Am i obliged to buy when seller refused at first..

I've had some success with A'gon customer support when I contact them via email. If seller contacted you outside A'gon system and you can document it, there should be no penalty to you AND of course, if he actually sold the amp he has no "damages". However, there are 2 sides to every story; if you file a disputed transaction report, both the community and A'gon would hear both sides.

Not sure about that john. A contract is a contract is a contract. Oral, written or otherwise. Now proving it is another matter. Audiogon Should get right on top of this, because this is clearly a "bug" in their system that undermines the formal more profitable for them system that they have tried to establish. One of the motivations to stay within that system is that it is supposed to provide at least some protectton to buyers and sellers from someone who is negotiating in bad faith. The ability to refuse an offer rather than decline it, while leaving the buyer on the hook will drive buyers away. Without buyers there will be no sales. Without sales no sales charge and eventually no sellers.

Addendum to my last post

And of course w/o sellers, no income for audiogon.