First, congrats to both parties involved on a nice 'Barry' transaction. :smile:
I don't think it's unreasonable, at all, however, for a potential buyer to be adamate about escrowing the deal. And, yes, especially when looking to buy from a seller who has a very limited (or no) track record to go on.
But there are two things that I think are worth considering in a deal like this one.
1. The cue was apparently very desirable and the obviously very fairly priced as evidenced by how many *knowledgeable* az'ers expressed an interest to buy it.
So, the first consideration is that the seller is likely getting lots of inquiries and some offers, so how can I best move forward on this deal?
I think the answer is pretty straightforward. If the idea of escrow wasn't sitting well with the seller and if this is a deal breaker for me, then walk away. Or, decide to take a risk (a very calculated one - see #2 below) and try to make it real easy and even enjoyable for the seller. The old honey vs. vinegar thing.
And, btw, far be it for me to provide Lawman a tutorial on how to close a cue deal - I think that not only is he a good guy but I believe he's bought and sold a few before. :thumbup: So, to be clear, my comments are not directed at him.
I am speaking very generally and, for me, it really would come down to how bad I want a particular cue, how much effort will it require to keep things going in a positive direction and most importantly, how can I accomplish it while minimizing my risk.
2. Use a method of payment that provides recourse if anything is misrepresented. Our resident expert, Kevin Brewer, can chime in if he likes but I believe a paypal payment that is funded with a credit card puts you in a good position - little to no risk if things were to go awry.
I have purchased a few medium to large-ish $$$ cues on az without using escrow service that ended up being great deals because the sellers looked a little risky (low or zero iTrader or out of country) and potential buyers appropriately felt uncomfortable. I paid via paypal with my cc and felt good knowing that if needed, I could seek a remedy through paypal buyer protection or via a cc dispute.
But I will readily agree, using an escrow service, when possible, is invaluable. There's nothing quite like having a trusted, impartial, and completely objective person in the middle of an important deal.
I am a very educable fellow so, please, if I got any of this wrong, please feel free to let me know.
Best,
Brian kc