Puppy Deposits - Page 2

The guy should be happy your deposit is only $150 bucks. Keep your $, chances are the jerkoff will say something bad about you anyway (his attitude already sounds threatening and assinine). May as well have something to show for it. I have twice put down a deposit for pups and backed out, neither time did I expect or request the deposit back, after all I backed out of the deal not the other way around. 1 breeder kept the refund (only cashing it 10 months later when I had forgot about it and funds were not there) luckily I have overdraft protection but I was a little pissed and knew I did the right thing not dealing further with this person. The other breeder sent it back of her own free will, nice of her and I thanked her publicly. Even had she kept the refund, I would have been cool with that. Better me out $300 than not get the puppy I was looking for , raise subpar pup, with countless hours and dollars of my money in vet and food bills. She knew we had specific goals in mind and after reviewing the female pups neither was the right choice. Maybe she felt guilty being the litter only had 2 females to choose from but she was nice enough to say if she found a buyer for the pup by 8 weeks she would refund the deposit and she did just that.

To most it seems like your losing allot by letting a deposit go but when you think about it, it's actually cheaper in the long run.

The fact is a reputable breeder, one that makes such a contract with a buyer and accepts the buyer's deposit  has their paperwork in order.  Their contract clearly states that the puppy buyer needs to notify them in writing (certified mail), within XX days or hours of transportation arrangements or delivery, that they no longer want the pup.  The reason doesn't matter at that point.  The important thing is that they (the buyer) no longer want the pup.  It's incumbent upon the breeder to find the suitable home for the pup and use the deposit funds to support the pup until that home is found.  That information can be presented to a judge should dead-beat buyer file suit.

Having that paperwork to post where ever needed is the breeder's way of protecting their reputation and at the same time alerting other breeders to add "buyer XXX" to their "do not sell to" list.

There's a reason for contracts.  Accountability.  Honor the contract.  All parts.  Say what you mean and mean what you say and put in in writing.  Be damn sure you're ready, willing and able to adhere to it.  If "Breeder XXX" doesn't have enough of a reputation to be able to take a flake puppy buyer to court and provide proof of the entire communication they have no business being a breeder.  The lives of their pups, who they should be responsible for for life, depends on it.

Keep the deposit. The person signed a contract, it's binding.

I was fully aware that my deposit on my pup was non-refundable. If I didn't like that, or any other part of the contract, I should have looked somewhere else.

Even if this guy tries to slam you, no one worth selling to is going to care.

Because this person threatened to take you to court, I would KEEP the deposit.  Obviously this guy is an arse and is probably the type that tries to bully/threaten people into doing what HE wants.  People do that because they get away with it!    

I am also one that does not respond well to threats or bullying behavior.  If the person talked with (WITH me, not TO me) about it, in a friendly and adult sort of way - explained why he has changed his mind, and requested the deposit back, chances are I would have sent it back to him.   But had he responded in this way, by demanding and then threatening - I would have responded by telling him to shove it or simply not responding at all, with my time or MY money.

molly

Molly took the words right out of my mouth.

Molly couldn't have said better!

Ol'line rebel - sending a deposit for the breeder to HOLD A PUP for you, is up to you the buyer.  I consider the deposit a promise that the person is serious about buying a pup from that litter.  If the pup from that litter doesn't happen (ie no females) then I will return the deposit or move it to another litter.  However, if the pup from that litter that the buyer reserved and had me HOLD with deposit (meaning, I told others the pup was spoken for) was available, and you decided on a pup from another litter instead (again, up to you) then the deposit is lost by you.  I held up my end - produced the puppy and held it for you - you are the one who changed their minds.  I had to then re-advertise or spend more of my time speaking to other people, possibly keeping the puppy longer, to sell it to someone else.  And I may have lost others who would have bought the puppy if I hadn't told them it wasn't available.

You the buyer can always opt to not send any deposit, if you want to see the litter yourself and decide when the puppies are older - but then you the buyer take the risk that the puppies are already sold to someone else by that time.

molly

Essentially, I'm afraid that's untrue.

Almost every breeder has some "waiting list" (as indicated by my talking about waiting months and years) that you get on - through deposit.  It seems it's almost never in any way, shape or form "first come, first served".  You aren't just on a waiting list for XxY litter at time ZZ, you're on a waiting list forever either for the breeder, or for a specific breeding.

I understand if you make the contract, fine.  That's another issue.

I DON'T like the fact that 98% of any kind of breeder is demanding you get on a waiting list and make a payment - and so you are held HOSTAGE to getting something from them, or lose a good deal of money.  Never mind it's sight-unseen (which I will not do) on a waiting list, and you may wait forever when surely you could get a dog NOW, when you want it and are ready.  Circumstances change, don't you know?  What if you wait so long faithfully, and then come to a crash in finances, or personal disaster?

As far as being able to dispose of the litter, it seems to me if these breeders have waiting lists for years at a time, they have plenty of business that could happen off the cuff in a timely fashion, rather than waiting it out.  Not saying this is true for you or many, but it's happened to me many times talking to breeders "you will be 30th on the list".  Great.  Thanks.  See ya in 3 years.

Not saying you haven't been burned or anything, either.

I just think it's ridiculous and unfair for those of us who want to scour the land looking for dogs, not to be held in check from being able to do so.  And when we refuse to go the waiting-list, deposit way, we end up with precious few real live pups to look at, because almost no-one is doing the old-fashioned simple way of pay when you come, and come 1st when they're in this world.