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What is wrong with car buyers!!??!!
tegwin - 5/6/10 at 10:00 PM

Bit of a mini rant really... As most of you know I am trying to sell my TVR to pay for a move down south and a rather expensive uni course... selling the car isn't something I want to do, but I have no choice...


I have now had 4 people arange to come look at the car, turn up around 30 mins late... have a good look around, say posative things and then leave saying they will get back to me.... they never do...

It takes about an hour per person to show them the car and talk about etc... plus test drive... They know what they are comming to look at, they have been told in great detail via phone/email exactly what the condition of the car is and what work might be needed etc.... So what is wrong with these people!!!!

Its frustrating because they all seem so posative when they are looking at the car, I just cant figure out whats going on.... If they were making negative remarks about various things I would understand.. ...

Classic car "enthusiasts" just are not the same as a "locostbuilders"......Completely different mindset which I dont understand!

Its getting to the point now where I will proberably sell it to the first person that makes me an even vaguly good offer... I move end of June... and am a bit screwed without the cash


I really hate selling cars... So stresfull....

[Edited on 5/6/10 by tegwin]

[Edited on 5/6/10 by tegwin]


55ant - 5/6/10 at 10:05 PM

when i went to see my indy, the chap opened the garage, it was orange, i was going to buy it, job done.

'dont you want to know about the'

'I said ill take it!'

How i buy all my cars, if it feels right then ill take it, maybe thats how i end up with so many sh*tters.


fha772 - 5/6/10 at 10:07 PM

I know what you mean, when i was selling my MGB GT V8, i had loads of MG "enthusiasts". come and look round it and then tell me how it needed loads spending on it and maybe a new shell, to bring it up to standard!!

If they wanted concours they should have gone to look at another car.
But if they wanted a 450bhp, 6 speed, stripped out, Sebring bodied, road legal, race car, then come and look at mine!!


coozer - 5/6/10 at 10:10 PM

I've bought a few cars, mostly cat C & D's and just walk up and hand over the cash. I always do the research and make my mind up before I go.

No horror stories to report.


ashg - 5/6/10 at 10:30 PM

i think you are finding the problem with trying to sell an old tvr. everyone likes them but nobody wants to own one as they are scared that it might die on them.


jambojeef - 5/6/10 at 10:35 PM

I sympathise....

My short lived 328i project last summer needed a head gasket and in the end my locost rebuild seemed the better option so fully honest advert went up on the bay.....

A guy from Cumbria came across and wasted nearly 3 hours of my life and wouldnt leave until I accepted some silly offer on it claiming Id wasted his time by not informing him of the head gasket issues which Id had a conversation with him about before he left....

Agreed its pretty stressful, especially if all you want is a straightforward sale.....

Good luck anyway! Fingers crossed a nice normal buyer turns up - could happen!


mangogrooveworkshop - 5/6/10 at 10:41 PM

Ive bought cars without even test driving them.... two came off this forum. I had zilspeed start giving me the speech when I opened the door of the golf and shut it again saying it is a golf.. I will take it
....the other one was the 106 bought from robert mcerd over two or three u2us
and the condition it made it to my house
Two of the best cars we have had for a long time. Smartie was internet and a plane flight to portsmouth and a drive back.....

p100 came off the net and clio was in a mates backyard. Even bought a xr4x4 unseen

Its the research and expectations....
mind you I was gutted when my Birken 7 deal fell through

its just money is tight and people are a bit more cautious
Hang tight and the right person will appear


try advertising on the mg forum

[Edited on 5-6-10 by mangogrooveworkshop]


thunderace - 5/6/10 at 10:47 PM

i know what your on about ,i was selling a jetski for £1000 and told the guy i would not take 1p less for it he came to see it last satarday he was 1hr late said after 1hr looking at it it was great the best he had seen and told me hes just paid his mate £60 for petrol to come and see it and would i take £600 ,i filped and told his mate to take him away fast .i sold the ski the next day they guy just looked for one min and took it told me its was great at that price.


norfolkluego - 6/6/10 at 01:25 AM

Had a similar problem when I sold my campervan last year. Bloke from Brum bought it on eBay. Got here, wasn't really interested in the condition of the van just wanted his petrol money back. Like you didn't know how how far it was, the location was on the advert. We split the difference in the end as I wanted shot but I should have told him to b*gger off and spend some more petrol money driving home without the van.

[Edited on 6/6/10 by norfolkluego]


morcus - 6/6/10 at 06:59 AM

You'll get alot of people with no actual intention of buying with a car like that, so do what garages do and try and decide how serious they are and only give out test drives and such to people who've convinced you. I went to see an Alegro at hothfield motors (something insane like 15K on the clock) and the guy wouldn't even unlock it without seeing some money.

I hate that when you go to buy a car and force you to look at everything and drive about. When I ordered my current car, I drove a completely different model of car just to be sure I was Okay with the semi auto box then put down a deposit, though theres less risk with a new car. With my 205 I drove it round the block then just gave the guy £380 and went home.

Hang in there and don't take any of their bs. Ask how they intend to pay and If they say cash ask to see some when they arrive.


Daddylonglegs - 6/6/10 at 07:46 AM

Make sure you get a contact number off them when they ring so at least you can get back on to them if they do mess you about.

Some people are really dammned annoying

I always get back to prospective sellers even if it's not what I want it's just common courtesy.

Hope you get rid of it soon mate.


Ninehigh - 6/6/10 at 07:50 AM

I suppose you could always lob it on the bay, with the reserve price around the minimum you'd accept for it...

Include things like "winning bid buys", your location and "no I'm not paying you petrol money"

Then if anyone complains point them to the ad that they bid on


Danozeman - 6/6/10 at 08:15 AM

quote:

How i buy all my cars, if it feels right then ill take it



Thats what i do if it feels and look right i buy. I do my research into it before i go.



Im having the same trouble selling my bmw. People mail me ring me up and arrange to look and dont turn up. Had a bloke last week come to look, and he told me he wasnt after a bmw he wanted a focus but thought hed come and look. If you after a focus you wouldnt look at a 5 series bmw would you? Waste of an hour.

They always offer you sod all aswell.


AndyW - 6/6/10 at 08:35 AM

On the other side of the coin, when buying a car, I have been to see loads advertised as great condotion, needs no work etc etc etc then when you see them they are a pile of sh!te. So I suppose buyers now give them selves option and go out and look at 3, 4 cars a day, maybe not even the same makes but thats probably why they look and say that they will get back and never do, probably bought something else. Selling cars has and will always be a right pain.
Buyers want top dollar, purchasers want a cheeky deal and all partys think thay know best and thats just the way it is. Never going to be easy


MakeEverything - 6/6/10 at 08:45 AM

I know what you mean.

Ive had a few classic cars, and there is a lot of people that want a concours example for nothing, and then pick holes in your example to try and get a reduced price. MG's seem to be the worst as parts are expensive (comparitively), and the whole "Enhusiast" scene seems to be thought of as specialist for some bizarre reason.

I had an MG bought from me who i am sure was a dealer. The car was up for £1800, had round wheel arches, mint paintork and the bodywork had only a couple of points where it was rusting underneath the paint.
Same old story, he wanted to crawl all over it, start it up, pull it around and drive it (which i said not until he paid for it). Then he tried to knock me down on price, and i stuck to my figure in mind and got what i wanted.

Trick is not to let people bully you into letting it go or dropping the price if youre not happy with it. I always "Expect" some argy bargy when someone comes to see a car, which probably reflects in the negotiation, but at least then they know youre not messing around!


MakeEverything - 6/6/10 at 09:11 AM

Maybe theyre still expecting to see the bird in the photos still attached to the car?


tegwin - 6/6/10 at 09:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
Maybe theyre still expecting to see the bird in the photos still attached to the car?



This is true.... they can have her if they can find her.... not my cup of tea lol!


Simon - 6/6/10 at 03:03 PM

You could try the "send me 50 quid in advance to prove you're serious".

If they buy they get their money back, if they don't you've been paid for your time

ATB

Simon


dlatch - 6/6/10 at 03:52 PM

i love selling cars when ever i sell one first person to view leaves with the car.

so far 100%


iank - 6/6/10 at 05:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dlatch
i love selling cars when ever i sell one first person to view leaves with the car.

so far 100%


Got them up 50% too cheap?


eddie99 - 6/6/10 at 05:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dlatch
i love selling cars when ever i sell one first person to view leaves with the car.

so far 100%


How many cars have you sold? 1?


Ninehigh - 6/6/10 at 08:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
Maybe theyre still expecting to see the bird in the photos still attached to the car?



This is true.... they can have her if they can find her.... not my cup of tea lol!




Is that you coming out?


tegwin - 6/6/10 at 09:25 PM

Why... are you looking for a "friend"


Ninehigh - 7/6/10 at 07:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Why... are you looking for a "friend"






Lol