What do you think I should do with this trade?

[syee]

OK...here's the story...I was selling my laptop on the FS/FT forum here...I posted on 1/25, and several days later (and lowering of my price by $200 from $600), I had a deal with him. Since I was out of town, I had to wait until Feb 1 before we could send pics, etc.

Anyways, it's 3/3 today, and still I haven't received payment. He's been kinda wishy washy about the payment and trying to get me to do some elaborate Ebay thing - where I'd post it on ebay and essentially he'd buy it off there for the price we agreed on. He says it's for safety, which is probably partly true, but I'm willing to let him pay $200 up front and when he gets it and has had a look at it and likes what he sees, he can pay the other $200.

I gave him an ultimatum until yesterday night to shell out the $200. He IM'ed me while I was out so I gave him until end of today to pay up. To make matters more complicated, my friend at work is also interested in it, and is willing to pay $500 for it ($100 more than the person who wanted it on FS/FT forum). Time now is 11:05PM my time and still no paypal and he's not on AOL IM (I told him I'd be home at 11 my time so we could complete the deal).

So...I'm going to give him until tomorrow morning to have the money sent to me. Do you guys think I'd be an ass**** if I told him that there's no sale if he doesn't pay up by tomorrow and just sell it to my friend at work? He's willing to pay the $500 right away (instead of the $200/$200 deal I'm doing with this guy). I just don't want to come across as an asshole since this guy did put dibs on it, but I just think he's been sitting on this for an unreasonable amount of time and I really needed the money a month ago when I originally was selling it...

Opinions? Comments?

 

[Yossarian]

at this point I would cut the trader loose and sell it to your friend. set it up on ebay? wtf.

 

[syee]

Yeah...I didn't really understand what he was trying to accomplish with that...also he wanted me to pay half the fees...I kinda smell something fishy

 

[Banana]

eBay is for buyer's protection. You would pay all the fees anyway, so what was that about half the fees?

I'd go ahead and sell to your friend. Tell the original trader that
1) The deal already took too long
2) It's too much hassle
3) You got an offer for $500

Only catch is you may have to provide tech support to your friend.

 

[syee]

hehe...I'd pay them all but he'd pay back half of it. I really didn't want to do it.

As for tech support for my friend, he was actually gonna give it to his father in law...plus he's a techie, so he probably won't need my help.

 

[Lizardman]

sell it to friend seems like the best idea. Whats the problem?

 

[So]

agreed. Sell to a friend. You gave an ultimatum and that time is well passed. Your hands are clean.

 

[syee]

No problem...just wanted other peoples opinion to make sure I was giving this guy a fair chance. I personally though I have given him more than a fair chance. I'm sure there's going to be a retaliation from this guy when I tell him that the deal's off...