What should I do about this email?

Question

I'm selling my college textbooks, and about 2 weeks back a lady emailed me for one of my books. Everything was decided about when she'd pick up the book from my house but at the last moment she said she'd find out from her prof and then get back to me. I never heard back from her for about 10 days so I sold it to someone else.

Now today she emailed again and asked when she could get it. What should I tell her? Is it rude to say that I sold it to someone else because she never got back to me?

Answer 1

Send her a gracious but firm email.

"I am so sorry, but I have sold it to someone else. After you said you were going to check with your prof, I waited a week then sold it. I hope you can find another copy. Thanks!"

Answer 2

You owe her nothing, this was her loss.  Why should you feel badly about her lack of follow up skills.

Answer 3

First come first serve.  She should have gotten back to you.  What does she take you for anyway - the lay away desk at a department store?  

Send her an email back and nicely tell her that someone else bought the book.  Tell her that you were waiting to hear back from her but it had been 10 days and you assumed that she was no longer interested.  

If she complains to you she has no class.  Then you can rip in to her about how you are not customer service at a department store or something like that.  Anyway, first come first serve.  She should be smart enough to know that by now.  

Answer 4

Tell her you're sorry but you sold it to the first buyer who had cash, and since she didn't contact you before you received another offer, you wanted to ensure you sold it.  It's just business and if she doesn't understand, she has issues.  I hope this helps.  :)

Answer 5

No it is not rude.  The first person to pay gets the book.

She can't expect you to keep it on hold for her indefinitely.

Answer 6

Just write back ... like this:  (don't apologize) Thank you for your interest in the item, but I already sold it. The last time I heard from you was 10 days ago.

Answer 7

I don't think it's rude, it just all depends on how you say it! I would tell her that you are very sorry, but when she didn't come to get it the other day without calling you figured she was no longer interested and you sold it to someone else. Happy searching! :)  

Answer 8

I would politely respond back and let her know that you already made other arrangements about the books. She should not have waited that long to get back to you and can not expect you to wait until it is convenient for her. If you waited much longer maybe nobody woul dhave bought the books and then you would be stuck with them.

Answer 9

Tell them the truth.  A non refundable deposit is usually required to hold something.

Answer 10

No, its not rude, you shouldn't be expected to hold on to it. If she really needed it she would have contacted you sooner. If she hadn't heard from her prof until now, its her loss.