Trailer Consignment Problems

[zstei001]

Hello All!

My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of Florida.

Against my strongest begging, my friend gave her 1974 Airstream Trailer to a shady-looking consignment dealer without getting anything in writing, telling me not to worry because she had talked to him and he was "good people". She made an oral contract with him that he would hold it on his lot as long as he needed to get no less than $3000 for it for her, and that anything he got over $3000 would be his commission/profit from the situation. The trailer is worth $3500-4500. Now, about three months later, the guy just sold it for $2000 today and text messaged my friend to tell her, and my she's so non-confrontation and bad with business matters that she can't even bring herself to respond to the guy to find out what percentage of that $2000 he plans to give her.

I implored to look up her rights on the internet, and then took it upon myself to do it. I didn't find anything too promising. I pulled up Florida Statutes 538.03-538.17, but nothing really pertained to the situation.

If anyone has any help or ideas, they would be greatly appreciated. My friend is a bone head and kind of deserves getting screwed to learn a little lesson (as she admitted to me), but I still hate to see her get take advantage of by this consignment guy.

Thanks in advance,

zstei001

[Mr. Knowitall]

Once she knows how much he's paying her, and what documentation he's willing to offer to confirm the actual sale price, we'll be in a better position to comment.

When you choose to leave everything open - not only no written contract, but not even an oral understanding of terms - you're writing a recipe for disaster. She can see if he 'remembers' agreeing not to sell the trailer for less than $3,000.

[zstei001]

Thanks for the reply. It turns out the guy is giving her the full $2,000. Her ex-husband is going to pick up the money because she "couldn't bring herself to face the guy". Her fault really. I'm not getting involved because it's not my place. I'm just curious about it and if I found out something that could really help her, I would say something to her about it.