What is reasonable?

thatmguy

thatmguy

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Mar 26, 2000
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What is a reasonable period of time to wait for someing to contact you and say the funds are en route, before you would post here that maybe that person won't complete the transaction?

I had a completed deal, and the person said they would send funds.

A week later, I sent a casual inquiry as to the status. No response after 2 days.

A sterner inquiry, stating if I did not hear back that persons intentions in the next 4 days, I would post appropriate feeddback in GB&U, and relist the item.

The next day, a response that due to a busy schedule they had been unable to get an MO, and they would have it in the post the following Monday.

That was cool. Been there myself, and have had people be flexible after I let them know without them having to ask.

A week after that, no $$, so another casual inquiry.

That was last Friday, still no word.

I did see that this individual did buy another item in the mean time.

I guess the issue is, if there is a problem, should this person not let me know? Communication would help eh?

Plus, had I not found where this person bought another item, I could give some creedence(sp?) to a "Hey, I'm close but still need just a bit more to get the full amount" response.

So, what would the community consider a reasonable amount of time, given this situation?

Mike
 
In my opinion, a reasonable amount of time has come and gone. Of course, I was born without a "reasonable" gland so am often accused of being unreasonable...
adbd&n-d,
rats...
 
One week. I'd send daily reminders but then I can be a pest ;). If they get back to you with a tragedy story (stuff happens) you can always change the feedback.
 
You have already been more than reasonable in my opinion.

I would send him one last email telling him that due to his lack of response you must assume he has lost interest and will be reposting the knife for sale. If he says the money order has already been sent ask him to fax you a copy of the stub within 24 hours. He should not have a problem doing that if he is on the up and up. If you don't receive a reply to the above within 24 hours then post his name here so the forum members can decide whether they would like to deal with this person in the future or not.
 
It looks like you have given this person pretty close to three weeks. That's more than enough time. I would send one last email stating that if he doesn't get back to you within 24 hours the deal will be terminated and you will be posting negative feedback in GB&U.
 
alex said:
You have already been more than reasonable in my opinion.

I would send him one last email telling him that due to his lack of response you must assume he has lost interest and will be reposting the knife for sale. If he says the money order has already been sent ask him to fax you a copy of the stub within 24 hours. He should not have a problem doing that if he is on the up and up. If you don't receive a reply to the above within 24 hours then post his name here so the forum members can decide whether they would like to deal with this person in the future or not.
Click to expand...
I would have to agree with the above statement. Maybe another week if you're gonna post his name here. I hope you do if he fails to even communicate with you.
 
If you buy a knife you should be ready to mail payment without delay!!

You have been far more than reasonable................
 
i have not sold any knives online, but when I buy one, my personal standard is that, by the evening of the first USPS business day after the deal was agreed upon, I should post an E-mail advising that payment has been mailed. If by some contingency I cannot do this, I should send an E-mail explaining why I have not done so, and when the payment will be mailed. I have bought maybe 30 knives from individuals on-line, and have had no difficulty adhering to this standard.

Besides that, when I buy a knife I am so anxious to get it in hand that I do not want to engender any delays on my end.:D
 
You've been lenient enough, send him an email giving him 24 hours before you post his info so we can know who he is.
 
I think you have given him plenty of time...Although as most of us know things come up.. 12 hour days at work, kids or you get sick, car dies...etc.

I agree with most here..Send one more e-mail and let him know this is his final chance..If you don't hear from him within 48 hours...Post it here.
 
A week seems reasonable. Maybe another 3-4 days on top of that to account for excuses. But 2.5 - 3 weeks is a bit much. I might just send him a link to this thread if I were you. :D

Maybe I'm just in lenient mood from the Percocet twilight, but I think I would send him email linking to this thread, tell him his behavior is not cool, the deal is off, and this is a good way to ruin his rep quickly. I don't know that I would "out" him yet. Is he new with a low post count? Maybe he just doesn't get it yet...

If he has been around for a while and should "know better" then out him.

(Tyrkon - You are a pest but I like ya anyway! :D You settled on the "two keepers" yet? ;) )
 
Situation #1
w/ good, continuos communication, I lean on letting things pass for long period of time. You know whats up and that they havent gone anywhere.

Situation #2
w/o responses, I say a week.

It sounds like your more in category #2
 
When I contact a seller to make a knife purchase, I have the money at hand. I also want the knife so bad that I don't waste any time getting the funds to said seller. I also don't want to waste his/her time what so ever!!! I want the transaction to go as fast and as smoothly as posible. This is also a great way to make good friends that enjoy knives as much as I do. So I always want to keep things on the up and up.
You have been more than reasonable, by far!!!!!:D

Jeff
 
Finally contacted me a couple days ago.

Had a significant loss of household income, and promised to uphold his end before the first of the month. Cool.

Thanks for the opinions/support guys.

Mike
 
Late reply,

For me it depends on how bad/fast I need the money.

When I have not really needed the money I have waited for about three weeks for a commitment, and up to nine months for the money(I took time payments)

But when I really need the money I have been known to tell folks the first U.S. Postal money order, or the first cash to my door will get the knife.

All said up front.

If you need the cash fast you just got to be up front about it.

If not, then helping some one to get a knife they otherwise could not afford is, I Think, a good thing to do.
 
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