Whats the story of your biggest timewaster
Discussion
We have all come accross them, you have may actually have been a timewaster. Lets hear your story.
I was going back and forth with a seller over the week we spoke on the phone agreed a price. They day i had to collect i finished work early called my insurance company got a quote.
Half way there and the guy says "the car stopped working." Clearly trying to either sell for a higher price but was fustrating.
What is your story?
I was going back and forth with a seller over the week we spoke on the phone agreed a price. They day i had to collect i finished work early called my insurance company got a quote.
Half way there and the guy says "the car stopped working." Clearly trying to either sell for a higher price but was fustrating.
What is your story?
Put a brand new in box Thule towbar bike rack on Gumtree years ago. It had sat in our cool, ventilated garage for about 5 years.
One guy called up and wanted to look at it, but was concerned the electrics would be brittle or corroded. When we opened the box, everything was perfect. Wires supple and pristine. Then he dropped the bombshell. Could we build it quickly? How hard would it be for us to bolt it together? 45 mins tops as it was a basic version that needed more work than normal. 2 hours 15 minutes later it was finished. It took an hour and a half longer because of the banality of the guy questioning everything.
During the build he asked if I could include the 10mm spanner used to build it. I said no because it was from a decent Facom socket set and I didn't want the hassle of sourcing a new one. Whilst I popped in the house he must have pocketed the spanner and I didn't realise until afterwards.
On Facebook I put some Mazda 5 Alloys and Goodyear winter tyres on for sale. Guy messages and says he will have them. And doesn't turn up on 4 occasions. After the first time I resolve to sell them to the next interested party. But the 5 isn't the most common vehicle so no biters for a couple of months. Then someone pops up who wants them urgently as his alloys are corroded and porous. Sold no haggle for full asking price. 6 months later the guy who has skanked me 4 times pops up and says "I am now ready to collect..." . When I tell him they have been sold he goes mental. They were his he said and I had no right to sell to anyone else!
One guy called up and wanted to look at it, but was concerned the electrics would be brittle or corroded. When we opened the box, everything was perfect. Wires supple and pristine. Then he dropped the bombshell. Could we build it quickly? How hard would it be for us to bolt it together? 45 mins tops as it was a basic version that needed more work than normal. 2 hours 15 minutes later it was finished. It took an hour and a half longer because of the banality of the guy questioning everything.
During the build he asked if I could include the 10mm spanner used to build it. I said no because it was from a decent Facom socket set and I didn't want the hassle of sourcing a new one. Whilst I popped in the house he must have pocketed the spanner and I didn't realise until afterwards.
On Facebook I put some Mazda 5 Alloys and Goodyear winter tyres on for sale. Guy messages and says he will have them. And doesn't turn up on 4 occasions. After the first time I resolve to sell them to the next interested party. But the 5 isn't the most common vehicle so no biters for a couple of months. Then someone pops up who wants them urgently as his alloys are corroded and porous. Sold no haggle for full asking price. 6 months later the guy who has skanked me 4 times pops up and says "I am now ready to collect..." . When I tell him they have been sold he goes mental. They were his he said and I had no right to sell to anyone else!
Downward said:
Umm, you have linked to the top of the thread? 
Downward said:
Mine was a guy who came to look at a motorbike I was selling. We went through all the history and he really loved the bike. We had a little haggle over the price and finally came to an agreement. We shook hands and he offered to give me a deposit. I said there was no point as he was coming to collect it the following day. The following day came and could I reach him by phone? Could I f
k ! Moral of the story take a deposit off these tts.The other awesome bit of f
kery was a guy who clicked on the buy it now for my car on Ebay. This stopped anyone else looking at my advert and cost me a few quid for the advertisement. Not a problem as I had the guys phone number and promptly phoned him to arrange collection. Only the phone would ring and ring for ages. After several attempts someone in a corner shop in London answers and I ask for the buyer by name. He explains to me it was his son and he had a habit of buying things on Ebay he couldn't afford. wker!Years and years ago when I was employed I got into the habit of having a dump at work and taking several breaks for a smoke during working hours.
Paying me for a leisurely 10 minutes or so in the trap and strolling round the site for four or five fags everyday even on my modest salary was costing my employer about 1600 hundred quid a year.
I was in that job for nearly 20 years....
Paying me for a leisurely 10 minutes or so in the trap and strolling round the site for four or five fags everyday even on my modest salary was costing my employer about 1600 hundred quid a year.
I was in that job for nearly 20 years....
Touche Jamaica said:
We have all come accross them, you have may actually have been a timewaster. Lets hear your story.
I was going back and forth with a seller over the week we spoke on the phone agreed a price. They day i had to collect i finished work early called my insurance company got a quote.
Half way there and the guy says "the car stopped working." Clearly trying to either sell for a higher price but was fustrating.
What is your story?
So the seller tells you the car has broken down & he obviously wants to sell it for more money?I was going back and forth with a seller over the week we spoke on the phone agreed a price. They day i had to collect i finished work early called my insurance company got a quote.
Half way there and the guy says "the car stopped working." Clearly trying to either sell for a higher price but was fustrating.
What is your story?
Surely he's done you a favour.
What car was it can you link to the advert so other PH'rs can avoid this lemon.
Does blagging a test drive from a dealer of something nice with no intention of buying count?
Around 1990/1, I was driving past Gates of Woodford Ford RS dealer and had an hour or two spare so I thought I'd stop and have a look. I rock up in my 3 year old 1.9 205 GTi and park right in front of the showroom where the salesman clocks me. I quite liked the look of a new red Fiesta RS Turbo so I wander over all casual and start looking at a demo one they had. Out he comes thinking I'm a potential catch and starts giving it his best sales patter. I pretend to fall for it. 30 mins later he thinks I'm a push over and ready to buy so goes for the kill and offers a test drive. Of course I'm going to be all enthusiastic so we proceed to rag this RS around on his usual test route, only for me to blow all the wind out of his sails by saying I don't like it and my 205 is a far superior car. Still remember the deflated look on his face as I walk out. Not proud of it now but at the time , it was fun.
Around 1990/1, I was driving past Gates of Woodford Ford RS dealer and had an hour or two spare so I thought I'd stop and have a look. I rock up in my 3 year old 1.9 205 GTi and park right in front of the showroom where the salesman clocks me. I quite liked the look of a new red Fiesta RS Turbo so I wander over all casual and start looking at a demo one they had. Out he comes thinking I'm a potential catch and starts giving it his best sales patter. I pretend to fall for it. 30 mins later he thinks I'm a push over and ready to buy so goes for the kill and offers a test drive. Of course I'm going to be all enthusiastic so we proceed to rag this RS around on his usual test route, only for me to blow all the wind out of his sails by saying I don't like it and my 205 is a far superior car. Still remember the deflated look on his face as I walk out. Not proud of it now but at the time , it was fun.
Edited by 2172cc on Sunday 7th June 20:17
Edited by 2172cc on Sunday 7th June 20:30
some bloke in London dicked me around when i was trying to buy his E92 335i. I can't remember his first excuse for not getting in touch before I set off. But i'm certain it was along the lines of 'I was asleep and missed your calls'
I arranged another day off work, and planned to go down the following week. I messaged and rung numerous times the night before, and again, no contact. It was around 2am the morning I was due to collect that he called back. This time he said that his son was poorly and completely forgot.
I ended up buying a car locally, within a couple of hours of messaging the seller.
I had another experience where I was speaking to the bloke for quite some time. He said that he would be more than happy to come to a deal with me given that the car had problems. A complete waste of a trip after he'd decided that he wasn't budging on price - i'm pretty certain he's still got the car now
I arranged another day off work, and planned to go down the following week. I messaged and rung numerous times the night before, and again, no contact. It was around 2am the morning I was due to collect that he called back. This time he said that his son was poorly and completely forgot.
I ended up buying a car locally, within a couple of hours of messaging the seller.
I had another experience where I was speaking to the bloke for quite some time. He said that he would be more than happy to come to a deal with me given that the car had problems. A complete waste of a trip after he'd decided that he wasn't budging on price - i'm pretty certain he's still got the car now
Selling an Audi Coupe some years ago that was pretty much end of line with a price tag to match, guy try's haggling and umming and arring after looking over the car for some time but I stand firm on the price (it was pretty much what I knew I would get from the scrap yard so wasn't willing to move). Wants to take the V5 with him and not fill, I say no and that he'd have to fill it and I would post it to DVLA but make 2 copies and give him one (and keep one myself)
He hands over the cash in full and does the document then comes out with "oh can i leave it here till the weekend when I can get a lift down to collect?" .. fine but could have mentioned before buying.. weekend comes and goes, try calling but no answer, this goes on for 2/3 weeks, I now need the space as new project is coming but can't get hold of this guy. Write him a recorded letter and tell him he has until end of week to collect or it's going the scrap yard and any money paid considered a fee for parking/storing the vehicle.
Weekend comes and goes, phone scrappy and they come and collect next day, pay me again for the car and never heard from the buyer.
He hands over the cash in full and does the document then comes out with "oh can i leave it here till the weekend when I can get a lift down to collect?" .. fine but could have mentioned before buying.. weekend comes and goes, try calling but no answer, this goes on for 2/3 weeks, I now need the space as new project is coming but can't get hold of this guy. Write him a recorded letter and tell him he has until end of week to collect or it's going the scrap yard and any money paid considered a fee for parking/storing the vehicle.
Weekend comes and goes, phone scrappy and they come and collect next day, pay me again for the car and never heard from the buyer.
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