Was I in the wrong?

rockyridgefarm · May 29, 2013

Hey all,

Posted an ad on here looking for a 3 point hitch for a john deere 60. Guy called me right away and had one and named his price. He also said he could arrange shipping for me. I assumed I'd pay the driver, but payment was not mentioned. Everything was going great - his price was great, the shipping was going to be great, he described the hitch as great.

THEN, I asked for a picture. Things can be unintentionally be mis-described and a pic can go a long way in clearing things up. He said he couldn't send one and he wouldn't ask his grandson. I was polite, but insisted I wanted to see a pic. He got mad, said he was sorry he wasted my time, stated the fact that he was giving me a great price (which he was, but he named it) and he was providing shipping (not mentioned in the conversation), and hung up on me.

I'm kinda dumbfounded. Was I in the wrong for asking for a picture???

M Nut · May 29, 2013

If it is too good to be true......It likely is. I wouldn't worry about it and just be content that you avoided a disappointing situation.

Bryce Frazier · May 29, 2013

I sure don't think so. Like you said a picture can make or break a deal, makes me wonder if he was trying to pass off a piece of junk? I can't stand dealing with some people on Craigs List, they are just tire kickers and seem like they just want to waste your time. Bryce

dhermesc · May 29, 2013

Of course he was mad, you ruined his chance to off load a POS on you.

Asking for a picture is no big deal.

Mike (WA) · May 29, 2013

Pretty suspicious deal- nobody ever provides free shipping on an item that heavy unless he adds it to the price- and you said it was a great price. What were the payment terms? If you were going to send him the money, and then he would ship it at no cost to you, then I suspect he wouldn't provide a picture of the hitch because there was no hitch.

Gambles · May 29, 2013

I don't think you were in the wrong at all and you probably saved yourself some money. In any case where the seller claims to not be able to email you a picture, I offer to send the seller a new disposable camera (last I looked, they are still available at WalMart) and all he has to do is take some pictures and send the camera back to you so you can develop the photos. (Once again, still done pretty cheap at WM) If they decline to do that, AT NO COST OUT OF THEIR POCKET, they didn't want to sell it too bad or IT WAS A SCAM.

Dick L · May 29, 2013

If I was a betting man I would bet you saved yourself a lot of grief in asking for picture.
Not a good sign when a seller is apposed to making sure you are getting exactly what you need or want.

Bud Sather in MT · May 29, 2013

On 2 different items on Craigs list I asked for more info and pictures or wanted to hear it run before I paid for it and neither one responded. I think I saved myself a lot of headaches.
One was a broke mare the other was a 2003 bobcat 331.

Bud

danmcdonald · May 29, 2013

No you were not in the wrong you were being scammed. Lucky for you the guy was to lazy to look up a picture on the internet and send it to you. If I am wrong he will post a reply here but I don"t think that will happen.

Wesley Stephens · May 29, 2013

I know someone who is trying to sell a JD 3pt hitch if you are still looking.

JRSutton · May 29, 2013

Of course not. Some people are just grumpy.

He probably WAS giving you a great deal - but had it been delivered and you refused it because it wasn't what you had in mind - he'd have been the first to complain about that too.

I wouldn"t waste any time worrying about it.

Anonymous-0 · May 29, 2013

Dad always told me if they get mad they are usually up to something. Just like if you ask them where they bank if they want to pay with a check. He had no reason to get mad. The only way I have to send pics is with my phone and cell pics are about good for nothing. I just tell them I am not able to as no one was 5 years ago. On the other hand I know what I am selling and don't mis -represent it.

W_B · May 29, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:26:27 05/29/13) Dad always told me if they get mad they are usually up to something. Just like if you ask them where they bank if they want to pay with a check. He had no reason to get mad. The only way I have to send pics is with my phone and cell pics are about good for nothing. I just tell them I am not able to as no one was 5 years ago. On the other hand I know what I am selling and don't mis -represent it.

I think a crappy cell phone pic is preferable to no pic. I figure if you can post an ad on an internet forum you can darn sure e-mail me a picture of some kind, otherwise you are hiding something. If a person doesn't know the seller, how do they know they have a stellar reputation and don't misrepresent? Every Nigerian scammer says the same thing.

Rick Kr · May 29, 2013

You were right. He knows how to read the internet and has grandkids. Any kid now days can take a picture and post it to Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter or whatever else so fast it would make your head spin.

My kids, 11 and 14, teach me the ins/outs of my smartphone.

The original seller was making excuses.

Rick

dr sportster · May 29, 2013

SCAM --- you better study up or your gonna get hosed again!

ErnieD · May 29, 2013

I got 50 A of land for sale just east of Miami. Good price.

Anonymous-0 · May 29, 2013

(quoted from post at 18:55:08 05/29/13) I got 50 A of land for sale just east of Miami. Good price.

What's the best you'll take for it? Cash money.

rockyridgefarm · May 29, 2013

(quoted from post at 14:41:22 05/29/13) SCAM --- you better study up or your gonna get hosed again!

Again? I've not been scammed ever and am very careful about all transactions in which I enter. That's not to say my day isn't coming, but it hasn't come yet...

I hesitate to say that he was trying to scam me, he just didn't want to take a picture. If he weren't 4 hours away, I'd just drive over and take a looksee at it. Without a picture, that's the only way I'd conduct the transaction.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I feel a little better about the way i conducted my end of the conversation.

Clodbuster · May 29, 2013

Back when few had digital cameras I ordered two front pickup bumpers from two different guys. Both of them swore that they were perfect with NO dents or imperfections of any kind. Both showed up with multiple spots on the bottoms from being pulled on with chain hooks. One was very badly bent. I did get some money back from them, eventually. Since then, no money without a photo. The seller could always use a fake photo, but then you have more proof for a fraud case. Both sellers told me "Well it was the best one I had." What a waste of good money!

Rich_WI · May 29, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:09:46 05/29/13) I hesitate to say that he was trying to scam me, he just didn't want to take a picture. If he weren't 4 hours away, I'd just drive over and take a looksee at it. Without a picture, that's the only way I'd conduct the transaction.

If you post where the hitch is at, maybe somebody closer can stop in and take pictures for you. When I bought a tractor a few years ago (no pictures) I took a ton of pictures of everything they had for sale and when I got home, emailed them to the seller so they could send them out if people were interested. I think it helped sell a few things they had.

BTW, it dont sound like you were out of line. As stated before, when people sell (or try) in the digital world, they should expect to deal in the digital world. That means they should be willing to email back and forth a few times as well as provide pictures. Like you said, you may not have been about to get scammed but the headache likely wouldnt have been worth it. I would have gladly passed on the deal with hardly a second thought. There are way too many good deals out there to worry about missing one of them.

Ron in NS · May 29, 2013

Caveat Emptor, or buyer beware. In other words, you
were absolutely correct.

js305 · May 29, 2013

Uh, how much for shipping...?

js305 · May 29, 2013

For the land east of Miami.

dr sportster · May 29, 2013

Not that . The first red flag was he would handle the shipping : common scam. Ask questions on this website there are pretty good scam detectors here. Again meaning you almost got scammed and if you thimk that guy was a real seller Again. Just trying to help you.If he had no pics there was no item. [Thats another one when they call it an item] . See you'll learn.

randallinMo · May 30, 2013

No, you weren't wrong for asking for a picture. However, not everyone has the capability to send pictures, myself included. I've advertised things on Craigslist before and had people ask for a picture. I tell them I will get one of my grandsons to come over and take a picture and I'll send it to them.....might take a day or two. If the seller is legit, he will go to the extra effort to accomodate the buyer. The fact that your guy got all bent out of shape probably saved you a bunch of hassle.

mkirsch · May 30, 2013

Handle shipping, or PAY FOR shipping?

When you buy a smaller item, the seller HANDLES shipping the item. They box it up, put a label on it, and either take it to the Fedex/UPS depot, or call for a pickup.

The seller handling freight on larger items is pretty common in my experience. If I'm going to go out there and strap it to a pallet and call a trucker to come get it, I may as well bring it home myself.

On the other hand, offering to PAY FOR shipping on something like that is a HUGE red flag!!!!!!!!!!

Wesley Stephens · May 30, 2013

Any reasonable seller that was on the up and up would have no problem with you wanting a picture of something you are buying from a stranger. You have no way of knowing if he is honest or not and vice versa, but with the red flags you are better off not finding out the hard way.

Was I in the wrong?

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