Are there more tirekickers now vs. then?

(sorry) I should add to my above post..the guy offered to buy the cables off my Audioshoper ad at a negotiated price. Then vansihed for a week, then claimed to be out of cash, then resurfaced off an Audiogon ad 2 days later. (My apolgies to my unfocused writing, I use webtv and can only see 4 lines of what I write)

The only strange buyer I have had was I guy who evidently never sent the money order. Originally he said the money order was sent; even have me the issuer and serial number. When I followed up, he said he sent it and it must be lost so he would send another one. The next day he sent me another confirmation with another money order serial number. I never got that one either and never heard from him again. If he had sent it, he obviously would have started asking me where the item he purchased was. Why people cannot just say they changed there mind and no longer want it is beyond me.

Well this actually goes both ways, a few weeks ago I made a deal with this guy on a piece of ARC equipment (after a few emails of haggling). The next day I checked my email and found two emails from him--one from the night before asking me to reply to confirm the deal (which we already made the deal, and COD shipping, etc were already setup). The second email in the early mentioned that I didn't reply so he already made a deal with an international buyer (?) and that buyer has already sent money order. When I confronted the seller about this, he said I can still buy it, but I have to send money first (??). Needless to say I said NO WAY! Here's a guy who makes deals after a deal has been made, and then goes back to the original buyer after the second buyer has sent the money??

There are other threads similar to this one. There are always going to be problems with buyers and sellers. As a seller I can never be sure the money is coming unless they use PayPal or something. I've had COD shipments refused. People forget they are moving and UPS did not forward. You name it. Real Estate agents get backup buyer contracts sometimes, why not audio? I never assume I have bought or sold something til I've seen money or gotten a tracking number from a shipper I can confirm.

This is another reason that it is important to leave feedback about "nutcases". Luckily, i have only encountered this one time and i did leave feedback stating what happened. While many people don't have feedback on Audiogon, Audioweb, AudioReview or Ebay to check up on, they can sometimes forward info concerning other web based transactions that they've made. A quick phone call can also deny or confirm your suspicions. If they won't give you their number, that should tell you something right there. If worse comes to worse, trust your instincts. Sean >