Has this ever happened to you?

I contacted a craigslist seller about buying a guitar he listed on craigslist. I asked him if I could pick the guitar up the next day after I got off work, and he agreed and even emailed me his address.

The next day when I got off work, I checked my email on my phone. To my surprise, he sent me an email indicating that he already sold the guitar.

I don't understand. Am I overreacting, by being upset. I would understand if I told him, I couldn't pick up the guitar for a week, but It was one day.

I would be upset too. It sucks. If you had dibs on it he should have given you a chance to show up. If you were late or tried to beat him down on the price then he could sell it to someone else.
But these are not easy times, if he was hard up for money he may have felt under pressure. I can see your point for sure. It just sucks that people can't trust each other anymore when it comes to money. I remember a time when this kind of thing would not happen. If he has kids or something he may have felt like he had to take the money from the first person to put it in his hand. Sorry you missed out. Keep looking and find an even better deal.

_________________
My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.

Nope you are not crazy for being upset...when someone gives you thier word it is supposed to mean something. Another sad commentary on people these days.

I have sold and bought from CL, and have had very good luck with it, but sadly that is not always the case...too sad...don't lose faith though, there are lots of good people out there...not everyone is an A**hole!

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.

'Tis a fact. But the reality is, C/L is largely a "cash-and-carry" business. Deal in person, bring money, and seize any opportunity to strike a bargain. The forums are filled with coulda/woulda/shoulda tales just like this.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Happens to the best of us. Keep on trying.

_________________
1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I can see how upsetting it is on your end... but what if a second offer came in and he refused as the guitar was already sold to you and then you did not show? I think Craigslist has ever been a "whoever shows up with the money first" type of sales tool.

_________________
Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs

Yep does suck... I've passed up cash in hand waiting on comitmitments that never showed, so it kind of works both ways. It would be great if everyone did what they said....

_________________
Hey, Boy Blue is back!

Did you have a agreement that he was to hold it for you? Did you pay a deposit?

I honestly can't fault him for selling it to the first person to show up with the money as how could he possibly know that you would for sure show up. Even if you did show up how could he be sure that you were going to actually buy it.

I expect things on CL to sell to the first person who shows up with the money. I would never hold anything for anyone who had not put a cash deposit down. Why miss out on a sale because someone said they were coming. I've had people tell me they were coming and not show up. Heck I've had people buy instruments on eBay then never pay for them. "I was using my aunt's account." "My car broke down and now I can't afford it." I've heard it all.

Sorry you missed out. Lesson learned. I hope you find one better than that one. It obviously wasn't meant to be and everything happens for a reason! When one door closes another one opens. All that stuff.

I have bought a couple of guitars and a nice amp from CL sellers, but only because I got there first. I have a friend who goes through CL listings religiously every day who has bought about a dozen guitars from CL sellers and he has told me several stories of standing there with cash-in-hand, only to be told that he was ten minutes late, even though he had been told emphatically that the guitar was his.

The only sure thing for a CL seller is the guy holding out the cash. It's always better to just jump in your car than to arrange a next-day meeting.

_________________
Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Yeah, you would presume a person's "word" is something to be honored, perhaps a second potential buyer upped the offer. I have sold a few things on CL, and experienced promises from potential buyers to often go unfulfilled. I guess this is one of the realities with living in the CL world.

I feel your disappointment, but as someone who has also sold a couple of guitars on CL, it is definitely "first come, first served". If a seller doesn't know you personally and you don't have a deposit down, they have no way of knowing if you will flake out on them.

But don't fret it, something else good will undoubtedly come your way.

_________________
"Today Atlantis, tomorrow the world!"

At least he had the courtesy to send you an email and not let you drive to his place for nothing. I'd say that's better than a lot of stories we hear.

It sucks, but your dealing with the public and a private sale. Who knows how may times someone flaked on him, he took the guarantee. I've had good luck with CL, but no doubt the quicker you can get to the sale, the better.

_________________
"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

I can understand your frustation but If there's one thing I've learned from buying on Craigslist its that you have to jump on it ASAP. Most sellers subscribe to the "A bird in the hand" philosophy.

Better luck next time.

_________________
Its a lifestyle.....

I've had that happen to me as a seller. And as much as it sucks, I think a man's word, is a man's word. I hold it for potential buyers, if it's a reasonable amount of time, and the buyer has not shown any signs of being a flake.

Had I asked him to hold it for me for two or three days, I could understand. But it was less than 24 hours. I told him I would pick it up after work, the following day.

I guess I'm not really upset, so much, because I missed out on the guitar. What sticks in my crawl is, I was working. What better example of being dependable, than saying 'I have to go to work'. I hate to get political on this musicians forum, but I can't help but to feel like this is yet another example of someone sticking it to the working man.

I still think its complete BS. That's my rant.

Thanks for your input guys.