Quick question

i would question if it got cracked durring being moved first of all. ask for some photos of the crack and if it is legit refund his money for the tank with an appology when he brings you the tank back.

 

Used item, no warranty

He may have broke it moving it, or the stress from the move may have broken a seal.

I am assuming it wasnt drilled or overflows?

 

I would want to see where the crack was. If it was holding water when he picked it up it, the crack would have showed then. How are you to say it was not damaged when he transported it or set it up. I don't envy your position. I think you did the prudent thing of demostrating that it was in working order before releasing it to him. If it is a bad seam then I would say it is a tough call if you want to eat the loss yourself.

 

If it was full of water and ok when he picked it up, I would say it is his problem.

 

Kind of a good lesson for all, make sure when buying or selling a tank that its full of water when the transaction starts.

 

This is really a personal preference. I would support two options.

A: It is a used item and you in good faith sold it to him. He should just take the hit. I have done it before.

B: If you feel that it is an issue of yours, or do not mind giving the money back, then just give back the money he paid for the tank only.

If it was me A: is the only real option.

 

yeah since it was full when he came to look at it and buy it I would maybe say to him that you have no way of knowing if the tank cracked durring the move since it was full of water and not leaking prior to him moving it.

 

Moving a tank improperly can stress the seams or if mishandled, it can crack. Full and non leaking at time of pickup means he did something when he moved it. It's his problem. You could be nice and refund some back,but not necessary.

 

How far into the tank is the filter inlet? If he didnt have the canister sealed or hose connected properly then thats where the water was coming from. Most only hang a quarter way down. Id definitely be looking into it... like its already been said... if it was full and dry under whem he came, something happened on the way home

 

You sold him an item that when he viewed wss working basically in this case worked as it should.. Now he moved it, transoorted it, set it up obviously when he was filling had no issues..... How csn one be responsible a day or so later.. I could understand if you transported it and set it up for him.....

His issue at this point..

As long as you did not "guarantee it"... I dont see how you are responsible for what could have happened when it was in his care....

 

you have no way to know if he leveled the stand correctly or what not on the way from your place to des moines and the road inbetween you guys is not the best either.

its a factor you have to consider when buying used or new that something might happen and its a risk most of us have taken. my 220 was 10 years old and it moved from the fish shack in manchester my basement to the upstairs to a guys house across town to another guys house in west union and now in southern minnesota, had silacone recession when i sold it and its still going strong.

my eye would be in the canister blowing the seam or him cracking a fiting or not leveling the tank before he filled it.

 

Personally, I have sold and bought many used tanks. If you hadn't kept it full, I'd say you were in the dog house for it. BUT...since it was full and he could visibly see it in working order, then most of us here know that when you buy something used it doesn't have a guarantee or warranty but it's cheaper than going new. So... you take the risk to get the cheaper price. Especially if he is the one that transported it and you weren't there to either assist him with transport and or watch him set it up and confirm that it wasn't something he did.

I would definitely say be nice, (which it sounds like you are)...and wait for him to cool off... and take it from there. You aren't liable for it though. I would definitely ask for pictures though at the very least, and if he really wants to drag this out then I would go see the tank yourself... in person.