Does putting 'No Tyrekickers' ...

[tbc]

in an advert actually attract them.

I had a guy come to look and drive a few days ago, nationality not important but lets just say he was not native to the UK

he said "great motor, top car", then decided to point out things that didn't exist. Then offer me just over half what i'm asking.

I point blank refuse and knock a few hundred off.

Then I get a call from him "i know someone who will definitely buy at your price"

So i tell him not to bother turning up if he's going to offer what he did before.

Guy turns up again with "mechanic" in toe, starts going "great car" top motor", then pointing out faults that aren't there.

His friend then offers me £200 less than he did.

So an hour of my time wasted.

[Rakoosh]

But did he actually kick the tyres?

tbc said:

in an advert actually attract them.

I had a guy come to look and drive a few days ago, nationality not important but lets just say he was not native to the UK

he said "great motor, top car", then decided to point out things that didn't exist. Then offer me just over half what i'm asking.

I point blank refuse and knock a few hundred off.

Then I get a call from him "i know someone who will definitely buy at your price"

So i tell him not to bother turning up if he's going to offer what he did before.

Guy turns up again with "mechanic" in toe, starts going "great car" top motor", then pointing out faults that aren't there.

His friend then offers me £200 less than he did.

So an hour of my time wasted.

[Timbola]

tbc said:

nationality not important but lets just say he was not native to the UK

a. if it's not important, then why mention it?

b. how is that fact relevant in any way?

[tbc]

[elephantstone]

Timbola said:

tbc said:

nationality not important but lets just say he was not native to the UK

a. if it's not important, then why mention it?

b. how is that fact relevant in any way?

+1

[steve singh]

Timbola said:

tbc said:

nationality not important but lets just say he was not native to the UK

a. if it's not important, then why mention it?

b. how is that fact relevant in any way?

c. anyone who says "top motor" must have passed the citizenship test in my book anyhow!!!

[Grimezy93]

I skim right past ads that say no tyrekickers, I really think on an advert it comes across as being quite rude, almost like "if you're gonna come and see my car, you'd best buy it or I'll kill you".

Some people 'tyrekick' because they're not 100% sure about that car, or perhaps they're not 100% happy with something like the colour, they may have forced themselves to view it because it looks like a good deal even if it wasn't exactly what they were looking for in the first place hoping they'd be swayed by the viewing.

The joys of selling a car is having to deal with these 'timewasters' who view but don't buy. I appreciate your circumstance is a bit different as the guy was quite blatantly being an idiot but that's just the joys of selling privately. This is why I don't agree with people who slate dealers for offering too low of a part exchange, etc like "He gave me £500 and he's put it right up for £1000, I could have done that". Yea well that dealer pays for his forecourt and facilities, he's probably going to have to take it on 5 test drives before someone buys, there's gonna be a ton of paperwork. So people go and sell privately and then complain about having to deal with idiots, imagine how dealers must feel doing it for a living!

[Crow555]

"No cash, no drive"
"No test pilots/dreamers/tire kickers"
"Readvertised due to timewaster"

Stuff like the above puts me off straight away. You don't see it in any other type of adverts for things (e.g. furniture or electronics on ebay or gumtree) but seems quite common with private car sales and comes across as unnecessarily aggressive. If someone comes to look at the car, tries it and doesn't like it, they aren't going to buy it, someone else will. Passive-aggressive advert writing won't make a blind bit of difference.

[anonymous-user]

Crow555 said:

"No cash, no drive"
"No test pilots/dreamers/tire kickers"
"Readvertised due to timewaster"

Stuff like the above puts me off straight away. You don't see it in any other type of adverts for things (e.g. furniture or electronics on ebay or gumtree) but seems quite common with private car sales and comes across as unnecessarily aggressive. If someone comes to look at the car, tries it and doesn't like it, they aren't going to buy it, someone else will. Passive-aggressive advert writing won't make a blind bit of difference.

Totally agree.

[Terminator X]

I meet prospective purchasers at an agreed location, let them look and/or be a passenger in the car. If they're not interested at least it stops there, no going through paperwork or revealing where I live etc. s the lot of them though

TX.

[Rakoosh]

Well said.

Sadly the picture you paint is very true. Perhaps I was lucky but my very first experiences buying/selling cars privately were all great. But something changed over the last 6/7 years (and sadly I do think the internet is soemwhat responsible ...) and its become a PITA. So much so I think I would generally rather take the hit and get what I can from a dealer.

I am very sympathetic as I think being a dealer today, unless very speciliast, means you have to deal with all sorts of crap and 'timewasters'.

The internet is great - it gives you a vast audience at a small cost to advertise your car - but as I said I think its responsible for a lot more 'timewasters' both buyers and sellers. In the past - you had to be a bit more committed before buying a car, either go and visit some dealers or (shock forbid) spend a small bit of dough and buy autotrader,etc.

Ditto selling a car.

Grimezy93 said:

The joys of selling a car is having to deal with these 'timewasters' who view but don't buy. I appreciate your circumstance is a bit different as the guy was quite blatantly being an idiot but that's just the joys of selling privately. This is why I don't agree with people who slate dealers for offering too low of a part exchange, etc like "He gave me £500 and he's put it right up for £1000, I could have done that". Yea well that dealer pays for his forecourt and facilities, he's probably going to have to take it on 5 test drives before someone buys, there's gonna be a ton of paperwork. So people go and sell privately and then complain about having to deal with idiots, imagine how dealers must feel doing it for a living!

[Mashedpotatoes]

Terminator X said:

I meet prospective purchasers at an agreed location, let them look and/or be a passenger in the car. If they're not interested at least it stops there, no going through paperwork or revealing where I live etc. s the lot of them though

TX.

Strange I would never buy a car from a private seller unless I was at there house. I want to do the paper work on the kitchen table so I know it is there house. am I the only one who thinks like this ?

[eybic]

Mashedpotatoes said:

Strange I would never buy a car from a private seller unless I was at there house. I want to do the paper work on the kitchen table so I know it is there house. am I the only one who thinks like this ?

I'm the same, surely it's one of the "golden rules of buying a used car"

[Grimezy93]

Mashedpotatoes said:

Strange I would never buy a car from a private seller unless I was at there house. I want to do the paper work on the kitchen table so I know it is there house. am I the only one who thinks like this ?

I'd agree.

Unless there was a specific reason like me getting a train there and them coming to the station to see me despite their house being miles away, etc.

[SteveSteveson]

Mashedpotatoes said:

Terminator X said:

I meet prospective purchasers at an agreed location, let them look and/or be a passenger in the car. If they're not interested at least it stops there, no going through paperwork or revealing where I live etc. s the lot of them though

TX.

Strange I would never buy a car from a private seller unless I was at there house. I want to do the paper work on the kitchen table so I know it is there house. am I the only one who thinks like this ?

Nope. I agree. In fact all the anti fraud stuff says always meet at the sellers house, and drive the car from cold. Meeting somewhere means you don't know the car could be stolen, and a whole load of faults can be hidden by the car being warm.

Also, where you live is on the V5...

[chr15b]

SteveSteveson said:

Mashedpotatoes said:

Terminator X said:

I meet prospective purchasers at an agreed location, let them look and/or be a passenger in the car. If they're not interested at least it stops there, no going through paperwork or revealing where I live etc. s the lot of them though

TX.

Strange I would never buy a car from a private seller unless I was at there house. I want to do the paper work on the kitchen table so I know it is there house. am I the only one who thinks like this ?

Nope. I agree. In fact all the anti fraud stuff says always meet at the sellers house, and drive the car from cold. Meeting somewhere means you don't know the car could be stolen, and a whole load of faults can be hidden by the car being warm.

Also, where you live is on the V5...

me too

[Terminator X]

SteveSteveson said:

Mashedpotatoes said:

Terminator X said:

I meet prospective purchasers at an agreed location, let them look and/or be a passenger in the car. If they're not interested at least it stops there, no going through paperwork or revealing where I live etc. s the lot of them though

TX.

Strange I would never buy a car from a private seller unless I was at there house. I want to do the paper work on the kitchen table so I know it is there house. am I the only one who thinks like this ?

Nope. I agree. In fact all the anti fraud stuff says always meet at the sellers house, and drive the car from cold. Meeting somewhere means you don't know the car could be stolen, and a whole load of faults can be hidden by the car being warm.

Also, where you live is on the V5...

You'd come back to the house to view paperwork if you still showed interest after looking at the car + if I don't view you as a chancer. The flip to what you are saying is why would I reveal where I live to some random from the internet FYI not a single person has refused to do this on any car I've sold ever.

TX.

[Panda P]

Crow555 said:

"No cash, no drive"
"No test pilots/dreamers/tire kickers"
"Readvertised due to timewaster"

Stuff like the above puts me off straight away. You don't see it in any other type of adverts for things (e.g. furniture or electronics on ebay or gumtree) but seems quite common with private car sales and comes across as unnecessarily aggressive. If someone comes to look at the car, tries it and doesn't like it, they aren't going to buy it, someone else will. Passive-aggressive advert writing won't make a blind bit of difference.

I agree, making too many terms within an advert comes off badly although I do still go into test driving within my ads as a person who; invests a lot in their car at initial purchase, provides infinite up keep as needed, hopes to obtain the best price come sale time without losing my interest to some fool who is either not insured or third-party only. I do not mind anyone test driving the car that they may hope to purchase but it has to be on my terms as I am the present owner and person responsible for the car.

A more polite way of phrasing "No test pilots" is to go into detail why you will not accept it, which is my personal preference. I'll explain that anyone is welcome to receive a passenger ride and test drives are more than welcome should they obtain fully comprehensive day insurance on the car prior BUT, without comprehensive cover I will not allow it as the car is still very much mine and very dear to me.
So far only one buyer of a previous car arranged insurance, a traffic cop buying a personal car for themselves who happened to take a shining to my detailed advert and travelled 400 miles to buy the car; this was without a test drive. Testament to a well written and politely worded advert I think ; it helps to add a little personality to them but keep from rambling or going off topic.

Edited by Panda P on Thursday 14th November 14:39

[wiliferus]

Crow555 said:

"No cash, no drive"
"No test pilots/dreamers/tire kickers"
"Readvertised due to timewaster"

Stuff like the above puts me off straight away. You don't see it in any other type of adverts for things (e.g. furniture or electronics on ebay or gumtree) but seems quite common with private car sales and comes across as unnecessarily aggressive. If someone comes to look at the car, tries it and doesn't like it, they aren't going to buy it, someone else will. Passive-aggressive advert writing won't make a blind bit of difference.

Definitely 'Readvertised due to a time waster'. Says to me 'Not as described in the advert so the buyer/winner bidder walked'. Puts me right off.

As does 'First to see will buy'... Really? Is that why it's been advertised for months then.....

[a1burns]

When I read that I get a mental image of someone with their hands in their pockets actually kicking the tyres because they aren't really interested. I can understand no test drives without insurance but I think that 'tyre kicking' doesn't really exist anymore does it...