1.   It was no defence that the sellers had taken all reasonable precautions as to hygiene.

2.   Short sellers took it on the chin last year.

3.   The flower sellers took up their positions in the Market square.

4.   The buyer exercised the option, but then did not complete the contract, so the seller took him to court.

5.   The Henry Kendall case demonstrates that liability for merchantability is strict and it is no defence that the seller took all reasonable care that the goods were merchantable.

6.   And ask to see the maintenance records, including all the receipts for oil and filter changes, to make sure the seller took good care of it.

7.   But the seller takes on the risk of lending money to a speculative company.

8.   Even in a hot market, some sellers take elaborate measures to encourage multiple offers.

9.   Prospective sellers take advantage of big buyers by boosting their asking prices.