I Hate Selling Vehicles

I hate paying asking price. I negotiate down at least a little bit no matter what. Only in rare instances have I paid full asking price, and only then because it was already a bargain.

Once I bought a set of ATV bars to mount on my dual sport dirtbike. He was asking $20. I offered $15 and he said yes. I had a $20 bill and no less, he had no change. I gave him the $20 because he obviously needed that $5 more than I did and $20 was still a good deal. I have no idea what this story offers to the thread. Bring correct change, that's it.

I always bringe the asking price in cash when I go to check out a vehicle I'm seriously interested in buying. I still offer less every time. I've found the best thing to say is, "How many $100 bills do I need to give you to get this thing out of your life?" Some people give me their bottom dollar right away and make my life easy. A famous line that has resonated with me regarding vehicle purchase price negotiation is, "He who offers a number first, loses."

Moparman wrote: I also had my 71 Suzuki T250 for sale. I lovingly out her bank together and rebuilt the engine from the crank up. I was asking $1,500 for her. I actually had people come and offer me what I was asking, but I refused after person after person said they wanted to buy it to have a bike they can beat on. I did not put all that work into it (many, many hours) to have some buffoon beat the crap out of it. There are plenty of beater bikes out there for less than I was asking for the T250.

I understand that completely.

I had one guy show up to look at a car I'd had for 15 years and he was scathingly critical about it, citing all the issues I'd already disclosed to him. He alleged that it was only good for parts and that he'd have to wreck it (far from the truth).

He asked me what the lowest price I'd accept would be, I told him and then he offered me a couple of thousand less. I just said no. He then offered me what I had told him my lowest price was and I told him to take a hike, and that I chose not to sell to rectal orifices for any price.

PS - it was a derusted MG needing only paint and tidying.

Thank you all. It's been just over ten months since I've bought or sold a car, and reading this is reminding me of all the fun I'm missing out on. Should be real easy for me to hold out even longer. If only I wasn't looking into doing some buying and selling of two wheelers

One more reason I drive a car until it goes to the junkyard.

Moparman wrote: 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.

We are not in disagreement my friend. My counter of "what's the highest you'll pay" is just a slightly more shiny happy way of telling them to go away. In one or two instances it did actually result in a number but it was not a good number, it never is if that is their negotiation tactic.

eastsidemav wrote: Thank you all. It's been just over ten months since I've bought or sold a car, and reading this is reminding me of all the fun I'm missing out on. Should be real easy for me to hold out even longer. If only I wasn't looking into doing some buying and selling of two wheelers

See despite all the complaints I enjoy the process. Rarely am I selling a car I need to get rid of so then stupid people become my playthings. I'll mess with them all day long, hell I even listed a car on CL once that I had $100 into so I just told myself I'd accept every offer that was made and listed it at $600. Seeing as how it was the cheapest honda in the world every mouthbreather on CL starts calling, I accepted every offer on the spot but told them all I wouldn't hold it for anyone, first one with cash wins. Guy 1 offers $450 unseen. Guy 2 $500. Guy 1 shows up first proceeds to try and nit pick things like a cracked turn signal lens. (My ad actually called the car a POS so there was no surprises) And offers $350 instead, Guy 2 pulls in the driveway and I tell guy 1 that $500 is walking up the driveway, what's he gonna do. He paid of course....it was a fun day

I think as long as I can, I'll drive whatever I have into the ground and donate it at the end. Selling cars takes too much time and you deal with so many scumbags...

ScreaminE wrote: Just dealt with this. 4 months to sell a $2k car. Most people wouldn't buy it because it wasn't in show room condition. Had one guy verbally assault me because the weather stripping was loose and the cap wasn't on the AC high side port.

I'd calmly close and lock the car up and state that "perhaps this is not the car for you"!

Moparman wrote: 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.

So counter their $1500 with $5500. If they say that is absurd, just point out that they started it.

Keith Tanner wrote: I had a guy agree to buy an MG, then drove the 8 hours from Durango to Grand Junction to pick it up. After we had it on the trailer, he said he had been planning to negotiate down further but after seeing the car he was willing to pay my asking price. Seriously? You'll drive 8 hours one way and then try to get the price knocked down? He would have gone home empty handed if he'd tried. I was only asking $800!

Never load up a car until the transaction is complete!

Just like towing, never let the car down until you are paid.....

bentwrench wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: I had a guy agree to buy an MG, then drove the 8 hours from Durango to Grand Junction to pick it up. After we had it on the trailer, he said he had been planning to negotiate down further but after seeing the car he was willing to pay my asking price. Seriously? You'll drive 8 hours one way and then try to get the price knocked down? He would have gone home empty handed if he'd tried. I was only asking $800!

Never load up a car until the transaction is complete! Just like towing, never let the car down until you are paid.....

I think you missed my point.

Are you envisioning some sort of car chase where the buyer jumps in the truck and takes off, and I jump in the big Ram and run him off the road? That's easy, call the cops about a stolen car.

bentwrench wrote:

ScreaminE wrote: Just dealt with this. 4 months to sell a $2k car. Most people wouldn't buy it because it wasn't in show room condition. Had one guy verbally assault me because the weather stripping was loose and the cap wasn't on the AC high side port.

I'd calmly close and lock the car up and state that "perhaps this is not the car for you"!

I ate a lot of E36 M3 that day in hopes he would buy it. When he finally said he didn't want it, I turned around and walked inside. Didn't say a word.

I just dealt with selling a car a few weeks ago. My wife's ZHP. First we went to the dealer and they offered $3000. Within a week of that offer a kid came and got it for $9300. Then of course a day later kid contacts me because he heard a noise he didn't like that wasn't present during the test drive. Oh well, sorry, your car now. I had several people low ball me on the car and the craigslist scammers come out, but I just ignored them or berkeleyed with them.

The dealership sales staff were a little surprised that their trade folks offered me $3000 and I sold it within a week for $9300.

When buying I generally try to assess what is a realistic price for the car in my mind and if someone is way off with their price then I don't even bother contacting them. Like I'm not gonna offer $5000 for a car priced at $10000.

What's hilarious, is that more than 1/2 of you guys will resort to the same tactics when buying a car...

In reply to Harvey: That is my point. If the price you want to buy it for is way off what I am asking, don't bother me.

In reply to mr2peak: I don't. I will never deliberately waste someone's time. I someone is being cute and prices a car way above what the would accept, too bad. You don't get my cash.

Moparman wrote: In reply to mr2peak: I don't. I will never deliberately waste someone's time. I someone is being cute and prices a car way above what the would accept, too bad. You don't get my cash.

Pretty much this. I take the asking price at face value, that is what it is and if I find it acceptable, I buy it, and if I don't then I move on. No sense making what is supposed to be enjoyable into an aggravating affair.

My temper keeps me from being reasonable when selling anything. Why can't the potential buyer see the product is as valuable as I believe it is? I gave up trying to sell things myself years ago.

I have a friend that loves to horse trade. He'll argue over the cost of a beer. And that's when buying or selling. I just pay him a commission to sell my stuff. Sometimes I'm happy with the price, sometimes not. But either way it beats me getting into a street fight over a few bucks!

mr2peak wrote: What's hilarious, is that more than 1/2 of you guys will resort to the same tactics when buying a car...

I'm probably part of the other half then.

However I will start haggling like my life depended on it if you massively overdescribed your car and basically pissed me off by having me come to your place, do a PPI on your car and then tell have to you tell you everything that is wrong with it.

Or I'll just walk. Done that before.

Honest description at a decent market price, I won't haggle. You forgetting to mention in the ad that the V8 runs on three cylinders, three tires are corded and the fourth one is the space saver spare and a wolverine redecorated the interior, I will show that I'm annoyed with you.

I do describe the cars I'm selling warts and all, and all I hear from genuine buyers (as opposed to the mouth breathing time wasters) is that they were very happy with the honest description.

When I think about it, I've never had anyone come look at a car I'm selling and NOT buy it. Like Tim, I advertise them as they are. If someone's seriously interested enough to bother showing up, they take it. And usually for what I'm asking.

I did get a scammer to send a $20,000 money order to the White House one time, though.

We've all been on both sides so it's always funny when people offer cash as if there's any other option. But sometimes actually showing up with cash in hand the first time you're seeing the vehicle, does make a difference because people are sick of dealing with idiots that are listed in all these previous posts.

Keith Tanner wrote: I did get a scammer to send a $20,000 money order to the White House one time, though.

The White House wouldn't know what to do with $20,000 other than use it in the bathroom. ;-) You should have sent them to the FBI. :-)

Someone who responds to a listing with: "What's your bottom dollar" is asking you to bid against yourself.

The only appropriate response is: "I can't bid against myself. If you want it, make an offer."

Flipside is that everyone hates paying asking price. As a seller, I always leave a little negotiation room. Doesn't have to be a lot.

Petrolburner wrote: I hate paying asking price. I negotiate down at least a little bit no matter what. Only in rare instances have I paid full asking price, and only then because it was already a bargain. Once I bought a set of ATV bars to mount on my dual sport dirtbike. He was asking $20. I offered $15 and he said yes. I had a $20 bill and no less, he had no change. I gave him the $20 because he obviously needed that $5 more than I did and $20 was still a good deal. I have no idea what this story offers to the thread. Bring correct change, that's it. I always bringe the asking price in cash when I go to check out a vehicle I'm seriously interested in buying. I still offer less every time. I've found the best thing to say is, "How many $100 bills do I need to give you to get this thing out of your life?" Some people give me their bottom dollar right away and make my life easy. A famous line that has resonated with me regarding vehicle purchase price negotiation is, "He who offers a number first, loses."

This is the kind of guy that makes the rest of us miserable. He admits he brings the correct amount of money but argues over something worth $20 anyway, Good grief.

secretariata wrote:

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.

This. I have a klr650 on Craigslist. I listed the price, I said it was firm and not to bother me by asking if I'll take less for it because I offered it for an amazing price to begin with. Still, I get jacka$$es sending me emails, you guessed it, "will you take x for it?" At first it made me mad but now I just hit delete. Some people want to buy and others just want to play games. Yawn. I'm probably just going to keep the dang thing.