Deposit Refunds - Page 3

You have made a good choice. There is only two options; refund or do not refund. Think to yourself: If I refund his money what would I lose? Not one thing! But if I do not refund his money what will I lose? With all the stress let alone legal, financial, time and effort,  PLENTY! With the possibility of reputation and the well being of the puppy.........

Should be a no brainer.

   

A really easy way to avoid this is to not take
any deposits until the litter is on the ground
and actually thriving. Start a waiting list, once
the pups hit the ground, give them a few days
to make sure they are all thriving, then accept
a couple limited deposits-again, keeping them low
so you can refund quickly if something comes up.
If your litter is any good, you will have no issues
selling your puppies quickly. I know it seems to
be an 'American' practice to 'select' the appropriate
puppy for a buyer .

It is simply not reasonable for any breeder to
essentially hold a buyer hostage and force them
to buy a puppy from another litter if something
doesn't work out IMO.

I can remember an American breeder just a few
years back who told a friend of ours that a deposit
of $500.00 ($1500 total price) had to be sent right
away to ensure they could get a puppy, this was for
a litter that had not even been BRED yet.
In fact, the bitch was not even in the country yet!!
When our friend declined to send a deposit until
the bitch was actually here, and had whelped an
actual living breathing litter, they were told
that they had 'wasted the breeders time' and
were not serious buyers

By the way, they were also told that if the litter
didn't take, or the sex/temperment was not
produced, their deposit would be 'rolled over'
to another litter. Thats a hell of a good racket
in my eyes.

I may have to look into this further and just
quit working! I can just accept a whole
shitload of 'non-refundable deposits'

He is not being forced to buy anything.  He agreed to the pedigrees of the next litter. He could have said no to the offer of the second litter. But he said yes becasue he liked it even better than the first litter.  So the depoist was transferred.  Before that litter was born he inquired about transferring the money into a stud fee, which was agreed upon.  He changed his mind about that also a short timer later.  After the litter was born, and he was told what there was, he just said he would wait.  That was the last I heard from him. Two days later I recieve the certificated letter.  

Sometimes when you think you are doing your very best to help someone, you get "BIT" in the rear.  I never intented to keep his deposit. I know I would not like to be forced something I didn't want. But from the begininng, I would not have agreed to the second pup. I never would have led the breeder into believeing I would take it. Seems like it was a situation, where he was leaving his deposit with me to make sure he had a puppy, but if he found something else, he would have thrown a temper tantrum like he is doing now to get it back.  Just doesn't seem right to me.  Actually I never would have demanded my deposit back had I been told it was non refundable like he was inforned and Especially after I acknowledge that fact in an email.  I would have asked just as he did, hoping i could get it back, but if not, I would have respected the breeder.  I honestly think that if there was nothing else I liked from that breeder, I would have walked away and lost my deposit instead of spending more and loosing more.  Or take the puppy and sell it.  People do it all the time. Its not like this guy didn't have the option for other things, besides a puppy.  

Lets not forget, I have been talking with this person for almost two years, so its not like he didn't know that my non refundable deposit policy didn't exsist.  Not sure what would make him think he was an exception.He was informed about it before the deposit was sent and accepted.

He will be getting his refund as soon as the puppy his deposit was applied to is sold.  I feel that is more than fair.  Its not like the puppy and the pedigree he agreed to transfer his deposit isn't available for him.  My hands are tied since the breeder of the other litter has the deposit now.  He was also made aware I was not the litter owner of the second litter.  I owned the stud dog. The stud fee was pick of the litter was I also recieved a deposit on that puppy but for a different sex.  

It will all be taken care of. THANKS FOR ALL the opinions. All will be considered.  

THANKS!!!

Don't take my post personal, it was more
of a 'generic' post, directed at no specific
breeder.

However, in your specific case, if the buyer
could not make up his mind in 2 years,
again, I'd personally wash my hands of
the whole mess, cut the check and be done.
I'd be overjoyed at NOT having to deal with
a headache like that. There is no price that
can be put on 'peace of mind' IMO

The point is you still have a non refundable deposit clause in your contract.  which altimately still means the buyer is not going to get his money back if you cant deliver what he wants.  I am not just talking about you and the buyer.  I am talking about all non refundable deposit breeders.  You cannot force someone to take a different dog just because you cant deliver.

Like workingdogz said dont take my comments personally either its my observation that breeders with non refundable deposits is altimately holding the buyer hostage to force them to give up their hard earned cash so that you dont loose any money. 

If they litter you used your stud for is so much better then the 1st litter you should have no trouble selling the pup.  Why wait till that pup is sold?  The buyer never wanted that pup in the first place you basically forced him into taking from that litter.

Great posts Barb, Skylagsd and Workingdogz!!

"I may have to look into this further and just
quit working! I can just accept a whole
shitload of 'non-refundable deposits'

No kidding, seems that many do just that. 

Threads like these sure help us buyers pick good breeders.

RedSable, Threads like this could be a considered a double edge sword.  It could also teach breeders how to pick potential buyers more carefully also. I know I learned my lesson.

Workingdogz, I am sorry, I should have made it clear. Yes I have been talking to this person for a longtime. However, it was not  concerning this particular situation.  THIS particular situation just began at the end of February, right before the litter was born.  So its not like I have been dealing with this situation for very long, Thank God!

Skylagsd, When I said the second litter had a better pedigree than the first, that was HIS opinion, not mine.  Also who knows how long it will take to sell the puppies.  I am never in a hurry to sell a puppy just because I can. Its never that easy for me. Actually our puppies don't leave us until they had all their vaccinations.

Ok, now that I have cleared up a few things, I would also like to add that the deposit has been refunded.  Now we can bring this thread to an end.

Also, nothing was taken personally and I am not offended at all.  Its good that we have each our own opinions, and who is to say which ones are right and which ones are wrong.

I would refund just to not have to deal with him anymore. However everybody keeps saying the non-refundable deposit is forcing the buyer to take something else, or holding him hostage.  As long as it is explained to the buyer clearly before they put the deposit down, they chose to enter into that agreement. I don't see how that is the breeder holding him hostage. He should have been aware of the fact that putting a deposit down on a pup that isn't even here yet is a pretty big gamble.  I wouldn't put a deposit down on a pup that wasn't born refundable or not. I'm not taking sides but there should also be some personal accountability on the side of the buyer, if you don't agree with any part of a breeders contract then buy elsewhere.

I understand that you are not taking sides, and to ask for anyone to take sides was NOT my intentions when i posted this thread.   However I want to thank you Donnerstorm for explaining it the way you did...You explained to the point..

OK, Just wanted to let you all know that the refund was sent by certified mail.  The check was cashed and now its over and done. NO reason to hear from him again.  I am done with him. God Bless the next person he tries to buy a puppy from.