Why not just answer my question?

[Emubiker]

So, I have been on the lookout for a new car and as you do I have emailed a few to ask a few simple questions about said cars. Nothing too interesting just questions to gauge whether it would actually be worth persuing (sp?). However, 1 out of 5 seem to reply with something along the lines of:
"please call me on (enter number) as it would be easier to talk over the phone"

I could understand this if I was asking some very specific and/or even complicated question, I could also understand if they wanted to see who the serious buyers were and sift (sp?) out the time wasters. However, at this point it puts me off contacting them via telephone as it would have been much easier - and even less time consuming to just answer my questions in the reply they have already sent.

Perhaps I am missing something here, is there another reason for it? are they trying to hide something and pehaps think they could explain away the situation?
Any thought appreciated as it is really starting to get a little annoying now.

[bluebear]

Oh this dose my head in to. You only want some info so YOU can make the decision if its worth phoning the seller.

[danposs86]

Easier to sweet talk over bad point over the phone?

[Hark]

If people are genuinely interested in a car they tend to ring in my experience. I'll give people the answers as I want to sell the car, but I do generally finish with ' Any other questions feel free to give me a call'

It's alot easier to 'tyre kick' via emails as you can ask in your own time.

I don't think I've sold a car yet to someone who originally inquired by email.

[anonymous-user]

Hark said:

I don't think I've sold a car yet to someone who originally inquired by email.

Maybe they get fed up not having questions answered so buy elsewhere?

Email suits many people that perhaps can't use the phone for personal calls whilst at work during the day, if sellers don't want to sell a car through email then they shouldn't provide an email address or contact facility on their website - simple.

[Emubiker]

[quote=yellowbentines]
Maybe they get fed up not having questions answered so buy elsewhere?
quote]

This is what I'll be doing. I'm not going to buy off someone who can't even answer a couple of simple questions. Doesn't sing their praise much as a seller.
However I guess, along the same lines as weeding out the "tyre kickers" it also weeds out the poor sellers.

[s3fella]

Emubiker]ellowbentines said:

Maybe they get fed up not having questions answered so buy elsewhere?
quote]

This is what I'll be doing. I'm not going to buy off someone who can't even answer a couple of simple questions. Doesn't sing their praise much as a seller.
However I guess, along the same lines as weeding out the "tyre kickers" it also weeds out the poor sellers.

But they have not ignored you, they've suggested you call them to talk perosnally.

So why not call them?

I fail to see the problem, unless you're not very confident at speaking to or interacting with people?

The fact more than one have suggested this, surely suggests to you that it's a fairly common thing that sellers suggest?
Personally, as a buyer, I'd be more worried if it was the other way around, i.e. you were trying to phone them and they'd only use email.

[Night Runner]

s3fella said:

But they have not ignored you, they've suggested you call them to talk perosnally.

So why not call them?

I fail to see the problem, unless you're not very confident at speaking to or interacting with people?

The fact more than one have suggested this, surely suggests to you that it's a fairly common thing that sellers suggest?
Personally, as a buyer, I'd be more worried if it was the other way around, i.e. you were trying to phone them and they'd only use email.

But surely if I ask a simple Q, it's easier for you to answer it rather then going through the rigmarole of e-mailing me, asking me to phone you, speaking to me?
i.e

Q-Does the car have any rust?

Yes/No

Q- How many miles on the clock?

X

[Emubiker]

Night Runner said:

But surely if I ask a simple Q, it's easier for you to answer it rather then going through the rigmarole of e-mailing me, asking me to phone you, speaking to me?
i.e

Q-Does the car have any rust?

Yes/No

Q- How many miles on the clock?

X

This is exactly my point, I am mulling over a number of cars at the moment so If every single one wanted me to call them I would be on the phone for hours. Instead I ask maybe 3 simple questions equating to info that they have clearly ommitted from their advert, yet they are unwilling to answer.

[ClaphamGT3]

This debate happens all the time here.

The world seems to fall into two camps; those who cant understand why people dont deal by e-mail/text & those who cant understand why people don't phone.

I'm in the latter camp - I've never yet sold a car to anyone who initiated the transaction by e-mail or text & find that everyone who thinks that this is the way to go about buying cars are;

a) 16
b) some sort of social mis-fit
c) a time wasting fantasist
d) all of the above.

[MattyB_]

I tend to do all my selling (and buying) initially, via email. If selling, once I've decided if they're genuinely interested and not just wasting my time, then they can call me. As as buyer, if I'm happy with any initial questions via email, then I'll call them to arrange a viewing.

Plus side, for me, is that I can do it in my own time - as a seller, its much easier especially if I get asked questions about the history ("When were the disc/pads changed?") I don't have to scramble around through the history then and there, or call them back later once I've found it.

And sometimes its handy to have everything that was said 'in print'. You know, for the bullst you not doubt face from many sellers

[Emubiker]

ClaphamGT3 said:

This debate happens all the time here.

The world seems to fall into two camps; those who cant understand why people dont deal by e-mail/text & those who cant understand why people don't phone.

I'm in the latter camp - I've never yet sold a car to anyone who initiated the transaction by e-mail or text & find that everyone who thinks that this is the way to go about buying cars are;

a) 16
b) some sort of social mis-fit
c) a time wasting fantasist
d) all of the above.

okay......

But then I would only phone a seller once I had decided it was his/her car that I was seriously interested in. And I wouldn't call a "how many miles has the car done?" question a time wasting one. If anything the seller has wasted more time by not actually answering the question. Its not as if I ask 20 questions.

[Steameh]

ClaphamGT3 said:

This debate happens all the time here.

The world seems to fall into two camps; those who cant understand why people dont deal by e-mail/text & those who cant understand why people don't phone.

I'm in the latter camp - I've never yet sold a car to anyone who initiated the transaction by e-mail or text & find that everyone who thinks that this is the way to go about buying cars are;

a) 16
b) some sort of social mis-fit
c) a time wasting fantasist
d) all of the above.

Strange as I have bought pretty much all my cars by first contact emails. I find it easier to find out if a seller is wasting my time or not by email, since a genuine seller would take the time to answer an email courteously and in detail.

As you say it falls in to two camps.

[ClaphamGT3]

Emubiker said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

This debate happens all the time here.

The world seems to fall into two camps; those who cant understand why people dont deal by e-mail/text & those who cant understand why people don't phone.

I'm in the latter camp - I've never yet sold a car to anyone who initiated the transaction by e-mail or text & find that everyone who thinks that this is the way to go about buying cars are;

a) 16
b) some sort of social mis-fit
c) a time wasting fantasist
d) all of the above.

okay......

But then I would only phone a seller once I had decided it was his/her car that I was seriously interested in. And I wouldn't call a "how many miles has the car done?" question a time wasting one. If anything the seller has wasted more time by not actually answering the question. Its not as if I ask 20 questions.

Firstly, I tend to find its far easier to get a handle on what sort of person the seller is and how truthful they're being if I speak to them. Secondly, it is quicker. Finally, if a vendor was so spastic that they didn't think to put the mileage in the original advert, I'd have probably decided not to follow up

[deadslow]

If you are not answering emails, then you are a bit lazy. Your customwe service is, at best, average. You will prepare your cars in a lazy way, and probably buy them in a lazy way. Email is a modern sales tool. Get with it.

[Night Runner]

ClaphamGT3 said:

This debate happens all the time here.

The world seems to fall into two camps; those who cant understand why people dont deal by e-mail/text & those who cant understand why people don't phone.

I'm in the latter camp - I've never yet sold a car to anyone who initiated the transaction by e-mail or text & find that everyone who thinks that this is the way to go about buying cars are;

a) 16
b) some sort of social mis-fit
c) a time wasting fantasist
d) all of the above.

Or busy (time to type a quick mail on the Bberry/phone rather than call & discuss), able to use modern technology.

[M3RMS]

This is quite simple isn't it?

Just don't try and 2nd guess somebody's reasons for using their preferred mode of communication!

You trying to sell something - just answer the questions.

To suggest that 'real' buyers prefer the phone (or vice versa) is just horsest!! Different people will just prefer different things - you can't extrapolate assumptions about the buyer based on choice of comms, that's ridiculous!

[Pig Skill]

In my experience of selling cars; anyone who emails or texts = time wasting cock muffin.

Edited by Pig Skill on Sunday 7th August 06:58

[ewan221]

This is becoming a weekly topic

last 3 cars I have sold were to people who contacted me by email with sensiible and genuine questions, the people who phoned first were all timewatsers making low offers without seeing car or arranging to come see the car and not turning up.

If I am looking for a car I usually send a quick email to find out if the car is still for sale and maybe ask for some clarification on the information in the advert, I also ask when would be a convienient time to phone.

If someone cant be bothered to reply tp the email I would not bother to follow up

[philmots]

My last 3 cars went to a buyer who has emailed first.

The one before that the guy rang.

My last car sold the first 2 people who rang as their first contact were time wasters.

Go figure.