Oh the joys of selling a car ! whats the best replies ?
Discussion
I had my MX5 up for sale in 2005. Amongst the phonecalls was a lad who thought he was a cross between Arthur Dailey and Jeremy Clarkson.
Him: That MX5, what's your best price?
Me: Well it's up for £7.5k which I think is fair. Why don't you come and have a look at it?
Him: I'll give you four and a half for it.
Me:
Why do you think I'd accept an offer so low?
Him: Nobody wants them.
Me: You're the third call I've had in an hour.
Him: It's overpriced.
Me: It's the cheapest 1.8is on Autotrader.
Him: It doesn't drive right (I assumed he meant that it didn't handle)
Me: It's just won a "Best Budget Sportscar" test in Autocar.
Him: It's the wrong time of year to be selling a convertible.
Me: It's April, it's the BEST time of year.
Him. Well have a think about it, ring me later if you change your mind yeah?
Me: I'd rather catch AIDS.
Two days later I sold it for the full asking price...
Him: That MX5, what's your best price?
Me: Well it's up for £7.5k which I think is fair. Why don't you come and have a look at it?
Him: I'll give you four and a half for it.
Me:
Why do you think I'd accept an offer so low?Him: Nobody wants them.
Me: You're the third call I've had in an hour.
Him: It's overpriced.
Me: It's the cheapest 1.8is on Autotrader.
Him: It doesn't drive right (I assumed he meant that it didn't handle)
Me: It's just won a "Best Budget Sportscar" test in Autocar.
Him: It's the wrong time of year to be selling a convertible.
Me: It's April, it's the BEST time of year.
Him. Well have a think about it, ring me later if you change your mind yeah?
Me: I'd rather catch AIDS.
Two days later I sold it for the full asking price...
Alfa numeric said:
I had my MX5 up for sale in 2005. Amongst the phonecalls was a lad who thought he was a cross between Arthur Dailey and Jeremy Clarkson.
Him: That MX5, what's your best price?
Me: Well it's up for £7.5k which I think is fair. Why don't you come and have a look at it?
Him: I'll give you four and a half for it.
Me: Why do you think I'd accept an offer so low?
Him: Nobody wants them.
Me: You're the third call I've had in an hour.
Him: It's overpriced.
Me: It's the cheapest 1.8is on Autotrader.
Him: It doesn't drive right (I assumed he meant that it didn't handle)
Me: It's just won a "Best Budget Sportscar" test in Autocar.
Him: It's the wrong time of year to be selling a convertible.
Me: It's April, it's the BEST time of year.
Him. Well have a think about it, ring me later if you change your mind yeah?
Me: I'd rather catch AIDS.
Two days later I sold it for the full asking price...
Brilliant responseHim: That MX5, what's your best price?
Me: Well it's up for £7.5k which I think is fair. Why don't you come and have a look at it?
Him: I'll give you four and a half for it.
Me:
Why do you think I'd accept an offer so low?Him: Nobody wants them.
Me: You're the third call I've had in an hour.
Him: It's overpriced.
Me: It's the cheapest 1.8is on Autotrader.
Him: It doesn't drive right (I assumed he meant that it didn't handle)
Me: It's just won a "Best Budget Sportscar" test in Autocar.
Him: It's the wrong time of year to be selling a convertible.
Me: It's April, it's the BEST time of year.
Him. Well have a think about it, ring me later if you change your mind yeah?
Me: I'd rather catch AIDS.
Two days later I sold it for the full asking price...
Completely baffles me why some sellers are so quick to take offence at the variety of tactics employed by buyers.
Speaking as a seller, these seemingly derisory offers aren't always the waste of time they might seem at first. I've had ridiculous offers via email, but if you simply treat them as an opening gambit, more often than not you can get them to up their offer to one you consider sensible. It's a game - they don't expect you to roll over and accept their first offer. Nor is it a personal affront or an insult to your intelligence, it's just the beginning of a process that can often end in a sale. Unless of course you get all huffy and tell them to go away.
From a buying perspective, I personally don't tend to negotiate without having seen the car but if the seller lives a long way from me, I have occasionally rung them to say I'm interested in their car but my budget is, say, 15% less than their asking price. Going to see the car would be a waste of their time and mine if they're unwilling to let it go for my maximum price, so it's easier to ask up front before embarking on a long journey.
Speaking as a seller, these seemingly derisory offers aren't always the waste of time they might seem at first. I've had ridiculous offers via email, but if you simply treat them as an opening gambit, more often than not you can get them to up their offer to one you consider sensible. It's a game - they don't expect you to roll over and accept their first offer. Nor is it a personal affront or an insult to your intelligence, it's just the beginning of a process that can often end in a sale. Unless of course you get all huffy and tell them to go away.
From a buying perspective, I personally don't tend to negotiate without having seen the car but if the seller lives a long way from me, I have occasionally rung them to say I'm interested in their car but my budget is, say, 15% less than their asking price. Going to see the car would be a waste of their time and mine if they're unwilling to let it go for my maximum price, so it's easier to ask up front before embarking on a long journey.
This is all too familiar unfortunately. I'm in the unenviable position of trying to sell the most undesirable car in the world right now: the Mazda RX-8.
It's been up since November which indicates that it's perhaps overpriced, so I've reduced it massively and it's one of the cheapest 231PS versions around (apart from the ones which obviously have low compression and have been priced at sub £3k).
The texts every seller absolutely hates keep coming in: "What's the lowest you'll take for it?"
Conversation usually goes like this:
Buyer: how much u want for it mate?
Me: It's up for a very reasonable price and I can assure you it is mechanically perfect, many of the dirt cheap RX-8s will have serious issues.
Buyer: urs is 2 expensive mate, i seen one for £3k
Me: Refer to the previous text I just sent.
Buyer: I'll give you £2700 cash tonite.
Me: You can do, but you won't be getting my RX-8 in return.
Buyer: wot time shal i cum down?
Me: Refer to the previous text I just sent.
It's been up since November which indicates that it's perhaps overpriced, so I've reduced it massively and it's one of the cheapest 231PS versions around (apart from the ones which obviously have low compression and have been priced at sub £3k).
The texts every seller absolutely hates keep coming in: "What's the lowest you'll take for it?"
Conversation usually goes like this:
Buyer: how much u want for it mate?
Me: It's up for a very reasonable price and I can assure you it is mechanically perfect, many of the dirt cheap RX-8s will have serious issues.
Buyer: urs is 2 expensive mate, i seen one for £3k
Me: Refer to the previous text I just sent.
Buyer: I'll give you £2700 cash tonite.
Me: You can do, but you won't be getting my RX-8 in return.
Buyer: wot time shal i cum down?
Me: Refer to the previous text I just sent.
Risotto said:
Completely baffles me why some sellers are so quick to take offence at the variety of tactics employed by buyers.
Speaking as a seller, these seemingly derisory offers aren't always the waste of time they might seem at first. I've had ridiculous offers via email, but if you simply treat them as an opening gambit, more often than not you can get them to up their offer to one you consider sensible. It's a game - they don't expect you to roll over and accept their first offer. Nor is it a personal affront or an insult to your intelligence, it's just the beginning of a process that can often end in a sale. Unless of course you get all huffy and tell them to go away.
From a buying perspective, I personally don't tend to negotiate without having seen the car but if the seller lives a long way from me, I have occasionally rung them to say I'm interested in their car but my budget is, say, 15% less than their asking price. Going to see the car would be a waste of their time and mine if they're unwilling to let it go for my maximum price, so it's easier to ask up front before embarking on a long journey.
That is fair enough, i think what most people are talking about here and I started the thread about is the "no time to write text" it is rude and doesn't endear a seller to you. Selling ( and buying ) is a art which is about relationships, i will refuse work from people I don;t like or who give the impression they will be more effort than the margin suggests.Speaking as a seller, these seemingly derisory offers aren't always the waste of time they might seem at first. I've had ridiculous offers via email, but if you simply treat them as an opening gambit, more often than not you can get them to up their offer to one you consider sensible. It's a game - they don't expect you to roll over and accept their first offer. Nor is it a personal affront or an insult to your intelligence, it's just the beginning of a process that can often end in a sale. Unless of course you get all huffy and tell them to go away.
From a buying perspective, I personally don't tend to negotiate without having seen the car but if the seller lives a long way from me, I have occasionally rung them to say I'm interested in their car but my budget is, say, 15% less than their asking price. Going to see the car would be a waste of their time and mine if they're unwilling to let it go for my maximum price, so it's easier to ask up front before embarking on a long journey.
If someone rang me up and offered £500, they would be round in the next half hour, no need for a test drive, cash and I will be out of your hair I would take it, someone offered me £500, said he would be round on saturday, there dads a mechanic, would I take PX, does it inc a tank of petrol etc etc I am going to say no, come and have a look first, it isn;t always the price but the dance getting to the price that can dictate the price a buyer/seller gets.
After 2 months of stupid questions and 21 (yes i kept them) different attempts at scamming me I gave up and sold my car today into the trade for a couple of grand less than I wanted. I'm not unhappy about it, in fact I'm pleased I can get rid of the adverts and the idiots now.
The few sensible buyers stood out a mile and strangely were from PH not Autotrader
The few sensible buyers stood out a mile and strangely were from PH not Autotrader
Aberdeenloon said:
You got round the "swear filter". I'll give you a clue, spell pikies properly like this: 
s See!
Aha, didn't realise that word was on the restricted list, LOL. Is it un-pc to say that word now? s See! 
Not done intentionally, I tend to type really quickly as I get my thoughts down and not spell check often.
Anyway, bloody
Guvernator said:
Aberdeenloon said:
You got round the "swear filter". I'll give you a clue, spell pikies properly like this: s See!
Aha, didn't realise that word was on the restricted list, LOL. Is it un-pc to say that word now? s See! Not done intentionally, I tend to type really quickly as I get my thoughts down and not spell check often.
Anyway, bloody
hora said:
I know but BEJESUS! Get past the high VED and the mpg and you get to the other potential foibles:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/rx8-200...
A few basic things to remember and then check that recalls have been done before buying, and then check that it restarts immediately when the engine is warm. It's not difficult to find a good RX8, but it is VERY easy to find a bad one.http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/rx8-200...
hora said:
I know but BEJESUS! Get past the high VED and the mpg and you get to the other potential foibles:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/rx8-200...
I'm aware of the RX-8s "foibles", but many of these low-end buyers are not which is why they are drawn in by the ones which have higher miles or undisclosed engine problems and are priced very, very cheaply.http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/rx8-200...
MPG is, admittedly, atrocious. I was about to do a deal with a youngster on New Years Day when he asked me about MPG, and I promptly told him it gave me 14mpg tootling about. He wasn't so keen then, but I'd have felt bad if I told him to expect 25mpg all the time. Road Tax is only £245ish for pre March '06 plates.
Maxus said:
However, the last three cars I have bought I did the deal over the phone subject to the car being as described. In all cases the car was and I paid the agreed price. As said before, it is all about attitude and approach.
I bought my last car like this. Did most of the negotiations via email - infact, I didn't speak to the seller until I was most of the way to his house some 200 miles. I was polite, my emails were grammatically correct and he provided me with a plethora of high resolution photographs.He initially rejected my offer of £1000 under the asking price but then accepted it when I told him I could be there at the weekend with cash, thus avoiding any further dealing with time wasters and test pilots. Once I'd said that he accepted the offer so I can only assume he was getting sick of them.
I'd do the same again - down here in the South West its very hard to find decent cars so I usually have to travel 200 miles or more. I want to know what I'm going to see before I see it - infact, I want to make the journey knowing I'm 95% sure I'll buy the car if its as described.
Me - Describes car, price, loads of detail.
Him "Well, I'm 2 hours away, is it worth my while coming to see the car?"
Me "How would I know if it's worth your while, only you can decide that."
Him "Yeah, but you're two hours away."
Me "..right.."
Him "Yeah, but is it worth my while, is it what I'm after?"
Me "Only you know what (fkING GOD DAMN) car you want!"
Him "It's for my dad, will he like it?"
Me "SIGH."
Him "Well, I'm 2 hours away, is it worth my while coming to see the car?"
Me "How would I know if it's worth your while, only you can decide that."
Him "Yeah, but you're two hours away."
Me "..right.."
Him "Yeah, but is it worth my while, is it what I'm after?"
Me "Only you know what (f
kING GOD DAMN) car you want!"Him "It's for my dad, will he like it?"
Me "SIGH."
doogz said:
You seem to know a bit about them.
Just how awkward is it to rebuild them? A long weekend job in the garage at home? And how much are new rotor tips?
It's something i've been comtemplating for a while, lot of car for the money, but obviously potential reliability puts a lot of people off.
Is it really a big deal to sort out?
Cheers.
New rotor tips (apex seals) are around £300 or so, but an engine rebuild will involve water seals and potentially other bits and pieces. Also, if the rotors or housing is damaged then perhaps more. In short, it can be a long weekend job if you know exactly what you're doing (and I don't- so this is a guess here). Just how awkward is it to rebuild them? A long weekend job in the garage at home? And how much are new rotor tips?
It's something i've been comtemplating for a while, lot of car for the money, but obviously potential reliability puts a lot of people off.
Is it really a big deal to sort out?
Cheers.
If you go to a specialist for a rebuild, then £3k would cover it (parts and labour). Plus you then get a 2 year warranty on the engine.
If you get a good low mileage one then an engine rebuild isn't a certainty. I have heard of one with 150k miles on the clock (original engine) still going strong. Likewise I have heard of one with less than 30k miles requiring a rebuild. It's mostly about maintenance- look after them and they last, neglect them (i.e. not checking oil) then expect to be punished.
UncleRic said:
Me - Describes car, price, loads of detail.
Him "Well, I'm 2 hours away, is it worth my while coming to see the car?"
Me "How would I know if it's worth your while, only you can decide that."
Him "Yeah, but you're two hours away."
Me "..right.."
Him "Yeah, but is it worth my while, is it what I'm after?"
Me "Only you know what (fkING GOD DAMN) car you want!"
Him "It's for my dad, will he like it?"
Me "SIGH."
Going out on a limb here - you're not in sales, are you? Him "Well, I'm 2 hours away, is it worth my while coming to see the car?"
Me "How would I know if it's worth your while, only you can decide that."
Him "Yeah, but you're two hours away."
Me "..right.."
Him "Yeah, but is it worth my while, is it what I'm after?"
Me "Only you know what (f
kING GOD DAMN) car you want!"Him "It's for my dad, will he like it?"
Me "SIGH."
doogz said:
Hmmn... think i'd be tempted to lay my hands on another engine, and rebuild that so if it came to it, they'd just need to be swapped over.
Obviously i'm familiar with wankels engines and their workings, but i've never worked on one before. £3k seems pricey for a rebuild, but tbh i've never paid for anything other than a short engine, when i've taken all the parts to the builders, so it was literally a few hours labour.
Cheers.
Apparently they are relatively easy to work on. Main dealer prices are shocking; servicing at an indy will be £250 for a major service, at Mazda you're looking at £600+. For a replacement cat from a dealer it's £1500, or you can simply buy one from a rotary specialist website for £350 and fit it yourself. So naturally the indy costs of £3k (estimate) is mostly labour, but Mazda don't rebuild them, they supply a new engine (at an eye-watering price).Obviously i'm familiar with wankels engines and their workings, but i've never worked on one before. £3k seems pricey for a rebuild, but tbh i've never paid for anything other than a short engine, when i've taken all the parts to the builders, so it was literally a few hours labour.
Cheers.
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