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Sort of reverse order long winded BS but funny knowing everything she is talking about is being sold on craigslist in Slippery Rock PA now
Sue,
I know the person you sold the tank to and have been to his house before.Everything is torn down and being resold now.
Funny how liars make such a show professing their "honesty".
It was painfully obvious from your first email what your intentions were and no amount of self service BS changes the fact that you got another offer after selling the aquarium and choose to sell it again.
Asking if the extra money was worth more than your word/reputation is pointless because those have be proven to be worthless.
"I am not even one moment considering selling this tank to anyone else"
"My entire life has been built on honesty and I don't approve of anyone not being fully committed to what they intend to do."
"After another night of little sleep and a whole lot of feeling ashamed and embarrassed, it is my decision today to not have this tank moved anywhere but to my own home".
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From: J, William M
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:57 PM
To: Sue Spalsbury
Subject: RE: Please call me
Since you have no intention of honoring our agreement please return the money you took from us.When can I arrive and receive cash I am not interested in a check
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From: Sue Spalsbury
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:07 AM
To: J, William M
Subject: Re: Please call me
Hi Bill.
You are, of course, correct. I definitely should have thought longer and more carefully about this tank before I listed it for sale. When you came the first day I had so many email requests I couldn't think and had slept little due to my dogs being in surgery for several hours. It kind of just was a relief to "get it over with" and begin to think about all of the challenges facing me. What should have been done is to say to you that I would consider and get back to you. Every day was walking around thinking "how am I ever going to move this" and it was threatening my ability to
think clearly and try to figure out how I am going to move and how I am going to make a living.
When I sell real estate I would never allow a person to make a decision that quickly.
A buyer now has executed an offer to purchase that I required them to go back three more times to view as I did not think it was at all in their best interest to buy
that particular home. Ultimately, it is their decision and, after spending 10 days working on this, the offer is accepted and the buyer will make an application for loan this morning. That cautiousness is the way I do business and it should have been the way I proceeded with this aquarium.
This is something that I do not feel, today, I can do. After another night of very little sleep, I cannot say that I am one degree closer to having this tank moved out of my home. Even though I know it will cost a minimum of $500 to move it to my new location it is still the direction I am leaning. If I did allow you to take the tank it is an action I cannot reverse. With so many disappointments going on right now it is, along with my grandchildren and puppies, the one constant sense of joy and beauty.
Bill, I understand you have worked hard on the preparation for this tank. The preparation will also work for any large tank you would purchase. The difference
is the timing. The cost of the saltwater is something I am more than wanting to
pay for and, if reasonable, whatever I can do to help ease this sense of lose to
you and your lovely wife I will do if affordable.
While I have not shared this with anyone, the reason we are moving is because we
must do so. The health care bills we face are approaching $100,000 and I am working hard every day to resolve those charges. I made a bad decision this past year to pay a great deal of the costs relating to Kelly's lung cancer that were left when the insurer closed the doors in the dark of night and left all policy holders left
with, in our case, a huge debt. That fact, coupled with a real estate market that crumbled, has put us in a financial position where we could not cover our mortgage
payment. With the foundation collapsing we had to take a huge lose on this home and are trying desperately to have the bank be helpful in adjusting the terms of the mortgage opening the door for the prospective buyer to buy at a price that is less than the amount we owe. We have been able to show not only zero income for 2008 but a $32,000 loss on our business. Now it is just a matter of packing and going to rent. Fortunately our son has a home with a very nice place for us to live and is not worried about our deplorable credit.
I will do anything I can to help you, Bill. I know you can buy another
tank setup for the same or less money. What it will not have is all of the fish, rocks, and coral. What I could do is, when you do find that tank, is to let you come to where I will be living and take some of the coral. This tank is full of phosphates. Dangerously high levels which is what is causing not one bit of coralline algae to grow but lots of mushrooms. If I am able to successfully move this tank and keep the contents alive I will keep those non recommended levels the same. It has taken many years for me to understand that changing the system to make it"healthier" would only result in killing what I care about the most.
After another night of little sleep and a whole lot of feeling ashamed and embarrassed, it is my decision today to not have this tank moved anywhere but
to my own home. I will be sending you a check for the deposit you placed on the tank. I will also include an additional $100 for the cost of the salt. The money I would have from you would be very helpful in my prospective costs of moving but
it would really take away one of the very few things in my life that provide joy and
calmness. Somehow I will need figure out how to pay the costs to move as I would only have a professional move this complicated system. It might end up being my
next five years of birthday and mother's day presents but it would be worth it to me.
The hardest part, and the most costly part emotionally to me, is causing you this disappointment.
Please, someday if possible, find it is your heart to forgive my impetuous me.
You and your wife were so pleasant and excited when you came here to look at the tank that I got excited about it with you. After you left that night I already felt sick and
couldn't figure out what the heck to do. Even when the person came here to buy a lot of the misc aquatic items I had here I had this horrible sense of loss. Not due to money, Bill. The loss is something I can't seem to articulate well enough for it
to be equal to the sense of disappointment and, likely anger, you are feeling.
I am more than prepared to talk with you, Bill. This is not something I can hide from. Nor should I. If I had money in the bank and could do so, I would go out and find a brand new system for you. Today I am going to have to make a decision whether to pay for my health insurance or not. After a lifetime of working very hard this just isn't the way I thought it would go.
A check will be written today if you would please send me a mailing address.
Someday I pray we can meet and shake hands.
Sue Spalsbury
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill.j
To: Sue Spalsbury
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:27 AM
Subject: RE: Please call me
"I am not even one moment considering selling this tank to anyone else"
Sue,
You have already sold the tank!
Your dilemma now seems to be whether to honor your agreement or do whatever you want regardless of what you have promised.
"My entire life has been built on honesty and I don't approve of anyone not being fully committed to what they intend to do."
I can appreciate how difficult it must be to move from a place you have called home for over 25 years.I can also appreciate having second thoughts about parting with a favorite aquarium.That being said the time to decide IF you wanted to sell ended when you agreed to sell, took payment and wrote a receipt.The only thing that should be left to "work out" is a schedule.
When you spoke about setting up a smaller tank in your new home I said we would be happy to make divisions of all the corals for you.You said running the chiller was expensive and a man from PA would move the tank ASAP. I asked 3 friends to cancel plans this weekend,borrowed large tanks prepared 200 gallons of 78deg saltwater, redid electric lines and removed part of a wall so the tank could be moved ASAP.
In the 5 days since we had a very long discussion and came to a mutual agreement you have called me twice, my wife once asking to sell to someone else and now this.As a realitor I can not imagine you would treat someone professionally like this.Why would you treat us this way.
Please let me know when we can move the aquarium.
.
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From: Sue Spalsbury
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 10:53 PM
To: J, William M
Subject: Re: Please call me
Hi Bill.
I think I walked holes in the carpet all day long. Had a lot of work to do and now I am stuck with working late as I wasted hours trying to work this out in my head.
As of this moment I have not been successful.
Your lovely wife said something to me about this guy from PA who had bugged me.
She commented to tell him that there are so many tanks available on eBay or Craigslist and he should look there. It really made me start to think about what this
actually means to me in my life versus what it means financially.
Certainly I do not want to be unkind or unthoughtful. I pride myself on living a life of being charitable and being honest. That is what is making me crazy right now.
Honestly, I was hoping you would understand and give me a pass. Suppose that was too much to pray for.
I need some time to think. Don't blame you at all for not calling. You and I are both stuck in out thoughts. I feel like I have knives in my stomach.
The next four days are crazy for me with work. As you know, I have model homes to
cover and three buyers I am running all over showing homes to. Obviously I won't be effective as I not sleeping much.
I won't be calling tomorrow as I have to work such long hours and I must try to focus. If I had just thought more clearly before I put that stupid ad on Craigslist
I wouldn't be in this dilemma and you wouldn't feel hurt or taken advantage of.
Please allow me some time.
One thing you must be sure of. . I am not even one moment considering selling this tank to anyone else. It is simply a matter of whether I can give it up. I do think you can start something new easier than I can give up something I have cared for the last 6/7 years. I do hope in your heart you know this is not a malicious or intentional problem.
I'll do my best to get back to you in a few days.
Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill.J
To: Sue Spalsbury
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 10:16 PM
Subject: RE: Please call me
Sue,
I do not know what to say.I have 2 - 100 gallon saltwater tanks setup and made arrangements for several people to help move everything this weekend.We had an agreement to buy the tank and I wish to honor the agreement.You can call me this evening or after 2pm tomorrow.
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From: Sue Spalsbury
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:20 AM
To: J, William
Subject: Please call me
Hi Bill.
I really need for you to call me today. Last night I sat up looking at the tank until 3 AM feeling sick to my stomach about the whole thing. Now, of course, my kids are encouraging me to not sell and move the tank to our new home. I'm feeling so upset I can hardly type this message. Think if the tank had gone on the first day, or within two/three days, I would have been able to deal with it. Now, as I've made more water and am working on the tank/livestock the realization is heightened that this is not a hobby for me but, indeed, a true love and lifestyle. Today I noticed one of the small corals had died and it just makes me want to cry.
At 11:00 this morning I just don't know what to do. Because of your difficult hours of work I don't want to call you and risk waking you up.
My entire life has been built on honesty and I don't approve of anyone not being fully committed to what they intend to do. This is just impossible for me to work through.
Your wife commented to me, when the other person from PA wanted to buy this tank from you, that he could buy many as nice on something like eBay. Really hadn't occurred to me but perhaps that is true. I just don't know.
My husband's and my life are spinning out of control right now as we confront a nearly impossible financial challenge. The stress is really all on me as he pretty much relies on me to make things happen. Such is life and such are our personalities.
This whole tank sale has me so stressed out I just can't breathe.
All in all, Bill, I want to talk to YOU personally. This is not a family issue. When your wife called the other day wanting to call this guy in PA that was inappropriate. I know she meant well but it had a very negative feeling to me. Somewhat threatening.
When that guy made you an offer I was only trying to make sure you didn't want to
take advantage from his offer. You not doing so was just fine with me.
I would not have agreed to sale to another person without you wishing that to happen.
The problem really is I just don't seem to have the stomach to do this.
With so many negative things going on. . losing our home, some enormous health battles in front of us, and little to no income, it seems the one thing that keeps me somewhat balanced in the tank and the focus on keeping life healthy. Probably sounds nuts to you but it is the reality of my life today.
Please call me this afternoon when you are feeling rested. I am praying you can work with me. The 125g tank is sold but I don't think the man really cares much if he takes it or not so perhaps you could take that one? The tanks are not the issue. It is the life inside that tears my heart apart.
Sue
440-892-xxxx