simply forget about the order for now. Wait for the knife. And decide then buy it or Not. If the retail value is still (a big question) much higher than your contract price, then you get to make a quick buck. But you taking the profit out NOW and leaving someone else at risk is a strange concept. Up to the buyer I guess. Good-luck.
Paracelsus, offering my thoughts on an ethical dilemma
