Tractor Buyer Delaying Payment/Pickup - What to Do?

[cjunrau]

Your example is why I don't do trades, holds, down payments, etc. I did it once, never again- down payment, then delays, then nothing. Then I sold it to someone else. Still have not heard from the guy to this day. He could be dead for all I know.

A lot of tractor/engine/junk collectors like to do all sorts of deals like this, "hold this for me....I'll pay the remainder and pick it up by xxxx," very well intentioned, but have a difficult time with follow through. Much of the time they're more interested in the hunt and acquisition and bragging about it to their collector friends rather than following through on the transactions themselves.

Contact him once more and say if it's not picked up by xxxx date you're putting it back on the market and keeping his deposit.

Or they make you hold it till they have sold it to someone else for more money

 

[Ericp351]

Just Drop A Dime! This "Deal" is what : 2 to $3K, US?? Maybe his Widow will answer as a Polar Bear ate him or such. Maybe he will feal badly and give ya hokey tickets or some Maple Syrup. I say do not default to Jerk, or Jailbait, mode unless your hand is forced. Life is too short! Be Cool!

 

[Ericp351]

5 hours, not 5 miles.

Ain't 5 miles about 5 hours in Canada land??

 

[Brown David]

Ain't 5 miles about 5 hours in Canada land??

I assume that's an attempt at humour.

If not, why would you think that?

 

[Tony in SD]

When Im selling something, my policy is "Who ever shows up with the money first, wins!" I would take a down payment from a neighbor but from someone I dont know, its full payment on the spot or no deal.

 

[dex4020]

Call don't email, tell him to pay balance and pickup when he can arrange it

 

[used red MN]

I assume that's an attempt at humour.

If not, why would you think that?

The discrepancy between what the OP said 5 hours away and what Ericp351 replied “only 5 miles”(away) probably some humor in there. I wouldn’t want to drive an old open station tractor 400 miles in Canada this time of year. Although Eric had some good points otherwise. These types of threads always turn into popcorn munchers.

 

[flying belgian]

Either have him pay in full now, or return the deposit and sell to someone with cash in hand. No more mister nice guy if he has drug his heels for several months.

You have to go one step farther and besides having him pay the balance you have to write up a contract specifying when it has to be picked up and what the consequences will be if that date expires ie I am keeping your 500 and selling to someone else. I agree with Scott,,, no more nice guy.

 

[flying belgian]

Hi folks,

Several months ago I decided to sell my Massey 555 diesel. Posted it online for $3500 (CAD) and got a surprising amount of interest. I 'sold' it to the first guy who responded, who was a really nice chap, didn't haggle on price at all, and gave me a $500 down payment sight-unseen to make sure I held it for him. He came out to look at it within a few days of sending the down payment and happily agreed he definitely wanted it and that he'd pay the remaining $3000 once he arranged shipping. He lives about 5 hours away, but said he had friends who frequently haul equipment back and forth by my place and they could put it on a return load.

I have no reason to doubt him and he seems like a smart, friendly, sensible chap. But several months later he still hasn't arranged shipping nor paid the remaining $3000, I'm getting a little irked. I don't 'need' the money per-se, but I was hoping to put the money into my 'tractor fund' - the money I set aside for all my old tractor and sawmill projects (which I impose a self-inflicted cap on so I don't overspend). Several times recently I've let deals on equipment I wanted pass by because I didn't want to spend more money until I'm paid for the Massey. Even more irksome is that for the few days my ad was still up for the tractor after 'selling' it, I got a pile of other interest - one chap in particular called me several times even after I explained it was already sold - He kept asking me to re-neg on the former deal and he'd be there the next weekend and pay the full price in cash (he was a Massey collector from Michigan who desperately wanted an early 555 diesel)

It's my fault for not specifying a 'remove by' date and saying his friend could pick up whenever they were next passing. And the few times I've texted the buyer since the original 'sale' I've still been on good terms with him and kept things amiable. But I'm getting rather irked that I'm now not only storing his tractor, but have also had $3k owed to me for several months.

What would your next steps be? I don't want to make enemies, and I realize this problem is somewhat self-inflicted. But I'm getting a trifle irked.

How can I put this nicely!! Shame on you for putting yourself in this situation. I see you have been on here for 10 yrs. We've had this discussion numerous times. C'mon man, Why did you let this happen?

 

[NoDakInMN]

I would do as others have said and call him. I would then insist on immediate payment in full because now he is preventing you from moving ahead on your plans, which is not your problem. If he agrees to payment in full, then I would relax a bit about when he picks it up, if it is not an issue for you still being there. But I would insist on setting a limit on how long it stays. If he wants to cancel the deal and get his money back, at best I would give him half because he owes you for the inconvenience.

 

[Mcrafty1]

Call the man, tell him the deals off and you are sending his refund back. Relist the tractor and resell it with stipulations that prevent you from finding yourself in this position again. If he says he's coming to get the tractor give him a reasonable amount of time..say 48 hrs. or the deal is terminated and you are keeping the deposit.

 

[Ericp351]

I assume that's an attempt at humour.

If not, why would you think that?

My time in Canada left me less than impressed with the general infrastructure. Perhaps understandable, given climate and population density. Also, politically emphasis on Welfare state, not a "great and free" state. One time in Halifax took over 3 hrs to load only 10,000 gal fuel. Canadians even popularize "Worlds Dangerous Roads" type programs, et cetera. Otherwise- yes I admit I miss read "HRS." as "miles". ###### 9 times in ten- if ya lighten up, call the guy, talk straight and be reasonable- stuff works out. Guy has HIS tractor, + reasonable deposit. NOT the biggest trouble on earth. All I got . Eric OUT!

 

[showcrop]

Take it back a notch. OK- 2. Adults do not need E Mails! Call him! Only 5 miles!??!. Tell him to get a tarp and just drive it over. Not rocket science! Bottom line- you have his deposit AND the tractor! You ain't out. He is practically a neighbor. Might be in a hospital or such. Be cool. Treat people OK and ya ain't got to play Jr. Lawyer (Barrister in the great white N.??). Let the Jail-bait do that "TEXT". crap. Men call, stop by.

Not five miles, five HOURS

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

Just Drop A Dime! This "Deal" is what : 2 to $3K, US?? Maybe his Widow will answer as a Polar Bear ate him or such. Maybe he will feal badly and give ya hokey tickets or some Maple Syrup. I say do not default to Jerk, or Jailbait, mode unless your hand is forced. Life is too short! Be Cool!

Why are you typing like a jerk and slamming our neighbors to the north then? Read his post, he has been in contact with the guy.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

This seems like it should be one of the easier situations to deal with because the buyer hasn't paid and the buyer is responsive. It's not like the buyer paid then disappeared.

You can explain to him that the situation is holding up your plans, and he can either pay in full and pick up the tractor within some reasonable but short amount of time that you decide, or you can refund his deposit and call off the deal.

 

[Wdj]

Daniel, from your posts in the past and the advice you have given me I can deduce that you are naturally a nice guy. These sort of things tend to happen to nice guys. Its a pain to deal with stuff like this and nothing wrong with being more rigid in the future but the world could really use more nice guys.

 

[MSD]

Might be trying to resell it for a profit and nobody is biting on the deal.

 

[Blackhole49]

If you put on the receipt non refundable down payment that would have been nice. I would call not email. tell him if he doesn't want it you will re sell. If he want's it be there in 1 week and pick it up with cash. tell him the only way he gets his $500 back is if you get full price when reselling plus $100 in interest.

X2

 

[Ray,IN]

I assume that's an attempt at humour.

If not, why would you think that?

Sit down and study some Canadian road maps in mountainous areas.