"selling for a friend" reason to steer clear?
Discussion
I've sold two cars on behalf of friends. Nothing dodgy, just one was unwell and the other away for a month and needed it sorted to avoid having to re-insure/tax it. In one case I knew more about the car than my mate who owned it having fixed a few things on it for him. I was honest with the buyers and there were no issues.
For those mentioning outstanding finance etc - HPI check, the same as is sensible when buying any used car.
So no, wouldn't put me off. Just make sure the story checks out.
For those mentioning outstanding finance etc - HPI check, the same as is sensible when buying any used car.
So no, wouldn't put me off. Just make sure the story checks out.
Just be careful as with any car purchase, I have sold cars for other people numerous times with varying reasons, for example
Recently Widowed friend of the wife.
Elderly relatives
Clueless about cars
Lives in the sticks
Cant be bothered
Single ladies who dont want randoms visiting.
Not on the internet/computer savvy
Just need to check it out and if the car and the seller seems legit go and see it, if it doesn't add up or the gut feel isnt right, walk away.
Recently Widowed friend of the wife.
Elderly relatives
Clueless about cars
Lives in the sticks
Cant be bothered
Single ladies who dont want randoms visiting.
Not on the internet/computer savvy
Just need to check it out and if the car and the seller seems legit go and see it, if it doesn't add up or the gut feel isnt right, walk away.
kev b said:
I suspect a good proportion of "selling for a friend" cars are part time traders offering cars they have bought at auction or taken in P/X.
They want a quick sale without the aggro of sending off the V5 and having to explain to buyers why they have only owned the car for a fortnight.
This.They want a quick sale without the aggro of sending off the V5 and having to explain to buyers why they have only owned the car for a fortnight.
I've bought a car off a friend, an MGF with a headgasket failure. My friend couldn't be arsed with it so sold it me for cheaps, I fixed it and sold it on within days. I didn't want to send the V5 off for the time constraint and the extra owner on record as that would have come with it's own issues and suspicions.
I've also bought a car (A convertible) the same way, the seller was crystal clear with me - He was an ex-trader who still dabbles, bought it off a car friend (who was skint) in December just to sell on again in spring to make some money. V5 was the previous owner as the current didn't want an extra owner on the record - He was happy to sort this officially too, but what's the point? It's hassle and issues either way.
I'm wary of selling for a friend but even more so someone selling within weeks/months. I look at each car on it's own merits.
I sold a white convertible BMW 3-series for my sister, because she is disabled, has a husband who is often away from home as he's in the armed forces, and lived at the time in wide-boy central (Essex). She was, rightly or wrongly, nervous of who might come to the house for such a car.
The buyer checked my story out and was satisfied - car sold.
The buyer checked my story out and was satisfied - car sold.
The one I sold for the widow was awkward, it was an A Class Merc, the potential buyer was nobodies fool and insisted on meeting the seller, so once he had ascertained the car was spot on, checked all the docs he wanted to pay the cash to the actual owner and not me.
So, we arrive and she says hello and exchange cash for Logbook, on the way out the buyer says "Who was that chap there, I thought her husband had passed away", I just said it was her brother even though I knew full well it wasnt, now I am not one for Victorian style mourning but moving the new chap in two weeks after your husbands funeral could be classed as a bit soon ! we beleive they didnt wait until the poor sod was actually dead either.
Still, I got £150 for my trouble and a manky diesel Golf as PX for £250 that I sold for £750 after a days fettling.
So, we arrive and she says hello and exchange cash for Logbook, on the way out the buyer says "Who was that chap there, I thought her husband had passed away", I just said it was her brother even though I knew full well it wasnt, now I am not one for Victorian style mourning but moving the new chap in two weeks after your husbands funeral could be classed as a bit soon ! we beleive they didnt wait until the poor sod was actually dead either.
Still, I got £150 for my trouble and a manky diesel Golf as PX for £250 that I sold for £750 after a days fettling.
kev b said:
I suspect a good proportion of "selling for a friend" cars are part time traders offering cars they have bought at auction or taken in P/X.
They want a quick sale without the aggro of sending off the V5 and having to explain to buyers why they have only owned the car for a fortnight.
The best tip I've ever had on buying used cars is to google the mobile number of the seller. This will usually tell you straight away if they're a part time dealer with loads of other adverts past and present. They want a quick sale without the aggro of sending off the V5 and having to explain to buyers why they have only owned the car for a fortnight.
The "selling on behalf of.." line shouldn't always mean you should avoid though, there's plenty of times it's genuine. Actually, I'm just about to sell my father in laws car for him.
Edited by Stenn on Friday 1st May 13:47
Edited by Stenn on Friday 1st May 13:47
Most of the people who are selling for someone seem to have reasons more substantial than just a friend. The selling for a friend line seems very vague and general to me. Im still sticking to my guns, if they gave a better reason with more substance I might give the benefit of the doubt, until then, just selling for friend means a wide bearth unfortunately.
Not so worried about 'selling for a friend' these days.
More concerned about the 'i'll bring my mate whose a mechanic'
The'mechanic' mate turns up and starts pointing out faults that simply aren't there without looking at the engine or underneath the car which you could eat your dinner off.
Then mechanic mate then tells the buyer to offer half the asking price like I was born yesterday
More concerned about the 'i'll bring my mate whose a mechanic'
The'mechanic' mate turns up and starts pointing out faults that simply aren't there without looking at the engine or underneath the car which you could eat your dinner off.
Then mechanic mate then tells the buyer to offer half the asking price like I was born yesterday
To be honest I had never really given this much thought from my perspective. I tried to sell a workmates car a while back and actually used the `advertised for a friend` line without realising how it would be perceived. He was an older guy that had no clue about computers or Ebay he just loved his car. Turns out the car got no interest and to be totally honest it was a meticulously cared for low mileage minter. He ended up trading the car in after a while without saying to anyone (it was an E36 328 coupe) and was totally shafted by the garage who fed him a line of $hit about it. To complete the deal they sold him a total duffer and financially banged him in the bum for the privilege.
Recently sold two vehicles for a friend who was away on training in the army. I sold them both the same way as I would sell my own (and I've sold one of my own recently too). Only difference was he had the cash and the paperwork to deal with.
I knew both of the vehicles (warts and all) and got rid of both of them (indecently to other mates) in a very short space of time.
People aren't always as dodgy as they seem but the reverse is also true so don't discount it but (as always) go in with your eyes open, they should be able to explain the situation if it's genuine.
I knew both of the vehicles (warts and all) and got rid of both of them (indecently to other mates) in a very short space of time.
People aren't always as dodgy as they seem but the reverse is also true so don't discount it but (as always) go in with your eyes open, they should be able to explain the situation if it's genuine.
carmadgaz said:
Recently sold two vehicles for a friend who was away on training in the army. I sold them both the same way as I would sell my own (and I've sold one of my own recently too). Only difference was he had the cash and the paperwork to deal with.
I knew both of the vehicles (warts and all) and got rid of both of them (indecently to other mates) in a very short space of time.
People aren't always as dodgy as they seem but the reverse is also true so don't discount it but (as always) go in with your eyes open, they should be able to explain the situation if it's genuine.
Did you use the line "selling for a friend" I knew both of the vehicles (warts and all) and got rid of both of them (indecently to other mates) in a very short space of time.
People aren't always as dodgy as they seem but the reverse is also true so don't discount it but (as always) go in with your eyes open, they should be able to explain the situation if it's genuine.
My brothers mate moved to NYC with work and asked me to sell his car for him after he decided he liked it out there. To make it easier for me, we agreed a keen price and the car was sold that weekend.
Someone had to trust my story, but I can honestly say they got a great buy.
I was prepared to give them my mates phone number, office number in NY and work email address to do their checks. They didn't feel the need, but my guess would be that this information may not be readily available if the story doesn't check out.
Someone had to trust my story, but I can honestly say they got a great buy.
I was prepared to give them my mates phone number, office number in NY and work email address to do their checks. They didn't feel the need, but my guess would be that this information may not be readily available if the story doesn't check out.
e8_pack said:
Did you use the line "selling for a friend"
Yes because I was. As AudiSport said I also had my friend's contact information available (and as it happened both buyers knew my friend) and was basically told a price he wanted and the lowest he'd take. His older brother brought me round the V5C when the buyers were found.
I did a favour for a mate, cleared two cars out of my yard (he SORNd them when his new car arrived and was storing them in my yard), 2 buyers were happy and the seller was happy. Everyone's a winner
e8_pack said:
Everytime I see this disclaimer on an advert. I always stop looking. Can't help thinking the "friend" is just an excuse to show ignorance at some serious problem with the car. Am I missing out by taking this tact?!
"Selling for a friend" usually translates to "i'm a small time trader trying to avoid my obligations under the SOGA".It would ring alarm bells with me.
^
I quite agree, I'm sure that is the case. Of all the cars I've bought over the years (and I've had a few), the ones bought from home traders have been shockers. Perhaps I was just unlucky, unfortunatly for me, I now exclude home traders. I'm sure I've missed some perfect cars.
When ringing up, I always say "hi, I'm calling about your car for sale..." And if they say which one - I make my excuses. Some try and play along for a bit, waiting for me to drop some details in...
I quite agree, I'm sure that is the case. Of all the cars I've bought over the years (and I've had a few), the ones bought from home traders have been shockers. Perhaps I was just unlucky, unfortunatly for me, I now exclude home traders. I'm sure I've missed some perfect cars.
When ringing up, I always say "hi, I'm calling about your car for sale..." And if they say which one - I make my excuses. Some try and play along for a bit, waiting for me to drop some details in...
I always used to sell all my friends cars as they didn't like to and weren't any good at it.
They gave me a drink for my trouble - everyone's a winner.
I agree that some doing so are traders - but frankly so what ?
If you like the car at the price - buy it !
I've had more trouble from cars bought from private sellers than those bought from traders.
They gave me a drink for my trouble - everyone's a winner.
I agree that some doing so are traders - but frankly so what ?
If you like the car at the price - buy it !
I've had more trouble from cars bought from private sellers than those bought from traders.
Renovation said:
I always used to sell all my friends cars as they didn't like to and weren't any good at it.
They gave me a drink for my trouble - everyone's a winner.
I agree that some doing so are traders - but frankly so what ?
If you like the car at the price - buy it !
I've had more trouble from cars bought from private sellers than those bought from traders.
If something goes wrong and its a "mates" car, then you'll have a lot more hassle than a pint is worth.They gave me a drink for my trouble - everyone's a winner.
I agree that some doing so are traders - but frankly so what ?
If you like the car at the price - buy it !
I've had more trouble from cars bought from private sellers than those bought from traders.
If someone is a trader advertising privately then they have no intentions of standing over a car, as is there obligation under the SOGA, and may also have doctored up a fault so that it cant be spotted on a short test drive.
I have no time at all for the low life "i'm just selling it because my wife doesnt like it and i'll meet you at Tescos" brigade.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 3rd May 21:01
Edited by daemon on Sunday 3rd May 21:02
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