Car nearly sold!

[Donatello]

Just had a text from the person due to buy our car, the theme is 'I can't afford it'...

They viewed the car a couple of weeks ago, took it out, loved it, told me they had seen 7 and this was the best one. Made an offer but said they needed to go home and speak to a family member (mechanic I believe).

Anyway, phone me and ask me to fix a little mark on the paintwork so we re-negotiate and I get it done. Then I collect it, tell them its done and get a reply 'we will come and have a final check next week, I will let you know what day'.

So nothing all weekend, I contact them, no answer on the phone several times so I text 'Won't hold it forever, need to know asap or deal is off' kind of text. Get a reply this morning, 'can't afford it'!

I am so annoyed. I am annoyed that I didn't take a deposit to secure the car, but I am more annoyed that they have asked me to do work etc.. and made a deal just to 'suddenly' realise they can't afford it.... fkING FURIOUS!!!!

[K87]

2nd hand car market.... Until any money has changed hands then keep the car on the market for anyone else

[STW2010]

You have every right to be furious, as that is disgraceful behaviour. However the best thing to have done with regards to that minor repair was to get a quotation in writing and then deduct that from the price. At least the car is in better condition for the next potential buyer!

[kambites]

Yup, you should have taken a deposit before you spent any money or time on it.

[Fizpop]

I always see it as car is for sale until the full amount is in my hand.
Dont do deposits, it just leads to agro if they back out. A second benefit is focusing the buyers mind to get his finger out rather than taking his sweet time.

[kambites]

Fizpop said:

Dont do deposits, it just leads to agro if they back out.

Why? If they back out, you just wave them goodbye and keep the deposit, surely? That's the whole point of a deposit.

[Donatello]

I know and that is why I am so annoyed at myself. First time selling a car on the open market Sour taste already....

[D1bram]

Text back;

'No problem. How do you want to settle the outstanding £xxx for the work carried out at your request?'

Looking at the car you're selling I assume it's some dreamer kid? Never know, that might give their conscience a prick.

[STW2010]

Donatello said:

I know and that is why I am so annoyed at myself. First time selling a car on the open market Sour taste already....

It's not all bad, as I said above- you have improved the condition of the car. If this was a very minor repair then I wouldn't do anything other than lessen the room for negotiation. But if the repairs were quite expensive, then I would add some of this cost to the asking price.

[Donatello]

D1bram said:

Text back;

'No problem. How do you want to settle the outstanding £xxx for the work carried out at your request?'

Looking at the car you're selling I assume it's some dreamer kid? Never know, that might give their conscience a prick.

No actually, it wasn't. It was a young lady and her mother that came to view the car. Sounded like her second car and her Mum really seemed to like it.

Made me trust them too much by being nice and very keen! I will learn I suppose, just devastated...

Not sure I can do the text thing... Would surely just make me look like a ?

[STW2010]

Fizpop said:

Dont do deposits, it just leads to agro if they back out. A second benefit is focusing the buyers mind to get his finger out rather than taking his sweet time.

I can see what you mean about the benefit, but I still don't understand why you wouldn't take a deposit. The agro is simple if before they hand you the deposit you are both of the agreement that it is non-refundable.

If they come along asking for it back, then you refuse. Simple. I wouldn't even listen to their sob story about how they couldn't get insured or whatever it was, that deposit covers my time and costs. I have never taken a massive deposit, it's normally £50-100 for a £3-5k car, which I think is fair.

[Fizpop]

STW2010 said:

I can see what you mean about the benefit, but I still don't understand why you wouldn't take a deposit. The agro is simple if before they hand you the deposit you are both of the agreement that it is non-refundable.

If they come along asking for it back, then you refuse. Simple. I wouldn't even listen to their sob story about how they couldn't get insured or whatever it was, that deposit covers my time and costs. I have never taken a massive deposit, it's normally £50-100 for a £3-5k car, which I think is fair.

I'm pleased that you only sell cars to decent, honourable people and not the sort who might want the cash back anyway, or perhaps get his moneys worth out of your windows or car tyres. I find that selling cars by Autotrader or t'internet means that you are inviting anyone who is interested to your home, not a place of work as a trader would and I feel that situation warrants a different, more mindfull approach. Telling the wrong person to FO when they come for their deposit back could result in a whole heap of trouble (there was a story on here as a case in point a few months ago when they seller had to give a deposit back under threat of violence) that I I would prefer to avoid.

Just my way of working, if you do it otherwise then great - everyone has their own comfort zone as to what is an acceptable level risk.

[Donatello]

Do you think it is worth me contacting them again? As suggested above, should I ask them to give me the money for the repairs?

I know its pointless but I am so angry haha

[Monkeylegend]

Donatello said:

Do you think it is worth me contacting them again? As suggested above, should I ask them to give me the money for the repairs?

I know its pointless but I am so angry haha

What do you think their answer would be? If it's no I wouldn't give them the satisfaction, just treat it as a worthwhile investment in making your car more saleable and move on.

[Fizpop]

Donatello said:

Do you think it is worth me contacting them again? As suggested above, should I ask them to give me the money for the repairs?

I know its pointless but I am so angry haha

I would put it down to experience. They have already demonstrated the type of people they are. They wouldnt give you money even after agreeing to do so, so I think you have no chance.

As above, you have improved the saleability of you car at least.

[Gallen]

Donatello said:

Do you think it is worth me contacting them again? As suggested above, should I ask them to give me the money for the repairs?

Absofkinglutely. 100%. Yes. Definately.

Take your pick.

[cheddar]

Gallen said:

Donatello said:

Do you think it is worth me contacting them again? As suggested above, should I ask them to give me the money for the repairs?

Absofkinglutely. 100%. Yes. Definately.

Take your pick.

NO.

Move on, lesson learned.

[macp]

Donatello said:

Do you think it is worth me contacting them again? As suggested above, should I ask them to give me the money for the repairs?

I know its pointless but I am so angry haha

If it was me I would probably tell them what you had spent on repairs upon their request and how poorly you have been treated in return.Then leave it at that,why should you be the only one to feel pissed off.

[STW2010]

Fizpop said:

I'm pleased that you only sell cars to decent, honourable people and not the sort who might want the cash back anyway, or perhaps get his moneys worth out of your windows or car tyres. I find that selling cars by Autotrader or t'internet means that you are inviting anyone who is interested to your home, not a place of work as a trader would and I feel that situation warrants a different, more mindfull approach. Telling the wrong person to FO when they come for their deposit back could result in a whole heap of trouble (there was a story on here as a case in point a few months ago when they seller had to give a deposit back under threat of violence) that I I would prefer to avoid.

Just my way of working, if you do it otherwise then great - everyone has their own comfort zone as to what is an acceptable level risk.

I would tell them that they weren't getting the deposit back, but if things took a turn then yeah, I would avoid it becoming an angry situation. I have sold a few cars in the past couple of years- the first was the biggest deposit, as I was getting a lot of calls about the car (it was priced to sell quickly) so I didn't want to mess about. Another was bought and taken there and then, and the most recent was by some 18 year old lad who turned up with his Dad. They were pleasant people, and brought up the topic of deposits before I did; I got the feeling that they weren't going to back out, so just told them to give me whatever amount they felt necessary. The Dad suggested £50, and that was that; they came the following day and collected the car.

I'm a reasonable person, if the buyer called me and said that they had just lost their job, and I had no reason to doubt them then I would probably offer to give them the deposit back even if they didn't ask. If it was some dreamer that hadn't done their homework and checked for insurance, then I would be less willing.

I certainly wouldn't tell them to FO though!

[LukeSi]

If I was selling a car privately I would take a deposit of say 10% of the value of the car. So say it is a £1000 car I take a £100 deposit. A £10,000 car is a £1000 deposit and so on. Then I knock that off the final price.