Tyre Kicking/Time Wasting - WHY?
Discussion
I've been an active buyer and seller on eBay - and I find if you are honest with your descriptions, selling cars isn't that much hassle. Well, until now.
7 day auction for a classic (Jag XJ-S convertible). Long description, highlighted all the good bits, and the bad, listed out the service history. Few messages from obvious nobbers - 'what is best price' etc, but nothing major.
Auction ends, sells for £7,300. Within 30 minutes I get a message via ebay to call the buyer. I do so, and instantly he sounds like a nutter. Says he has paid already via paypal (I didn't offer it) and 'could I bring the car down to him and he'll take me back in his Aston Martin'. I decline that, and say he needs to send the money via a bank transfer.
Wait for 2 days - nothing. So I message with a 'be honest, are you buying this car or not'? He responds a day later saying he has sorted his car insurance out, he really wants it, he'll come today and see the car, and then pay. I'm getting annoyed, but go with it.
Message today - 'tried to pay in bank and they said don't it will be a scam so i have to decline the sale'.
Never had any intention of buying it, I don't think, a complete f-ing timewaster.
Why do people do it? What possible satisfaction can be gained by it? It's a genuine puzzle to me. Any ideas?
7 day auction for a classic (Jag XJ-S convertible). Long description, highlighted all the good bits, and the bad, listed out the service history. Few messages from obvious nobbers - 'what is best price' etc, but nothing major.
Auction ends, sells for £7,300. Within 30 minutes I get a message via ebay to call the buyer. I do so, and instantly he sounds like a nutter. Says he has paid already via paypal (I didn't offer it) and 'could I bring the car down to him and he'll take me back in his Aston Martin'. I decline that, and say he needs to send the money via a bank transfer.
Wait for 2 days - nothing. So I message with a 'be honest, are you buying this car or not'? He responds a day later saying he has sorted his car insurance out, he really wants it, he'll come today and see the car, and then pay. I'm getting annoyed, but go with it.
Message today - 'tried to pay in bank and they said don't it will be a scam so i have to decline the sale'.
Never had any intention of buying it, I don't think, a complete f-ing timewaster.
Why do people do it? What possible satisfaction can be gained by it? It's a genuine puzzle to me. Any ideas?
British society is full of weirdos, cranks and generally angry, selfish and dishonest people. Selling anything of any value shortens your odds of coming into contact with one or more of them, unfortunately.
I had an experience with a tablet that I sold on a local Facebook group a couple of years ago. £350 item in the shops, I had won it in a competition and had no use for it, so stuck it up for £200, brand new sealed in box. A chap put in a £150 offer on a "cash today" basis. Given it had cost me nothing, and with Christmas approaching, I agreed. He said he'd be there "within the hour". And didn't turn up.
I messaged him a few hours later to be given some BS excuse about his car not starting but he'd be there tomorrow morning at 10. And he didn't turn up.
When I messaged him (I'd had nothing from him at all) , I was told his wife was going to bring him, but unexpectedly was called in to work. I said that was fine, but he'd let me down twice now without letting me know, and if he didn't give me a time now and stick to it, I was selling it to someone else. Agreed a time, and he didn't turn up again. In the meantime, another chap had messaged me, and offered the £200 asking price. I sold it to him, and he turned up 45 mins later, handed over the cash and went away.
Dropped a quick note back to the previous "buyer" saying as he'd let me down three times, I'd sold it to someone else, as mentioned on the previous message. Got a load of abuse back. He accused me of ruining his daughter's Christmas as it was a present for her, and he hoped I was proud of myself. Tempting as it was to advise him of his shortcomings as a father, and a human being generally, I decided to just block the idiot.
None of this stuff is difficult. Mean what you say, stick to arrangements, and if for any reason something goes wrong, let the other party know.
I had an experience with a tablet that I sold on a local Facebook group a couple of years ago. £350 item in the shops, I had won it in a competition and had no use for it, so stuck it up for £200, brand new sealed in box. A chap put in a £150 offer on a "cash today" basis. Given it had cost me nothing, and with Christmas approaching, I agreed. He said he'd be there "within the hour". And didn't turn up.
I messaged him a few hours later to be given some BS excuse about his car not starting but he'd be there tomorrow morning at 10. And he didn't turn up.
When I messaged him (I'd had nothing from him at all) , I was told his wife was going to bring him, but unexpectedly was called in to work. I said that was fine, but he'd let me down twice now without letting me know, and if he didn't give me a time now and stick to it, I was selling it to someone else. Agreed a time, and he didn't turn up again. In the meantime, another chap had messaged me, and offered the £200 asking price. I sold it to him, and he turned up 45 mins later, handed over the cash and went away.
Dropped a quick note back to the previous "buyer" saying as he'd let me down three times, I'd sold it to someone else, as mentioned on the previous message. Got a load of abuse back. He accused me of ruining his daughter's Christmas as it was a present for her, and he hoped I was proud of myself. Tempting as it was to advise him of his shortcomings as a father, and a human being generally, I decided to just block the idiot.
None of this stuff is difficult. Mean what you say, stick to arrangements, and if for any reason something goes wrong, let the other party know.
Edited by Limpet on Wednesday 12th August 12:56
As soon as someone drops the line "How much for cash?" I lose interest in trying to sell anything to them.
I also hate when they call you up and ask for all the details all over again as though they haven't read any part of the advert, especially when selling a car .. "so whats the mileage?" , "How much did you say you were selling it for?" , "The advert says full service history.. do you service it regularly then?".
Some odd people out there with seemingly infinite amount of time on their hands.
I also hate when they call you up and ask for all the details all over again as though they haven't read any part of the advert, especially when selling a car .. "so whats the mileage?" , "How much did you say you were selling it for?" , "The advert says full service history.. do you service it regularly then?".
Some odd people out there with seemingly infinite amount of time on their hands.
Because people like the idea and excitement of looking for a new car, right up to the point where they have to make any kind of commitment. The internet and sites like eBay have made this way too easy for people to have the excitement and experience of buying a car without actually having to leave their house.
Let's be honest, bidding on an auction is a buzz so they get carried away. As soon as the buzz wears off and they realise they have to go to the hassle of getting the money together, selling their own car, arranging insurance, arranging to collect the car etc. reality hits and they decide they don't actually want it anymore.
These are also the people who expect you to give it away for free, expect to complain if anything ever goes wrong and expect a full refund if they change their mind at any point.
In my experience the only people who are not time wasters are the people who actually turn up and look at a car before making their offer.
Let's be honest, bidding on an auction is a buzz so they get carried away. As soon as the buzz wears off and they realise they have to go to the hassle of getting the money together, selling their own car, arranging insurance, arranging to collect the car etc. reality hits and they decide they don't actually want it anymore.
These are also the people who expect you to give it away for free, expect to complain if anything ever goes wrong and expect a full refund if they change their mind at any point.
In my experience the only people who are not time wasters are the people who actually turn up and look at a car before making their offer.
tejr said:
As soon as someone drops the line "How much for cash?" I lose interest in trying to sell anything to them.
I also hate when they call you up and ask for all the details all over again as though they haven't read any part of the advert, especially when selling a car .. "so whats the mileage?" , "How much did you say you were selling it for?" , "The advert says full service history.. do you service it regularly then?".
Some odd people out there with seemingly infinite amount of time on their hands.
What alarm and security has it got?I also hate when they call you up and ask for all the details all over again as though they haven't read any part of the advert, especially when selling a car .. "so whats the mileage?" , "How much did you say you were selling it for?" , "The advert says full service history.. do you service it regularly then?".
Some odd people out there with seemingly infinite amount of time on their hands.
What's your address for me to see how far away you are?
Do you keep it on the driveway?
In isolation these might all be reasonable questions, but of they're the main questions and come one after another, then hang up
Its not just buyers that are difficult.
I was trying to buy a second hand macbook air from Gumtree/facebook marketplace a couple of weeks ago.
There were about 4 or 5 for sale.
I found:
Unrealistic price expectations (their choice to be fair) but would'nt haggle, Subsequently prices amended to what I was offering anyway.
Abysmal response times - couple of days seemed normal
Amazing descriptions. eg one lady was selling a 2015 air that was only a year old as it was replaced under warranty in 2017.
Anpther one was brand new, but was an early 2019 version with loads of additional software loaded.
I got bored trying to deal with the idiots and went and bought a brand new one from John Lewis in the end.
I was trying to buy a second hand macbook air from Gumtree/facebook marketplace a couple of weeks ago.
There were about 4 or 5 for sale.
I found:
Unrealistic price expectations (their choice to be fair) but would'nt haggle, Subsequently prices amended to what I was offering anyway.
Abysmal response times - couple of days seemed normal
Amazing descriptions. eg one lady was selling a 2015 air that was only a year old as it was replaced under warranty in 2017.
Anpther one was brand new, but was an early 2019 version with loads of additional software loaded.
I got bored trying to deal with the idiots and went and bought a brand new one from John Lewis in the end.
A couple of years ago my wife changed tyres on her car to more suit her usage (Conti Prem changed to Goodyear Vector).
The Prems were about six years old, so at the limit of what car manufacturers recommend although tyre manufacturers say ten years.
However, they still had about 4-5mm of tread left and would easily pass MoT for another couple of years, therefore might have been of use to someone for something.
So instead of leaving them at the tyre place to be shredded I took them home and put them on ebay.
Advertised in pairs, with a brutally honest description of their age, condition, reason for change and photographs.
Start price was £1 per pair, collection only, cash on collection.
I wasn't asking much and wasn't expecting to make much out of them; more just trying to help someone who might have a use for them.
That was one of the hardest weeks of my life. So many ridiculous questions and requests.
Both pairs sold for £11 each to the same buyer.
Then followed three of the most annoying days trying to get him to stick to a stated collection time because he kept not turning up, wasting my time.
He eventually turned up on about the fourth occasion. Still hadn't brought cash with him so then had to disappear for half an hour to a cash machine before returning for the tyres.
Next time I won't bother. The £22 minus £1 fees was definitely not worth the hassle.
The Prems were about six years old, so at the limit of what car manufacturers recommend although tyre manufacturers say ten years.
However, they still had about 4-5mm of tread left and would easily pass MoT for another couple of years, therefore might have been of use to someone for something.
So instead of leaving them at the tyre place to be shredded I took them home and put them on ebay.
Advertised in pairs, with a brutally honest description of their age, condition, reason for change and photographs.
Start price was £1 per pair, collection only, cash on collection.
I wasn't asking much and wasn't expecting to make much out of them; more just trying to help someone who might have a use for them.
That was one of the hardest weeks of my life. So many ridiculous questions and requests.
Both pairs sold for £11 each to the same buyer.
Then followed three of the most annoying days trying to get him to stick to a stated collection time because he kept not turning up, wasting my time.
He eventually turned up on about the fourth occasion. Still hadn't brought cash with him so then had to disappear for half an hour to a cash machine before returning for the tyres.
Next time I won't bother. The £22 minus £1 fees was definitely not worth the hassle.
Limpet said:
British society is full of weirdos,
Not a UK preserve though is it? I get a few non payers, as many from overseas as here. One guy told me his Mini had broken down in the Australian outback and he'd been lost for a week.
One guy won a pair of walkie talkies. Messaged me to say his wife had thrown him out so now had nobody on the other end of the walkie talkies
There are still far too many people sat at home on furlough with nothing to do. They're bored so they do things like bidding on auctions and even going to look at cars with no real intention of buying.
We had a similar experience with my wife's old property which we rent out. The previous tenant left at the start of lockdown. Then as soon as lockdown lifted and we put it on the rental market we had at least a dozen viewings from people who were really interested but funny enough didn't respond to any follow up. They don't have anything better to do.
We had a similar experience with my wife's old property which we rent out. The previous tenant left at the start of lockdown. Then as soon as lockdown lifted and we put it on the rental market we had at least a dozen viewings from people who were really interested but funny enough didn't respond to any follow up. They don't have anything better to do.
I was selling a Garmin Fenix 5 on Ebay, loads of good pictures, really thorough description, boxes, receipts etc.
I don’t need the money, I would have given it to someone but didn’t know anyone who needed a smart watch.
So I put it on EBay, £225 buy it now or best offer, this guy responds, says he is ‘just down the road’ and can he pay £175 cash?
No problem, glad to see it go to a good home, so I thought.
Then he starts asking silly questions, all of his questions are answered in the advert. I humour him for a while, but after 5 or 6 silly emails he’s starting to get on my tits and I’m trying to run a business so eventually I snap and send him a final email to say he’s being a dick and I’ll let the auction run.
30 minutes later he’s called my company, he’s got my details from my email and tells my PA that he’s on the way to collect the watch, see you in an hour, he’s coming from about 50 miles away. He then replies to my email saying that he’s on the way and we can discuss calling him a dick face to face...
Of course he never showed up, but what a moron. I gave it to one of the lads who works for me in the end.
I don’t need the money, I would have given it to someone but didn’t know anyone who needed a smart watch.
So I put it on EBay, £225 buy it now or best offer, this guy responds, says he is ‘just down the road’ and can he pay £175 cash?
No problem, glad to see it go to a good home, so I thought.
Then he starts asking silly questions, all of his questions are answered in the advert. I humour him for a while, but after 5 or 6 silly emails he’s starting to get on my tits and I’m trying to run a business so eventually I snap and send him a final email to say he’s being a dick and I’ll let the auction run.
30 minutes later he’s called my company, he’s got my details from my email and tells my PA that he’s on the way to collect the watch, see you in an hour, he’s coming from about 50 miles away. He then replies to my email saying that he’s on the way and we can discuss calling him a dick face to face...
Of course he never showed up, but what a moron. I gave it to one of the lads who works for me in the end.
MetalMatters said:
I was selling a Garmin Fenix 5 on Ebay, loads of good pictures, really thorough description, boxes, receipts etc.
I don’t need the money, I would have given it to someone but didn’t know anyone who needed a smart watch.
So I put it on EBay, £225 buy it now or best offer, this guy responds, says he is ‘just down the road’ and can he pay £175 cash?
No problem, glad to see it go to a good home, so I thought.
Then he starts asking silly questions, all of his questions are answered in the advert. I humour him for a while, but after 5 or 6 silly emails he’s starting to get on my tits and I’m trying to run a business so eventually I snap and send him a final email to say he’s being a dick and I’ll let the auction run.
30 minutes later he’s called my company, he’s got my details from my email and tells my PA that he’s on the way to collect the watch, see you in an hour, he’s coming from about 50 miles away. He then replies to my email saying that he’s on the way and we can discuss calling him a dick face to face...
Of course he never showed up, but what a moron. I gave it to one of the lads who works for me in the end.
That's incredible. Some people really are insane aren't they I don’t need the money, I would have given it to someone but didn’t know anyone who needed a smart watch.
So I put it on EBay, £225 buy it now or best offer, this guy responds, says he is ‘just down the road’ and can he pay £175 cash?
No problem, glad to see it go to a good home, so I thought.
Then he starts asking silly questions, all of his questions are answered in the advert. I humour him for a while, but after 5 or 6 silly emails he’s starting to get on my tits and I’m trying to run a business so eventually I snap and send him a final email to say he’s being a dick and I’ll let the auction run.
30 minutes later he’s called my company, he’s got my details from my email and tells my PA that he’s on the way to collect the watch, see you in an hour, he’s coming from about 50 miles away. He then replies to my email saying that he’s on the way and we can discuss calling him a dick face to face...
Of course he never showed up, but what a moron. I gave it to one of the lads who works for me in the end.
No shortage of bizarreness on eBay.
I bought a car via eBay auction listing never saw it but it was a clear and detailed listing “won” the auction but it hadn’t met the seller‘s reserve price. A sale price agreed on the phone after messaging, I turned up paid bankers draft and drove away was a great car. Good experience.
Bad experience - sold a Honda Sportsbike on eBay it was mint and only 15k miles with service history. Guy messages me take it off eBay he’s coming to buy it take the auction down. Says I won’t take it down, argues over the phone you can take it down I’m coming over and will buy no question. I say we can agree a price now and if you show up you can have it for that but I’m leaving it showing as for sale on eBay. He turns up tyre kicker, he’s driven an hour though? says he’s not going to buy it as so much wrong with it needs so much work. I say ok that’s fine you don’t have to buy. I say just out of curiosity what work do you think it needs? As it’s a well sorted bike, clean with good history and never been down the road. What’s wrong with it?
He says and gets a bit aggressive “look mate I haven’t come here to argue with you about the condition of your bike”. I say I’m not arguing with you, you said it needs a lot of work I’m just asking as a seller what work does it need? He doesn’t say anything just mouths oooh feck this good bye and drives off in his car.
Anyway I leave auction running and it sells. A guy turns up to buy it, doesn’t even want to start the engine and hear it running the most relaxed buyer ever. He pays and I say well let’s start it and hear it running and I’ll show you the bike and brakes and take you round it. He’s no “no need”. I show him a bit anyway just so I know he’s seen it’s all good and all fine. Off he goes with the bike. Leaves me good feedback later on. Good sale.
The other guy though was a total chump. Many weird experiences on eBay.
I bought a car via eBay auction listing never saw it but it was a clear and detailed listing “won” the auction but it hadn’t met the seller‘s reserve price. A sale price agreed on the phone after messaging, I turned up paid bankers draft and drove away was a great car. Good experience.
Bad experience - sold a Honda Sportsbike on eBay it was mint and only 15k miles with service history. Guy messages me take it off eBay he’s coming to buy it take the auction down. Says I won’t take it down, argues over the phone you can take it down I’m coming over and will buy no question. I say we can agree a price now and if you show up you can have it for that but I’m leaving it showing as for sale on eBay. He turns up tyre kicker, he’s driven an hour though? says he’s not going to buy it as so much wrong with it needs so much work. I say ok that’s fine you don’t have to buy. I say just out of curiosity what work do you think it needs? As it’s a well sorted bike, clean with good history and never been down the road. What’s wrong with it?
He says and gets a bit aggressive “look mate I haven’t come here to argue with you about the condition of your bike”. I say I’m not arguing with you, you said it needs a lot of work I’m just asking as a seller what work does it need? He doesn’t say anything just mouths oooh feck this good bye and drives off in his car.
Anyway I leave auction running and it sells. A guy turns up to buy it, doesn’t even want to start the engine and hear it running the most relaxed buyer ever. He pays and I say well let’s start it and hear it running and I’ll show you the bike and brakes and take you round it. He’s no “no need”. I show him a bit anyway just so I know he’s seen it’s all good and all fine. Off he goes with the bike. Leaves me good feedback later on. Good sale.
The other guy though was a total chump. Many weird experiences on eBay.
I find buyers very painful too but now just accept that it goes with the territory. I offer anything for sale to my friends and Acquaintances first via WhatsApp groups at a lot less than I think it’s worth and if no takers then list on line. What winds me up the most is that I always put on my ads: “PLEASE DON’T MESSAGE ME ASKING IF THIS IS STILL AVAILABLE”. I still get loads of t
ts messaging me “hi, is this still available”. Drives me crazy. Why don’t people ask if they can come and check it before buying or even just message and say hi can I buy this tomorrow. Winds me up. I don’t reply to any of them as when I do I don’t hear from them again. Cretins.
ts messaging me “hi, is this still available”. Drives me crazy. Why don’t people ask if they can come and check it before buying or even just message and say hi can I buy this tomorrow. Winds me up. I don’t reply to any of them as when I do I don’t hear from them again. Cretins. 
comfysi said:
I find buyers very painful too but now just accept that it goes with the territory. I offer anything for sale to my friends and Acquaintances first via WhatsApp groups at a lot less than I think it’s worth and if no takers then list on line. What winds me up the most is that I always put on my ads: “PLEASE DON’T MESSAGE ME ASKING IF THIS IS STILL AVAILABLE”. I still get loads of tts messaging me “hi, is this still available”. Drives me crazy. Why don’t people ask if they can come and check it before buying or even just message and say hi can I buy this tomorrow. Winds me up. I don’t reply to any of them as when I do I don’t hear from them again. Cretins.
When people start off with "is this still available" or "what's your best price" 9 times out of 10 I will never hear from them again regardless of my reply. ts messaging me “hi, is this still available”. Drives me crazy. Why don’t people ask if they can come and check it before buying or even just message and say hi can I buy this tomorrow. Winds me up. I don’t reply to any of them as when I do I don’t hear from them again. Cretins. Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff