Seriously. I understand why people trade in.
Discussion
Put my car up for sale two or three days ago. I`ve had a quite a few enquiries but man, timewasters and eejits.
Maybe it`s me but I just wouldn`t ring anyone and talk complete sh*te with no interest in buying their car. I couldn`t do it.
Of all the cars I`ve sold over the years I had the cockiest b**Stard ever ring up. Sounded like Ali G with a kids screaming in the background soundtrack. He basically ran the car down, didn`t like the colour, price, mileage, apparently liking little about it then made a stinking low ball offer stating it would never sell as "Peeps don like big engine and difficult to shift innit".
I`ve had email pen pals that I`m now ignoring as I just don`t get the point. These people are obviously allergic to telephones. Maybe I`m getting old so is this how it is now? Let`s have 20 email rallies as opposed to picking up the phone? No, it`s anonymous time wasting.
Any phone calls I have had have started, "hello What`s your lowest price?" or similar. One total balloon (and I hope you`re reading this) rang up, then hung up. Then with held his number and rang again. The ensuing mumbling of stupid questions such as, would you drive it 400 odd miles for me to see it, seeing as you`re too far away" Then telling me that that one of ways of telling I have the particular model is the twin centre exhausts. Well, thanks for that, I wasn`t really sure what car I was selling.
This had me on the verge of barking down the phone. Especially after all the `John Rocks` that had made contact before.
The number one DH award goes to the " You live too far away so if you deliver the car to my driver at the services I`ll wire you the money" caller. Cheers for that.
Well. I bit the bullet and put it on Ebay. One day and couple of really genuine callers. Deposit now taken. Good as sold. Maybe more luck than judgement and I know, I know , you always get these people when selling cars but this one was a bad one.
I`ll probably kop flak for this and be told I should have more patience with ejits sitting in their vest calling me withheld on their mums phone but I think I`m done for a while. I am a grumpy sod admittedly so I accept that.
Maybe it`s me but I just wouldn`t ring anyone and talk complete sh*te with no interest in buying their car. I couldn`t do it.
Of all the cars I`ve sold over the years I had the cockiest b**Stard ever ring up. Sounded like Ali G with a kids screaming in the background soundtrack. He basically ran the car down, didn`t like the colour, price, mileage, apparently liking little about it then made a stinking low ball offer stating it would never sell as "Peeps don like big engine and difficult to shift innit".
I`ve had email pen pals that I`m now ignoring as I just don`t get the point. These people are obviously allergic to telephones. Maybe I`m getting old so is this how it is now? Let`s have 20 email rallies as opposed to picking up the phone? No, it`s anonymous time wasting.
Any phone calls I have had have started, "hello What`s your lowest price?" or similar. One total balloon (and I hope you`re reading this) rang up, then hung up. Then with held his number and rang again. The ensuing mumbling of stupid questions such as, would you drive it 400 odd miles for me to see it, seeing as you`re too far away" Then telling me that that one of ways of telling I have the particular model is the twin centre exhausts. Well, thanks for that, I wasn`t really sure what car I was selling.
This had me on the verge of barking down the phone. Especially after all the `John Rocks` that had made contact before.
The number one DH award goes to the " You live too far away so if you deliver the car to my driver at the services I`ll wire you the money" caller. Cheers for that.
Well. I bit the bullet and put it on Ebay. One day and couple of really genuine callers. Deposit now taken. Good as sold. Maybe more luck than judgement and I know, I know , you always get these people when selling cars but this one was a bad one.
I`ll probably kop flak for this and be told I should have more patience with ejits sitting in their vest calling me withheld on their mums phone but I think I`m done for a while. I am a grumpy sod admittedly so I accept that.
Edited by bigkeeko on Tuesday 3rd March 14:31
I had the Ali G guy too when selling my E39 M5. He phoned up, told me my car was the wrong colour, then asked me if I'd take under £4k for it. Eventually, two weeks later, he increased his offer and we worked something out, he turned up and then told me it was the wrong colour and made his original offer for "cash innit", as a sub £5k E39 M5 wasn't absolutely perfect, somewhat surprisingly. He then wanted to drive the car, flung a crumpled bit of paper at me as proof of insurance and then when I insisted on driving, asked about three minutes into the drive if it would take much longer, while sighing and mumbling under his breath. He, rather thankfully, disappeared when I had to pop inside to put the kids to bed. I'd explained before he turned up I'd have to do this if he didn't wait until later in the evening, before anyone suggests I was being rude. I should have just trusted my instincts and told him not to bother coming.
Sadly this is the nature of selling cars now and it doesn't just seem to be cars sold at snotter money I've had people offer £3k via a text message for a car advertised at £6495!
Far too many people simply cannot communicate properly and also appear to be under the impression that they are doing you a favour thus you should practically give your car away.
I thought by writing highly detailed adverts along with good pictures would make a car easier to sell but low an behold people must see a picture, scan straight to phone number and send a text offer without actually reading the whole advert - possibly short attention spans or inability to read judging by the writing style of their txts(sic)
Far too many people simply cannot communicate properly and also appear to be under the impression that they are doing you a favour thus you should practically give your car away.
I thought by writing highly detailed adverts along with good pictures would make a car easier to sell but low an behold people must see a picture, scan straight to phone number and send a text offer without actually reading the whole advert - possibly short attention spans or inability to read judging by the writing style of their txts(sic)
LOL so so true this!
The worst are the lightweight nifters who ring up and give you their car life story or recap everything they know on the brand
I was selling a Mk1 Mx5, nice car, I wrote a really detailed advert and I had a guy ring up and say "Would you take half the value as I am just going to see one that is half the price and has 3 x better the spec and half the milage" I just told him to bloody buy that one then as it steal of the f
king century....shame he was talking bullst.
The worst are the lightweight nifters who ring up and give you their car life story or recap everything they know on the brand
I was selling a Mk1 Mx5, nice car, I wrote a really detailed advert and I had a guy ring up and say "Would you take half the value as I am just going to see one that is half the price and has 3 x better the spec and half the milage" I just told him to bloody buy that one then as it steal of the f
king century....shame he was talking bullst. 
I've sold three cars i the last 5 years and feel your frustration, but I wouldn't dismiss the email inquiries.
Yes you can receive a lot of spam especially from Autotrader, but I sold all three of my cars to people who wanted a few extra pictures that I had, and had reached the maximum number allowed in my advert.
They may also be in the same position as me, in that I can fire correspondence emails off at work and not get in trouble, but I can imagine my manger would get fked off pretty quickly if I was fielding calls all day when selling a car or making calls inquiring about a car.
Yes you can receive a lot of spam especially from Autotrader, but I sold all three of my cars to people who wanted a few extra pictures that I had, and had reached the maximum number allowed in my advert.
They may also be in the same position as me, in that I can fire correspondence emails off at work and not get in trouble, but I can imagine my manger would get f
ked off pretty quickly if I was fielding calls all day when selling a car or making calls inquiring about a car.I feel your pain.
My car is currently for sale. I had an email enquiry yesterday asking to detail service history and "what's my lowest price" So I replied with the whole service history (it's a 20 year old car) and then said my lowest price was the asking price.
He replied again asking what the insurance cost was, who it was insured with and again the lowest price I'd take.
A few more emails exchanged and then I just said the car is no longer for sale as I'd decided to keep the car.
If the trade in value wasn't such poor value then I'd def do that.
My car is currently for sale. I had an email enquiry yesterday asking to detail service history and "what's my lowest price" So I replied with the whole service history (it's a 20 year old car) and then said my lowest price was the asking price.
He replied again asking what the insurance cost was, who it was insured with and again the lowest price I'd take.
A few more emails exchanged and then I just said the car is no longer for sale as I'd decided to keep the car.
If the trade in value wasn't such poor value then I'd def do that.
Write an overly honest ad, and no problems.
All the cars I've sold have pretty much gone for full (or near) asking price to the first buyer to view. I only list them on a number of forums usually, although when I put one up on ebay it was similar!
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/176009/1995...
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175891/1999...
Mind you, for something higher value, 2 weeks ago I sold my 2010 Prius to WeWantAnyCar.com - delightful transaction and they gave me the same amount I'd paid for it 1.5 years previously at a dealer (when it was 20k miles fresher!). I could've got more out of a Private Sale (still don't know how that car has appreciated in 18 months?!) but it was such a hassle-free transaction, it was worth it. Plus it meant I didn't have to get any small dents sorted etc.
As for phones.. I spend most of my day in meetings in an office - PM's and texts/emails are far more preferable for me. Also a good way to screen, if people start being ridiculous that early on...
All the cars I've sold have pretty much gone for full (or near) asking price to the first buyer to view. I only list them on a number of forums usually, although when I put one up on ebay it was similar!
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/176009/1995...
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175891/1999...
Mind you, for something higher value, 2 weeks ago I sold my 2010 Prius to WeWantAnyCar.com - delightful transaction and they gave me the same amount I'd paid for it 1.5 years previously at a dealer (when it was 20k miles fresher!). I could've got more out of a Private Sale (still don't know how that car has appreciated in 18 months?!) but it was such a hassle-free transaction, it was worth it. Plus it meant I didn't have to get any small dents sorted etc.
As for phones.. I spend most of my day in meetings in an office - PM's and texts/emails are far more preferable for me. Also a good way to screen, if people start being ridiculous that early on...
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