How to determine if people are dishonest buyers?

Question

i'm selling my horse and i'm trying to work out who is dishonest and trying to swindle me with money. how do you tell a dishonest buyer?

Answer 1

Don't show your cards or be too willing to sell, play the game.

Question them:

What sort of horse are you looking for?

How much do you want to spend on a horse?

Where have you been looking to buy a horse?

How will you pay for the horse?

When are you looking to buy the horse?

How ready are you to buy the horse?

What is the best offer can they give you for the horse?

Remember they will offer the lowest possible $ figure they can to buy the horse, so you should start with the highest possible $ figure you can to sell. Have a reserve price in your mind that you will not go below (but don't tell them when your negotiating) and hopefully you meet them somewhere in between and broker a good deal!

Hope this helps.

Ben

Answer 2

I'm not sure how to tell if the buyer is honest or not, but if they are tall, greenish gray, have big black eyes and travel in a space shuttle.... They are probably aliens.

Answer 3

Lol, nice one Ziggy !

Have you ever been along with anyone who was trying to buy a horse ? It's funny when you can step back and just watch without being involved. The prospective buyers are nervous and expecting the seller to try to rip them off and the seller is nervous and trying to see if the buyer is trying to rip them off.

I don't think there is any way to be totally certain on either side.

Ask lots of questions, make small talk, drink tea with them -- if they're in a hurry to close be suspicious, you'd expect someone serious to be prepared to spend as long as it took not want to dash off asap.

Answer 4

Well that should be easy. dont let the horse off of your property until you are payed in full.  If they don't have the money don't sell the horse

Answer 5

Boy, you asked the million dollar question.  If it was easy to tell an honest person from a dishonest one, then no one would ever be cheated!  And that isn't the way it happens.

I do have a few things I look for, though.  First, does the person visit easily with you, answer questions, are they polite and pleasant by phone, email and in person?  I have discovered the hard way that people who do not respond promptly to emails and phone calls often cause problems down the road, if they aren't motived at first they often aren't motivated if you have any problems you have to work out.  Secondly, I would ask lots of horse questions and get a feel for their lives, knowledge base, and what they want my horse for.  An honest buyer often has no problems answering these questions, the others often have conflicting stories.  And when it comes to money, I assume that even the nice polite ones aren't honest, and I do a few things to protect myself.  First, I don't take personal cheques, I insist upon either a certified cheque or a bank draft (which can be forged, but not so easily)  I want all their personal ID including phone number and email address.  If you've talked to them before that it will be easy to check that their phone and email addresses are actually their real ones, and not just invented.  If the horse is registered I do not give them the registration papers until the cheque totally clears the bank.  

You are at risk anytime you sell anything large to someone you don't know.  But I have been fortunate so far, and all the horses and tack I've sold has been paid for in full.  I wish the same luck for you, there is no guarantee in this life, let me tell you!

Answer 6

Sometimes its hard, there are people who are really good at swindling. Id ask for a couple references, and maybe run a criminal search on them at this website, its free http://www.criminalsearches.com/

Answer 7

Always ask for a couple of hundred dollars more than what you actually wish to sell the horse for so when they try to bargain you down they will actually be paying the price you originally wanted.   Example say you want to sell a horse for $1000  i would advertise him for $1250 if they offer you the $1000 then you got what you wanted, if they offer you $1100 then you got a bonus, if they offer you $900 just say the lowest you'll go is $1000. And never let the horse go until payment is made in full preferably in cash.

Just a quick add in note  If they want to buy the horse  you should ask them to pay a deposit  (i think you guys call it a downpayment )  say around 10%  that way it makes it harder for them to change their mind. ( This is a good idea if they say things like I want to buy him but I cant pay you till next week will you hold him for me )  so you say   yes I will as long as you can give me a non refundable deposit of $100 today.  I always do this as it gives me a very good indication as to whether or not they are a serious buyer.

Someone who is stuffing you around will refuse to give you a deposit.

Answer 8

First off... if they want to use a 3rd party shipper... that smells nigeriannnnnnn!!!!

But I only take money orders if its someone local that I don't know.  If its a check.. the horse stays until it clears.  Theres no other safer way honestly.  

I also make sure they ask legitimate questions about my animal im selling.  Things that let me know they are truely interested.  If they don't prove to me that they have my animals best interest at heart and I dont believe it to be a perfect match, the animal stays.  I have to be persuaded to sell to the buyer usually.  I have said no quite a few times.

EDIT- lol ziggy i love it.. here i thought those were just my 2am emergency room callbacks

Answer 9

Anyone who offers to send cashier's checks through the mail without seeing the horse or talking to you?  Scam.  Anyone who wants money returned to them?  Scam.

Ideally you want someone who picks the horse up in person with cash in hand.  Or money order if you prefer.