Need some Advice

[millertime]

So need some advice:

I am selling my sled due to a relocation to Texas.

I had a buyer who put down a deposit via Pay Pal. I agreed to hold the sled for him for 2 weeks, the day before the 2 weeks expired he sent me a text stating he would not be able to get over to pick up the sled (had to work). I told him I would extend the hold if he wanted to come pick it up later.
He stated that he was no longer interested in the sled.
He had requested I take the sled to a dealership and make sure all recalls and updates were completed, which I did.

He has asked me to refund his deposit, since he no longer wants the sled, I said no.

He (actually I believe his Mother) has issued a dispute with Paypal and they have placed a hold on my account.

Unfortunately I do not have a contract, I do however have text messages and emails.

Should I refund a portion of the deposit (minus the dealership costs)?
Should I fight it and refuse to refund any of it?

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[whitedust]

Refund a portion of the deposit (minus the dealership costs)? Seems fair & you have to absorb costs of transport sorry you had a busted deal but happens.

 

[dcsnomo]

Yeah, I'm with Whitedust on this. While it is inconvenient to have this happen, PayPal will probably only agree with your actual losses. Send him the deposit back less your actual receipted expenses.

 

[millertime]

That is what I planned to do, until she filed the claim with Paypal locking my account and the only option that Paypal offers is to refund 100% or fight, Along with her lack of professionalism on the phone screaming at me that she wants her money back now. Makes me want to decline refunding any of it.

 

[polarisrider1]

A deposit is considered sold in my book. You did your part. Keep the money. You could of sold it in the mean time. Tell her that her sled is still ready for pickup or she is out the deposit. She broke the agreement not you.

 

[ezra]

stand your ground he screwd U. the deposit is yours. it is a deposit to hold for him not well I may want it I may not lets see in a week or 3.
stand your ground and counter sue with extra cost of your time lost at a minn of $75 a hr and the cost of having to re list sled and poss the consignment fees if u are out of time before u have to move

 

[MZEMS2]

I think you're entitled to keep the deposit too. The kid screwed you, and backed out, especially after you held it for additional time. He obviously found what he thinks is a better deal and wants out of yours. Keep the deposit, sell the sled to another buyer, and deal with PayPal later. Lesson learned, if you're gonna offer a deposit option, state that it's NON-REFUNDABLE.

 

[rocketman356]

So need some advice:

I am selling my sled due to a relocation to Texas.

I had a buyer who put down a deposit via Pay Pal. I agreed to hold the sled for him for 2 weeks, the day before the 2 weeks expired he sent me a text stating he would not be able to get over to pick up the sled (had to work). I told him I would extend the hold if he wanted to come pick it up later.
He stated that he was no longer interested in the sled.
He had requested I take the sled to a dealership and make sure all recalls and updates were completed, which I did.

He has asked me to refund his deposit, since he no longer wants the sled, I said no.

He (actually I believe his Mother) has issued a dispute with Paypal and they have placed a hold on my account.

Unfortunately I do not have a contract, I do however have text messages and emails.

Should I refund a portion of the deposit (minus the dealership costs)?
Should I fight it and refuse to refund any of it?

Thanks for your opinion.

Bank it and let him argue with you,,,, he bailed

 

[Deleted member 10829]

You did everything right and he broke the contract you had. You may not have a written contract, but contracts can be verbal and you have emails etc. so you are good there. Keep the deposit. Once PayPal sees the proof you have, they will side with you.

 

[millertime]

I am thinking I will see what Paypal does. For now I am going to do nothing except see what odd emails I get from this guys Mom. Evidently he is in college and cannot deal with it. I think this is poor parenting, this really should be a learning experience for this lad. You can just get it your way even when you back out on something.

Anyone had any experience with Paypal?

Thanks for the advice, I will keep you all updated.

Jason

 

[anonomoose]

I fail to see what you did wrong? He bid, got it...moving others out of the way, perhaps, and then sent a deposit, which you received to hold the sled for 2 weeks. While stuff goes wrong and things happen, you aren't under any obligation whatsoever to give any of that deposit back. It is your money for the bargain of the wait. Paypal can not find any other way once the facts are out and assuming these are all the facts of this case. So it messes up your account for a few weeks...so what?

If you caved in, gave the kid his money back, he would feel he could do it again, and nick the next guy. Better he learns this is serious business and he needs to follow through. He is lucky you don't press for the rest of the money....

Throw the sled on ebay with another account, or a friends account if that is what you worry about, but this one is a no brainer.

 

[98panther]

Have been involved in Pay pal disputes they have been fair for me.
I think you will keep the deposit.

That is what a deposit is, most are non refundable.

 

[russholio]

I personally agree with the prevailing opinions here. To me, a deposit is to hold something so the seller doesn't sell it to somebody else, until you give him/or her the balance. It indicates his/or her intent to purchase the item. If he or she changes his/her mind, for whatever reason, I think you are entitled to keep the deposit. After all, you may have turned down potential sales (in fact keeping your part of the bargain) because you considered the item sold. If you are nice enough and WANT to issue a refund, fine....but I don't think you should be compelled to. To me, he already proved himself a liar by first stating that he couldn't come to pick it up because of work, then recanting and saying he was no longer interested. If he was straight-up he should have told you that first and been honest about it. Sounds to me like he kept shopping after he gave you a deposit and found something he liked better. That's not your problem.

As for PayPal....dot you i's, cross your t's,and CYA. It sounds like you've done this, and that's good. Show them what you've got and hope for the best.

 

[rp7x]

can I ask how much deposit ?

 

[millertime]

Only $300 Deposit
Hardly worth the argument, but it is the principle of the situation.

 

[russholio]

"Only"? $300 seems well worth the argument to me (that is, after all, a LOT of beer ), but hey.....we're all different.

 

[ezra]

only 300 and U had to take your time to clean off a trailer load a sled drive to dealer unload a sled sit at the counter fill out some paper work drive home.
re hook a trailer on your time drive back pay money re load drive back home un hook .
4 or 5 calls on the phone a few text messages.
if U were billing out as a job sounds like 300 bucks to me.

 

[russholio]

only 300 and U had to take your time to clean off a trailer load a sled drive to dealer unload a sled sit at the counter fill out some paper work drive home.
re hook a trailer on your time drive back pay money re load drive back home un hook .
4 or 5 calls on the phone a few text messages.
if U were billing out as a job sounds like 300 bucks to me.

And whatever fuel costs were involved. Maybe minimal, maybe not, depending on how far away the dealer is. But I see the bigger cost (aside from any fee the dealer charged for service) as being time and effort -- which to me, are money, like Ezra says.

 

[harski]

I personally agree with the prevailing opinions here. To me, a deposit is to hold something so the seller doesn't sell it to somebody else, until you give him/or her the balance. It indicates his/or her intent to purchase the item. If he or she changes his/her mind, for whatever reason, I think you are entitled to keep the deposit. After all, you may have turned down potential sales (in fact keeping your part of the bargain) because you considered the item sold. If you are nice enough and WANT to issue a refund, fine....but I don't think you should be compelled to. To me, he already proved himself a liar by first stating that he couldn't come to pick it up because of work, then recanting and saying he was no longer interested. If he was straight-up he should have told you that first and been honest about it. Sounds to me like he kept shopping after he gave you a deposit and found something he liked better. That's not your problem.

As for PayPal....dot you i's, cross your t's,and CYA. It sounds like you've done this, and that's good. Show them what you've got and hope for the best.

x2! That's the risk he took by leaving the deposit. How old is this person? that's the only thing I can think of that could effect you... but then, how can PayPal monitor someone's age?

Harski

 

[Deleted member 10829]

As millertime said above, it's not so much the money, but the principle of the thing.