Does a handshake count for nothing these days?

[ridger]

I bought a sprayer once, sight unseen. It was delivered on time and was better than expected. I like that sort of thing @Dave W

So did I

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

I’m pretty sure a verbal contract carries as much weight in law as a written one, the problem is proving it.

Correct

 

[McD]

A gentlemens agreement only works if both parties are gentlemen. (or ladies or of fluid gender or what ever people are these days but you get the jist).

 

[neilo]

I’ve got a list of rogues,liars and dodgers but I too will refrain..

Phew!

 

[neilo]

To cut a long story short, bought a new machine from an area rep in the company of the local sales man and shook on it. Few weeks later was contacted to say dealer had over sold there allocated number of machines and that deal is off. I still take a man at his word but has the days of this gone?

What happened in the end? Have you bought the machine at a higher price (so they got away with it), or is the deal off?

If they won’t honour their word, i’d Be inclined to walk on principle, even if it meant paying slightly more from another dealer. If that’s not an option, I’d be round to ‘explain my feelings’ to the salesman’s boss, assuming I really couldn’t source an equivalent item from another company.

In my book, your word is your bond, end of. If someone has got the backbone to stand by that then it’s a bad job imo.

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Be careful with that I’m sure there are a few dealers on here who could name and shame customers not paying the account.

What’s wrong if they did?

 

[David.]

I was only wanting it because it was too cheap.
No pillockry required I assure you.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

When my lad has trapped his fingers in it a time or two and a big Hampshire tup has wriggled sideways on his back and got jammed in it you will be the first to know he’s fed up with it!

 

[Dry Rot]

This is the thing. Sometimes sh!t does happen and if your open and honest most people will understand.
Telling lies only gets people's backs up

This ^^^^. The double insult. An insult to be lied to -- and an even bigger insult that they think you are so stupid you don't know the truth of it and won't know you are being lied to.

 

[Dry Rot]

Sometimes it does no harm to go home and write a friendly note, "Just writing to confirm what we agreed today.....".

Not everyone is a rogue but neither is the human memory infallible. People forget and it does no harm to jot down the essential details, if only as a memo to both sides. It can sometimes save a lot of misunderstanding and aggravation later.

 

[Dave W]

What’s wrong if they did?

I've lost count this year of the folk who've let me down this year.
You do a deal, agree a price and send an invoice then nothing. They just go quiet. Don't answer phone or respond to messages. Certainly don't pay.
I couldn't care less if they back out of the deal, just be honest and say so. The ignorant silent treatment is pathetic.
But naming and shaming can only reflect badly on the dealer. Just make a note of the name and avoid dealing in the future (which leads us on to a reason why reps never phone back but that's for another thread)

However there's a fodder merchant from Lincoln who has been downright dishonest with me who I'm very tempted to name

 

[Drillman]

About 3 years ago I shook hands on a deal over a new pickup. By the time I got home I received an email saying the sales manager had thrown the deal out.

I rung both the rep and the sales manager and made it clear what I thought of them.

The moral of the story is if you want to buy a ford pickup don’t go to the dealer that sells them in a place starting with ‘Y’ and finishing in ‘ork’

There a bunch of merchant bankers!

 

[Courier]

Sometimes it does no harm to go home and write a friendly note, "Just writing to confirm what we agreed today.....".
.

Not "Sometimes" - Always...keeps thing professional.

 

[Stewart Setter]

Handshake is a done deal in my books.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

About 3 years ago I shook hands on a deal over a new pickup. By the time I got home I received an email saying the sales manager had thrown the deal out.

I rung both the rep and the sales manager and made it clear what I thought of them.

The moral of the story is if you want to buy a ford pickup don’t go to the dealer that sells them in a place starting with ‘Y’ and finishing in ‘ork’

There a bunch of merchant bankers!

Not number ONE in your book then, always thought they had a high opinion of themselves - still they must get plenty of punters daily

 

[SilliamWhale]

Look a handshake isn't a done deal. It signifies an intent to do a deal but it is not a done deal. The tool to use to signify a done deal is exchange of money (or maybe a contract) - its one of the reasons money was invented - its worthless on its own!

I get that people feel there is a moral obligation once the handshake is done but its not a done deal, it is not binding.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Sometimes it does no harm to go home and write a friendly note, "Just writing to confirm what we agreed today.....".

Not everyone is a rogue but neither is the human memory infallible. People forget and it does no harm to jot down the essential details, if only as a memo to both sides. It can sometimes save a lot of misunderstanding and aggravation later.

Having it in writing, gives you an extra leg to stand on when push comes to shove too.

 

[Dry Rot]

Look a handshake isn't a done deal. It signifies an intent to do a deal but it is not a done deal. The tool to use to signify a done deal is exchange of money (or maybe a contract) - its one of the reasons money was invented - its worthless on its own!

I get that people feel there is a moral obligation once the handshake is done but its not a done deal, it is not binding.

I think the point is, it's a done deal if that's what the parties truly intended. There are moral and legal obligations.

But all the aggrieved party can sue for in a court of law are his losses. If he won his case, the court would only award his actual costs, plus very rarely punitive damages.

So what did that broken word, given with a hand shake, actually cost? (Edited to say, that's probably loss of reputation which is hard to replace with money!).

 

[Hooby Farmer]

Look a handshake isn't a done deal. It signifies an intent to do a deal but it is not a done deal. The tool to use to signify a done deal is exchange of money (or maybe a contract) - its one of the reasons money was invented - its worthless on its own!

I get that people feel there is a moral obligation once the handshake is done but its not a done deal, it is not binding.

This is what's wrong with the country

 

[Drillman]

Not number ONE in your book then, always thought they had a high opinion of themselves - still they must get plenty of punters daily

Any punter who goes there needs to get there head looked at. If you ask other dealers for a price it soon becomes clear that the merchant banker one isn’t competitive on discount either and you have to watch them like a hawk for upselling or not pricing stuff by the book. Tried to charge me £150 more for the tow hitch than anyone else for a start....

Anyway there loss I’ve bought 2 new top spec wildtraks from another dealer since....