Should I refund depost?

[RonB]

OK so I get a $500 deposit check on my 900 I'm trying to sell last night. Guy gave me the check about 9pm last night. He called me at 11:00 this morning and wouldn't be able to but it as he was having problems at work. I told him to call me later tonight. I guess I'm kind of feeling I should just rip up his check since I wouldn't have sold it in that short time anyways? Thoughts, comments?


I thought I had this sold on Ebay My reserve was hit in 2 days and I closed the auction as I'm just ready to get rid of the bike. I't been taking space in my garage for to long now. I get a email 4 hours later saying the guys account was hacked 2 days earlier and he can hardly walk and cant ride a bike. Kind of don't believe him. He has lots of feedback from buying bicycle parts. I think he was just trying to find out the reserve didn't think I would end the auction with 5 days to go. I think I should turn him is as non paying bidder. I really need to so I don't get stuck with seller fees.

Sorry for the rant just extra frustrated right now.

[hbliam]

I'm confused. You sold the bike via ebay or in person? or both?

Regarding ebay, yes you report them as non-paying if they don't pay.

Regarding the check from what I think is a private party. I had the same thing happen to me. On one hand a deposit is to hold the bike and is generally non-refundable. That being said, you likely haven't missed out on a sale overnight. I'd just shred it and tell the guy to quit wasting peoples time.

[Curmudgeon]

Similar has happened to my son and he sells a lot of bikes and cars on eBay and knows better. In future he won't end an auction until the wire or certified funds have 100% cleared in his account. Period. No excuses. His feedback is 100% 2000+ and wants to keep it that way!

The check will probably bounce.  Move on... Just my $0.02.

[RonB]

I'm confused. You sold the bike via ebay or in person? or both?

Regarding ebay, yes you report them as non-paying if they don't pay.

Regarding the check from what I think is a private party. I had the same thing happen to me. On one hand a deposit is to hold the bike and is generally non-refundable. That being said, you likely haven't missed out on a sale overnight. I'd just shred it and tell the guy to quit wasting peoples time.

Both sold on Ebay first and the guy said didn't bid and won't pay. Sold localy a few days later. Kind of my thoughts on the check also. Just doubting myself that's all.

[Rudemouthsky]

Guy's a goof, but if you cash that check you're a thief. Maybe not according to the law, but a thief anyway, imho. In any case I agree it would probably bounce.

[hbliam]

Guy's a goof, but if you cash that check you're a thief. Maybe not according to the law, but a thief anyway, imho. In any case I agree it would probably bounce.

Way off here. Deposits are generally non-refundable unless stated as such. The only thief is the thief of time that the "buyer" was.

[RonB]

If he waited a few days I defiantly wouldn't give it back. I'm thinking if he calls me back tonight like I asked him to I will just tear it up. If he doesn't have the decency to do that I will deposit it. Sure it probably wont be good but it will cost him $30to$40.

[Rudemouthsky]

Way off here. Deposits are generally non-refundable unless stated as such. The only thief is the thief of time that the "buyer" was.

Like I said, not according to the letter of the law but taking/keeping someone elses money you didn't earn = stealing. The idea of the non refundable deposit is to protect against *extreme* forms of time wasting, and in cases where the potential buyer backing out literally costs the seller money. Not saying the "buyer" isn't a time wasting douche and a flake, but RonB sold the bike locally a few days later...no eBay fees, no harm, no foul. where does he morally justify keeping $500 of this guys money?

Also people don't tend to go away quietly over that kind of coin, I sure wouldn't...and I have a family so I'd refund it just to avoid the trouble if nothing else.

Also lets be honest...there's no moral quandary or "teaching the guy a lesson" going on here...you would like an extra $500 in your bank account...it's pretty simple. The guy tried to communicate with you and back out of the deal...how do you know his explanation about problems at work aren't sincere? You already admitted it didn't cost you any time or money. World would be a much better place if people lived by the simple philosophy of; "don't be a d**ck."

 Just tear up the check and move on.

[hbliam]

Like I said, not according to the letter of the law but taking/keeping someone elses money you didn't earn = stealing. The idea of the non refundable deposit is to protect against *extreme* forms of time wasting, and in cases where the potential buyer backing out literally costs the seller money. Not saying the "buyer" isn't a time wasting douche and a flake, but RonB sold the bike locally a few days later...no eBay fees, no harm, no foul. where does he morally justify keeping $500 of this guys money?

Also people don't tend to go away quietly over that kind of coin, I sure wouldn't...and I have a family so I'd refund it just to avoid the trouble if nothing else.

Also lets be honest...there's no moral quandary or "teaching the guy a lesson" going on here...you would like an extra $500 in your bank account...it's pretty simple.

No, the bike is not sold. The ebay buyer flaked and now the deposit placer flaked.

And taking people's money you didn't earn is called welfare.  

[Rudemouthsky]

Oh, my bad I saw the "sold locally a few days later" and didn't realize that was another non payer.

Sounds like RonB has good reason to be frustrated, but lashing out by keeping another persons money isn't really a viable answer. File the non paying bidder complaint and proceed to move on with selling the bike.

[Howie]

Yep, I was thinking just return the money and call it a day until I got to the end of the post.  I would hold the check as a reminder or tear it up, not cash it, in short, take the high road and consider it a lesson learned even though he doesn't deserve it.  I would file the complaint so future sellers will know..

[sgollapalle]

Mobile banking is such a wonderful thing..

Technically you could have deposited the check at 9 am and you could have very well told him that you already deposited the check! If he calls you back and explains himself/ sounds genuine, at your discretion, shred it. Else, deposit the check, and if it clears, drop the price of the bike by 500, and sell it.

[Rudemouthsky]

I can't believe how many people think it's ok to deposit this check. Guy #2 has nothing to do with guy #1 who wrote the check. And if he's sincere about getting bad news in regards to his employment then cashing it becomes even more despicable.

You were inconvenienced selling your spare Italian motorcycle that can barely fit in your garage. Sounds like ya got it rough but take the higher road and don't keep money that isn't yours anyway.

[Triple J]

I'd rip up the check and move on.

I don't even take deposits from local buyers...I just tell them I'll hold it if they seem reliable and want the moto. Naive maybe, but I've sold several bikes and it has always worked out. I'd rather be a nice seller...worse case, the sale falls through and you have to wait for another buyer to come along. No big deal.

[RonB]

So this is what happened if anyone is interested. My conversation with him in the morning was about 30 seconds. I asked him to call me later as I was with a inspector and couldn't talk. He never had the decency to call. If I gave someone a check and wanted the money back I sure would have made some effort.

The more I think about it I think he was a scammer. First question was could he take it home with a personal check and asked at least 3 times. He offed the deposit I didn't ask for it. Had a couple of hundred in pocket and I told him $100 cash was find and seemed hesitant and later did a $500 check. And a couple of other things.

So I did somewhat of a dick move and made him put a stop payment on the check. I haven't deposited it but just may to cost him $40 as I think he was scamming the whole time.

I had moved on as soon as the call. My thoughts were not to keep his money was just curious what other would have done in this situation.