'I would rather not make the trip only to find out that it has been sold': Internet divided over second-hand sale etiquette

This person is completely confused after a second-hand sale gone wrong. I'm on this person's side… but commenters agree with the seller. 

Buying second-hand items is a great way to save money and recycle. These days, it's a great way to get reliable clothing, since clothes from past decades last longer than the current brands of fast fashion. For people who are just getting started in their first apartments, it's a great way to get some nice furniture at a cheap price. And others use it to spruce up their home after browsing the apps for a while to find the perfect decor. 

One dude shared an interesting conversation with a seller, which seemed to baffle them. You can check out the brief text message below. Basically, the prospective buyer offers to purchase a metal cabinet for $30. Around 2:30 PM, they ask if they can pick it up in three hours. The seller keeps noncommittally saying that the buyer can have it "if it's still here." What does that person mean that they can't guarantee they'll have an item in three hours? They really can't hold it for that long, even when the buyer seems so committed to the sale?

Apparently, both the original poster (OP) and myself are deluded on this point. Commenters explained that sellers often deal with people who claim they'll pick up the item, then never do. I really don't see why the seller couldn't have held on for a mere three hours. It would be another thing if the OP couldn't get it for a week or something, but the seller's reasoning is a bit over the top. 

Check out the whole exchange, as well as the firey debates over the topic in the comments section. Then, read about one lawyer who racked up 100 hours of overtime to spite their boss.