It happens to us all mate,i bought a siskin hen once and paid to much for her but needed one,she looked clear in the eye,rung all legaly and paid my money.It wasn't till i got her home put her in a bigger cage and found she couldn't fly,the last thing you do at a sale is let them go to see if they can fly .There are some grand bird breeders up your way so maybe go the way Gnipper says and get a young bird that'll be bouncing to go come next year,these things are sent to test us so they say mate.