A'gon transactions: When is it legit to quit?


Need some help here. I posted an ad for a speaker and rec'd a response from a A'gon member indicating he definitely wanted to buy. Despite that I indicated I wouldn't ship, he said he'd have a box sent from the mfr and I agreed to ship if he bore the risk of loss and paid for shipping.

After extended back and forth (initial contact was on 3/13), he indicated on 3/22 he sent a check and ordered the box. I emailed him Tues. (4/2) and noted that I had received neither and asking if he might have sent it late or whatever, and sought confirmation we had a deal.

He replied the next day and said the check was shipped out timely, he'd contact the mfr, and said we were still on, but that he was going to stop payment on the check. I indicated that if he did that, how would he arrange for me to be paid? I heard nothing back.

I emailed again today asking what was up, and (stupidly) finally checked his member status. Turns out it was canceled or withdrawn, and there is lots of bad feedback from other A'gon users, including one on 3/17 indicating he reneged on another deal. I followed up with an email that if I didn't get a check and the box by Mon. 4/8, I would consider that he reneged on the deal for failure to tender a timely payment.

My question: Is this a reasonable stance to take in the A'gon community? I don't want to be a hard-a**, but I want to complete a sale and get this speaker out of my study.
edesilva
Ed-
You are too nice.
Per your description, that guy is a flake,
a proven flake at that (per his feedback).
Probably best the deal did not happen, otherwise it sounds
like you might have lost more than just time.

Yes, always check the other members feedback first, before doing anything.

Brian@Hello.lt
Edesilva, the similar thing happened to me... Seller says, OK! Let's go for it! And says he is sending the MO, 2 weeks later no MO. I usually tell ppl that are sending MO's make it overnight priority, this way I can sell to somebody else if buyer decides to get fresh. And never mark your ad as SOLD until the MO is in your bank account. At least you didn't lose out on any $$$, but time is more important than $$$. I would have sent that renegged email sooner.
I hope Audiogon would create a a sort of buyer/seller draft,
which indicates buyer agrees to pay the said amount in say10 days and sellers accept it,if the buyer does not send payment he is liable to have-ve feedback, but not the seller,same thing goes with the seller too.this way the buyer or seller does not have to fear of -ve feedack.this a must for this site!
Well the first thing one should do --when you get an offer-- Go to "my-page". There is your offer/ and user name of the prospective buyer. If the offer is from a member-- do the sales feedback check-- before you answer his email. If the offer is from a non member-- take your chances.

Deals that never materialize-- no money or goods change hands-- aren't subject to feedback.--And IMO, shouldn't be.--Treat every offer as a potential troll;till you see a Postal MO/or get the Paypal notice.That way you don't have to start threads of this sort.