Do 4H kids get priority?

Squeaky McMurdo · #1 08/03/13, 08:37 PM

This is a little bit of a rant. I was all set to head down to Utah to pick up an adorable little doeling to replace Otto. Been talking with the breeder for a few days now and had this all planned.

I had a cattle panel divider set up so she could be with the other goats but get away from them and have some pasture and a doghouse all to herself.

I had the car packed and 2/3 kids in their carseats. I happened to check my email after changing a diaper and HE SOLD HER to a 4H kid.

I'm ready to cry now because I feel like I lost another goat. I had showed my girls pictures of their new baby goat and they were so freaking excited.

Worst part is I can't email him back to rip him a new one because he's the only breeder that tests for CAE within my price range/driving distance and I have to be nice if I ever want to buy from him.

So is this a common practice that even if someone else made pick-up arrangements first, 4H kids get priority?

Alice In TX/MO · #2 08/03/13, 08:58 PM

Do not know about 4H, but it is normal Craiglist behavior.

CraterCove · #3 08/03/13, 09:01 PM

I have to agree with Alice. If someone is selling on Craigslist it's always going to be a whoever arrives first with cash in hand gets the item/animal. I only bought one goat off craigslist, my first one. After that I have always gone either to someone on this board or directly to the breeder's website.

I'm sorry you got burned, that really sucks.

Squeaky McMurdo · #4 08/03/13, 09:12 PM

I found the listing on KSL but contacted him through his website...not going to out him here but he is fairly well known.

o&itw · #5 08/03/13, 09:18 PM

Don't know about KSL, but about 2/3 of the people who contact one to buy something off of craigslist never show up. After a while it becomes first come first served. Sorry this happened to you. If you establish a relationship with someone, then they will usually save the item for you. You never got the opportunity in this case. I know it stinks.... but "my word is my bond" is not much practiced anymore. It is good people who suffer the consequences.

d'vash · #6 08/03/13, 09:30 PM

Unless you have placed a deposit, the breeder could sell to whomever and whenever he wants.

It would be nice to have some sort of a heads up, "hey, I have someone coming to look at x goat tomorrow evening, that you are also interested in." However, an advance noticed isn't always possible. So many times buyers confirm their visit or interest, at a time where the seller does not have access to a computer or a phone and as such cannot notify other potential buyers. And other sellers just don't care and lack courtesy.

The truth of the matter is, the majority of "interested"parties are simply day dreamers or really aren't that interested at all. If a seller were to sit around for a buyer that may or may not show up, the animal would never be sold. You may be a person that sticks to your word, and is punctual, but the seller does not know that.

Lesson learned: put a deposit on an animal that you really want to show that you're serious about buying, and to reserve that animal for you.

Suzyq2u · #7 08/03/13, 09:43 PM

Sorry

Yes, deposits really are the way to go of you're wanting a particular one. I know it doesn't help your heartache much right now.
Had a buyer not show here today - sigh.

Squeaky McMurdo · #8 08/03/13, 10:21 PM

Yep, lesson learned. Deposit next time. Just sucks we were literally heading out the door when I got the bad news.

d'vash · #9 08/03/13, 11:09 PM

In that case Squeaky, the seller is a stinky pooper! I do pray you find a pretty doeling even better than the one you had your heart set out on, for a less expensive price, within short distance from your home and to be sold by courteous sellers!

Country Wench · #10 08/04/13, 12:32 AM

Suzy -- where are you in Oklahoma ? Are you selling on CL ?

Doug Hodges · #11 08/04/13, 06:51 AM

If I tell you I'm coming, then I'm coming. I never sell anything out from under anyone. I always contact them first and say "I've got another buyer, are you sure you are coming or sure you want this ?." I also live by this rule "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" to many people live by the rule "do it to someone else because someone did it to you in the past"

I'm sorry this happened. Common courtesy goes a long way in my book.

dizzy · #12 08/04/13, 07:09 AM

OK, I read all of the replies, then went back and reread what you had posted. If this was a case of you calling one time, and making the arrangements to go see the goat, then him selling it to someone else then I'd agree, first come first served. I'm sure we've all had people tell us they're coming to get something, but never show up.

But, this was a conversation that was ongoing over the course of a few days. If the buyer wanted a deposit to hold the goat, then he should have told you that up front. (Of course, it may have been difficult given the distance unless he takes paypal.) If not, then he should have been willing to hold the goat for a set amount of time to give you the opportunity to get there. And while you may not be willing to rip him one, if he does this type of thing often, eventually it's going to come around and bite him in the butt. People aren't going to be willing to buy from him because they won't trust him.

Squeaky McMurdo · #13 08/07/13, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden Affinity

In that case Squeaky, the seller is a stinky pooper! I do pray you find a pretty doeling even better than the one you had your heart set out on, for a less expensive price, within short distance from your home and to be sold by courteous sellers!

Just got a new baby, started a new thread with pictures!

d'vash · #14 08/07/13, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squeaky McMurdo

Just got a new baby, started a new thread with pictures!

That was fast! I'll make my way over to the other thread.

Dusky Beauty · #15 08/07/13, 01:45 PM

Some people do business by selling to whomever they decide they'd rather sell to if they have a pool of buyers; either by geography, who they know, what they're doing with the animal, or whoever gets there with money first.
I choose not to-- I only set up an appointment with ONE person at a time when I'm selling. I live an hour outside the metro in one direction, and sometimes my buyers come from an hour or more from the OTHER sides of the metro. I treat people how I'd want to be treated and I would be TICKED if I wasted gas, time and effort to go see/pick up an animal they sold to someone else first.