I Hate Selling Vehicles

secretariata wrote: How about the folks who won't even come look at it but send a text with "What's your bottom dollar price? I have cash right now." I take $0.01 off the price I advertised and tell them if they can't be bothered to even look at it I can't be bothered to negotiate any lower...

I'm often looking at vehicles via the Internet that are hundreds of miles away from me. I'm not willing to make the drive unless I know the seller is willing to go down to a price that I find acceptable. If the seller can't do some negotiating via email, then I don't make the drive.

In reply to NGTD: I am a Wall Street bond trader by profession. My life is trading. However, if I went around trying to buy bonds by down-bidding people at ridiculous levels, other shops would put me in the "box." Unlike stocks, which trade on an exchange, bonds trade dealer to dealer, mainly by phone or Bloomberg message. I expect someone to down bid, but don't insult my intelligence.

In reply to ScreaminE:

I understand.

However there are 2 sides to everything. There are just as many (if not more) unrealistic sellers are there are unrealistic buyers IMO. If I get an unreasonable offer I just politely decline.

I am trying to buy a car locally that has a blown motor. The owner refuses to deal with anything except text messages - no email, no calls. The car has sat for over a year and I made him an offer for well under 1/2 his asking price.

He refuses to even answer my text message. Oh well - off to the next one. He is going to get nothing for it when the dealer puts a lien on the car for storage.

I have my 98 200sx SER on the market just now. I'm asking $2k, which is too much based on the mileage, but I figure I'll either get somebody who actually wants it, and he'll offer 15, and I'll say 16, and we'll both be happy, or I'll get the guy who offers 12 without looking, and I'll counter...etc. So far I've been offered $700, or trade for subwoofers...its not a good time of year to sell a car around here.

In reply to Lof8: If I can't afford the asking price or won't pay what the seller is asking, I won't consider a vehicle more than an hour a way.

jr02518 wrote: Educating sellers is never fun.

Au contraire! It can be quite hilarious IF he isn't the only one in the country selling what you want. Then it's a seller's market and he don't need to know nuttin' but the least he'll take to let you have it.

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Heck, I have a 99 Neon with 32k miles on the car and about 1500 on an engine built by Redsfit. It has Koni yellow shocks, performance driven springs, Quaiffe LSD, header, 55MM TB, Iceman Intake, strut tower bars and a Corbeau seat that I would ask $4000 negotiable, but don't bother because the $1500 idiots would keep bothering me.

BTW Moparman - I am not up on all the Suzuki designation but is that a 2-stroke in your Avatar?

I grew up riding 2 stroke off road bikes, had an RD400 and always lusted after a Suzuki 500 Gamma or a Yamaha RD350LC. There is a soft place in my heart for 2-strokes!

Moparman wrote: In reply to Lof8: If I can't afford the asking price or won't pay what the seller is asking, I won't consider a vehicle more than an hour a way.

Exactly.

I guess I should go put my spare BMW headlights on CL and see what happens. They're xenon, this will bring out the cream of the crop. No, they won't fit your Civic...

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Actually just sold a xenon Bimmer headlight from an E90 on e90post.com

In reply to NGTD: Yes, that is my GT380. I was looking for an RD350 when I stumbled upon it. I also own a 71 T250 two-stroke.

I love buying and selling vehicles. Everything posted in this thread is just part of the game. You gotta roll with it.

Agreed. Most sellers price a bit high, and most buyers ask a bit low. Usually you meet somewhere in the middle. The buyer is the one who really sets the price, because they are the ones handing over the money. Now, it makes a big difference what is being sold, and why. With a desireable, registered, driving car, the seller has a bit of an edge. But a non running car? Good luck, take what you can get. If I'm buying a non running car, I have to assume worse case scenario, and will make my offer accordingly. "Tranny needs a sensor, was running great until then." Yea, a sensor with a new tranny attached to it.

Moparman wrote: In reply to Lof8: If I can't afford the asking price or won't pay what the seller is asking, I won't consider a vehicle more than an hour a way.

Interesting. It looks like we utilize different approaches. I've scored many good deals by being willing to travel and negotiating with the seller before making the trip. In fact, nearly all of my acquisitions have happened this way.

Every seller has a "bottom line" in mind. What is the difference if he communicates that to you over email or in person?

Because price cannot be fairly determined at a distance. My goal is to buy a vehicle at a fair price, not to see how low I can pressure, cajole or coerce a seller into going below what it is really worth.

Moparman wrote: Because price cannot be fairly determined at a distance. My goal is to buy a vehicle at a fair price, not to see how low I can pressure, cajole or coerce a seller into going.

Aahh, yes, we are different. I'm trying to spend as little as possible on nearly every purchase.

Lof8 wrote:

secretariata wrote: How about the folks who won't even come look at it but send a text with "What's your bottom dollar price? I have cash right now." I take $0.01 off the price I advertised and tell them if they can't be bothered to even look at it I can't be bothered to negotiate any lower...

I'm often looking at vehicles via the Internet that are hundreds of miles away from me. I'm not willing to make the drive unless I know the seller is willing to go down to a price that I find acceptable. If the seller can't do some negotiating via email, then I don't make the drive.

Yes, but a random text from out of nowhere trying to lowball you right off the bat is the way to come off as a shiny happy person, not a potential buyer. If you are coming from some distance away and actually take the time to not be a shiny happy person, I'm willing to answer all questions, take additional and specific photos and email them, discuss whether I'm willing to negotiate on price and if the potential buyer suggests a price I will indicate if it is in the ball park or a definite no sale. My response depends upon your initial approach. If I'm asking $5k, I'm not going to take $2k so don't waste my time.

In reply to Lof8:

In my book, there is a difference in getting a good deal and ripping off someone. If a person says that he/she realizes there are selling below true value, that is different.

Lof8 wrote: Every seller has a "bottom line" in mind. What is the difference if he communicates that to you over email or in person?

The problem is the buyer takes this as the new ASKING price, not a hard and fast bottom dollar. They always assume you will go lower when they wave cash in your face in person and then get indignant when you tell them to pack up and drive 4 hours back empty handed (this actually happened, I've sold lots of cars).

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

I don't do that but I have had people do it to me. I guess my approach is: you gotta have thick skin when looking to deal on Craigslist, whether you are buying or selling. No room for hurt feelings.

Lof8 wrote: In reply to Junkyard_Dog: I don't do that but I have had people do it to me. I guess my approach is: you gotta have thick skin when looking to deal on Craigslist, whether you are buying or selling. No room for hurt feelings.

No room for hurt feelings but that flows both ways.

The answer a buyer gets from me if they want to start negotiations with "what's the lowest you'll take" is "what's the highest you'll pay" works both ways if you aren't willing to honestly answer the 2nd question don't ask the first one.

The answer they get when offering anything less than 70% of asking price is nothing. I won't bother to respond to unreasonable offers.

I feel the pain, I sold my daily driver foxbody last year on craigslist. was asking 800 for it, needed back brakes and had plenty of dents but very little rust. between people trying to buy it for 400 bucks because they wanted a project and one guy agreeing to buy it and then listing it on a derby site for sell before picking it up I damn near just kept it. I don't mind negotiating but im not doing it via cell phone.

In reply to JThw8:

If someone asked me what my lowest price was I would tell him to go away and have done this. Why in my right mind would I start the negotiations from my lowest point? That is stupid. I don't need to sell the vehicle any more than he needs to buy it.

In 2013 I bought a 1979 CB400T. The owner was asking $1500. I went and saw the bike. We talked and he explained that he was having hip-replacement surgery and could no longer have a kick-start only bike. The bike wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I told him my plans to restore and modify it a bit. He said I could have it for $1000 because I was giving it a good home. I handed the man the cash. I could have probably gotten another $100 off the price as he was in kind of a bad spot and people are not tripping over each other here in NEPA for 35 year old 400cc Hondas, but why. The extra $100 would not have made my life materially better. He was in a bad spot and already came down $500. In the bond market we say: Bulls make money, bears make money, but hogs get slaughtered. I try not to be a hog and have no tolerance for them.

I drove 5 hours to get my CRX after negotiating via text, but it was on the condition that the car be as described when I got there. It was, so I handed over an envelope of cash. Everyone was happy.

I did not head out there with the expectation that I would be able to bargain it down further if the car was as described. The fact that I was willing to make the trip was a commitment to the car. Anyone who would try to bargain down at that point (such as my MG buyer was considering) is just being an ass. If you're willing to drive 6 hours each way, you're not going to risk going home empty-handed over a couple of hundred bucks.

When I advertise things, I advertise them for a fair price with an honest description. And they usually sell for that fair price. If someone is expecting an unrealistic price, then they're just wasting both of our time.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

I agree with your logic.

i have had LOLs as seller and as buyer. like the guy who bought my probe GT. i was asking $1250 and was willing to take $1000. He came out, looked it over, and said he was thinking "around a grand." I said "if by 'around a grand' you mean $1100, i can do that." he gave me a hundred non-refundable to hold it for 24 hours, and came back the next morning with the balance.

then there was the guy who bought Rusty the Great-Stuffed Miata. he asked if i would end my ebay auction for two grand, i said yes, and i ended the auction. he showed up in a new prius with his pregnant wife in the passenger seat. five hour drive, tolls, fuel, pregnant wife, boo hoo hoo. tells me he's only got $1850 and he can't go home without the car because he can't listen to her for another 5 hours. i told him he was about $15 per hour short of the mark figuring on teh 10-hour round trip, and that i hoped his wife would give him the $150 he didn't have. he magically produced five twenties, three tens, a five, and a roll of quarters. i let him slide on the missing $5.

or the guy who bought my mazda6. he comes to my house with his dad. dad is the negotiator. i was asking $4k and would take $3500. he says 3300, i say 3750, he says 35, i say 36, he wants to split hairs and do 3550. i ask him if he's really going to go home without it over fifty bucks. he asks if i'm willing to see him drive away over $50. i said, "dude, look at the neighborhood you're in. i'm not missing any meals if you don't buy it." he proceeds to lay out $3550 on the hood. i said "you're $50 short." the kid pulled $50 out of his pocket and said "this is by far the nicest car we've seen. I'm not going to lose it over $50."

i looked at an early 944 with Fuchs. asking price was $2000. ran OK but had ps and ac hoses cut, some rust, and a ratty interior. i offered $600. dude's girlfriend says "someone offered $800 just for the rims." i said "so am i. but i want $200 for disposing of the rest of this POS for you." i started to walk, and they asked if i was going to counter. so i said "$500" and kept walking.