What’s your best price?
Discussion
rustfalia said:
I just dont bother replying.
Telling our campervan last month was a nightmare never had so many time wasters and messages like that.
Campervans are a whole world of pain beyond cars. You get a considerably weirder class of dreamer and plenty of broken people too.Telling our campervan last month was a nightmare never had so many time wasters and messages like that.
A pal sold one on Gumtree and ended up with several people who were looking for counselling. I guess it's the prospect of the open road that does it to them.
If I wanted rid of one it would be dealer, auction or a lit rag in the fuel tank.
Had a similar thing when I was selling my old E Class. I suppose certain cars appeal to a certain demographic and I had a lot of interest but 80% or so were more interested in knocking money off before even seeing the car.
I did eventually sell the car to a chap from the Czech Rebublic and his other half. He was clearly a car fan and didn't come in hard with the, 'I'll give you X hundreds less than it's advertised'.
I hung up or ignored quite a few texts though as they were pretty grating.
I did eventually sell the car to a chap from the Czech Rebublic and his other half. He was clearly a car fan and didn't come in hard with the, 'I'll give you X hundreds less than it's advertised'.
I hung up or ignored quite a few texts though as they were pretty grating.
I have no problem asking for my best price.
I often say "It is priced based on condition and work done, not priced to haggle and want asking really." Then explain what has been done and why it is worth it.
Other times I have said "well, couple of little wheel marks, and a small ding that I was going to get dentdevils out to sort, if you want to do those bits I will knock off £xxx."
I called someone last week about an F31 Touring and asked if he had any movement on price at all. He said if I can move quickly he would do it for roughly 15% less as he didn't want to miss out on a car he was looking at.
I went over straight away, took it down the road, agreed to buy it, transferred the money and took it away.
He was happy and I was happy.
I can't see the issue with it myself. I certainly wouldn't turn a potential sale away.
I often say "It is priced based on condition and work done, not priced to haggle and want asking really." Then explain what has been done and why it is worth it.
Other times I have said "well, couple of little wheel marks, and a small ding that I was going to get dentdevils out to sort, if you want to do those bits I will knock off £xxx."
I called someone last week about an F31 Touring and asked if he had any movement on price at all. He said if I can move quickly he would do it for roughly 15% less as he didn't want to miss out on a car he was looking at.
I went over straight away, took it down the road, agreed to buy it, transferred the money and took it away.
He was happy and I was happy.
I can't see the issue with it myself. I certainly wouldn't turn a potential sale away.
I sold my car on Saturday and it was a good outcome despite 2 very stressful hours with the buyer.
One of the problems nowadays is that everyone is frightened of getting scammed or ripped off, that goes for both buyer and seller. Not saying the guy that bought it was a problem but honestly, he spent so much time under the bonnet prodding and poking, unscrewing all the fluid caps several times, feeling about around all the hoses that I thought he might as well have the engine out. Nothing wrong with being thorough but I had a service sheet from a fortnight ago from an independent specialist garage, the oil is fine! When it came to money he made me a low offer which I refused and we eventually met in the middle, slightly in his favour.
But, at the end of the day I got 1000 more for the car than I was quoted by WBAC. And he got a car that would have been on a dealer forecourt for 1000 more than he paid. Win, win.
Yes, it’s a lot of hassle but it was worth it and I was able to walk into a dealership today with cash and buy a new car.
One of the problems nowadays is that everyone is frightened of getting scammed or ripped off, that goes for both buyer and seller. Not saying the guy that bought it was a problem but honestly, he spent so much time under the bonnet prodding and poking, unscrewing all the fluid caps several times, feeling about around all the hoses that I thought he might as well have the engine out. Nothing wrong with being thorough but I had a service sheet from a fortnight ago from an independent specialist garage, the oil is fine! When it came to money he made me a low offer which I refused and we eventually met in the middle, slightly in his favour.
But, at the end of the day I got 1000 more for the car than I was quoted by WBAC. And he got a car that would have been on a dealer forecourt for 1000 more than he paid. Win, win.
Yes, it’s a lot of hassle but it was worth it and I was able to walk into a dealership today with cash and buy a new car.
Selling my black Twingo 133 at the moment and almost immediately been 'offered' 20% less. Didn't even ask any details about car. Offered to collect straight away.
Sent loads of extra detail to them and counter offer which was just £100 more than their offer. To which I got told was over priced and sent me details of similiar car that has done all of 4000 miles less and is priced 20% MORE than my initial asking price!
Never think it's a good sign when all you get is an offer and no other questions or pleasantries. But in the other hand have had buyers before ask questions for weeks before even committing to view, let alone buy, so just want a happy middle ground!
Sent loads of extra detail to them and counter offer which was just £100 more than their offer. To which I got told was over priced and sent me details of similiar car that has done all of 4000 miles less and is priced 20% MORE than my initial asking price!
Never think it's a good sign when all you get is an offer and no other questions or pleasantries. But in the other hand have had buyers before ask questions for weeks before even committing to view, let alone buy, so just want a happy middle ground!
Edited by mikeyr on Monday 6th July 21:51
Alex_225 said:
Had a similar thing when I was selling my old E Class. I suppose certain cars appeal to a certain demographic and I had a lot of interest but 80% or so were more interested in knocking money off before even seeing the car
Foreigners were all over my e class estate wanting to use it as a taxi. Two of them wouldn’t go away after I turned down their paltry offers and stayed at the bottom of my drive for three hours, ringing every 20 mins with further derisory offers, which turned into anger after a while. I nearly called Plod, but fortunately they left when it started to get dark and made their way back up North.Got a bit scary at one stage. Some of these dudes can be aggressive.
Edited by 993kimbo on Monday 6th July 21:45
Looking at selling one of my cars week after next when another one has been in garage for various work doing, I've basically decided that I'm going to list it for a week on eBay as a classified ad and if it doesn't sell it's off to WBAC.
I really can't be bothered with more than a weeks worth of hassle.
I really can't be bothered with more than a weeks worth of hassle.
The used car market can be very competitive..hence the chances, I myself have been a chancer when I buy / sell cars (of my own)
I bought a car and offered 2.5k less than the asking price, because I was there and was genuine and the guy needed the cash he sold it to me. He could of sold it to wbac for more.. but don’t think He wanted to go that route, as said he did not want to see a large company make money out of Him. Generally was a nice guy who wanted to help me out as was top of my budget and was not being greedy, he said he got it at a good price when he bought it so wanted to do the same. He had 3 dealers phone him whilst I was there but wanted to sell to a private person.
I will continue to make low offers on future cars, 90% or more Will probably say no.. but if I buy a car I want to know I’ve got a good deal. The market is flooded unless it’s something special of course then I will pay the premium.
I bought a car and offered 2.5k less than the asking price, because I was there and was genuine and the guy needed the cash he sold it to me. He could of sold it to wbac for more.. but don’t think He wanted to go that route, as said he did not want to see a large company make money out of Him. Generally was a nice guy who wanted to help me out as was top of my budget and was not being greedy, he said he got it at a good price when he bought it so wanted to do the same. He had 3 dealers phone him whilst I was there but wanted to sell to a private person.
I will continue to make low offers on future cars, 90% or more Will probably say no.. but if I buy a car I want to know I’ve got a good deal. The market is flooded unless it’s something special of course then I will pay the premium.
But in your example did you just text an offer of £2.5k less or does you all questions first, view the car in person, etc?
Think the thread is more a whinge about the one word 'offers' you get when sell a car. When you get a text just saying '800' or 'what's your best price bro' the whole selling experience can be very frustrating.
Think the thread is more a whinge about the one word 'offers' you get when sell a car. When you get a text just saying '800' or 'what's your best price bro' the whole selling experience can be very frustrating.
Email has given timewasters the excitement of looking to buy a car without having to leave their sofa. They can have a couple of hours fun looking to buy cars with zero investment of time and zero commitment on their part.
I find there are two types of time waster.
1)The "Best price" or "£400 in hand cash" types. These are the ones that are easiest to deal with as I just ignore them and delete their messages.
2)The two pages of questions asking what DOT code the tyres are, when the battery was changed, has it ever been through a car wash, when the clutch was last replaced, what make of oil you use in your £1000 shed.
They will then either not reply or give you one of the following excuses for not coming to look at the car.
1)Thanks, I have a few to look at.
2)It's still on the original clutch?, oh it might need replacing soon then.
3)The service in 2011 was one week late
4)You are missing a tax disc from 2011, I was looking for one that had every old tax disc.
I find there are two types of time waster.
1)The "Best price" or "£400 in hand cash" types. These are the ones that are easiest to deal with as I just ignore them and delete their messages.
2)The two pages of questions asking what DOT code the tyres are, when the battery was changed, has it ever been through a car wash, when the clutch was last replaced, what make of oil you use in your £1000 shed.
They will then either not reply or give you one of the following excuses for not coming to look at the car.
1)Thanks, I have a few to look at.
2)It's still on the original clutch?, oh it might need replacing soon then.
3)The service in 2011 was one week late
4)You are missing a tax disc from 2011, I was looking for one that had every old tax disc.
Jamescrs said:
Looking at selling one of my cars week after next when another one has been in garage for various work doing, I've basically decided that I'm going to list it for a week on eBay as a classified ad and if it doesn't sell it's off to WBAC.
I really can't be bothered with more than a weeks worth of hassle.
I didn’t go with ebay this time as I have had bad experiences in the past. Sold through autotrader and actually had no time wasters at all, the car went to the first person who called. I listed at an optimistic price and had zero interest in the first week. As I was going for a new car on Monday I thought I’d drop the price quite a bit and make it clear in the ad that is was just for the weekend before it gets traded. Saturday morning a guy called, came to view at lunchtime and we did a deal. He took it away there and then after doing a bank transfer. I actually had 2 other calls later that day and another Sunday (from PH classifieds) before withdrawing the ads.I really can't be bothered with more than a weeks worth of hassle.
If the price is right, a good car will sell.
The only time I would use WBAC is if there were issues with the car that would discourage me from selling privately. Same with part ex really. Those services are for getting rid imo and the prices they offer reflect that.
I have sold 2 cars to WBAC for pretty close to retail and well above private sale in the last couple of weeks.
Never write them off.
I always reply to "What's your best price?" with a price and my reasoning why.
They then come and view or they don't.
Why would I get annoyed and ignore a potential customer?
Now of course, I'm not a moron and get many are just time wasters and you never hear from them again, but a few have said "yeah that is great, if it is how you say I am happy with that."
I reckon I have sold 60 cars over the last 15 years, and I have only ever had 2 people view and not actually buy it.
One was my 130i and the guy was honest and said he was not sure if he wanted a 130i or if he wanted a 335i, and the other was some couple who turned up and said "We have got another 8 lined up to see, all Audis, but as you are local we thought we would look at your 3 series, but don't really want a BMW or an Auto."
Brilliant! Glad I spent 4 hours cleaning it for you.
Pretty much every deal has been done over email and maybe a phone call at some point just to have a chat in person.
I have also stayed in touch with many of my buyers, pointed them towards the forums etc.
For me selling a car is easy, be honest with the description, make sure the car drives like new and looks in good condition and you will not get grief.
If there are any marks point them out and reflect it in the price or offer to get them done.
Never write them off.
I always reply to "What's your best price?" with a price and my reasoning why.
They then come and view or they don't.
Why would I get annoyed and ignore a potential customer?
Now of course, I'm not a moron and get many are just time wasters and you never hear from them again, but a few have said "yeah that is great, if it is how you say I am happy with that."
I reckon I have sold 60 cars over the last 15 years, and I have only ever had 2 people view and not actually buy it.
One was my 130i and the guy was honest and said he was not sure if he wanted a 130i or if he wanted a 335i, and the other was some couple who turned up and said "We have got another 8 lined up to see, all Audis, but as you are local we thought we would look at your 3 series, but don't really want a BMW or an Auto."
Brilliant! Glad I spent 4 hours cleaning it for you.
Pretty much every deal has been done over email and maybe a phone call at some point just to have a chat in person.
I have also stayed in touch with many of my buyers, pointed them towards the forums etc.
For me selling a car is easy, be honest with the description, make sure the car drives like new and looks in good condition and you will not get grief.
If there are any marks point them out and reflect it in the price or offer to get them done.
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