Deposit and cancellation: what now?

Questioner

Good morning. I have a question about a product that I offer as a private individual on a well-known sales site. This is responded to, she really wants it. I have to figure out the shipping costs for sending it to her, because it is a long package, it will take me a while. She finally decides to come and pick it up herself in a few weeks when she has time. I reserve the product for her. She offers to pay half the amount in advance (a deposit) to be sure that when she comes I still have the product for her. The money is in and now after 5 days she wants to cancel it again. Do I have to pay the deposit back now that she has changed her mind again? Or does she simply lose the money from the deposit because a purchase agreement has been concluded between her and me through the deposit?

Lawyer

In principle, a purchase is a purchase and the customer is bound by it. This also means that in case of cancellation of the purchase, the deposit paid does not have to be returned. However, it does depend on the mutual agreements and intentions. For more information, please feel free to contact me.