Why Do Sellers Lie?
Discussion
dmulally said:
The word "mint" can mean anything.
The best way as a seller or buyer is to get a 3rd party to inspect the vehicle if it isnt close enough to pop down. As a seller it can be a good way to pick up easy things before you sell and also shows that you stand by what you're selling.
OTOH
People are
s.
"mint" means as good as it left the showroom, simple as that.The best way as a seller or buyer is to get a 3rd party to inspect the vehicle if it isnt close enough to pop down. As a seller it can be a good way to pick up easy things before you sell and also shows that you stand by what you're selling.
OTOH
People are
s. dmulally said:
The word "mint" can mean anything.
The best way as a seller or buyer is to get a 3rd party to inspect the vehicle if it isnt close enough to pop down. As a seller it can be a good way to pick up easy things before you sell and also shows that you stand by what you're selling.
OTOH
People ares.
"mint" means as good as it left the showroom, simple as that.The best way as a seller or buyer is to get a 3rd party to inspect the vehicle if it isnt close enough to pop down. As a seller it can be a good way to pick up easy things before you sell and also shows that you stand by what you're selling.
OTOH
People are
s. I had a guy come and see an old car I was selling. The car was in very good condition for its age.
Was with him an hour, showing him all the small imperfections, showed him how the touch screen worked (he asked) went for a drive etc etc.. Said he'd go to the cash machine for a deposit.
Got a txt 10 minutes later saying 'sorry mate, don't really want a black one'
That's the last I heard. What a cock.
Was with him an hour, showing him all the small imperfections, showed him how the touch screen worked (he asked) went for a drive etc etc.. Said he'd go to the cash machine for a deposit.
Got a txt 10 minutes later saying 'sorry mate, don't really want a black one'
That's the last I heard. What a cock.
When I sold my MX-5 they eventual buyers had to tell me that they werent worried about small scratches and stone chips that I didnt do as good a job at repairing as I thought I should have. I think I was starting to bore them by showing them every imperfection...some people just arent that bothered about paintwork or scuffed wheels.
Snowboy said:
I think the seller assumed that if a buyer has travelled all the way there then they will buy the car.
Or, in the case of a dealer, they might not buy that specific car, but they might buy a different one.
Yes, but for me they are wrong.Or, in the case of a dealer, they might not buy that specific car, but they might buy a different one.
I do wonder if some people do just turn up and go, well, that's in s***e condition afterall but I will buy it anyways......
A few weeks ago I went on a 80mile round trip with my brother to see an Audi A3. Described as you would expect as perfect condition. When we got there we found the picture of the alloy provided, was a picture of the only one that wasn't kerbed. The car had also clearly been revesed into something as the bumper was fked and he been knocked loose so the fitment didn't line up.
When the dealer was challenged about this he said "well its not the car for you" and turned his back. Prick. That's what I get for letting my brother find a car
he didn't notice the dealer also had a 53 plate Punto advertised for £1995. Alarm bells should have rang!
ked and he been knocked loose so the fitment didn't line up.When the dealer was challenged about this he said "well its not the car for you" and turned his back. Prick. That's what I get for letting my brother find a car
he didn't notice the dealer also had a 53 plate Punto advertised for £1995. Alarm bells should have rang!Its a pet hate of mine. Just recently the OH has been trying to buy an Alfa. Lets just say we have driven HUNDREDS of miles in search of a good one...
There's the fella who was selling the "Immaculate" 3 litre. Long phone conversations during which he repeatedly assured me that the car (his wife's Auntie's) was stunning. It was. Stunningly crap. Possibly two cars even. A list of faults too long to include here. He wanted top dollar too.
Then the fella who "vetted us" before we could come and see his pride and joy (owned from new doncha know!) I should have left as soon as I arrived, what with 4 different brand tyres (two of which I simply had never heard of) missing spare wheel, an engine that wouldn't rev/idle/warm up properly, the different colour rear bumper, the missing stereo fascia, blowing exhaust (which he feigned to be ignorant of, but which the local Alfa dealer confirmed he had been in the day before about!) and the list went on. How about the dealer who told us the car was immaculate... and even from a distance you could see the brake discs were well and truly shagged. "I don't know anything about that sir!" Me: " so what about this paper work for the MOT, where it says the brakes are just 1% off being a fail due to being seriously out of balance and innefective?
There's the fella who was selling the "Immaculate" 3 litre. Long phone conversations during which he repeatedly assured me that the car (his wife's Auntie's) was stunning. It was. Stunningly crap. Possibly two cars even. A list of faults too long to include here. He wanted top dollar too.
Then the fella who "vetted us" before we could come and see his pride and joy (owned from new doncha know!) I should have left as soon as I arrived, what with 4 different brand tyres (two of which I simply had never heard of) missing spare wheel, an engine that wouldn't rev/idle/warm up properly, the different colour rear bumper, the missing stereo fascia, blowing exhaust (which he feigned to be ignorant of, but which the local Alfa dealer confirmed he had been in the day before about!) and the list went on. How about the dealer who told us the car was immaculate... and even from a distance you could see the brake discs were well and truly shagged. "I don't know anything about that sir!" Me: " so what about this paper work for the MOT, where it says the brakes are just 1% off being a fail due to being seriously out of balance and innefective?
Devil2575 said:
The word "mint" means one thing that is not open to interpretation.
Mint refers to a freshly minted coin and means like new quality.
The problem is that it is misused.
I know it’s a bit dented Sir, and that the brakes are knackered.Mint refers to a freshly minted coin and means like new quality.
The problem is that it is misused.
But if Sir would lick the bonnet I’m sure he’ll enjoy the fresh minty taste.
Just had the same here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have found that certain ethnic groups simply cannot tell the truth - feeling that may not be a fair stereotype I went against that and went to view the dealers car.
Now if you are selling a 968 for £10k on PH (an enthusiasts site) then I'd expect it to be basically as described:
Metallic RIVIERA BLUE - It's not metallic (I knew that before I went)
Black Sports Leather Interior - Not the Sports leather just the std leather and it has a big hole in the drivers bolster.
Club Sport Spec - No it's just Sport spec
Immaculate Inside Out - Over spray everywhere from the headlights to the hatch and peeling bits as it was a poor job. One front light smashed the other chipped. Roadstone tyres on the back. Hatch can't be opened from outside, I had to climb into the back.
17 Inch Club Sport Black Alloys - Standard Sport alloys (painted black)
RS three spoke sports steering wheel - Standard sport wheel
ECU remapped 260 Bhp - no evidence of this
MO30 Brakes and suspension And Lsd Upgrade - no evidence of this, not on the options label in the back, no receipts and the brakes and suspension looked standard - in fact the front discs are almost certainly past their wear limit.
Do they really expect the kind of mug punter they might get on a rep mobile to buy an enthusiasts car that's so mis described ?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have found that certain ethnic groups simply cannot tell the truth - feeling that may not be a fair stereotype I went against that and went to view the dealers car.
Now if you are selling a 968 for £10k on PH (an enthusiasts site) then I'd expect it to be basically as described:
Metallic RIVIERA BLUE - It's not metallic (I knew that before I went)
Black Sports Leather Interior - Not the Sports leather just the std leather and it has a big hole in the drivers bolster.
Club Sport Spec - No it's just Sport spec
Immaculate Inside Out - Over spray everywhere from the headlights to the hatch and peeling bits as it was a poor job. One front light smashed the other chipped. Roadstone tyres on the back. Hatch can't be opened from outside, I had to climb into the back.
17 Inch Club Sport Black Alloys - Standard Sport alloys (painted black)
RS three spoke sports steering wheel - Standard sport wheel
ECU remapped 260 Bhp - no evidence of this
MO30 Brakes and suspension And Lsd Upgrade - no evidence of this, not on the options label in the back, no receipts and the brakes and suspension looked standard - in fact the front discs are almost certainly past their wear limit.
Do they really expect the kind of mug punter they might get on a rep mobile to buy an enthusiasts car that's so mis described ?
Agreed. Much bother.
I went to see a 328i coupe a few years back which was described as 'mint' by the trader. Had a number of issues:
- Engine block appeared to be patched up at the front with isopon or equivalent. "That's how I bought it"
- Bonnet only opened a third of the way up. "They all do that"
- Boot used to have a different spolier which was bolted on. 'New' spoiler now stuck on. Hole from original spoiler still evident and exposed "Shrug".
- No stereo, just various wires hanging out "That's how I bought it"
- No one single panel was without a dent or scratch.
I walked away. Annoyed.
I went to see a 328i coupe a few years back which was described as 'mint' by the trader. Had a number of issues:
- Engine block appeared to be patched up at the front with isopon or equivalent. "That's how I bought it"
- Bonnet only opened a third of the way up. "They all do that"
- Boot used to have a different spolier which was bolted on. 'New' spoiler now stuck on. Hole from original spoiler still evident and exposed "Shrug".
- No stereo, just various wires hanging out "That's how I bought it"
- No one single panel was without a dent or scratch.
I walked away. Annoyed.
Not all cars are perfect, that's a given. There are even main dealers selling nearly-new stock that needs paint or tyres etc.
Everyone has a different opinion. Quite often you hear "condition is good for age/mileage", if that isn't a way of saying "rough around the edges" then I don't know what is.
Not everyone wants a "minter", but for sure everyone wants to get top dollar for their car. People get very protective over their cars too and simply refuse to see faults etc, or things that went wrong so long ago they'd forgotten about it!
I've wasted so many days and £££ traipsing all round the country to look at cars advertised as "immaculate throughout" to find at best they are average. When you arrive and you've seen something the seller has blatantly lied about or missed off the advert, then you know you won't be doing a deal at any price. Drove 120 miles to look at an X300 Sov, spent half an hour on the phone with the seller assuring me I wouldn't find a better one anywhere in the country, I told him I'd bring my jack and a torch etc, he said no problem... I viewed and found it to be the worst example I've ever seen, the seller tried to get me to take it as less than half the asking, but I simply wasn't interested.
I find with adverts, its what hasn't been said that matters, what parts of the car haven't been photographed etc?
I always identify every blemish etc when I sell a car, and every time the sale price has exceeded my expectations. Honesty is appreciated it seems.
I just don't know how to tackle these things any more. I think if you are after something specific you just have to accept that you will have to drive far and wide and waste £££ and time looking at tat before you find what you are really after. Also accept that most faults are fixable for a price, so haggle accordingly and if you can't get what you want, walk away.
I have a colleague that likes the early 90's Celica. He has had several, always bought at high mileage and run into the ground (230k on one!) Always run on a shoestring too. However every bloody weekend he drives hundreds of miles to look at another average example, hoping to find "THE KEEPER". He must have driven 5000 miles and spent thousands on B&Bs and fuel... he could have bought a brand new one FFS!
ETA - if something is too good to be true, it normally is. If you want a minter, it makes sense to look at the more expensive range rather than expecting a mis-priced bargain...
Everyone has a different opinion. Quite often you hear "condition is good for age/mileage", if that isn't a way of saying "rough around the edges" then I don't know what is.
Not everyone wants a "minter", but for sure everyone wants to get top dollar for their car. People get very protective over their cars too and simply refuse to see faults etc, or things that went wrong so long ago they'd forgotten about it!
I've wasted so many days and £££ traipsing all round the country to look at cars advertised as "immaculate throughout" to find at best they are average. When you arrive and you've seen something the seller has blatantly lied about or missed off the advert, then you know you won't be doing a deal at any price. Drove 120 miles to look at an X300 Sov, spent half an hour on the phone with the seller assuring me I wouldn't find a better one anywhere in the country, I told him I'd bring my jack and a torch etc, he said no problem... I viewed and found it to be the worst example I've ever seen, the seller tried to get me to take it as less than half the asking, but I simply wasn't interested.
I find with adverts, its what hasn't been said that matters, what parts of the car haven't been photographed etc?
I always identify every blemish etc when I sell a car, and every time the sale price has exceeded my expectations. Honesty is appreciated it seems.
I just don't know how to tackle these things any more. I think if you are after something specific you just have to accept that you will have to drive far and wide and waste £££ and time looking at tat before you find what you are really after. Also accept that most faults are fixable for a price, so haggle accordingly and if you can't get what you want, walk away.
I have a colleague that likes the early 90's Celica. He has had several, always bought at high mileage and run into the ground (230k on one!) Always run on a shoestring too. However every bloody weekend he drives hundreds of miles to look at another average example, hoping to find "THE KEEPER". He must have driven 5000 miles and spent thousands on B&Bs and fuel... he could have bought a brand new one FFS!
ETA - if something is too good to be true, it normally is. If you want a minter, it makes sense to look at the more expensive range rather than expecting a mis-priced bargain...
Edited by BigTom85 on Monday 16th April 11:56
Have to say when car shopping I'm more likely to go and look at the car that is described as having parking dents and stone chips than I am at the one described as being totally mint.
That said, when i bought my Clio some years ago it had been advertised in the local newspaper for weeks as perfect condition and with 20k on the clock and low priced. It was 8 years old at the time and my first thought was it was too good to be true. When I eventually did go and look more out of interest than anything else it did turn out to be perfect with genuine miles due to a little old Doris venturing out to Sainsburys once a week. Seems like everyone else thought the same as me and I was the only person to actually view the car. Still own it now, brilliant little car
That said, when i bought my Clio some years ago it had been advertised in the local newspaper for weeks as perfect condition and with 20k on the clock and low priced. It was 8 years old at the time and my first thought was it was too good to be true. When I eventually did go and look more out of interest than anything else it did turn out to be perfect with genuine miles due to a little old Doris venturing out to Sainsburys once a week. Seems like everyone else thought the same as me and I was the only person to actually view the car. Still own it now, brilliant little car
I have a mate who lies every time he sells a car if he were to be believed every car he has owned has had a new engine (that he has lost the receipt for) and has been well cared for. He is currently selling an mr2 turbo which he claims is over 320bhp but when he was asked for a dyno print out to prove it by a seller he went nuts and said they were wasting his time etc.
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