"I just want an older car for very cheap, clean, no rust, and with no problems at all"

I wish you were in Canada and it was a couple of months from now.

I'm not a fan of Jeep but that is a damn fine looking Jeep for its age.

Maybe once a month I get a weirdo customer who will talk my ear off with complaints, even though he and I both know he's not going to buy anything.  Any word I squeeze in will just PROLONG the agonized conversation.  The only thing I've found that works with these guys is dead silence.  Otherwise they can't take a hint.

People have no brains. I was trying to sell a car for $2500 on CL, the ad states that the car has been sitting for two years and the rear brakes are sticking and need to be repaired/ replaced. First two people to text both asked if they could drive it the 50 miles it would take to get home. I wish I could have told them yes without feeling bad. Instead, I suggested they bring a trailer,  crickets. No common sense anymore.

Around here, Richard Rawlings Syndrome is the berkeleying worst. Every redneck and his cousin thinks he’s “bawlin” if he has a couple grand in the bank.

Last year I had two strangers offer to buy my CTS-V, which was not for sale, but I entertained the idea for the right price.

The first guy was an older dude, obviously doing well for himself. He asked me what I’d sell it for, and I told him. He seemed REALLY interested. Then the phone calls started. “How many miles does it have again? Has this and that and the other berkeleying thing been replaced? How much life do the tires have left?” I answered all his questions politely. Then he started “RESEARCHING.” 

“Well, there’s one in Texas with less miles for less money...” GREAT! Hop your bored, retired, wealthy ass on a plane, and buy THAT ONE!!!

I finally ended up having to block his number.

The next one was a “yung stunnah” kid who owned a “race shop:”

“Man, I’ll give you $Xk for that thing TOMORROW!” Cool! Let’s meet tomorrow! He kept making excuses as to why he couldn’t meet up, and I figured his mouth was just bigger than his wallet. No big deal.

A few weeks later, he calls me, and is SUPER interested in the car. I explain to him that the number he threw out was the least I’d take, and if he didn’t have cash, I had better things to do with my time. He got all chest-puffin’-salty like I was trying to insult him. Says he’s serious, had the cash, etc.

I spent the next morning getting the car all cherry’d out, so he has nothing to nitpick. I met him at his janky-ass “race shop” and let him and his “business partner” (The young kid who looked like he did all the wrenching) take it for a test drive. I rode along with him and encouraged him to drive it like he would if he owned it.

He beats on the car for 20 minutes or so, and we head back to his shop.

Now he and his “partner” need “time to think about it.” Cool. No sweat. It’s a large purchase. I asked him AND his buddy if there’s anything they think is wrong with the car...you know...them being experts and all. Neither had any qualms, other than the mileage, which they were BOTH already aware of.

He texts me later and says “they” are only comfortable paying a little less than 2/3 of the number we’d already agreed on. I told him to call me when he found a third partner to kick in the other third. He comes back immediately with a higher number. I immediately block his phone number.

I think some of these people have too much time and no money/respect for other people’s time, and a lot of them just get off on beating people up on price with no intention of actually BUYING anything.

Anyway, I feel your pain.

/rant

maschinenbau said:

That guy wasn't going to buy any car today. 

This ^^^

Silver lining: The no-cash-having, time-murdering motherberkeleyers of the world make *purchasing* a car a little easier for the rest of us (assuming the SELLER isn’t a total flake.)

I’ve scored a lot of great deals by meeting on time, with a good attitude, and a pile of cash. I learned a long time ago that if you’re the guy with the cash and (in some cases) the trailer, the world of cheap cars is your oyster!!!

I haven't had that experience before. But I'll say I wish I needed a Jeep right now!

Toyman01 said:

This is why I pay people to sell my cars. I don't have the willingness to deal with stupid people any more. 

Tell me more!!!

I suppose there is something to be said for eBay.  No warranty. It is what you see.  If you want to see more, come look at it or don't bid.  When it sells it's gone.  At least that's been my experience.  Of course, the dread of dealing with buyers is why I'm sitting on a bunch of guitars and bike stuff I want to sell.

I went to check on the window regulator issue today and turns out the guy that wasted an hour if my time and a gallon of my gas also left all the interior lights in. Battery was DEAD. I didn't notice because the lights turn off on a delay, and it was in the garage. 

So the DB struck again. 

Someone is supposed to be here soon, we'll see how it goes. 

As a counterpoint to all this, today I sold a car that has loads of caveats that I was very honest about to a guy that knows exactly what he's getting into and he was nothing but appreciative. He gave me my asking price and everything. Today was a good day.

It sold. I came down $100 lower than I initially wanted to, but stull well above what I paid for it. Now to continue the build of the other Jeep. 

Ian F said:

I suppose there is something to be said for eBay.  No warranty. It is what you see.  If you want to see more, come look at it or don't bid.  When it sells it's gone.  At least that's been my experience.  Of course, the dread of dealing with buyers is why I'm sitting on a bunch of guitars and bike stuff I want to sell.

Not at all the case anymore.  eBay is totally on the buyer's side.  You pretty much have to accept that any eBay auction ending is giving the high bidder the "right, but not the obligation" to buy the car.  

Fortunately, eBay is also now fairly good about refunding seller's fees in that situation.  

In reply to poopshovel again :

Dood, knowing you, I can't imagine you even entertaining the idea of listening to the modern day Icy Hot Stuntazz. I thought your bullE36 M3 detector was more finely tuined.

They looked like this, right?