What is it with sellers?

[stoocake]

Granted, a lot of my problem may be the end of the market that I'm trying to buy from but why is it that nobody selling a car can string a sentence together?

Been looking at buying a cheap people carrier for my band to use as a shed of a tour bus. Budget of around £1000, and of all the 20 people I've contacted with questions about what they're selling have either never replied, or when they do, it's pretty much illegible.

Here's an example - if the guy can't even pretend to string a sentence together, why would I consider driving 2 hours to buy?

ebay numpty said:

Dear stoocake,

hi can tax it you before you get & seems 2 be ok rust & engine dont smoke or rattle as ive can here.its seem to ok .thankyou for looking



From: stoocake
To: seller

Dear ****

Hi there,

I am interested in the car but have a couple of questions I would like to ask, seeing as I'd be travelling a fair distance to collect.

I believe the car is not taxed at present. Would it be possible for you to tax at my expense so I can drive away when I collect?

Seeing as you can't go above 50mph, I presume there are engine problems, whether it be the turbo or whatever. Are there any other symptoms, e.g. smoke from the exhaust, loud rattles, overheating, burning oil etc? I'm only worried about getting the car back to Worcester on the day - if it can limp home then I'm happy with that.

Furthermore, are there any major rust issues on the bodywork or underneath?

Thanks, Stewart

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

[Soovy]

stoocake said:

Granted, a lot of my problem may be the end of the market that I'm trying to buy from but why is it that nobody selling a car can string a sentence together?

Been looking at buying a cheap people carrier for my band to use as a shed of a tour bus. Budget of around £1000, and of all the 20 people I've contacted with questions about what they're selling have either never replied, or when they do, it's pretty much illegible.

Here's an example - if the guy can't even pretend to string a sentence together, why would I consider driving 2 hours to buy?

ebay numpty said:

Dear stoocake,

hi can tax it you before you get & seems 2 be ok rust & engine dont smoke or rattle as ive can here.its seem to ok .thankyou for looking



From: stoocake
To: seller

Dear ****

Hi there,

I am interested in the car but have a couple of questions I would like to ask, seeing as I'd be travelling a fair distance to collect.

I believe the car is not taxed at present. Would it be possible for you to tax at my expense so I can drive away when I collect?

Seeing as you can't go above 50mph, I presume there are engine problems, whether it be the turbo or whatever. Are there any other symptoms, e.g. smoke from the exhaust, loud rattles, overheating, burning oil etc? I'm only worried about getting the car back to Worcester on the day - if it can limp home then I'm happy with that.

Furthermore, are there any major rust issues on the bodywork or underneath?

Thanks, Stewart

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

Nothing to do with online.

In my experience a majority of the population of the UK are thicker than a whale sandwich.

[bikemonster]

stoocake said:

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

I think you mean "Why are many people online illiterate?"

And you left out a question mark.

No need to thank.

[louiebaby]

bikemonster said:

stoocake said:

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

I think you mean "Why are SO many people online illiterate?"

And you left out a question mark.

No need to thank.

[stoocake]

louiebaby said:

bikemonster said:

stoocake said:

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

I think you mean "Why are SO many people online illiterate?"

And you left out a question mark.

No need to thank.

No no, credit where it's dew. ;-) Fanx

[bassanclan]

you need to be ringing people up and talking to them not emailing

[bikemonster]

louiebaby said:

bikemonster said:

stoocake said:

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

I think you mean "Why are SO many people online illiterate?"

And you left out a question mark.

No need to thank.

Brilliant! Petard...hoisted.

I was very careful, as one is when being a smart-arse.

And yet...

[Mudfugly]

I sold my off-roaded Vitara on eBay recently, the eventual winning bidder txt-speak-did me at first, after I ignored his semi-literate questions and he saw the replies to others who managed to use some sembelance of the queens finest, he got the idea.

It's not that difficult to answer the question and do it in such a way that you dont look like some sort of moron....I hope.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Edited by Mudfugly on Tuesday 7th September 15:13

[Alfa numeric]

louiebaby said:

bikemonster said:

stoocake said:

Why are so few people online illiterate Does this bug anyone else?

I think you mean "Why is it thatSO many people online are illiterate?"

And you left out a question mark.

No need to thank.

I can see this taking a while...

[10 Pence Short]

Soovy said:

In my experience a majority of the population of the UK are thicker than a whale sandwich.

Unfortunately that pretty much sums it up.

[stoocake]

Alfa numeric said:

I can see this taking a while...

Yep, I wish I had proof read my original post.

Phoning is probably a good idea, the idea of emailing is that at least I'd have it in writing the condition the car is being sold in. That way if I travel all that way to find it's not as described I'd have some comeback.

[Deranged Granny]

Blame, in part, state education.

[Piersman2]

stoocake said:

Been looking at buying a cheap people carrier for my band to use as a shed of a tour bus. Budget of around £1000...

You can have my Espace for less than that, and it sounds an awful lot better than something that's not capable of going over 50mph!!!

PM me if it's of interest and I'll give you some details.

[stoocake]

Deranged Granny said:

Blame, in part, state education.

I'm not so sure. I was educated in Scotland of all places and I just about manage (granted this thread isn't the best example). I just put it down to breeding...

[GKP]

Mudfugly said:

I sold my off-roaded Vitara on eBay recently, the eventual winning bidder txt-speak-did me at first, after I ignored his semi-literate questions and he saw the replies to others who managed to use some sembelance of the queens finest, he got the idea.

It's not that difficult to answer the question and do it in such a way that you dont look like some sort of moron....I hope.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Mudfugly in the very first paragraph of his Ebay advert said:

This is no ordinary lady's/hairdressers Vitara, no watchers, this Vitara has been working out big time and also has been on a major course of steroids, if you like your cars a little different and you like to stand out, then you are in the right place, if it's a eurobox your after or you like wearing comfy slippers when driving, then please look at the Nissan Micra section.

Readable, yes. Correct? No.

[hairy]

stoocake said:

Alfa numeric said:

I can see this taking a while...

Yep, I wish I had proof read my original post.

Phoning is probably a good idea, the idea of emailing is that at least I'd have it in writing the condition the car is being sold in. That way if I travel all that way to find it's not as described I'd have some comeback.

check your email stoocake!

[poo at Paul's]

bassanclan said:

you need to be ringing people up and talking to them not emailing

Absolutely!
Then you can tell the proper trash by how they talk!

[Fidgits]

Yes, try calling rather than emailing, you get a better feel for the owner and how the car has probably been treated anyway.

Though, in fairness, people carrier at £1k.. you are going to be most likely dealing with the type of people that have children on the DSS as a career choice - so expect them not to make much more sense in person

[Soovy]

Fidgits said:

Yes, try calling rather than emailing, you get a better feel for the owner and how the car has probably been treated anyway.

Though, in fairness, people carrier at £1k.. you are going to be most likely dealing with the type of people that have children on the DSS as a career choice - so expect them not to make much more sense in person

innit bruv

[stoocake]

Fidgits said:

Though, in fairness, people carrier at £1k.. you are going to be most likely dealing with the type of people that have children on the DSS as a career choice - so expect them not to make much more sense in person

I expect you're right. I'm setting myself up for disappointment from the start. It's fortunate that I only expect to buy a shed.