Private selling: Strangest requests?
Discussion
What's the strangest question/request a potential car buyer of yours has come out with?
I once had a buyer ask if he could connect an OBD reader and scan for fault codes, showed up with one in hand. I already had a BT OBD reader permanently plugged in anyway so I let him connect to it, I knew it was fine. Bit of an odd one which some might find a bit too untrusting.
I once had a buyer ask if he could connect an OBD reader and scan for fault codes, showed up with one in hand. I already had a BT OBD reader permanently plugged in anyway so I let him connect to it, I knew it was fine. Bit of an odd one which some might find a bit too untrusting.
That's not odd imho just thorough.
I sold a Micra to two lads and wanted to take my pioneer stereo out, went in the house for the release keys and when I came out they'd prised it out of the dash along with the cage it locked into using screwdrivers they had in their pockets
Fooked through dash surround up but I'd got their £750 cash on me so not my problem lol
I sold a Micra to two lads and wanted to take my pioneer stereo out, went in the house for the release keys and when I came out they'd prised it out of the dash along with the cage it locked into using screwdrivers they had in their pockets
Fooked through dash surround up but I'd got their £750 cash on me so not my problem lol
Acuity30 said:
What's the strangest question/request a potential car buyer of yours has come out with?
I once had a buyer ask if he could connect an OBD reader and scan for fault codes, showed up with one in hand. I already had a BT OBD reader permanently plugged in anyway so I let him connect to it, I knew it was fine. Bit of an odd one which some might find a bit too untrusting.
would have thought that was a norm now for people to want to plug in now.I once had a buyer ask if he could connect an OBD reader and scan for fault codes, showed up with one in hand. I already had a BT OBD reader permanently plugged in anyway so I let him connect to it, I knew it was fine. Bit of an odd one which some might find a bit too untrusting.
Just the usual 100 questions by email when selling a £1000 shed on eBay. The sort of questions you would be asking if you were buying a one owner Ferrari.
They also don't seem to understand that I have owned the car for one year of its 15 year life so I don't know the history before I owned it.
If you bother to reply they will send a "thanks, I have a few to look at" as if they are looking at buying some rare and exotic car, not a 15 year old Honda Civic.
Time wasters the lot of them.
Also had a guy refuse to buy a car because it was still on the original clutch despite it not slipping and the biting point being fine. Do they expect people to change them as a preventative measure?
I don't sell cars any more, dealing with people is too hard.
They also don't seem to understand that I have owned the car for one year of its 15 year life so I don't know the history before I owned it.
If you bother to reply they will send a "thanks, I have a few to look at" as if they are looking at buying some rare and exotic car, not a 15 year old Honda Civic.
Time wasters the lot of them.
Also had a guy refuse to buy a car because it was still on the original clutch despite it not slipping and the biting point being fine. Do they expect people to change them as a preventative measure?
I don't sell cars any more, dealing with people is too hard.
I wanted to buy a Shed - specifically a Hyundai Amica to replace my departed Daihatsu Charade. Found one that worked on condition/price/value. Went to see it, happy with it and negotiated a price. £1,800 down to £1,500. However the seller still needed the car to get to work/family and until he found his next car. In addition I was to hand over the £1,500 so that he could put that towards his next car!
You could tell from his manner that he thought I was totally unreasonable in not agreeing to be his bank and hire car company.
You could tell from his manner that he thought I was totally unreasonable in not agreeing to be his bank and hire car company.
I sold a Renault 5 in about 1995. It was to a bloke who was a BBC TV producer and it was for his wife .when they collected it before they paid the balance she sat in the driver seat , turned on the ignition and the heating fan. She said it was too loud in her current car hence they were changing. They paid and took the car .
I was not however asked why I had painted the whole front bonnet with rattle cans and not very well. Did not seem to register to them.
I was not however asked why I had painted the whole front bonnet with rattle cans and not very well. Did not seem to register to them.
bimsb6 said:
Not a car but a honda cb550four , seller wanted to keep the handlebars ! Considering i was riding it home seemed a bit bizarre.
This is the best one so far. Must have been hard not to laugh in his face when he came out with that. I have sold quite a few old wrecks privately over the years but sadly can't recall any real.oddities.
I did once have a guy drive about 150 miles to look at a very ordinary Mk 2 Golf (in the days when they were just used cars). I am sure there were plenty of others much closer to hand. Cool story bro etc.
I had a guy travel around 400 miles to see my then seven year old x5 40d I had for sale. Price agreed up front based on ad and our call.
He arrived with his dad, looked over the car, all good, matched my description and photos and everything worked.
Then he gets a paint thickness gauge out of his dads car and begins measuring the paint thickness of every panel, tutting away that "this must have been damaged repaired" "That paints too thick, somethings gone on there" on pretty much every panel.
Then tried to use that to negotiate a further £2k off the price, to which I flatly said No it's a good price as it is, buy at agreed price or leave I don't mind which.
He said "Fair enough, I'm only going to use it to tow cars I'm buying for my business anyway" paid the agreed amount and left.
He arrived with his dad, looked over the car, all good, matched my description and photos and everything worked.
Then he gets a paint thickness gauge out of his dads car and begins measuring the paint thickness of every panel, tutting away that "this must have been damaged repaired" "That paints too thick, somethings gone on there" on pretty much every panel.
Then tried to use that to negotiate a further £2k off the price, to which I flatly said No it's a good price as it is, buy at agreed price or leave I don't mind which.
He said "Fair enough, I'm only going to use it to tow cars I'm buying for my business anyway" paid the agreed amount and left.
I have memories of selling a 328 sport many years ago. 2 chaps came to view it, kicked it about but were clearly interested and had come up from the coast to view it. When it came to doing a deal, they went in with the ‘you said you’d knock £300 off on the phone’ to which my response was ‘no I didn’t’. They then got quite threatening saying that I’d lured them in with a promise and they’d come all this way only for me to waste their time. Interesting negotiation tactic.
Despite feeling very uncomfortable, I’m proud that I said tough and walked away, only for them to call me when I got to my front door and say that they’d agree on the original price.
I hate selling cars with a passion.
Despite feeling very uncomfortable, I’m proud that I said tough and walked away, only for them to call me when I got to my front door and say that they’d agree on the original price.
I hate selling cars with a passion.
vikingaero said:
I wanted to buy a Shed - specifically a Hyundai Amica to replace my departed Daihatsu Charade. Found one that worked on condition/price/value. Went to see it, happy with it and negotiated a price. £1,800 down to £1,500. However the seller still needed the car to get to work/family and until he found his next car. In addition I was to hand over the £1,500 so that he could put that towards his next car!
You could tell from his manner that he thought I was totally unreasonable in not agreeing to be his bank and hire car company.
I've had the opposite, someone wanting to pay but collect in 3 months.You could tell from his manner that he thought I was totally unreasonable in not agreeing to be his bank and hire car company.
I had the space and thought it a bit odd, SORNed it, so no bother.
People are strange.
SS9 said:
I have memories of selling a 328 sport many years ago. 2 chaps came to view it, kicked it about but were clearly interested and had come up from the coast to view it. When it came to doing a deal, they went in with the ‘you said you’d knock £300 off on the phone’ to which my response was ‘no I didn’t’. They then got quite threatening saying that I’d lured them in with a promise and they’d come all this way only for me to waste their time. Interesting negotiation tactic.
Despite feeling very uncomfortable, I’m proud that I said tough and walked away, only for them to call me when I got to my front door and say that they’d agree on the original price.
I hate selling cars with a passion.
There are always stories like this but they are the exception, not the rule. I've sold hundreds of cars (traded from home for a time) and while I had the odd annoying buyer I never had anything like thisDespite feeling very uncomfortable, I’m proud that I said tough and walked away, only for them to call me when I got to my front door and say that they’d agree on the original price.
I hate selling cars with a passion.
I work and own a business in the funeral industry and for some time bought and sold funeral vehicles on the side.
I took an old barge of a Volvo 960 Limousine in P/EX and offered it out on eBay. Funeral Director drives 120+ miles for a viewing of the vehicle. Nice chap. Drives it. Likes it. All is going well and then…
He declares he only wants to actually buy the passenger seat from the vehicle and has a set of tools to remove it there and then if I’d be interested in selling him the seat on its own. He’s an identical vehicle in his business but his own vehicles passenger seat is knackered.
One of the most bizarrest conversations I’ve ever had…
I took an old barge of a Volvo 960 Limousine in P/EX and offered it out on eBay. Funeral Director drives 120+ miles for a viewing of the vehicle. Nice chap. Drives it. Likes it. All is going well and then…
He declares he only wants to actually buy the passenger seat from the vehicle and has a set of tools to remove it there and then if I’d be interested in selling him the seat on its own. He’s an identical vehicle in his business but his own vehicles passenger seat is knackered.
One of the most bizarrest conversations I’ve ever had…
QuattroDave said:
I had a guy travel around 400 miles to see my then seven year old x5 40d I had for sale. Price agreed up front based on ad and our call.
He arrived with his dad, looked over the car, all good, matched my description and photos and everything worked.
Then he gets a paint thickness gauge out of his dads car and begins measuring the paint thickness of every panel, tutting away that "this must have been damaged repaired" "That paints too thick, somethings gone on there" on pretty much every panel.
Then tried to use that to negotiate a further £2k off the price, to which I flatly said No it's a good price as it is, buy at agreed price or leave I don't mind which.
He said "Fair enough, I'm only going to use it to tow cars I'm buying for my business anyway" paid the agreed amount and left.
Have heard this trick used many times to obtain a discount, not as common as the oil in header tank scam thoughHe arrived with his dad, looked over the car, all good, matched my description and photos and everything worked.
Then he gets a paint thickness gauge out of his dads car and begins measuring the paint thickness of every panel, tutting away that "this must have been damaged repaired" "That paints too thick, somethings gone on there" on pretty much every panel.
Then tried to use that to negotiate a further £2k off the price, to which I flatly said No it's a good price as it is, buy at agreed price or leave I don't mind which.
He said "Fair enough, I'm only going to use it to tow cars I'm buying for my business anyway" paid the agreed amount and left.
I've not really had anything strange as such, probably been lucky or I'm quite "on it" when it comes to stating my terms / describing the car etc etc so I'd hope I manage to filter out the idiots pretty early on and so only have to actually deal face to face with reasonable types who have bought without issues.
Though I did have one guy who again had been sent loads of images, videos, full no holds barred description and we'd agree a figure and so he rolled up, had a look then went all weird and awkward... kept asking me if X was the figure I wanted several times. This went on for a while, along with big bouts of silence from him so I eventually said thanks very much, I'll let you have a think and you can give me a shout and went back inside. He stood out by the car for a good 20 minutes more, just staring at it. He eventually meekly knocked on the door, agreed, transferred the money and took it away. All a bit odd, pretty sure it wasn't a tactic to get more off... maybe some sort of social anxiety or similar.
Though I did have one guy who again had been sent loads of images, videos, full no holds barred description and we'd agree a figure and so he rolled up, had a look then went all weird and awkward... kept asking me if X was the figure I wanted several times. This went on for a while, along with big bouts of silence from him so I eventually said thanks very much, I'll let you have a think and you can give me a shout and went back inside. He stood out by the car for a good 20 minutes more, just staring at it. He eventually meekly knocked on the door, agreed, transferred the money and took it away. All a bit odd, pretty sure it wasn't a tactic to get more off... maybe some sort of social anxiety or similar.
I sold a lovely Porsche 911 (a 2011 997.2 coupe, as it happens) that was in mint condition. I had done the whole clay bar/decontaminate/machine polish/wax and seal thing on the car, resulting in paintwork with a glassy smooth and almost flawless finish.
Buyer comes to see it, likes it, I take him on a drive, and he goes away to think about it. He telephones and says he's concerned about the paint. "Really?" I say, "the paintwork is near perfect, what's the issue?" "Well, it's just too good" he says, "so I'm worried that you're hiding something. I mean, are you?" Perhaps I should have run a gritty sponge over it!
He did buy it in the end, much to my surprise, and at full asking.
Buyer comes to see it, likes it, I take him on a drive, and he goes away to think about it. He telephones and says he's concerned about the paint. "Really?" I say, "the paintwork is near perfect, what's the issue?" "Well, it's just too good" he says, "so I'm worried that you're hiding something. I mean, are you?" Perhaps I should have run a gritty sponge over it!
He did buy it in the end, much to my surprise, and at full asking.
vikingaero said:
I wanted to buy a Shed - specifically a Hyundai Amica to replace my departed Daihatsu Charade. Found one that worked on condition/price/value. Went to see it, happy with it and negotiated a price. £1,800 down to £1,500. However the seller still needed the car to get to work/family and until he found his next car. In addition I was to hand over the £1,500 so that he could put that towards his next car!
You could tell from his manner that he thought I was totally unreasonable in not agreeing to be his bank and hire car company.
If you're that hard up you're better off not selling it. Whenever I've bought a car I've always bought one, then put my existing one on sale. Guy sounds like a clownYou could tell from his manner that he thought I was totally unreasonable in not agreeing to be his bank and hire car company.
Saleen836 said:
Have heard this trick used many times to obtain a discount, not as common as the oil in header tank scam though
To be fair a paint thickness gauge is a useful tool even for an amateur detailer and it CAN show accident damage repairs etc. However, many cars with no damage will have many panels of differing paint thickness from the factory. It's not as if, 'This panel is thinner so must have been repaired', that just doesn't hold true.I ordered one myself before machine polishing my car. Once I used it, I figured I'd never need it again and sent it back. If I viewed a car and every panel is straight, normal panel gaps, HPI clear etc, I wouldn't care if a panel had been resprayed if it was literally undetectable without a special tool. Luckily I've never had anything close to resembling 'threatening behaviour' when selling or buying, and no one has pulled the 'well on the phone you said you'd take this much'. Might work with an Alzheimers patient, not on anyone else.
I sold my MG Midget ten days ago.
Nice lad. I know his family. His dad has a Morris 8 and a Minor so there's relevant classic experience in the family.
He came and looked. Got in it to reassure himself he would fit being quite tall, gave me a 500 quid deposit and left.
It's still here. Not a peep out of him so far.
The 500 is still in a drawer in my tool cabinet.
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Nice lad. I know his family. His dad has a Morris 8 and a Minor so there's relevant classic experience in the family.
He came and looked. Got in it to reassure himself he would fit being quite tall, gave me a 500 quid deposit and left.
It's still here. Not a peep out of him so far.
The 500 is still in a drawer in my tool cabinet.
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