When did selling a car become such a ball ache?
Discussion
I'm not looking forward to the selling experience when the time comes to move on from my MK5 Golf GTI. Not only because I'll be sad to see it go, but also because I'm dreading the absolute zoomers that cars like GTIs always attract.
Personally when looking to buy a car I've never made initial contact with a text, I've always called. It's easier to get across that you're genuinely interested and not just a timewaster, and also lets you get a better feel for the seller.
Personally when looking to buy a car I've never made initial contact with a text, I've always called. It's easier to get across that you're genuinely interested and not just a timewaster, and also lets you get a better feel for the seller.
milfordkong said:
It is a colossal ball ache, but it does very much depend on the marque and the price point as to the level of morons you get - Though most things these days attract the 'best price' brigade - That drives me up the wall, just make an offer!... MAKE AN OFFER!
That does irritate me. I don't give a figure, I reply with, "What's your best offer?"Normally a WYBP'er who hasn't read the ad isn't going to come and view or buy so can just be ignored.
A delusional chancer following up his offer with the the supposed incentive to me of him paying "cash" always makes me chuckle, it's a private sale so what else are you going to pay with, magic beans?! In fact cash in hand for anything other than a cheap banger would put me off selling especially outside banking hours, I'd much rather do an instant bank transfer.
k off. You're selling it, tell me how much you want for it, it's not a fThe "wots yr best price m8", "wd u take 50 cash and a minimoto" and "my shipping agent from Nigeria" emails get deleted without being read. I will respond to emails written in proper English that ask genuine questions, but in my experience, serious buyers pick up the phone.
Not had too much grief with people who actually bother to turn up. It's the email idiots and the no-shows that are the biggest problem.
I hate the thought of selling something like the M140i privately just because of the timewasters and morons it's going to attract.
Not had too much grief with people who actually bother to turn up. It's the email idiots and the no-shows that are the biggest problem.
I hate the thought of selling something like the M140i privately just because of the timewasters and morons it's going to attract.
Funny. I think the exact opposite. I find it easier than the days of hard copy Autotrader and E&M. I find a well written ad and really good high res photos make it much easier for both parties. Admittedly I have not sold hot hatches or anything that would appeal to a joy rider but equally I think that if you put a naff ad up it can give the impression you don't care and therefore open to offers. The last person I had to be rude to enquired about a one year old Golf GTi advertised in Autotrader. That was about 20 years ago.
I had someone turn up, liked the car, agreed a price. Told them straight up that I wanted payment by bank transfer the day they come to collect, all agreed and deposit left.
5 days later they call up saying they're going to pay through PayPal (are you now?) because they have to use a credit card.
Yeah, that ain't happening. So I make it very clear it's bank transfer only, as agreed at point of sale. Obviously Mr Buyer is unhappy about this and demands his deposit back. Sorry, what? You put down a deposit as an agreement to the terms of sale, then wait a week to decide you don't want to pay the way we agreed, and then have the gall to demand a deposit returned...
Promptly told the gent to do one, naturally, to which he started spouting BS about how it's unfair on him etc. Maybe think before agreeing to something you can't adhere to in future? If you want to pay by credit, sod off to a dealer and pay over the odds for the convenience.
5 days later they call up saying they're going to pay through PayPal (are you now?) because they have to use a credit card.
Yeah, that ain't happening. So I make it very clear it's bank transfer only, as agreed at point of sale. Obviously Mr Buyer is unhappy about this and demands his deposit back. Sorry, what? You put down a deposit as an agreement to the terms of sale, then wait a week to decide you don't want to pay the way we agreed, and then have the gall to demand a deposit returned...
Promptly told the gent to do one, naturally, to which he started spouting BS about how it's unfair on him etc. Maybe think before agreeing to something you can't adhere to in future? If you want to pay by credit, sod off to a dealer and pay over the odds for the convenience.
When I bought my latest car the seller had been inundated with pillocks- his reply to my initial contact was mildly hostile until he got the idea I was genuine. A brief negotiation on price led to a deal being done subject to seeing the car. The day before my 200 mile journey to get it he called me to make sure I wasn't wasting his time.
On arrival his manner magically transformed when he got the idea I was a serious buyer. Paperwork ready, test drive for a good distance on a mixture of roads, laptop sitting waiting for a bank transfer, car available to take away as soon as he verified the transfer of funds.
Why is it so rare for both parties to act sensibly in the interests of an easy transaction?
On arrival his manner magically transformed when he got the idea I was a serious buyer. Paperwork ready, test drive for a good distance on a mixture of roads, laptop sitting waiting for a bank transfer, car available to take away as soon as he verified the transfer of funds.
Why is it so rare for both parties to act sensibly in the interests of an easy transaction?
Rovinghawk said:
When I bought my latest car the seller had been inundated with pillocks- his reply to my initial contact was mildly hostile until he got the idea I was genuine. A brief negotiation on price led to a deal being done subject to seeing the car. The day before my 200 mile journey to get it he called me to make sure I wasn't wasting his time.
On arrival his manner magically transformed when he got the idea I was a serious buyer. Paperwork ready, test drive for a good distance on a mixture of roads, laptop sitting waiting for a bank transfer, car available to take away as soon as he verified the transfer of funds.
Why is it so rare for both parties to act sensibly in the interests of an easy transaction?
People want to try different cars. I had no end of interest in my golf when it was up for saleOn arrival his manner magically transformed when he got the idea I was a serious buyer. Paperwork ready, test drive for a good distance on a mixture of roads, laptop sitting waiting for a bank transfer, car available to take away as soon as he verified the transfer of funds.
Why is it so rare for both parties to act sensibly in the interests of an easy transaction?
Rovinghawk said:
A brief negotiation on price led to a deal being done subject to seeing the car.
As a seller I hate negotiating on price before anyone has seen the car, you invariably end up in a worse position. You haggle once over the phone then the buyer thinks he can start haggling all over again when he sees the car, even though you've described any faults in the original ad. I've developed a few rules based on my experiences of selling cars (nearly 20 private sales). They rather fail the modern political correctness standard but they make the process much less difficult:
1: List the car accurately, warts and all. You don't want people turning up and being disappointed.
2: Completely ignore any texts containing the words 'best price' any any messages with significant spelling/grammar errors.
3: Anybody who communicates just via text for more than 2 messages will be a time waster. Real buyers always phone, sometimes after a preliminary text.
4: If a phone caller is obviously of 'ethnic' or traveller descent just politely tell them the car is sold.
5: Never arrange your schedule around viewings, only arrange them when you would be in anyway. That way you can never be frustrated by no-shows and bad timekeeping.
6: Watch viewers like a hawk and never give them the key unless you are sat in the passenger seat (and don't get out until they've given it back).
7: Generally when someone comes to see a car they will buy it if it's as advertised. Don't feel you have to take much off, if you've followed steps 1-4 then they'll probably pay the asking price if you hold firm.
1: List the car accurately, warts and all. You don't want people turning up and being disappointed.
2: Completely ignore any texts containing the words 'best price' any any messages with significant spelling/grammar errors.
3: Anybody who communicates just via text for more than 2 messages will be a time waster. Real buyers always phone, sometimes after a preliminary text.
4: If a phone caller is obviously of 'ethnic' or traveller descent just politely tell them the car is sold.
5: Never arrange your schedule around viewings, only arrange them when you would be in anyway. That way you can never be frustrated by no-shows and bad timekeeping.
6: Watch viewers like a hawk and never give them the key unless you are sat in the passenger seat (and don't get out until they've given it back).
7: Generally when someone comes to see a car they will buy it if it's as advertised. Don't feel you have to take much off, if you've followed steps 1-4 then they'll probably pay the asking price if you hold firm.
When I bought my current car privately I communicated almost entirely by text message. Including some negotiation.
I turned up and he left me with the car and key and v5 while he went and made a cup of tea.
I took it for a little spin, checked absolutely everything I could, obsessively, even making sure the vin numbers match the v5 etc...
Still a bit undecided based on price negotiated via text I negotiated a bit more by making him an offer to help rectify the faults I discovered that I didn't know about before taking time to come to his house.
Surprisingly he accepted my offer, I offered him hundred quid deposit to hold it for a few days while I got rid of my car and sorted insurance, he said it doesn't matter about deposit car is yours.
I turned back up a few days later, transfered money to his bank and drove away. Everyone happy.
Sure it was a car up for 1700 quid, I offered and paid 1100 in end.
I turned up and he left me with the car and key and v5 while he went and made a cup of tea.
I took it for a little spin, checked absolutely everything I could, obsessively, even making sure the vin numbers match the v5 etc...
Still a bit undecided based on price negotiated via text I negotiated a bit more by making him an offer to help rectify the faults I discovered that I didn't know about before taking time to come to his house.
Surprisingly he accepted my offer, I offered him hundred quid deposit to hold it for a few days while I got rid of my car and sorted insurance, he said it doesn't matter about deposit car is yours.
I turned back up a few days later, transfered money to his bank and drove away. Everyone happy.
Sure it was a car up for 1700 quid, I offered and paid 1100 in end.
Spumfry said:
Rovinghawk said:
A brief negotiation on price led to a deal being done subject to seeing the car.
As a seller I hate negotiating on price before anyone has seen the car, you invariably end up in a worse position. You haggle once over the phone then the buyer thinks he can start haggling all over again when he sees the car, even though you've described any faults in the original ad. I don't get into haggling over the phone. I'll let on that I'm prepared to consider a sensible offer, but only if they've seen the car and want to buy it. There's always at least one of the 'innit bruv' lot who really do rate themselves as first class negotiators.
In the case of our old mk4 Golf GT TDI, I'd had a dozen or so calls in the first morning with four people wanting to view it by lunchtime. I knew it would sell. It was priced competitively, and apart from its 145,000 miles, it was clean, had no obvious faults, a fresh MOT with one minor advisory, a mountain of history, had just had a new clutch and DMF, was in the right colour and spec and it had the PD130 engine.
Most of the calls that didn't result in a request to view were just casual "I might ring you back" type enquiries (fair enough), but one was an Ali G impersonator, who asked no questions about the car other than "Is it still for sale bruv?" and then told me "I'll pay a grand in cash bruv (car was up at £1,400), and I'm doing you a favour 'cos it's a old car innit". I told him I had four viewings lined up and he was going to have to do better than that, and he started arguing that he'd "been buying whips for years bruv" (I am not making that up) and "I'm telling you da car ain't wurf dat. I can be there in an hour wiv pound notes yeah, but be quick cos I might change my mind". I told him I was prepared to take that risk, and if he wanted to come and have a look after the 4 viewings I had lined up, I'd be happy to show him the car. But he'd better call to make sure it was still available.
A perfectly normal, polite, articulate couple turned up that afternoon, and after a bit of pleasant haggling, helped on my side by the phone ringing twice while they were there, we settled on a hundred under the asking price, and the rear pads I hadn't yet got around to fitting (the MOT advisory) thrown in. I was really hoping Ali G would call back, but as suspected, he was a complete timewaster.
Edited by Limpet on Tuesday 24th April 14:58
1. Match the selling medium to the car
Cheap car? eBay or Gumtree
Mid-range price? Auto Trader
High End? Avoid private sale and take it to a dealer.
2. Price correctly. If it' over-priced you'll be waiting a long time
3. Take good pics
4. Be honest about any apparent damage/issues however, don't tell the buyer things they don't need to know.
5. Be polite, friendly and helpful to people. Treat them how you would want to be treated on a private sale.
6. Don't be afraid of haggling. Too many Aspergers-types cannot hack haggling, but it's part of buying a car. Sadly, a lot of people take the piss now, but deployed correctly, it works for all.
I've used both eBay and AT in this way and had zero issues.
Cheap car? eBay or Gumtree
Mid-range price? Auto Trader
High End? Avoid private sale and take it to a dealer.
2. Price correctly. If it' over-priced you'll be waiting a long time
3. Take good pics
4. Be honest about any apparent damage/issues however, don't tell the buyer things they don't need to know.
5. Be polite, friendly and helpful to people. Treat them how you would want to be treated on a private sale.
6. Don't be afraid of haggling. Too many Aspergers-types cannot hack haggling, but it's part of buying a car. Sadly, a lot of people take the piss now, but deployed correctly, it works for all.
I've used both eBay and AT in this way and had zero issues.
thatguy11 said:
I'm not looking forward to the selling experience when the time comes to move on from my MK5 Golf GTI. Not only because I'll be sad to see it go, but also because I'm dreading the absolute zoomers that cars like GTIs always attract.
Personally when looking to buy a car I've never made initial contact with a text, I've always called. It's easier to get across that you're genuinely interested and not just a timewaster, and also lets you get a better feel for the seller.
Give me a shout in 2 years time... one of the cars I'm considering next is what you're selling Personally when looking to buy a car I've never made initial contact with a text, I've always called. It's easier to get across that you're genuinely interested and not just a timewaster, and also lets you get a better feel for the seller.
My car advert (2 weeks) on Gumtree seemed to attract a special group of people.
1. Haggling price because of stated damage body work damage (and car was more the generously reduced already).
2. 3 people stating a price, sorry 2 people stated a price, one was just a number, just ignored.
3. 2 People said they wanted to take a look and never responded.
4. 1 Person arranged to come and look and never turned up.
5. 1 Person wanted to travel 500 miles to collect at asking price, but only at 11pm on a Sunday night.
6. 3 People asking if it had X, Y or Z feature that was stated in the advert.
7. Someone decided to wait until after the date the car needed to go (due to date of insurance expiry) to offer me half asking price for a quick sale - was quite nice telling him he missed his chance as it sold (via Auto trader to first enquirer).
1. Haggling price because of stated damage body work damage (and car was more the generously reduced already).
2. 3 people stating a price, sorry 2 people stated a price, one was just a number, just ignored.
3. 2 People said they wanted to take a look and never responded.
4. 1 Person arranged to come and look and never turned up.
5. 1 Person wanted to travel 500 miles to collect at asking price, but only at 11pm on a Sunday night.
6. 3 People asking if it had X, Y or Z feature that was stated in the advert.
7. Someone decided to wait until after the date the car needed to go (due to date of insurance expiry) to offer me half asking price for a quick sale - was quite nice telling him he missed his chance as it sold (via Auto trader to first enquirer).
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