@yragteddy I am a careful buyer!! Caveat Emptor is my closest buddy when looking at used sale items.
I have at times asked more from a seller than they are usually willing to go to, but my inquiries do at times put the genuine seller in the place where they have to stand behind their statements made.
One Example being Vintage Valves being Purchased, I can have these measured within a few days of their being received. I always buy with the condition Valves will be tested on a Particular Measuring device and if not a close match to measurements shown with the Sale Info, the Valves will be returned with a full remuneration of monies paid. To have this option I will incur the cost to deliver and the cost to return. More importantly why shouldn't I invest the little extra, to look after my own interests by utilising such an available local support.
Being a Buyer of used items in audio, is for the buyer, One Big investigation into what is out there in the market that relates to their interest for a purchase. What is available for certain monies seen as a typical value and what is the lowest that is to be found where the Seller has shown their asking price.
Such an investigation is able to show what was thought of a unobtainable for a particular budget, might just be realised if a sale items appears that is a close mimic of one having been seen in a portal that shows a sale history.
When knowledge is gathered, the next for the Buyer becomes a period of inquiry and for some buyers, an offer is a very consolidated method of an inquiry. It certainly is an avoidance of making inquiries about the product in general. A follow up to learn the full bottom line associated with the purchase is not strange.
There are always shifting sands in the used market, an Item can appear, maybe a more expensive item, seen to be more affordable than typically seen and definitely seen to be the better option as a purchase.
The seller has no authority over the Buyer and how they wish to spend their funds.
If the Buyer fails to do something to secure the sale for themselves, the seller should consider the item still for sale to anybody.
If the buyer having communicated with a seller, does not fully communicate their final decision, that is their business and if there is flak, that is theirs to take.
The seller has not said if they would have dropped the Buyer 'Frank', following their offer, if an offer came from another Buyer with an immediate offer of a deposit to secure the sale??
To Publicly declare Frank as untrustworthy and to be avoided - WOW!!!
I hope Frank sees this post from the OP, I'm sure he will be totally contented not a Cent went to this sale from his coffer.
My advice on the Gon is to a Buyer who may look at a Sale Item from the OP. The Buyer should express extreme caution in how they communicate, as there may be an outcome they are not deserved off, which becomes a very Public expressed content.