When is a deal a (done) deal?...

Melvin-Purvis

Melvin-Purvis

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...I think most of us realize that a deal is a done deal once both parties agree that it's done. When both are all warm and fuzzy.

That much is pretty moot, agreed?

So here goes, a little good, a little bad, and a little ugly...

(Sorry about this guys, but Ken, Cougar, please don't shoot me. Move it to 'Whiney Cheese' if need be, but this is a serious question, and I need a serious answer...)

Short story long.

I love my wife, as I've stated here before. I like making her happy, and one of the things that makes her happy is folding knives by Jess Horn.

So, on a lark, I ran a 'Knives wanted' ad here in which I mentioned Jess Horn knives...I never seriously thought I'd get a response, but I did.

A fellow forumite emailed me to tell me that he had just such a knife for sale. I asked for pictures, and stated that if I liked the knife I would buy it. He didn't have a camera, so he was going to ‘snail-mail’ me scans to the address that I’d provided.

"Surprise, surprise" I later received an email from said forumite stating that he’d done better than send scans, he'd sent me the knife... :eek:

Well, I liked it, and the deal was sealed...(Thanks Jacko, you truly are one trusting soul!) We were both happy. That's the good.

But now I needed money, in a bad way...that's the bad.

So, I had to sell knives. I don't like selling knives. I like my knives, they're my "beebee's"...but, oh well, as I’ve said before, "A Deal is a Deal"

So, I bought my gold BFC membership, and wrote a long winded "For Sale" ad...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187246

I got very few responses, so I decided to run them on ebay...which I did, with good results.

Now, this is where it gets weird, so I'll try to keep the facts straight. A forumite said he's take the Ek knife...but I balked at paying the insured foreign postal fees at that price...

So, no deal, and we both walked away...maybe bad, I dunno, he didn't seem too peeved, and I didn't lose money...so, no biggie.

I also received interest from 2 other forumites in the same knife, and I told both that the sale was on hold, pending a decision from the initial contact.

When the 1st forumite passed on the sale, I emailed the other 2 to let them know it was back on the market. Five hours later, with no response to my email(s), I decided to list the knives on ebay, and posted that as a reply to my original "For Sale" ad.

Mind you, I had an obligation to meet, and we 'po-assed' knife ho's are already waaay beyond our knife budget as it is...for the most part... ;)

I digress for a bit here...If any of you have sold many knives, I think you'll agree...most of the interest in a knife is when the 'For sale' ad is first posted. Having bought or sold some 200 high-end ($100-$400) knives in the last two years, that's been my experience anyway…

So, the knives went on ebay Sunday afternoon.

This morning at 6:35 I received an email from one of the two interested forumites asking if the knife was still for sale? At 6:58 I responded that it was, but it was now on ebay, gave the ebay link, and suggested that he buy it quickly..."These don't last long" I said.

At 7:37 AM it sold...payment was made through Paypal, and the knife is on its way to a very happy camper...that's good.

But, to every silver lining, there is a dark cloud...

I now have the forumite that didn't respond to my emails flaming me via email...saying that I’d "promised to hold the knife for him", yadda, yadda, yadda...now that's the ugly, and it's also sad.

His emails were always 10 words or less, until now. :rolleyes:

He never offered to pay me, he didn't respond to my emails, and I never promised him 'dick all'...but, I feel bad in a sad little way, the guy really wanted the knife...or so he says.

I had simply told him it was still for sale, and where, it was listed.

Alas, that's life. A little of each, GB&U don't cha think?

Well, that's it, my little sorted tale of woe and misery....touching eh?

So, the question remains..."When is a deal a (done) deal?"
 
Melvin:you cannot please all of the people all of the time.Quit trying.
Keep smileing:) :D ;)
PS: he can still buy it on EBAY
 
Shel, by emailing this person that the knife was once again available you did all you could to give him the chance to purchase it. I do not know if in your email you gave him a time limit as to when he had to get back to you before you would put it on Ebay. Even if you did not do this, I think you did all you could to inform him that the knife was available. It was up to him at that point to get back to you as fast as possible. It may be that he was away for awhile and did not see your email until he got back. That would be unfortunate, but it would not be something that you could be expected to wait on.

In my opinion this person has no right to be be sending you nasty emails and he should grow up. Things don't always go the way we would like them to. Lifes to short to get upset about the small things, and when you think about it this really is a small thing.

Don't worry about this too much Shel. You did the best you could. If that is not good enough for this fella that is just too darn bad. This person needs to do a little growing up. If I had lost the chance at a knife I wanted I would be upset as well, but I would get over it. I would also understand your situation and not hold anything against you. The next time I would be a little quicker in making my intentions known.
 
...I appreciate it!

"Hey, now that's a cool avatar KWM", that must be your new 'Pronghorn' Sweet! Ed does nice work eh? Cool!

Well, to be honest with you guys, I was riding the 'rush' all weekend trying to piece this 'hat trick' of mine together...

It was pretty 'hairy' for a bit there, but...

Jacko was totally cool about the whole money thang, the knife is cool, (my wife is going to love it), and some folks out there in 'knifeland' got some really cool knives at fairly good prices...so everybody was winning...

And then, along comes...nah, screw that...

You know what, I'm just gonna just hold onto those good thoughts, that feeling I had this morning when it all came together...that was neat! :D

Thanks nirand, good point...well taken. ;)

-S

(edited for 'pelling)
 
If you need money just follow randy around and catch those $100 bills falling out of his pockets!!!!!!!!!!! :(
 
If it will make you feel any better Sheldon, you can give me back one of the knives I've sold you...:D

Don't loose any sleep over it, unless it's that lovely wife of yours waking you up to tell you how much she loves her new knife.;)

No problem, you're one of the good guys here.

Mark
 
is "Communication". When two parties enter into a "deal" The lines of "communication" MUST remain TWO-WAY until both parties are happy. If not, it ain't no DEAL

Since you must rely on "E-mail" to communicate, sometimes a knife posted for sale and a response to said post can contain fifty different offers.
Do you take the nicest offer, the first offer, the cash offer, or wait for that one "special offer"

If ya "snooze ya lose". Sheldon, if you post a knife for sale/trade and someone says they are "interested" in it. they MUST decide post-haste if they really want it.

Silence and delay in a response shows a LACK OF interest. In the case you cite above, I call that a "Fair-Deal".....Ira
 
I don't see a problem here. Bottom line is they're your knives. You didn't agree to anything with anybody. You can do with them what you please. This place is for fun. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Folks need to be patient and get over it. Most kives turn up again on the net. Seen it a hundred times.

What bothers me now is that good sellers are getting ansy that people will flame them if they don't get their way. One of the reasons I am not selling much here any more. Damn, even Ebay seems a safer way to sell. I never thought I would say that but it's true.

A guy doesn't get his way...or thinks he should get a better deal than he did or just wants to be a squeaky wheel and a post a flame.

Makes you think we're getting a bit too large for our own good. Overall though with the dozen of deals done a day here most folks are very satisfied.

Keep you head up Shel...you're a good egg.
 
Hi Sheldon, I went through this whole scenario yesterday before deciding to list a nice Emerson Commander on eBay. The $30 to sell here is reasonable but the "generally accepted rules" here are at times beyond me. I agree eBay seems a more adult crowd with far less animosity floating about...

Just my nickles worth,
Harold
San Diego
 
I will still do 99.999% of my knife "deals" right here on BF. I have great faith in those who are members. The key to preventing crap from ending up here is COMMUNICATION.
GB&U should be a last resort when another member REFUSES to talk on a phone or by E-mail.

The same folks that will screw you here, will screw you on E-bay. I only trade via BF and have had only one crummy deal. That's a pretty good track record for BF.

Read the archives. Most Bitch post have to do with a Failure or a REFUSAL to communicate.........Ira
 
With more knives out there than any of us are ever going to get around to buying, what is the big deal over missing out on a deal? There's still too many knives posted for sale for me to ever afford :cool:
 
Originally posted by wolfmann601

Read the archives. Most Bitch post have to do with a Failure or a REFUSAL to communicate.........Ira [/B]
Click to expand...

I know what you mean Ira. I am still waiting for you to reply to me about a trade offer for my Protech Godfather G-10. :(
 
Could it mean, I did NOT get it?:eek: :eek: I am certain Sod, if you E-mailed me more than once, I WOULD HAVE responded.
Having said that, I apologize, if you offered to trade me a Pro-Tech for something, I just do not remember:( :( :(
and YUP, just what you SHOULD do, post it in GB&U:rolleyes:

EDIT TO ADD: SOD, I did answer you. The "deal" is still pending. I will get back to you, just as I SAID but nothing has changed buddy:
Subj: Re: Possible trade for your Socom Elite
Date: 1/26/2002 3:59:37 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Wolfmann601
To: yanks@olg.com



Yes sir, I certainly would, however I have one cash offer still sitting out there from Kuwait. If I do not hear anything by this afternoon, I would certainly love to work out a trade as I love them Pro-Techs. If you can be patient, I do promise to get back to you!!!!
Thanks,
Ira
 
Originally posted by wolfmann601
Could it mean, I did NOT get it?:eek: :eek: I am certain Sod, if you E-mailed me more than once, I WOULD HAVE responded.

Ira, I have emailed you more than once on this trade offer but you stopped responding to my replies.

Having said that, I apologize, if you offered to trade me a Pro-Tech for something, I just do not remember:( :( :(
and YUP, just what you SHOULD do, post it in GB&U:rolleyes:

The last thing I wanted to do was turn this into a pissing contest but since you are posting in Blade Forums on a regular basis and not responding to me in emails I felt this was the only way to get your attention.

EDIT TO ADD: SOD, I did answer you. The "deal" is still pending. I will get back to you, just as I SAID but nothing has changed buddy:
Subj: Re: Possible trade for your Socom Elite
Date: 1/26/2002 3:59:37 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Wolfmann601
To: yanks@olg.com



Yes sir, I certainly would, however I have one cash offer still sitting out there from Kuwait. If I do not hear anything by this afternoon, I would certainly love to work out a trade as I love them Pro-Techs. If you can be patient, I do promise to get back to you!!!!
Thanks,
Ira
Click to expand...

I am fully aware of this email as it was the first one you sent to me concerning this trade. However here is another one from you that you seem to have forgotten about:

On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 02:36:07 EST, Wolfmann601 wrote:
>Sounds cool ken. I do have an LCC/DA born 6/2001, but it's a BT >coated "COMBO" blade. Still interested?
>
>Ira

And yes I was interested but you never responded to my reply. The point that I am making here is the fact that I agree with your original insightful comment on this thread indicating the cause of most trades on this forum going sour is do to the lack of communication. I found the irony of this situation too great a temptation to pass without comment. For that I apologise.

Ken
 
Ken, I sincerely apologize. I never got the E-mail on the LCC trade. Its a combo and I have been trying to trade it for weeks, but Serrations are like tumors on BF. If you are interested try it again. But this is FAR DIFFERENT than engaging in a trade or sale and then losing contact with one another. When you post a knife, especially a "hot" knife, you get bombarded with mail. Some sadly slip thru the cracks.
What SHOULD end up here is the end result of the actions AFTER the words: WE HAVE A DEAL are penned, shipping arrangemenst are agreed upon, and then someone does NOT keep their end of the "DEAL". It gets COMPOUNDED when one of the parties to the DEAL INTENTIONALLY ignores the other. That is what I meant in my post about Communication.

Ken, you are notIMPLYING this is the case with us are you?.........Ira:(
 
Ken, you are notIMPLYING this is the case with us are you?.........Ira:( [/B][/QUOTE]

Absolutely not Ira. I am in no way attemting to imply that you have acted in an improper manner. I consider your reputation on this Forum to be gold. I would however appreciate it if you could quote me your current email address since I seem to be having trouble successfully sending any replies to you. I'd like to know the condition of the LCC, what kind of scales it has and what generation it is. :cool:

Ken
 
you KNOW AOL:eek: :eek: :eek: :barf:
Try: wolfmann601@aol.com

It's a 4th Gen, NIB but it's a Combo Blade:barf: :barf:

Give me a shout. I PROMISE to answer all your questions ASAP........Ira;) ;) :)
 
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