Tractor and farm deal falls through

A Gore couple are gutted that the sale of a tractor they offered for auction on Trade Me with a $1 reserve and an 8.1ha farm thrown in for free has fallen through.

Shelley and Allan Holland thought they had sold the tractor for $250,000 but their delight turned to despair yesterday when the supposed buyer, Lance Karanga of Wainuiomata, pulled out after reported being unable to obtain the necessary financing.

The Hollands said they were gutted and furious at the same time.

"I feel really embarrassed, incredibly embarrassed and I feel belittled and just made a total fool of really," Shelly Holland said.

"We couldn't have been any more upfront and honest if we tried because where we come from you're normally straight up and honest - a hand shake's a hand shake."

She said that with the large amount of interest and publicity in the auction, she had not expected any problems with the sale.

Trade Me business manager Mike O'Donnell said all of the top bidders had been contacted before the close of the sale, to ensure bids were legitimate.

They had spoken to Mr Karanga twice.

Yesterday, Shelly Holland said she hoped the bidder was not a time-waster.

"A promise is a promise, you don't go back on your word where I come from," she said.

- NZPA