Got a question for everyone to answer..

When you leave a deposit for a part, and then you decide not to get that part anymore, are you to get the deposit back??

1. Do you get the deposit back and call it a day

2. DO you only get the deposit back when you can find another buyer to buy that product.

3. do you not get the deposit back whatsoever

 

Any of the above - or something else - depending on the agreement you have with the seller.

If you don't have an explicit agreement - preferably in writing - shame on you: you deserve to lose your deposit.

 

Depends on the terms. I would never put down a deposit on a part unless it was 100% refundable - Especially for some JDM/Euro part that could take forever to get here.

 

well I am the seller and the buyer wants the deposit back stating that he found one local for cheaper. so I told him, if he could find me another buyer since I passed on another guy that was willing to take it while I was waiting for it to get shipped in (part is coming from Japan) I would refund his deposit. No harm done in my opinion. Since you are backing out of a deal with me, where you said that you want it and now you dont, why should I be punished (letting the other buyer go, cause I already had a deposit)

Am I wrong?

 

Do you have anywhere that states the terms of a deposit?

 

IF he signed any paperwork stating the deposit is NON-refundable due to it being a special order item, or for ANY reason, the customer is bound in contract and will NOT be getting a refund.

If you do NOT have any paperwork stating the deposit is non-refundable anywhere on that document, you are legally bound to refund his money, or he will most likely file for a chargeback and win.

 

I appreciate where the buyer is coming from on this but my personal opinion is that he should've done some research before engaging the seller to purchase and ship a product on the buyer's behalf.

I would probably advertise the part for sale now on places like here to see if you can secure a new buyer, and then refund the first buyer's deposit. If you don't find a buyer, then it's justified (IMO) that you keep his deposit, or a reasonable amount, to cover the cost of shipping and returning the part that is no longer needed.

The seller shouldn't be out any money in this case, I think.

 

I personally would side with you saying the deposit is yours. However, youre a relatively big dealer on this site so the bigger question should be "Is keeping a deposit from one customer worth risking all the negative publicity that can come of this?" The last thing you as a seller need is for this guy to put your name in the bad sellers thread or post up a topic telling the entire side of his bad experiences.

 

whenever i put a deposit down on ANYTHING i ask if it is refundable. its kind of sucky if you *think* it is refundable and find out later it isn't, but its kind of your job to ask that question as a buyer before giving up your money. i'd side with you on this.

really though, i'm surprised you're asking this question... haven't you dealt with this before at some point?

 

Was this a special order part? If so, tell him you'll refund his deposit when it sells.

Do you think you can sell it reasonably quickly? If so, just give the deposit back.

Or, just take out the cost of shipping it back, assuming you can do that.