Not sold a car in a while - is this normal?
Discussion
Got an advert up at the moment and a guy called saying "Could i come and look at your car at 4pm tomorrow"
That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
I would have expected at least a few questions about the car, as not sure i would trudge off to look at something based purely on the words in the advert.
I guess everyone is different but i have always asked a few questions just to engage with the seller, understand reason for selling, get to feel a bit of the vibe coming off from the person selling.
He didn't give me a name or number so if i happened to sell it beforehand then it would be a wasted trip!
That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
I would have expected at least a few questions about the car, as not sure i would trudge off to look at something based purely on the words in the advert.
I guess everyone is different but i have always asked a few questions just to engage with the seller, understand reason for selling, get to feel a bit of the vibe coming off from the person selling.
He didn't give me a name or number so if i happened to sell it beforehand then it would be a wasted trip!
I have a car for sale on Ebay at the minute.
I've not sold a car privately ever I don't think, its an absolute nightmare.
Car is no reserve at £1450 so if 1 person bids that they get it, i reckon the car is worth £2k, New MOT etc
So far in 2 days I've had many will you take £1k for it, I then decline and say its an auction, they either offer more or ignore you,
I've been asked can I take £1250 because he lived in Blackpool.
Declined a viewing as someone said they will pay me £1650 tomorrow, I just cant be bothered anymore, if he comes he can have it but I told the people asking to view that if he doesn't come they can have a viewing and I got back "I have cash" not how much cash jut they have cash.
Never again, my wife suggested marketplace, thank the lord i didn't go done that route.
Hopefully the bloke comes tomorrow without loads of mates to put oil in my engine bay and takes it away, I'm considering just keeping it in the garage its causing me that much hassle!
I've not sold a car privately ever I don't think, its an absolute nightmare.
Car is no reserve at £1450 so if 1 person bids that they get it, i reckon the car is worth £2k, New MOT etc
So far in 2 days I've had many will you take £1k for it, I then decline and say its an auction, they either offer more or ignore you,
I've been asked can I take £1250 because he lived in Blackpool.
Declined a viewing as someone said they will pay me £1650 tomorrow, I just cant be bothered anymore, if he comes he can have it but I told the people asking to view that if he doesn't come they can have a viewing and I got back "I have cash" not how much cash jut they have cash.
Never again, my wife suggested marketplace, thank the lord i didn't go done that route.
Hopefully the bloke comes tomorrow without loads of mates to put oil in my engine bay and takes it away, I'm considering just keeping it in the garage its causing me that much hassle!
4anascooter said:
Got an advert up at the moment and a guy called saying "Could i come and look at your car at 4pm tomorrow"
That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
I would have expected at least a few questions about the car, as not sure i would trudge off to look at something based purely on the words in the advert.
I guess everyone is different but i have always asked a few questions just to engage with the seller, understand reason for selling, get to feel a bit of the vibe coming off from the person selling.
He didn't give me a name or number so if i happened to sell it beforehand then it would be a wasted trip!
Would depend on how well written your advert was.That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
I would have expected at least a few questions about the car, as not sure i would trudge off to look at something based purely on the words in the advert.
I guess everyone is different but i have always asked a few questions just to engage with the seller, understand reason for selling, get to feel a bit of the vibe coming off from the person selling.
He didn't give me a name or number so if i happened to sell it beforehand then it would be a wasted trip!
Did it have a load of pictures with it?
The caller might have most of the info he needs from the advert and askmid etc. There might be a few questions in person before he buys or he is just a tyre kicker who has no idea what he is buying and will waste your time.
I'd question whether its worth selling privately at the moment - if its not a niche car, places like WBAC are paying top dollar at the moment, and I suspect will beat what most private sellers are happy to pay. If you object to Phillip's business practices, other car buying sites are available.
I agree with the OP. Selling privately, particularly SOTW or below price cars is not pleasant. This is perhaps to be expected.
I Gumtree'ed our old CMax recently for £450. Within seconds of it going live I was called (East European) and offered £250. I said no thanks. Then it was email after email of chancers. I was hating every second of it, so de-listed the Gumtree ad after 30mins and took it to our local scrappy the following day and got £325. I did not need the extra £125.
I have sold many cheap sheds in the past (up to about 5yrs ago) with no problem, but nowadays with everything de-coupled through emails and texts it is a sea of unpleasantness.
Other opinions are available :-)
I Gumtree'ed our old CMax recently for £450. Within seconds of it going live I was called (East European) and offered £250. I said no thanks. Then it was email after email of chancers. I was hating every second of it, so de-listed the Gumtree ad after 30mins and took it to our local scrappy the following day and got £325. I did not need the extra £125.
I have sold many cheap sheds in the past (up to about 5yrs ago) with no problem, but nowadays with everything de-coupled through emails and texts it is a sea of unpleasantness.
Other opinions are available :-)
4anascooter said:
Got an advert up at the moment and a guy called saying "Could i come and look at your car at 4pm tomorrow"
That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
That's actually very positive, usually it is just time wasters asking "lowest price" and expecting you to give it away as they are a key worker or have some sob story about needing a car today to visit their dying dad in Scotland.That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
Hopefully they will turn up. Never change your plans if someone asks to do a viewing for this very reason.
jonwm said:
I have a car for sale on Ebay at the minute.
I've not sold a car privately ever I don't think, its an absolute nightmare.
Car is no reserve at £1450 so if 1 person bids that they get it, i reckon the car is worth £2k, New MOT etc
So far in 2 days I've had many will you take £1k for it, I then decline and say its an auction, they either offer more or ignore you,
I've been asked can I take £1250 because he lived in Blackpool.
Declined a viewing as someone said they will pay me £1650 tomorrow, I just cant be bothered anymore, if he comes he can have it but I told the people asking to view that if he doesn't come they can have a viewing and I got back "I have cash" not how much cash jut they have cash.
Never again, my wife suggested marketplace, thank the lord i didn't go done that route.
Hopefully the bloke comes tomorrow without loads of mates to put oil in my engine bay and takes it away, I'm considering just keeping it in the garage its causing me that much hassle!
You joke, but that is what happened to me the last time I sold a car on eBay. I've not sold a car privately ever I don't think, its an absolute nightmare.
Car is no reserve at £1450 so if 1 person bids that they get it, i reckon the car is worth £2k, New MOT etc
So far in 2 days I've had many will you take £1k for it, I then decline and say its an auction, they either offer more or ignore you,
I've been asked can I take £1250 because he lived in Blackpool.
Declined a viewing as someone said they will pay me £1650 tomorrow, I just cant be bothered anymore, if he comes he can have it but I told the people asking to view that if he doesn't come they can have a viewing and I got back "I have cash" not how much cash jut they have cash.
Never again, my wife suggested marketplace, thank the lord i didn't go done that route.
Hopefully the bloke comes tomorrow without loads of mates to put oil in my engine bay and takes it away, I'm considering just keeping it in the garage its causing me that much hassle!
Auction is always a bad idea as it encourages all the dreamers and time wasters who bid on the car and then suddenly get cold feet when reality hits and they decide they don't actually want it now they have won the auction. You will get two kinds of time wasters
1)Those that don't even bother to contact you.
2)Those that string you along with the impression they still want the car but "can you wait until pay day" and keep sending you messages about how excited they are. Then the night before you will get an email saying that they really wanted the car but due to "unforseen circumstances" they can no longer collect it.
So you relist it, claim the sellers fee (you will not get refunded the listing fee) and then get inundated with "Thought this had sold, what happened" messages from all the time wasters.
Just WBAC it and get on with life if this falls through.
SlowV6 is spot on, having sold a couple of sheds over the last two years his experience mirrors mine exactly. I have already decided that if I ever want rid of my current shed it will be going to the scrap yard even thought it is in great condition and has had one advisory in the last six MOTs.
Just cannot be bothered dealing with the entitled pond life.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 29th September 15:25
thanks all....not thought about WBAC but their online quote is only £250 below the £5K asking price.
I note it says "assumes 2 keys and full service history, and maybe subject to a transaction fee"
Any idea how much they typically knock off once you turn up at their place? Only have 1 key and while the service book has many stamps/receipts they could argue its 13 years old and thus should have 13 stamps, when its actually got 11
I note it says "assumes 2 keys and full service history, and maybe subject to a transaction fee"
Any idea how much they typically knock off once you turn up at their place? Only have 1 key and while the service book has many stamps/receipts they could argue its 13 years old and thus should have 13 stamps, when its actually got 11
4anascooter said:
thanks all....not thought about WBAC but their online quote is only £250 below the £5K asking price.
I note it says "assumes 2 keys and full service history, and maybe subject to a transaction fee"
Any idea how much they typically knock off once you turn up at their place? Only have 1 key and while the service book has many stamps/receipts they could argue its 13 years old and thus should have 13 stamps, when its actually got 11
Depends on how scrupulously honest you have been about scratches and parking dings I note it says "assumes 2 keys and full service history, and maybe subject to a transaction fee"
Any idea how much they typically knock off once you turn up at their place? Only have 1 key and while the service book has many stamps/receipts they could argue its 13 years old and thus should have 13 stamps, when its actually got 11
Try a few more - Motorway and google a few more - if WBAC are £250 off what you are asking, you have the wrong value
If you can find one that doesnt charge the WBAC little fees to get your money, you're laughing, and no Romanians are going to mess up your drive.I know this is an odd time for second hand cars, but WBAC etc used to be worth it at a few hundred less, not to have to deal with the Innits. If you can get more, huzzah!
4anascooter said:
Got an advert up at the moment and a guy called saying "Could i come and look at your car at 4pm tomorrow"
That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
I would have expected at least a few questions about the car, as not sure i would trudge off to look at something based purely on the words in the advert.
I guess everyone is different but i have always asked a few questions just to engage with the seller, understand reason for selling, get to feel a bit of the vibe coming off from the person selling.
He didn't give me a name or number so if i happened to sell it beforehand then it would be a wasted trip!
You didn't ask him for a name or number.That was literally all he said (other than "OK thanks, see you then" when i said it was possible to come look)
I would have expected at least a few questions about the car, as not sure i would trudge off to look at something based purely on the words in the advert.
I guess everyone is different but i have always asked a few questions just to engage with the seller, understand reason for selling, get to feel a bit of the vibe coming off from the person selling.
He didn't give me a name or number so if i happened to sell it beforehand then it would be a wasted trip!
The Mad Monk said:
You didn't ask him for a name or number.
haha true, but A) he hung up before it was possible and B) its really more in his interest to know not to waste his trip if already soldCome to think of it he doesnt even know the address (other than town) he is heading to. Guess he will call en-route !
WBAC wont want your 13 year old car, and if you take it in they'll have 13 years worth of scratches, scuffs and minor indiscretions to beat you down to practically nowt!
As for selling privately at a low value car, yes it's a nightmare I've recently gone through. My advice - dont waste your time with an ebay auction. The "winning bidder" almost certainly wont turn up and ebay wont give a toss. You just want a normal advert be it Ebay, Gumtree, Facebook or Autotrader with a tel no to call. Use your gut instinct to weed out idiots. Anyone texting should be told to phone instead - whether that be a "lowest price mate" or someone lonely wanting to go the far end texting back and forth with silly questions. Quite simply anyone genuinely interested will want to talk to you about the car or arrange to view. Most texters wont call so that's a job jobbed. When they do call you'll almost certainly be met with an innit bruv calling from miles away wanting your best price as if you owe the mug some favour. Just politely or even impolitely tell them where to go, hang up and block. It's a right faff on but assuming the car is decent and priced well you should get someone decent in the end. Only only only ever give your address out to someone who sounds reliable and when they're actually going to visit. So if they call on a Monday night saying I'll come on Thursday then say great call me Thursday when you're setting off and you can have my address then. They know the town you live assuming its on the advert so no point giving your address out to people who almost certainly wont show. Likewise if you're happy to entertain the innit bruvs and eastern europeans then ask how many are coming. Do you want several of them on your drive poking round your car while you and your family are nearby? All sounds totally paranoid I know but anyone who's sold a desirable car at shed money will know what it's like!!
As for selling privately at a low value car, yes it's a nightmare I've recently gone through. My advice - dont waste your time with an ebay auction. The "winning bidder" almost certainly wont turn up and ebay wont give a toss. You just want a normal advert be it Ebay, Gumtree, Facebook or Autotrader with a tel no to call. Use your gut instinct to weed out idiots. Anyone texting should be told to phone instead - whether that be a "lowest price mate" or someone lonely wanting to go the far end texting back and forth with silly questions. Quite simply anyone genuinely interested will want to talk to you about the car or arrange to view. Most texters wont call so that's a job jobbed. When they do call you'll almost certainly be met with an innit bruv calling from miles away wanting your best price as if you owe the mug some favour. Just politely or even impolitely tell them where to go, hang up and block. It's a right faff on but assuming the car is decent and priced well you should get someone decent in the end. Only only only ever give your address out to someone who sounds reliable and when they're actually going to visit. So if they call on a Monday night saying I'll come on Thursday then say great call me Thursday when you're setting off and you can have my address then. They know the town you live assuming its on the advert so no point giving your address out to people who almost certainly wont show. Likewise if you're happy to entertain the innit bruvs and eastern europeans then ask how many are coming. Do you want several of them on your drive poking round your car while you and your family are nearby? All sounds totally paranoid I know but anyone who's sold a desirable car at shed money will know what it's like!!
Toyoda said:
WBAC wont want your 13 year old car, and if you take it in they'll have 13 years worth of scratches, scuffs and minor indiscretions to beat you down to practically nowt!
As for selling privately at a low value car, yes it's a nightmare I've recently gone through. My advice - dont waste your time with an ebay auction. The "winning bidder" almost certainly wont turn up and ebay wont give a toss. You just want a normal advert be it Ebay, Gumtree, Facebook or Autotrader with a tel no to call. Use your gut instinct to weed out idiots. Anyone texting should be told to phone instead - whether that be a "lowest price mate" or someone lonely wanting to go the far end texting back and forth with silly questions. Quite simply anyone genuinely interested will want to talk to you about the car or arrange to view. Most texters wont call so that's a job jobbed. When they do call you'll almost certainly be met with an innit bruv calling from miles away wanting your best price as if you owe the mug some favour. Just politely or even impolitely tell them where to go, hang up and block. It's a right faff on but assuming the car is decent and priced well you should get someone decent in the end. Only only only ever give your address out to someone who sounds reliable and when they're actually going to visit. So if they call on a Monday night saying I'll come on Thursday then say great call me Thursday when you're setting off and you can have my address then. They know the town you live assuming its on the advert so no point giving your address out to people who almost certainly wont show. Likewise if you're happy to entertain the innit bruvs and eastern europeans then ask how many are coming. Do you want several of them on your drive poking round your car while you and your family are nearby? All sounds totally paranoid I know but anyone who's sold a desirable car at shed money will know what it's like!!
All of this.As for selling privately at a low value car, yes it's a nightmare I've recently gone through. My advice - dont waste your time with an ebay auction. The "winning bidder" almost certainly wont turn up and ebay wont give a toss. You just want a normal advert be it Ebay, Gumtree, Facebook or Autotrader with a tel no to call. Use your gut instinct to weed out idiots. Anyone texting should be told to phone instead - whether that be a "lowest price mate" or someone lonely wanting to go the far end texting back and forth with silly questions. Quite simply anyone genuinely interested will want to talk to you about the car or arrange to view. Most texters wont call so that's a job jobbed. When they do call you'll almost certainly be met with an innit bruv calling from miles away wanting your best price as if you owe the mug some favour. Just politely or even impolitely tell them where to go, hang up and block. It's a right faff on but assuming the car is decent and priced well you should get someone decent in the end. Only only only ever give your address out to someone who sounds reliable and when they're actually going to visit. So if they call on a Monday night saying I'll come on Thursday then say great call me Thursday when you're setting off and you can have my address then. They know the town you live assuming its on the advert so no point giving your address out to people who almost certainly wont show. Likewise if you're happy to entertain the innit bruvs and eastern europeans then ask how many are coming. Do you want several of them on your drive poking round your car while you and your family are nearby? All sounds totally paranoid I know but anyone who's sold a desirable car at shed money will know what it's like!!
I've taken to the following things:
I ask people to ring and leave a message - on the simple and mainly true basis that I can't answer my phone in work. This seems to screen most chancers, they weirdly unable to speak to the answerphone.
"Is this still available" answer : "yes"... but it rarely leads to further contact.
I give the postcode of the pub near me - our postcode is tricky as it is split either side of a DCway - but it also means if I get a really bad feeling, or they're scamming somehow, then they don't know exactly where I live.
Ignore all very low offers.
Laugh at anyone who thinks offering cash is somehow an inducement to sell... presumably above those offering chocolate buttons?? I'm pretty much expecting cash one way or another... folding or bank transfer is fine
Reply to slightly low offers, just in case there is another coupe of hundred in their budget (there's not, but....)
Never change my plans for anyone. I've had quite a few people who are "leaving now" or "on the way" who simply never turn up or communicate again - you could waste your life waiting for these people.
Autotrader, despite being the most expensive place to sell, still produces the best results for me.
Gumtree has a lot people with some sort of instant alert set up... I simply don't answer my phone at all for half an hour after posting. They are all low-balling scum... or if they're actually really interested in my car, they'll try again later.
I've noticed a trend in the rapid low-ballers, btw - they seem to offer a little below half the advertised price (in cash, naturally...), so it may be possible to sucker them back by posting a price that's about double what you actually want to get for the car
You lot are going to hate my business.
I buy sheds (ie cars below £1500) all the time. Sometimes 2 or 3 a week. It's great fun.
I then fix them, and rent them back to sometimes the very people I bought them off.
I consistently buy on Facebook, and sell there too. It's the wild west, no regulation, no control, a wild place to trade. But there's huge number of people looking, and if the price is right, buying and selling.
Tonight I've had 49 messenger conversations about a 1.4 Corsa. I guess that will result in somewhere about £5k's worth of business.
I love it. Really enjoy the back and forth.
I get the 'I'll offer you £1.50 CASH, for your car, but I normally cut and paste my standard reply - "stop wasting my time please"
Occasionally I'll say that I don't want to deal with them because their face book profile offends me. That's often a good one. And I usually find several genuine people looking for obscure stuff, which is exactly me.
A few weeks ago, I rented half a dozen sheds to a gang of Ukrainian mushroom farmers who are here for 6 months . All that from a single free facebook advert. I generates maybe 10 times the leads even Gumtree does.
I buy sheds (ie cars below £1500) all the time. Sometimes 2 or 3 a week. It's great fun.
I then fix them, and rent them back to sometimes the very people I bought them off.
I consistently buy on Facebook, and sell there too. It's the wild west, no regulation, no control, a wild place to trade. But there's huge number of people looking, and if the price is right, buying and selling.
Tonight I've had 49 messenger conversations about a 1.4 Corsa. I guess that will result in somewhere about £5k's worth of business.
I love it. Really enjoy the back and forth.
I get the 'I'll offer you £1.50 CASH, for your car, but I normally cut and paste my standard reply - "stop wasting my time please"
Occasionally I'll say that I don't want to deal with them because their face book profile offends me. That's often a good one. And I usually find several genuine people looking for obscure stuff, which is exactly me.
A few weeks ago, I rented half a dozen sheds to a gang of Ukrainian mushroom farmers who are here for 6 months . All that from a single free facebook advert. I generates maybe 10 times the leads even Gumtree does.
On the flip side I've sold my last car (V60 with 150k miles) to an Eastern European who was great to deal with.
Offered a little below what I was asking but I wanted rid so accepted.
Paid deposit.
He came with his wife from London (I live in Lincolnshire).
Took it for a quick drive, all good. Transferred money, shook hands and drove off.
I also sold my caravan to a local European guy who was equally upfront and hassle free.
Back and forth with negotiations, agreed price, came to view, inspected it thoroughly, paid in cash and towed it away.
He said it was for export because it was 15 years old and had some damp.
Offered a little below what I was asking but I wanted rid so accepted.
Paid deposit.
He came with his wife from London (I live in Lincolnshire).
Took it for a quick drive, all good. Transferred money, shook hands and drove off.
I also sold my caravan to a local European guy who was equally upfront and hassle free.
Back and forth with negotiations, agreed price, came to view, inspected it thoroughly, paid in cash and towed it away.
He said it was for export because it was 15 years old and had some damp.
jonwm said:
I have a car for sale on Ebay at the minute.
I've not sold a car privately ever I don't think, its an absolute nightmare.
Car is no reserve at £1450 so if 1 person bids that they get it, i reckon the car is worth £2k, New MOT etc
So far in 2 days I've had many will you take £1k for it, I then decline and say its an auction, they either offer more or ignore you,
I've been asked can I take £1250 because he lived in Blackpool.
Declined a viewing as someone said they will pay me £1650 tomorrow, I just cant be bothered anymore, if he comes he can have it but I told the people asking to view that if he doesn't come they can have a viewing and I got back "I have cash" not how much cash jut they have cash.
Never again, my wife suggested marketplace, thank the lord i didn't go done that route.
Hopefully the bloke comes tomorrow without loads of mates to put oil in my engine bay and takes it away, I'm considering just keeping it in the garage its causing me that much hassle!
Could you not put the details into webuyanycar as is during this auction. If it’s £2k as you want stop auction and let webuyanycar take it. I've not sold a car privately ever I don't think, its an absolute nightmare.
Car is no reserve at £1450 so if 1 person bids that they get it, i reckon the car is worth £2k, New MOT etc
So far in 2 days I've had many will you take £1k for it, I then decline and say its an auction, they either offer more or ignore you,
I've been asked can I take £1250 because he lived in Blackpool.
Declined a viewing as someone said they will pay me £1650 tomorrow, I just cant be bothered anymore, if he comes he can have it but I told the people asking to view that if he doesn't come they can have a viewing and I got back "I have cash" not how much cash jut they have cash.
Never again, my wife suggested marketplace, thank the lord i didn't go done that route.
Hopefully the bloke comes tomorrow without loads of mates to put oil in my engine bay and takes it away, I'm considering just keeping it in the garage its causing me that much hassle!
I know people who’ve sold cars to them who were previously cautious but all had a great experience no issues at all.
ESD1711 said:
‘Sell it to WBAC’ seems to be the default response to all things car sales related these days.
WBAC are paying top dollar to things they can move on on garage forecourts and to dealers etc etc
WBAC isn’t now, nor ever has been the place to move on low value cars.
Granted, they are never going to be the buyer of choice for your 2003 Picasso, but their desire to grab market share seems to have encouraged them to buy any old tat WBAC are paying top dollar to things they can move on on garage forecourts and to dealers etc etc
WBAC isn’t now, nor ever has been the place to move on low value cars.
This is a weird market at the moment.Not going to quote the long posts above but I'll add discounting texters immediately would rule of some genuine buyers.
I always do the initial contact through messages and haven't knowingly ever messed anyone around.
As a buyer I don't want to talk to someone until I've atleast sussed out they're semi literate/tolerable to deal with. One or two initial questions is nearly always all that's needed.
I always do the initial contact through messages and haven't knowingly ever messed anyone around.
As a buyer I don't want to talk to someone until I've atleast sussed out they're semi literate/tolerable to deal with. One or two initial questions is nearly always all that's needed.
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