Offer for car without seeing it

[5MUG]

Hi all,

does anyone have a reply template email that I could send to people who email with an offer for our 'for sale car' but haven't even seen it? I understand that someone may not want to travel far if they just can't afford it but it is a little annoying. Any thoughts on a reply?

[Triumph Man]

“fk off you scamming bd”?

[tonyvid]

When I was selling my Pug 205 I had a guy in London repeatedly offering me 50% of the price "for cash" - I eventually asked him if he would like the front half or the back...

[alec.e]

Do it with every car I have bought, likewise pretty much every car I have sold. There is no point turning up to buy a car if it isn't an agreeable price for both parties imo.

[Wooda80]

5MUG said:

Hi all,

does anyone have a reply template email that I could send to people who email with an offer for our 'for sale car' but haven't even seen it? I understand that someone may not want to travel far if they just can't afford it but it is a little annoying. Any thoughts on a reply?

There is nothing to be gained by sending a 'salesy' reponse in the hope that you will persuade the guy that your car is worth your price rather than his price ( even if your price IS the right one ).

The responses that work best are
1) No response
2) No thanks
3) My best price is £x ( x may or may not be your asking price )

[hyphen]

5MUG said:

Hi all,

does anyone have a reply template email that I could send to people who email with an offer for our 'for sale car' but haven't even seen it? I understand that someone may not want to travel far if they just can't afford it but it is a little annoying. Any thoughts on a reply?

Hello,

Thank you for getting in touch and I am delighted you like my car, I have had it for x years and will be pleased to see it go to a good home.

As you know, the price is very keenly priced compared to other cars of the same age and condition, so I was actually hoping to achieve the full asking price.

However if you come over and see the car, we can have perhaps discuss a slight reduction over a cup of tea.

What date and time would you like to come over to see the car, How about 9am Saturday?

Kind Regards
5MUG

[Limpet]

Beyond “is the price negotiable?” (a perfectly reasonable question) I would never entertain any sort of talk about money over email. Even if you drop your trousers on the price, you’ve had no commitment in return. At least if someone has invested time and travel cost to come and look, it implies they have a genuine interest, as well as having shown degree of commitment. Plus, when face to face, you can gauge if they are going to do a deal at the end which will determine how flexible you want to be.

Pre emptive bids over email or even over the phone scream timewaster, and are best ignored.

[cayman-black]

Limpet said:

Beyond “is the price negotiable?” (a perfectly reasonable question) I would never entertain any sort of talk about money over email. Even if you drop your trousers on the price, you’ve had no commitment in return. At least if someone has invested time and travel cost to come and look, it implies they have a genuine interest, as well as having shown degree of commitment. Plus, when face to face, you can gauge if they are going to do a deal at the end which will determine how flexible you want to be.

Pre emptive bids over email or even over the phone scream timewaster, and are best ignored.

Yes, this is the way to do it.

[GTiWILL]

I would avoid entering into negotiations on a private sale with somebody who hasn’t seen the car.

Somebody who sends an email such as;

“Hi mate, is the car still available? What’s the best price for cash?” is in my opinion, more than likely wasting your time.

Depending on how I’ve priced the car, my response would be something along the lines of;

“Hello, thank you for your interest. I have priced my car keenly based on it’s age and condition, however I am open to negotiation. Come and see the car and if you’re happy with everything we can come to an arrangement on price.”

Alternatively,

“Hello, thank you for your interest. I have priced my car keenly based on it’s age and condition, therefore I am unwilling to negotiate on price.”


I’m assuming you’ve looked at other classified ads and priced your car sensibly? What car are you selling?

Edited by GTiWILL on Monday 18th May 18:29

[GTiWILL]

Limpet said:

Beyond “is the price negotiable?” (a perfectly reasonable question) I would never entertain any sort of talk about money over email. Even if you drop your trousers on the price, you’ve had no commitment in return. At least if someone has invested time and travel cost to come and look, it implies they have a genuine interest, as well as having shown degree of commitment. Plus, when face to face, you can gauge if they are going to do a deal at the end which will determine how flexible you want to be.

Pre emptive bids over email or even over the phone scream timewaster, and are best ignored.

Also, what this guy said.

[1878]

I'm now wondering what happened with the guy who received £3000 in notes through the post as a deposit, unseen?

[Brooksay]

1878 said:

I'm now wondering what happened with the guy who received £3000 in notes through the post as a deposit, unseen?

Think that was Grindle or some such. Don't think he ever bothered to reply again on that thread..

[Rick101]

There are genuine buyers out there.

I received a number of texts from one chap. Also interest from another party.
I messaged the first guy saying I'd need a deposit down or the car was likely to sell.
20 min whatapp video call done. 10min later deposit was in my account.

Car due to be picked up by transporter in a couple of weeks.
Not supercar money but a fairly substantial sum for most.

I always give buyers a chance. If they are clearly a bit silly it's easy enough to block them.

[Skyedriver]

I've had a number of purchases and sales in the last 12 months, all done with respect to the rules at the time.

1) Car, advertised for some time, had a few silly/low offers over the phone/email/text without folk seeing the car. Refused them all.
Then a chap (in the trade), contacts offering a sum 90% of the asking price. I suggested a price I would consider, due to car not taxed/insured any more etc, he suggested a split the difference. I accepted. He arrives a few days later, pays with cash/transfer takes car and goes. Hadn't viewed before hand except photos.

2) Old knackered ride on mower. Advertised as such. 6 calls within an hour or so. Told everyone they would need to see it, had one guy desperate to buy without seeing, happy to transfer cash by BACS etc. Insisted first needed to see it due to condition. Another guy came next day sees it and paid the asking price.

3) Tidy car, due MoT in a couple of months, a few silly offers, suggestion by specialist trader what they would sell for on commission etc. Guy contacts after quite a few months, wants the car, offers a price, lower than I wanted but I agreed over the phone to let it go as I had too many cars. Arrived, bundle of cash, did transfer, off he goes. Hadn't seen it except photos.

Also: Bought a car last year on ebay, winning bid so agreed price, travelled over 550 miles by train to collect, paid by transfer once there and drove away.

In conclusion, if you are happy with the price offered accept it. If not, a polite no thanks or similar. Folk don't always want to travel a few hundred miles only to be told "no I won't accept that offer". I'm west coast Scotland so not exactly on folks doorsteps though.

[jjr1]

I saw an Audi TT advertised yesterday for £3,500. I phoned the guy and and it all sounded great. I did not need to see the car to them decide to offer him £2,750. He told me the lowest he could accept was £3,000. I told him I would collect it today.

Can't see the problem with offering before seeing a car as it saves me time and effort to go and see a car that is priced too high for me.







Would I care if someone offered me money on a car without seeing it? Absolutely not. I sold this Z4 last week after agreeing a price on the phone.

[swampy442]

Limpet said:

Beyond “is the price negotiable?” (a perfectly reasonable question) I would never entertain any sort of talk about money over email. Even if you drop your trousers on the price, you’ve had no commitment in return. At least if someone has invested time and travel cost to come and look, it implies they have a genuine interest, as well as having shown degree of commitment. Plus, when face to face, you can gauge if they are going to do a deal at the end which will determine how flexible you want to be.

Pre emptive bids over email or even over the phone scream timewaster, and are best ignored.

See, I disagree with this. I, like others I'm sure have no problem driving hundreds of miles to buy cars, but i always establish a price on email/the phone first to see if I can afford it, if I can and the car is as advertised I'll go, pay and leave, no fuss. Be a waste of time if you traveled that way to find the seller wont budge.
I'm not a time waster but I appreciate others are

[anonymous-user]

swampy442 said:

Limpet said:

Beyond “is the price negotiable?” (a perfectly reasonable question) I would never entertain any sort of talk about money over email. Even if you drop your trousers on the price, you’ve had no commitment in return. At least if someone has invested time and travel cost to come and look, it implies they have a genuine interest, as well as having shown degree of commitment. Plus, when face to face, you can gauge if they are going to do a deal at the end which will determine how flexible you want to be.

Pre emptive bids over email or even over the phone scream timewaster, and are best ignored.

See, I disagree with this. I, like others I'm sure have no problem driving hundreds of miles to buy cars, but i always establish a price on email/the phone first to see if I can afford it, if I can and the car is as advertised I'll go, pay and leave, no fuss. Be a waste of time if you traveled that way to find the seller wont budge.
I'm not a time waster but I appreciate others are

The key is establishing the different between a genuine interested party like yourself, and the time wasting "wots ur best price 4 cash bruv?" who sends the same message to every new advert listed in the hope of picking up a bargain / ripping people off.

(A quick phone call usually establishes the sort of person you're dealing with. )

[griffter]

I would reply along the lines “I’ve priced the car based on the market and it’s condition. If, when you view it, you identify a fault I’m unaware of, we can discuss a price adjustment, but otherwise what I’m asking is what I want”.

Of course like everyone else I’m a sucker for a deal on the day and there’s always room for manoeuvre. The people that really piss me off though are the “I can only afford such-and-such”. Well why are you looking at my car which is thousands more then?