Potentially haggling with a dying man...
Discussion
I'm going to look at a car tomorrow.
The current owner is 90 and along with the car he's selling his cherished number (his initials).
Now I don't know for sure, but there is a chance he's on his last legs and this is why he's parting with the car & plate.
If thats the case, what would you say is the etiquette in haggling with a dying man?
Treat him like any other seller, or just give him what he wants for the car?
The current owner is 90 and along with the car he's selling his cherished number (his initials).
Now I don't know for sure, but there is a chance he's on his last legs and this is why he's parting with the car & plate.
If thats the case, what would you say is the etiquette in haggling with a dying man?
Treat him like any other seller, or just give him what he wants for the car?
Just make sure whatever is done is done, dusted and the ink is dry before the inevitable, or the family might try to pull the car back into the estate.
In fact I know of people who even got this far (in Germany admittedly) who signed and sealed the deal, took delivery of the car from an old old friend and the family still pulled it back.
They have lost their money and car for the time being at least.
If there is any chance of dispute, especially if the car is tasty and one of the family is eyeballing it, you might be better off looking else where or leaving it a while, if you know what I mean.
In fact I know of people who even got this far (in Germany admittedly) who signed and sealed the deal, took delivery of the car from an old old friend and the family still pulled it back.
They have lost their money and car for the time being at least.
If there is any chance of dispute, especially if the car is tasty and one of the family is eyeballing it, you might be better off looking else where or leaving it a while, if you know what I mean.
I once bought a Camaro Z28 off a bloke who I swear had been doing drugs most of his life (successful Soho type who'd been in Hong Kong before it all went down funnily enough). He simply refused to budge on price (which wasn't excessive anyway) and said he needed the money to pay for the care of his son who was dying from cancer (seemingly contradicting his success but then I'm not going to start pulling him up on it).
At that point, haggling is off the cards and you either take it or leave it at the price being offered. I took it even though I was deeply suspicious.
In your case, you may find he is giving up driving or wants something smaller and easier to run and may well be open to offers that aren't taking the p*** just to get rid. A bird in the hand etc, we are in a recession...
At that point, haggling is off the cards and you either take it or leave it at the price being offered. I took it even though I was deeply suspicious.
In your case, you may find he is giving up driving or wants something smaller and easier to run and may well be open to offers that aren't taking the p*** just to get rid. A bird in the hand etc, we are in a recession...
At the end of the Business is Business and just because he 'may' be on his last legs doesn't mean you should potentially give him what you could of haggled off of someone else as it's not a charity, if you know him personally it's a different story...... He can still talk so he can still refuse your offer, Business isn't a charity.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's my view and Instinct.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's my view and Instinct.
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