Interesting Thread on a Private Used Car Sale

[fido]

Retroman said:

If you read the whole thread you'd have seen numerous problems with it all, but not from the sellers side.
Buyer was aware of the issues putting it into reverse as they were dicussed on the test drive.
Buyer bought the car aware of this issue
Buyer then changed mind after got home with car.
Put in small claims. Missed the deadline to pay for the claim, but claim went ahead anyway
Before judgement the judge said to get an independent report done on the vehicle condition - not possible as the buyer had sold the car and claimed made a loss.
Judges ruling was to reflect that loss they incurred despite no evidence.

I've read the MSE thread now. Fair enough - if the judge has made a silly decision then best of luck with an appeal. But it was more the 'private sale - tough luck' opinion in some of the comments. If someone has fibbed or mis-described in their advert then the buyer has every right to take them to court.

[fido]

Aretnap said:

Better not to put it in the advert then. Stick to objective facts which you know are true. If you start putting in subjective things like "excellent condition" or "very reliable" there is a risk (not a big risk, but a risk) that they could come back to bite you if they turn out not to be true, or if someone else's interpretation of what they mean is not the same as yours.

Exactly. I had an eBayer buyer attempting compensation over a 15 year old Swiss watch I had sold and described as "good condition for age." They tried to claim over tiny scratches on the screen which were robustly defended. If I had said "in mint condition" then they would have had grounds for a claim albeit extremely facetious.

[R8Steve]

skodaphile said:

R8Steve said:

To the general pubic a win under such circumstances does though.

your average short & curly?

Oops! Did you join just to correct that for me?

[skodaphile]

R8Steve said:

skodaphile said:

R8Steve said:

To the general pubic a win under such circumstances does though.

your average short & curly?

Oops! Did you join just to correct that for me?

Nah...long time lurker (53 months?!)...it just made me laugh, thanks!

[PAULJ5555]

fido said:

Aretnap said:

Better not to put it in the advert then. Stick to objective facts which you know are true. If you start putting in subjective things like "excellent condition" or "very reliable" there is a risk (not a big risk, but a risk) that they could come back to bite you if they turn out not to be true, or if someone else's interpretation of what they mean is not the same as yours.

Exactly. I had an eBayer buyer attempting compensation over a 15 year old Swiss watch I had sold and described as "good condition for age." They tried to claim over tiny scratches on the screen which were robustly defended. If I had said "in mint condition" then they would have had grounds for a claim albeit extremely facetious.

I have noticed this a few times where people don't really tell you much about the condition and leave the pictures tell the story, not sure if their being lazy but it does leave no room to moan about something not being as described.