The cheek of some people when selling your car

[James_G]

HTP99 said:

I sell cars for a living and the colour thing really gets on my tits "oh it was a nice drive, great spec and price but I don't want red" FFS it was red when you looked at it online, it was red when you phoned up to book an appt., it was red when you came in, it was red when you drove it and it is still bloody red!!!!

I've done this, but let me explain why using a real world example.

I recently was looking to move out of my C Class into something a bit more modern. I thought I might like an Audi A5 so I went to see one. This one in fact:



It was at the main dealer in Epsom so despite having 70k miles it's strong money but it's a 3.0 TDi Quattro without those awful 5 rotor alloys which is surprisingly rare. Sadly it's black on black which is absolutely not my choice. But I figure I could live with it if the driving experience and ownership proposition make up for it because it seems I am in a minority of 1 in not liking black so at least the residuals would be OK.

So I go and drive it, and it's fine. Ride's a bit crashy but the brakes are not as over servoed as the reputation. But it's not very interesting because it's all a bit safe. Safe colour, safe options, and no way as interesting to drive as the only other Audi I've sampled, an S4 (B8 version). Conclusion; it's not for me, partly the colour, partly the price, partly the miles, partly the drive.

That's hard to put in to words and normally any issue with the price leads to a salesman "going to speak to his manager" and another 15 minutes is wasted, so the easiest thing to say is that I don't like the colour. Which I do. It's not the whole truth, but I've learnt that I don't want a black A5 (but might have a lower mileage red one) and I've minimised wasting his time once I've reached that conclusion.

[Blown2CV]

You're wasting the guy's time, and your own, if you aren't just honest. Tell him it's more boring than you expected. The guy thinks if he frantically finds you one in another colour you'll buy it. Not really fair if that's not true.

[austinsmirk]

maybe not quite the correct thread, but I got bored of PH's search engine.

anyway- how about this for an honest and slightly weird advert.


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C829182 I wasn't browsing, looking for yank day vans- it cropped up incidentally.

£4500.00 dodge day van 1985 316 v8 with lpg system tank removed but still have it in storage.. beckenham kent 079083536904.phone only no messages replied to use the phone £4500.00 dodge day van 1985 316 v8 with lpg system tank removed but still have it in storage.. Beckenham kent 079083536904.phone only no messages replied to use the phone Anthony Matthews

"After much thought Iv decided to not let my Mrs pay for my van as Iv lived off her for years.Id rather retain some dignity than a van,and Im now a pensioner on 156.00 per week and dont need to have a motor sitting DOING NOTHING for ever so its for sale"


at 4500.00 no exchanges unless their cheap and cash my way or ANY offers of a lower price. If not interested no comments required.There,s a time when you got to stand up and say I cant afford it

[WCZ]

MJK 24 said:

I have an opposite story to the thread norm.

Had an Alfasud for sale in 2008. Price was £4,000. Chap contacted me from Northern Ireland and asked all the right questions. Sent him many many photos of it. Went quiet on me for a few weeks and then was back in touch looking for a few more photos. He then said without having seen it in real life, he would take it unseen at the asking price. A few days later I got a letter in the post containing a cheque for £2,500 and a cheque for £1,500.

I put them into my ISA and they cleared without any issues. It took the buyer nearly 4 months to arrange collection!! For nearly 16 weeks I had £4K and 'his' car.

Pat H on here has a similar tale regarding the sale of his Ferrari 328.

I sold an M5 for £40k in identical circumstances, had it for 6 months before he collected it - tried writing to him and ringing but couldn't get in touch.

[culpz]

Sob story. Clearly, it's all your fault and everything that he had an issue with was under your control.

Just part and parcel of selling your car privately these days, unfortunately. I'm really glad that i lease at times.

[Rakoosh]

Dude you properly got stiffed if you had to pay an extra £30 to the 'buyer' !!

hora said:

I turned up with £30 short. The buyer said NO. We ended up driving to the nearest cashpoint for the £30. I'd bloody spent it on to way that day.

[WJNB]

Skyedriver said:

1989 - me selling a S4 Lotus Elan DHC. Car advertised in Classic Car with all faults listed (front chassis leg corroded).
Two guys turn up with a trailer, names I recognised from the magazine staff list, the day before the issue was due out.
Offered me well below asking price.
Turn them down, they get really shirty about how they are doing me a favour and come a long way with a trailer.
Off they go ringing base to see if there is anything else in the area for sale.

You should have reported then to the magazines editor AND owner.

[kayzee]

Another opposite story but my last car sale was just so good... received an email less than 24 hours after the car went up for sale. Guy arranged to come and see the car in a few days time. He turned up, in the pitch dark and didn't even test drive it! Said yup that'll do mate, handed over the cash and off he went!



I usually hate selling cars, but that was a diamond (and I had the car for 4 years and made a profit selling it)

[WJNB]

PixelpeepS3 said:

always closes them down
i would also manage expectations of buyers !

Classic 'management' 'salesman' speak, going forward. !!!!

[hora]

Rakoosh said:

Dude you properly got stiffed if you had to pay an extra £30 to the 'buyer' !!

hora said:

I turned up with £30 short. The buyer said NO. We ended up driving to the nearest cashpoint for the £30. I'd bloody spent it on to way that day.

Oops I mean seller.

[JohnoVR6]

kayzee said:

Another opposite story but my last car sale was just so good... received an email less than 24 hours after the car went up for sale. Guy arranged to come and see the car in a few days time. He turned up, in the pitch dark and didn't even test drive it! Said yup that'll do mate, handed over the cash and off he went!



I usually hate selling cars, but that was a diamond (and I had the car for 4 years and made a profit selling it)

I had a bloke do exactly the same two weekends ago when selling my old Golf. Lad and his mate were absolutely sound, no test drive, quick walk around it with a torch, money exchanged, no bartering and they were on their way within 10 minutes of turning up. Filling out the V5 took the longest I think!

[WJNB]

Prizam said:

Few spectacular ones over the years. outside of the best price bruv brigade.

- Honda CBR 125. For sale at £800. Cheapest one out there as it was very high mileage. battered and had been down the road on its side. Still road very well though.

Large lad and his larger dad turned up in a Vauxhall Zafiera complete with ropy wooden box trailer. With no ramp and high sides. Both looked inbred and i don't think they had a brain cell between them.

After paying up with a fistful of the filthiest notes you had ever seen, and then struggling to complete the paperwork... The lad and his dad descided that the only way to get the bike in the trailer was to lift it in. the attempted lift resulted in the bike getting to about 5ft in the air and was then dropped. hitting the trailer on the way down. Bent pegs and decidedly worse bodywork than 5 minuets prior.

They tried again, this time getting further but dropping the bike in the trailer. The high side of the trailer wedging between the front wheel and radiator. Putting a rather large hole through the rad.

A Mc Donalds ensued rage flowed. Flinging the bike from the side of the trailer it landed perfectly square in the middle of the trailer. On its side. Cracking the engine casing.

I was glad when they left, and even happier no to hear from them again.

And now they know where you live & have a good idea if it's worth burgling.
I would never have strangers knowing where & how I live & prefer to find other ways to sell stuff I don't want even if it costs me a bit more.

[hora]

JohnoVR6 said:

I had a bloke do exactly the same two weekends ago when selling my old Golf. Lad and his mate were absolutely sound, no test drive, quick walk around it with a torch, money exchanged, no bartering and they were on their way within 10 minutes of turning up. Filling out the V5 took the longest I think!

I sold a car like this on Sat morning. I even forgot to offer the PH'er a test drive.

[BigLion]

austinsmirk said:

maybe not quite the correct thread, but I got bored of PH's search engine.

anyway- how about this for an honest and slightly weird advert.


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C829182 I wasn't browsing, looking for yank day vans- it cropped up incidentally.

£4500.00 dodge day van 1985 316 v8 with lpg system tank removed but still have it in storage.. beckenham kent 079083536904.phone only no messages replied to use the phone £4500.00 dodge day van 1985 316 v8 with lpg system tank removed but still have it in storage.. Beckenham kent 079083536904.phone only no messages replied to use the phone Anthony Matthews

"After much thought Iv decided to not let my Mrs pay for my van as Iv lived off her for years.Id rather retain some dignity than a van,and Im now a pensioner on 156.00 per week and dont need to have a motor sitting DOING NOTHING for ever so its for sale"


at 4500.00 no exchanges unless their cheap and cash my way or ANY offers of a lower price. If not interested no comments required.There,s a time when you got to stand up and say I cant afford it

Bit late to think of dignity when you're a pensioner who sponged of you other half for the last 40 years - clown.

[daemon]

BigLion said:

Bit late to think of dignity when you're a pensioner who sponged of you other half for the last 40 years - clown.

Did he mention 40?

[LordJammy]

CoolCurly said:

Sold a 25th Anni Golf GTi a few years back as was starting a new job with a company car (no allowance at the time).

Things...


I very nearly cried when I heard him drive off up the road. Miss that car still!! :-)

You can buy mine if you like. No.246, Reflex Silver, 81k, Full Milltek system and Revo Stage 2 map, FSH.

[Register1]

22 said:

Fairplay to you OP, I would have done the same although imagine most would take the hit.

Years ago someone flew from Germany, got the train to near me and I picked him up from the station. He offered half the asking price, I didn't say a word, just walked to my house and shut the door. He didn't knock or anything and we're pretty rural so no idea how he got home.

Brilliant

[hora]

Register1 said:

22 said:

Fairplay to you OP, I would have done the same although imagine most would take the hit.

Years ago someone flew from Germany, got the train to near me and I picked him up from the station. He offered half the asking price, I didn't say a word, just walked to my house and shut the door. He didn't knock or anything and we're pretty rural so no idea how he got home.

Brilliant

Probably had a couple of similar cars lined up closeish, maybe yours in not an ideal colour, 20k more miles etc- ergo yours was a deal to walkaway from if you didn't relent/offer a real difference/reason.

When I needed a car quick I identified two cars from two main dealers. Decided to go with one - got there and noted the circular ding on the rear quarter and the £500 price rise. I let the salesman continue to fill out his form whilst I questioned the damage and price variation. He knew I'd driven a hire car there and dropped it off already. So I said 'sorry, deals off'. I left and went across town to the other dealer.

In no way a direction example- just triggered a memory

[problemchild1976]

was selling a motorbike and advertised on the gixxer forum

this guy was interested and said he'd come at lunch on the thursday as he was in the area.

so i took the day off work and made sure the bike was all nice and ready

i texted to make sure all was ok and he said he was coming

lunch came and went and i texted again and he said he was running late but was on his way

hour later nothing so texted again to see if he was lost he said no and was nearly there

hour later i test again asking if ok (no answer)

text again later (nothing)

so go back on the forum and add to my post outing the guy for making me stay home all day and he proper kicks off saying i should man up and accept if he didn't want to come! (even though he as texting me to say he was coming)

total time waster

JJ

[Arnold Cunningham]

I didn't need one.

I knew what I was looking at. I knew what I was buying. I had worked out from your posts on here that you are an honest guy who would never sell anyone a lemon - and your attention to detail in ensuring you did show me the few bad points was testament to that.

This all told me everything I needed to know.

(Although you did enough miles looking for a parking space - I was a little worried we might need passports).

I also recall saying don't mistake my apparent disinterest for actual apathy - see points above.

hora said:

I sold a car like this on Sat morning. I even forgot to offer the PH'er a test drive.