Money Moral Dilemma: Should we pay for the dodgy dryer?

Former_MSE_Nick

We agreed to buy a tumble dryer from the previous owners of our new house. We brought the cash on the day of completion, but everyone completely forgot about it. We'd not got the chance to see the dryer before, but on moving in it was clearly not in the condition described (and worse still they left the house in a tip). Now they want the £50 - should we just pay?

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scotsbob

Negotiate a lower price. Alternatively, say that you are disappointed, don't want it and they can collect it.


I'm guessing they will have bought a new one for their new home, won't want the old one and will lower the price.

sparky130a

MSE_Nick wrote: »

We agreed to buy a tumble dryer from the previous owners of our new house. We brought the cash on the day of completion, but everyone completely forgot about it. We'd not got the chance to see the dryer before, but on moving in it was clearly not in the condition described (and worse still they left the house in a tip). Now they want the £50 - should we just pay?

Why ever did you agree to purchase a product you had not even seen?

Why was the dryer not just on the TA 10?

The state of the property is hardly relevant.

Sounds like a very amateur sale. If paying a bullseye means they'll go away and you can enjoy your new home maybe it's worth it.....

jgriggle

Tell them you're neither an idiot nor a scrap metal dealer, it wasn't as described, and it'll be left outside for them to collect. If not gone after one week it'll be disposed of.

CathJar

You agreed to buy it without viewing. You did nothing to discuss its condition. Morally you should pay. Legally you may not obliged (you did enter a verbal contract) but then you would have to pay to scrap it. Not £50 I grant you, but you should keep your word and chalk it down to experience. Next time view before entering a contract to buy - legally or morally. And the state of the house has nothing to do with your agreement.

seven-day-weekend

You agreed to buy it without ascertaining its condition. I think you are obliged to at least offer payment.

Drop them a line saying their money is awaiting collection, although you are disappointed with the product. They may not bother collecting it.

Yawn

I presume this was an informal agreement, rather than anything put in writing. I would offer them the opportunity to collect the dryer and say that you will otherwise dispose of it (don't think it would be fair to ask them to do that, as it is in your house now). I don't think there is a moral obligation to pay...

Fozzysnr

Although an agreement was made prior to moving in do not be bullied,if you were buying from anywhere else and were not happy with the product you would say no thankyou and walk away.
Do as JGriddle suggest tell them it is not wanted ,give a reasonable amount of time to collect (7days)advising it will be left out for scrap man to pick up (no charge to you).

Tyler119

I agree with others, you entered a contract of sale without checking out the condition of it. They genuinely may have a different opinion on the condition of the item. You could buy a property at an auction without out seeing it, claim you deduced a different picture of the condition from the description, and you would still need to purchase (or lose the deposit).

A contract verbal, or written is still binding.

csgohan4

Never trust the vendors. They said they could sell me some of their white goods. Not interested and they left them anyways.


Scrapped them as I prefer better quality updated white goods, not 10 year old rubbish. Ironically their washing machine stopped working 1 week before completion, had the cheek to ask me if I could buy one since I am moving in anyways.

WaspishQueenB

Also has to be: as described; fit for purpose; and last a reasonable period of time.
A tumble drier on it's last legs is likely to fulfill the last two criteria and unless they told you it was knackered, hence the reduced price, it's neither "as described".
Breaching those terms renders the contract void, so I would politely tell them to take a hike.