Buying a used car - Such a PITA

[danrc]

I was in an crash on Friday and I think my car is definataley going to be written off. I have been looking at motors all weekend and found one today. It was a 2003 Mazda for £1100 with a years MOT and low milage. Fine, it won't set the world alight but its should be reliable and do us till we can afford something better.

I called the guy and explained we are 70 miles away dog sitting but can be there in 1.5 hours. He says ok, I will see you then. I specifically said to him that we are travelling up to see the car and if anyone else gets in touch then please keep it as bar any major problems we'll definately have it.

We turn up and try to call him but he doesn't answer. I text him to say were in the area and can we see the car - the reply was "sorry, sold".

I went fking nuts.

So now its back to the drawing board and trying to buy a car whilst working during the week. Ace.

[SSBB]

Someone came and offered him cash there and then, and you expect him to hold it for some guy in the phone who he has never met?

Standard practice when selling private; money talks and all that...

ETA: To be fair, he should have told you that until the money exchanged hands then it was on the open market.

Edited by SSBB on Sunday 1st July 18:50

[danrc]

To be honest if someone had called me and said that they are coming to see the car and going to be there in an hour and a half, and explained that they are travelling over 70 miles but very interested in the car then I would actually hold other people off until they either turn or give them 30 minutes grace and call them back.

Maybe thats just me though, because you know, I have manners and a sense of decency and stuff. Maybe things have changed since I last bought a car.

[Zwolf]

danrc said:

To be honest if someone had called me and said that they are coming to see the car and going to be there in an hour and a half, and explained that they are travelling over 70 miles but very interested in the car then I would actually hold other people off until they either turn or give them 30 minutes grace and call them back.

Maybe thats just me though, because you know, I have manners and a sense of decency and stuff. Maybe things have changed since I last bought a car.

A lot of people phone and say such things, then fail to ever materialise - sometimes because they stop off en route to see another and end up buying that instead.

Buying a used car is very little different to selling one.

[tyranical]

If you were selling you'd turn someone away who is definitely buying the car to wait for someone who claims they are on their way?

The only thing he possibly did wrong is not to let you know it had sold before you got there.

[P_J_R]

danrc said:

I have manners and a sense of decency and stuff.

There's your problem matey boy, not many of us left unfortunately.

[eggchaser1987]

Can see your point but rather than keep the car wouldn't the better idea just give you a call to let you know.

You may not have got the car but would of saved you a 3 odd hour round trip.

[a4cabrio]

danrc said:

To be honest if someone had called me and said that they are coming to see the car and going to be there in an hour and a half, and explained that they are travelling over 70 miles but very interested in the car then I would actually hold other people off until they either turn or give them 30 minutes grace and call them back.

Maybe thats just me though, because you know, I have manners and a sense of decency and stuff. Maybe things have changed since I last bought a car.

Totally the right way of doing things

[Sump]

danrc said:

Maybe thats just me though, because you know, I have manners and a sense of decency and stuff. Maybe things have changed since I last bought a car.

Only idiots have manners when selling a car.

It really is a case of, whoever turns up first with the cash gets it.

Manners come after the handshake when it comes down to agreeing to MOT, or tax, or service it etc etc things like that.

Before a handshake, it's purely first come first served basis. You don't know any of the people turning up, there is no guarantee who is turning up, so manners is a complete waste of time.

[danrc]

tyranical said:

If you were selling you'd turn someone away who is definitely buying the car to wait for someone who claims they are on their way?

The only thing he possibly did wrong is not to let you know it had sold before you got there.

I wouldn't turn them away, but I would explain the situation to them and say if they fail to materialise after 30 minutes when they said they would be there then they would be more than welcome to come and look at the car. As a buyer i'd respect that and would be willing to wait to hear.

And anyway, no one just turns up to look at a car, the owner has be called and then something organised with a short test drive before keys/cash is exchanged. This guy obviously did all this in the 1.5 hours it took me to get to him which to me just isn't cricket.