Audiogon: You MUST Purchase. Really?

Freak When C

Has anyone ever submitted an offer on Aidiogon and the seller accepts, but then you get cold feet, realize you're overpaying, or for what ever reason decide you don't want the item?

It states on the Offer Submission page: If seller accepts your offer within 48 hours, you MUST purchase.

Is this really true? How can they force you to pay? What's the worst that can happen if you want to back out and refuse to send payment?

treitz3

You lose the membership privileges. Jeez, if you don't have intention on purchasing the item you just put in an offer for? Don't freakin' make an offer.

Simple really.

Freak When C

That's obvious. But I'm sure it happens on there. Just wondering how they enforce the "You MUST purchase" rule.

Rodeo0530

That attitude is the problem with trying to sell things over the internet. My last two Ebay transactions have been a complete pain in the a$$! I just "bought" and Onkyo 806 for $535 and free local pickup only to have the guy improperly invoice me repeatedly for 2 days then tell me it was stolen out of his garage the night before he was to call Ebay and "figure" out how to "properly" bill me. All quotations mark the sarcasm and irritation in my voice that I'm sure many of you understand. The last transaction before that was when I was trying to sell 2 extra Cavs tickets and the guy who won the bid never contacted me, or paid. I ended up selling them to some scalpers for half the face value just before the game, but I should've been able to make a few bucks on them if the guy would've just followed through on his agreement. Just venting now, but if you say you're going to do something then maybe you should DO IT!

Freak When C

Please don't flame me for asking about this. I didn't start this thread because I'm intending on not paying for an item. :rolleyes:

I'd just like to know how Audiogon goes about making buyers abide by this policy that you must purchase if an offer is accepted. I know what eBay does; they give you a strike and if you get more than two you're kicked off. I know this because it can be found on their website. I could not find any info on how Audiogon enforces their policies. Hence the reason I asked in here. I figured some of y'all are veteran audiophiles that's dealt with this before. That's all. I'm not planning on not paying, I'm just asking how they make buyers comply. It's a simple question, really.

Rodeo0530

OK...I was just venting then I guess.

mmadden28

Freak When C wrote: »

Has anyone ever submitted an offer on Aidiogon and the seller accepts, but then you get cold feet, realize you're overpaying, or for what ever reason decide you don't want the item?

It states on the Offer Submission page: If seller accepts your offer within 48 hours, you MUST purchase.

Is this really true? How can they force you to pay? What's the worst that can happen if you want to back out and refuse to send payment?

Just send the seller a message indicating that you changed your mind (or that your wife changed your mind for you :eek:).

I can't tell you how many offers I made only to get declined as it was sold already. You just don't know how many other's also submitted an offer so it might not be that big a deal to the seller.

Audiogon, is just a means for two people to organize a deal. It all comes down to communications between the buyer and seller.

Freak When C

But the way Audiogon words their policy it would seem that they have some means of enforcement. Like I said, I know how eBay works in that non-paying bidders receive a strike. Three strikes (in a certain amount of time) and you're out. What does Audiogon do?

mmadden28

Is this what you're looking for?
http://www.audiogon.com/help/disp/drp.html

Freak When C

Yes, thanks. So if a seller wants to pursue the sale when a buyer wants to back out, he (the seller) can file a dispute. But it appear by reading the fine print it's not binding.

F1nut

Right, the seller can file a dispute and while Audiogon can't make you pay, they can revoke your membership.

mmadden28

Freak When C wrote: »

Yes, thanks. So if a seller wants to pursue the sale when a buyer wants to back out, he (the seller) can file a dispute. But it appear by reading the fine print it's not binding.

If however you pay to a seller and they don't come through, you can take your own legal action.

cnh

A lot of us have bought from Audiogon, usually with no problems at all. And losing one's membership is a deterrent because that's a prime site for GREAT CHEAP QUALITY USED GEAR! As is this site!

cnh

shack

In some cases this could be considered a contractual dispute and depending on the size of the transaction, there is a possiblity of a small claims court action...assuming the seller can prove damages. It's possible that your agreement to purchase an item could be considered a contract (especially if there are emails and correspondence to confirm). If the buyer backs out and then the seller cannot sell the item or sells it for less, the buyer that backed out might have some liability if it was considered to be a contract. On a very small item this would probably never happen. But I could see it happening if the item/sale was large enough.

heiney9

Freak When C wrote: »

Yes, thanks. So if a seller wants to pursue the sale when a buyer wants to back out, he (the seller) can file a dispute. But it appear by reading the fine print it's not binding.

Poor feedback and revoke your Audiogon membership. Why did you enter into a contract to buy something and then back-out?

If it's a matter of keeping your house out of foreclosure or an unexpected medical expense I'm sure the seller would be reasonable. But, if it's just because you changed your mind...........well that kind of sh*tty.

One thing I don't like about the new Audiogon system is that the seller has a bit more power than the buyer. The seller can field all kinds of offers and choose, we as buyers have to sit and wait and wonder if we will be choosen. As a buyer I'd like to, at the very least, see how many pending offers are on the table.

H9

Freak When C

heiney9 wrote: »

Poor feedback and revoke your Audiogon membership. Why did you enter into a contract to buy something and then back-out?

As I explained earlier, I'm not intending on backing out of anything. :rolleyes:

I wanted to know how Audiogon works in regards to their stated policy. On eBay it's clear what happens. On Audiogon it isn't as clear. So I started this thread to let Polk folk chime and gimme da skinny. It's a simple question and from reading the replies (thanks guys) I now have a much better understanding of how things transact on Audiogon.

And I agree with you, if it's just because you changed your mind...........well that kind of sh*tty.

heiney9

Gotcha, I understand. IMO, it's not a perfect system, but it seems to be better than what they had going before. I think most of the new system was created to better track for fee purposes.

superjunior

Rodeo0530 wrote: »

That attitude is the problem with trying to sell things over the internet. My last two Ebay transactions have been a complete pain in the a$$! I just "bought" and Onkyo 806 for $535 and free local pickup only to have the guy improperly invoice me repeatedly for 2 days then tell me it was stolen out of his garage the night before he was to call Ebay and "figure" out how to "properly" bill me. All quotations mark the sarcasm and irritation in my voice that I'm sure many of you understand. The last transaction before that was when I was trying to sell 2 extra Cavs tickets and the guy who won the bid never contacted me, or paid. I ended up selling them to some scalpers for half the face value just before the game, but I should've been able to make a few bucks on them if the guy would've just followed through on his agreement. Just venting now, but if you say you're going to do something then maybe you should DO IT!

hey rodeo, can you get anymore playoff tickets? GO CAVS !!!
jr

Rodeo0530

Nope...I was fortunate enough to get the tix I had off Ebay and paid $1 more than face value which was a steal. The tix I was trying to sell were the ones that I had bought earlier, but no longer needed them because I had the sweet seats. I used to have connections up that way, but since I'm in Dayton now I don't know as many people anymore. Go Cavs though!!

danz1906

Rodeo0530 wrote: »

Nope...I was fortunate enough to get the tix I had off Ebay and paid $1 more than face value which was a steal. The tix I was trying to sell were the ones that I had bought earlier, but no longer needed them because I had the sweet seats. I used to have connections up that way, but since I'm in Dayton now I don't know as many people anymore. Go Cavs though!!

That must be Nice-Go Cavs:D

superjunior

Rodeo0530 wrote: »

Nope...I was fortunate enough to get the tix I had off Ebay and paid $1 more than face value which was a steal. The tix I was trying to sell were the ones that I had bought earlier, but no longer needed them because I had the sweet seats. I used to have connections up that way, but since I'm in Dayton now I don't know as many people anymore. Go Cavs though!!

I'm up here in the burbs of clev.-would love to watch Lebron in person-but I'll settle for hd GO CAVS !!