Selling an Aston
Discussion
I had some calls from some absolutely awful people, was quite interesting to google the number after and read the comments. The majority of the time you definitely wouldn't want the individual coming to your home!
Thankfully a genuinely interested person phoned up in the first week and the deal was done.
Thankfully a genuinely interested person phoned up in the first week and the deal was done.
Whenever I'm asked 'what's your lowest price', I tell them my lowest price. They immediately offer me something below that, and I reply along the lines of ... "you asked me my lowest price, I was honest and told you. You've offered me something below that, if you won't pay my lowest price then I'll wait for someone else."
I don't like the idea that they ask for your lowest price then assume you lied to them and use it as a start point for negotiation.
Last time I used this I was part exchanging a £3,500 Audi for a £34,500 BMW, the guy offered me £3,300, and I said OK, I'll keep looking, there are plenty out there. "What, you'd lose the deal for £200" he said, I replied "Yes, I told you the lowest I'd take and you offered me less, so I'll keep looking." Half an hour later he was back on the phone and I now have a BMW.
I don't like the idea that they ask for your lowest price then assume you lied to them and use it as a start point for negotiation.
Last time I used this I was part exchanging a £3,500 Audi for a £34,500 BMW, the guy offered me £3,300, and I said OK, I'll keep looking, there are plenty out there. "What, you'd lose the deal for £200" he said, I replied "Yes, I told you the lowest I'd take and you offered me less, so I'll keep looking." Half an hour later he was back on the phone and I now have a BMW.
I've sold quite a few vehicles privately over the years. First thing is to ask a realistic price in the first place. Then you can defend it. I've sold a few cars at asking price as I knew the market and wanted a hassle-free sale. I did have a chap wanting to buy my Ducati Panigale, after chatting and me sending more pics, asked what my lowest price was. I told him. He came to see the bike and paid that by BACS and off they went... But it was not the first question he asked. If people are doing that, completely ignore until they come back with a more sensible attitude as they are NOT serious, to quote J McEnroe Esq. And you will be completely wasting time and effort.
It is generally worth the hassle to sell privately, I have to say....
It is generally worth the hassle to sell privately, I have to say....
I've sold loads of cars on Autotrader, I sold my first DB9 on autotrader, It was in great condition and after a few days listed I had 6 viewings booked in and the first one who saw it brought it.
But when I recently sold my X5 the first few calls just asked me for the VIN number, nothing about the car and another couple just for my postcode, so I decided they could be scam callers, luckily I had a few genuine calls and sold it after a few weeks.
I think it's getting worse to sell your car privately because of scammers, but be wise and only give your address to genuine buyers.
Some people will only buy through a garage and some might want a bargain purchasing privately.
But when I recently sold my X5 the first few calls just asked me for the VIN number, nothing about the car and another couple just for my postcode, so I decided they could be scam callers, luckily I had a few genuine calls and sold it after a few weeks.
I think it's getting worse to sell your car privately because of scammers, but be wise and only give your address to genuine buyers.
Some people will only buy through a garage and some might want a bargain purchasing privately.
Interestingly, as a recent buyer of a '09 vantage, I found that there were a wide variety of sellers out there too. I found that they self-selected themselves out of negotiations with me, after I asked some of the more detailed and genuine questions. The honest, PH type sellers enjoyed explaining as much as possible.
Perhaps the same applies to buyers too - the types of buyer match themselves to the type of seller?
Perhaps the same applies to buyers too - the types of buyer match themselves to the type of seller?
macdeb said:
So, if you were selling your Aston Martin, how would you react to messages asking, 'what will you take for it' or 'what's the lowest you will go' without even seeing the car or even talking to you? I say contempt.
I have bought several higher end cars without seeing the car or talking to the seller before concluding the deal (i.e. dealt exclusively by email). Admittedly these have been dealer sales rather than private, though the principles should be similar.I don't open my inquiry with a rather barefaced "what will you take for it". However, if the car is well described/presented in the advert I may have few, if any, questions about the car. If I as buyer have done my homework on comparable values and am interested in the car at the "right" price from my perspective, I have no problem with indicating to the seller as part of my initial communication that you are asking X but I think it's worth Y for the following reasons. This typically leads to one or more exchanges, as a result of which a price emerges fairly quickly which is "the lowest the seller will go". If I am happy with that number I have bought the car (either unconditionally or subject to a PDI). In essence, therefore, my initial enquiry has been "what's the lowest you will go", but I have just gone about it in a more polite way. So perhaps "contempt" should not always be the reaction from a seller. That said, you couldn't pay me to sell a car privately given the likely buggeration factor!
rog007 said:
Didn’t get any of that when I sold my Vantage. First to see bought it!
The funny thing is I did advertise it one year ago and the first person to see it wanted it and second guy was miffed about it! But when it came to it I couldn't go through with the sale, just couldn't let it go and the very nice chap understood this commenting that he wouldn't sell it and kept me up to date with his subsequent purchase. Seems a little 'karma' I suppose as I don't like to have time wasted nor wish to waste others so my 'bad' there. Now I've decided I have to move on and have priced the car realistically to sell with a small margin 'maybe' to negotiate given the right circumstance. Initially the wording of the advert may have been a little terse with these sort of 'wheeler dealer' type enquiries in mind so I then re-worded to appear more approachable but then they appear. My last car (TVR) sold before advertised due to word of mouth and the last Bike I sold (R1) went to a guy from the isle of Mull! He asked me if it was as described to which I said, 'if you see it, you will buy it'. He was the first to enquire, sounded genuine I kept my promise of first refusal as he had some journey to make. In the meantime I had several other people expressing an interest and some comments were frankly ridiculous, anyone heard the expression 'Mate, I'll pay you live cash innit' before? Anyway as he had to get a ferry and then a train down here of which I picked him up from the station, drove to my home and showed him the bike, 'f
kin' hell' he said 'I'll have it!' Going off on a tangent here I know but it reminds me of searching for a van some time back, spoke to the guy (dealer) and all sounded ok. So, drove 240 miles round trip to be shown a heap of shyte and when questioned commenting I want to see the van advertised because this is not it he said, 'well, it used to be immaculate'! 
I don't get it and loathe going through such process but don't want my pants pulled down by a dealer either. Stressful is a word that springs to mind.
Edited by macdeb on Tuesday 29th September 10:59
macdeb said:
So, if you were selling your Aston Martin, how would you react to messages asking, 'what will you take for it' or 'what's the lowest you will go' without even seeing the car or even talking to you? I say contempt.
Many choices. Firstly, completely ignore.
Secondly, tell them the asking price.
Thirdly, ignore the question and ask what’s the most they will pay. If less than asking, inform them that they can’t afford it.
Fourthly tell them a grand over asking. When they react, say you’ve had a lot of interest and buyers are trying to outbid each other. But if they get in right now with a grand over asking, it’s theirs. But it might be even more by tomorrow, so act fast!
They’re not serious so don’t treat them seriously.
cornershop said:
I am not looking forward to selling my Aston privately doesn’t that very reason, but nor am I looking forward to being bent over by the main dealer.
To be fair, dealers have to make a profit, their fancy glass showrooms don't cost peanuts, plus they have to offer a decent warranty.They can't do this on a £1000 profit per car.
cornershop said:
I am not looking forward to selling my Aston privately doesn’t that very reason, but nor am I looking forward to being bent over by the main dealer.
Well i bought mine privately from a PHer and gave main dealer money for it also so there are some good buyers out there unless it's only me 
@Macdeb
I remember you advertising your car last year as I was selling mine at the same time. I still regret it because I have not replaced it but due to a back injury I could not drive use it.
I had a few stupid offers and best price emails that I ignored as these people are not worth dealing with. The first person who viewed the car offered me a very low price as he thought I might be tempted.. He was an enthusiast but was a long way off my asking price.
2nd person purchased it, all they asked was my permission to talk to the dealer that serviced the car.
I did not let either test drive it due to insurance and both understood this. As mentioned by others, a well presented and maintained car will sell and the right buyer will realise this when they see it.
I remember you advertising your car last year as I was selling mine at the same time. I still regret it because I have not replaced it but due to a back injury I could not drive use it.
I had a few stupid offers and best price emails that I ignored as these people are not worth dealing with. The first person who viewed the car offered me a very low price as he thought I might be tempted.. He was an enthusiast but was a long way off my asking price.
2nd person purchased it, all they asked was my permission to talk to the dealer that serviced the car.
I did not let either test drive it due to insurance and both understood this. As mentioned by others, a well presented and maintained car will sell and the right buyer will realise this when they see it.
cayman-black said:
cornershop said:
I am not looking forward to selling my Aston privately doesn’t that very reason, but nor am I looking forward to being bent over by the main dealer.
Well i bought mine privately from a PHer and gave main dealer money for it also so there are some good buyers out there unless it's only me 
I've done exactly the same in the past. I had a budget, saw a car at top top of my budget to find it was exactly as described and saw no reason to chip him on the price so bought it. It seems to me that too many people try and mimic 'Mike Brewer'. South tdf said:
@Macdeb
I remember you advertising your car last year as I was selling mine at the same time. I still regret it because I have not replaced it but due to a back injury I could not drive use it.
I had a few stupid offers and best price emails that I ignored as these people are not worth dealing with. The first person who viewed the car offered me a very low price as he thought I might be tempted.. He was an enthusiast but was a long way off my asking price.
2nd person purchased it, all they asked was my permission to talk to the dealer that serviced the car.
I did not let either test drive it due to insurance and both understood this. As mentioned by others, a well presented and maintained car will sell and the right buyer will realise this when they see it.
Thanks, sorry to hear of your woes and thanks for the support and honest thoughts. I just don't get why some will look at a car advertisement that is clearly beyond their means and try to insult the seller. Do they honestly think I will say, 'ooh, yes please, I'll give you five thousand pounds out of my hard earned wallet before you've even seen the car'? I remember you advertising your car last year as I was selling mine at the same time. I still regret it because I have not replaced it but due to a back injury I could not drive use it.
I had a few stupid offers and best price emails that I ignored as these people are not worth dealing with. The first person who viewed the car offered me a very low price as he thought I might be tempted.. He was an enthusiast but was a long way off my asking price.
2nd person purchased it, all they asked was my permission to talk to the dealer that serviced the car.
I did not let either test drive it due to insurance and both understood this. As mentioned by others, a well presented and maintained car will sell and the right buyer will realise this when they see it.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff