In agreed upon contract (that doesn't violate FTC regulations) sure I absolutely agree that both parties are bound. However, I know for a fact that there is FTC regulations on internet sales/eCommerce/mail order sales. Agreements mean nothing if violating laws and regulations. That being said, if I were to agree upon these terms, I wouldn't "reneg" and go back on a purchase, I would think long and hard about entering into such an agreement. I most certainly wouldn't with someone with low to no feedback here.@Marhault : I must be missing something here. If a seller, in a private transaction, states the terms and the buyer agrees (that's a contract btw), are you suggesting the buyer should reneg that commitment?
I am not defending any kind of terms btw. I am just defending AN AGREED UPON contract. Both buyer and seller should be bound by it.
Laws and regulations aside, its poor form as a seller, to make the buyer assume all risk. No reputable vendor, website or retailer does that. I realize these are private sales, but they're private sales in a very public forum which kind of opens things up a bit. In the scenario above, if product is lost, essentially the buyer loses his product, his money with zero recourse. The seller takes zero responsibility when it could very easily have been poor packaging, improper shipping, or as you stated downright "scumbagery" where the seller doesn't send the item as intended. A mutual agreement would protect both the buyer AND the seller, which is where insurance comes into play.