Would poor spelling in a car ad put you off buying it?
Discussion
MercScot said:
When you consider with all the spell-checks so instantly available in this day and age, yes. If you can't be bothered to avoid and correct very basic spelling mistakes, can you be bothered to be accurate in your description, look after the car etc. etc.
Avoid like the plague
That's kind of what i was thinking.Avoid like the plague
It probably shouldnt but it would. There are usually plenty of cars on offer of any given model (although this may be an exception ) so move along. The way I see it, if the vendor cant be bothered to spend 2 minutes writing the ad properly then they may also not be particularly diligent about other things . Servicing and maintenance for example.
ETA: Its a n/a 2.2 thats been modified to look like a V8 why would you bother ?. With 160BHP and a 0-6 around 7 seconds when new (probably a bit less now allowing for age and the weight of all those V8 look alike extras) its not going to be very exciting. All show and no go....
ETA: Its a n/a 2.2 thats been modified to look like a V8 why would you bother ?. With 160BHP and a 0-6 around 7 seconds when new (probably a bit less now allowing for age and the weight of all those V8 look alike extras) its not going to be very exciting. All show and no go....
Edited by Dodsy on Friday 17th February 16:25
If he's not smart enough to understand/bother with the most basic of grammar and spelling, you've got to question whether he really understands all the he should do to maintain his car. Plus, "goodyear fi tyres" - does he mean F1? If he's paying that little attention to his car, I don't want it off him.
MSportUK said:
If he's not smart enough to understand/bother with the most basic of grammar and spelling, you've got to question whether he really understands all the he should do to maintain his car. Plus, "goodyear fi tyres" - does he mean F1? If he's paying that little attention to his car, I don't want it off him.
I don't know, I have a friend who is a mechanic, great with cars, really knows his stuff, but is sh*t at writing. It looks tidy, looks like it has a lot of paper work with it (see the pics), it wouldn't put me off.Edited by Noesph on Friday 17th February 16:37
valverguy said:
It certainly isnt chav speak is it, its illteracy, basicaly what im saying is, the fact somebody cant write with correct spelling or punctuation doesn't mean that they cannot be a car enthusiast, does it?
Exactly! I mean you're a car enthusiast and look at the state of the abomination you just shat on your keyboard 
Not if the claims about the car were true and proved to be so. No.
Just because a sellers spelling and grammar may not be up to a GCE/GCSE pass level doesn't mean the cars a dud, I've seen plenty of cars that are advertised without spelling grammar errors that have turned out to be right wrong'uns.
(Edit'd for speeeeling correction, before the spelling Nazis come and put me in front of the firing squad.)
Just because a sellers spelling and grammar may not be up to a GCE/GCSE pass level doesn't mean the cars a dud, I've seen plenty of cars that are advertised without spelling grammar errors that have turned out to be right wrong'uns.
(Edit'd for speeeeling correction, before the spelling Nazis come and put me in front of the firing squad.)
Edited by E30M3SE on Friday 17th February 16:38
MSportUK said:
If he's not smart enough to understand/bother with the most basic of grammar and spelling, you've got to question whether he really understands all the he should do to maintain his car. Plus, "goodyear fi tyres" - does he mean F1? If he's paying that little attention to his car, I don't want it off him.
Really?? My old man (and lots of others of his generation) left school at 15 with little academic ability and less than optimal writing skills. Doesn't mean he isn't one of the most mechanically sympathtic people I know.A quick skim through that seller's 350-odd positive feedback responses suggests he's into selling classic car parts, which suggests he knows one end of a spanner from the other.
Obviously, I've no idea whether the car is any good, but based on the apparent condition of it and his ebay feedback, I wouldn't be so arrogant as to write it off simpy because the ad isn't in perfect prose.
Edited by Gruber on Friday 17th February 16:37
valverguy said:
It certainly isnt chav speak is it, its illteracy, basicaly what im saying is, the fact somebody cant write with correct spelling or punctuation doesn't mean that they cannot be a car enthusiast, does it?
If you actually look at the miss spelt words it appears the seller has fat fingers. Most of the random letters are keys next to the letter next to he one he should be pressing.
I know folk that could stip a car to bits and put it back together but can't spell to save their lives.
If the car appears to be in good condition and has the history to back this up then why would you be put off by a badly spelt advert.
Badly written is different to badly spelt.
MSportUK said:
If he's not smart enough to understand/bother with the most basic of grammar and spelling, you've got to question whether he really understands all the he should do to maintain his car. Plus, "goodyear fi tyres" - does he mean F1? If he's paying that little attention to his car, I don't want it off him.
Although I see your argument, its a little unfair. I am very dyslexic and find reading and writing very difficult. I don't really understand punctuation and only really started to use it since getting an office based job. some would say I still cant string a sentence together properly which is true. but I know how to look after a car and I am very mechanically minded. I meticulously service and maintain my car and SWMBO's car.VR
On the one hand there is the argument "if they don't care about making an effort to sell it, did they ever make an effort bothering to look after it?"
On the other hand, "what if the seller is diligent and generally well-mannered but highly dyslexic?"
And, even if he is just lazy, it doesn't stop him looking after the car properly, and if it's the car you want, why not?
On the other hand, "what if the seller is diligent and generally well-mannered but highly dyslexic?"
And, even if he is just lazy, it doesn't stop him looking after the car properly, and if it's the car you want, why not?
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