Deposit=Sold, until then all bets are off ???? - Page 3

I think Eichenluft has it right, make it clear up front that whomever puts down the deposit gets the pup regardless who all is considering it. Regardless, if you give your word otherwise stick to it.

EchoMeadows You are and were more than kind. No deposit equals pup is still for sale. If your deposits are refunded then it takes the meaning out of deposits? Our contract says no refund but we have refunded them anyway but when you think about it is defeating the purpose of taking one. I know what Shelly is saying I have trainers/friends who you tell about a puppy and they never commit then get upset when you sell it. Marlene

Another thing: I will accept a check for a deposit only if the check will clear before the puppy is delivered. Balances are due in cash or by bank wire transfer. Once that puppy is gone from my property thee is no way to get it back, court system notwithstanding. Cash tendered at time of delivery is put away in another room IMMEDIATELY. I've had people take it with them while I was distracted helping one of them load their dogs (yes TWO) into their crates! I have been screwed so many times I had to get tougher! Just this month someone came over twice, promised to return the day after the last (night time) visit, never to return. I did NOT follow up. I have been known to bend my own rules, but not very often, and have regretted it more than once. Beware of "friends..." Shelley

As many buyers may not be aware of a deposit being required, the only right thing to do is let them know up front. Maybe not the first call or even the second. But if the discussion is ongoing and one special pup is being discussed, the seller must tell the buyer a deposit is expected to hold the pup. Anything less is unfair to the buyer.

In any business dealing the more honest and up front you are the better.

EchoMeadows, You have to stop putting it all on you. Yes you could have asked for a deposit to hold the puppy, but SHE could have asked you if she NEEDED A DEPOSIT to hold that puppy as well. I don't like asking myself but I do, and a few times I forgot to ask and they asked me instead. If you go to look at cars and like one of them, the dealer will ask you to put some money down on it so it won't be sold right! Well if you didn't ask her it's just as much her fault for not bringing it up to you. No matter if she's new or not, we all know no matter what you are looking at buying everything NEEDS A DEPOSIT to hold what ever you plan on purchasing. LOL

echo, as a buyer, and on a deployment with an 9 mo. pregnant wife, on both of my puppy and dog purchases, have had no problem sending a deposit! i paid for the pup in full, just to make sure he was mine although i wasn't sure which of the 2 pups that i wanted!this seller put both pups on hold for a few hours so that we could e;mail back and forth and we could decide which would best suite what i wanted. both sellers were very understanding the pup was offered to be boarded for free since he was also in the military. don't feel that your being pushy, as many people here have stated if she was serious she would have asked or made sure that it was clear that arrangements were being made and that the pup was spoken for. under my circumstances people tend to offer alot, being that i am deployed and my wife is to prego to pick up or care for the pup/dog being she is due anyday! even though they offer, i respectfully decline and insist on paying them for boarding! so in the future it would not be pushy of you to let prospective buyers know, if their serious,that all pups/dogs are still forsale till a deposit is made! and then if the deposit is made and you didn't want to ship you could refund ;) sincerely, kenny

Echo has referred to this buyer as a "girl". Is it possible she is very young and inexperienced at making large/expensive purchases? The car analogy is right on. But this girl may have never made a big purchase and doesn't know what is expected. It's a life lesson. Echo I hope you can find her another pup. Sounds like she's broken hearted about losing this deal as much as you are hurting for disappointing her.

I've taken deposits for pups before they were born (mistake I will never repeat), and had confirmed pregnancy with 5 pups. I took 2 deposits for males (one pet companion and one show/working, with the agreement that the pups would be evaluated at around 6 weeks, and a final decision made on the quality of pups (i.e if a long coat, obviously a pet, if any obvious faults, again, a pet, etc.) , and 2 for females. Also agreed upon is that deposits are non-refundable, but are transferable to another litter of similar, but not necessarily exact same breeding, or at my discretion, I can refund deposits. Well, the female had 1 male, and 4 females. At 6 weeks, I informed the two buyers of males that the male was evaluated to be a show/working prospect (he is GORGEOUS!). The person who wanted a pet companion didn't think it was fair, and I could tell this person would be disagreeable, so I immediately offered a choice of a) 100% refunded deposit or b) a pup from another litter. This person then wrote the BBB and complained that they wanted her money back (what I had already offered) or the puppy. The BBB closed the complaint when they received copies of our email transactions. But, obviously, some people do not read what they agree to prior to signing, and will complain no matter what resolution you come up with. Needless to say, this taught me NOT to accept deposits for pups prior to birth, and to get a written contract, signed and notarized, at the time of receipt of the deposit, outlining BOTH the breeder and buyer's responsibilities. (what happens if the pup they picked out turns out to have a heart murmur at 8 weeks?? What about the pup picked out for show that is a monorchid? These are things that unfortunately DO happen, and you have to be prepared for all contingencies!) I am sure other breeders have similar stories, but wanted to give you something to think about, Echo, since you're thinking on this topic anyway. :) Explain what happened to this person you have been speaking with HONESTLY--most people are pretty understanding. Good luck, Melanie

Stop beating yourself up! Ever tried getting a car dealer to "hold" a vehicle you liked while you made up your mind without a deposit? How 'bout a house? Won't happen... You did right. SS