Private party car sale experiences.

I don’t even sell shit on eBay anymore like I used to because of people out there. Last thing I sold ended up getting returned to me only after I had the buyer pay return shipping after they kicked and screamed because the buyer’s mechanic fucked the item up and didn’t bother to simply do a 30 second adjustment on a retaining clip they smashed out of the way. Never again.

I will be selling my current vehicle within the next couple years and do not look forward to it. My first avenue will be enthusiast groups to hopefully draw in a respectable buyer. Last vehicle sold went to Carvana 3 years ago and it was painless.

 

I've never sold on there but know people who do and heard it's getting bad especially with Paypal involved.

In your example it's asinine that you were found to have anything to do with the issue and then had to accept a damaged item back.

 

I have never sold a vehicle!

They get given away or sold at scrap price never any issues.

Always met at the Notary to do the paper work.

 

Never had a problem with a private sale or purchase.

I will admit my last 2 sales were to friends who knew that car along with a few giveaways before that.

Havent had a problem with clist yet with smaller sales once contacted by someone actually interested.

 

Its important to have very low expectations of people. When I buy I expect people to try and scam, when I sell I expect them be crappy about it. Always go the public place when selling, I like walmart the parking lots have cameras were I live plus lots of people.

 

For sure. That made me certain he was trying to work me. I guess he assumed I am stupid.

 

I did have a few hit me up for an electronic transfer. No way, Cash only under 10 K. I guess some might bite on that though.

 

Wait 'til you have to sell one on Facebook, that's where the real morons are at.

 

That sounds like good advice.

 

Sounds smart, like firewalling the funds.

 

another thing I do when selling, is if they low ball me drop the price a little. Like if i'm selling something for 1000$, drop it to 950$. this is just the 99 cent trick, but it makes the buyer feel like they have "won" something and can make the sale smoother.

 

@CPS-65 sorry to hear about your recent selling experiences.

I've been looking for a newer Taco to replace my Dads 2004. Trying to help my elderly father get into a newer truck to avoid getting a call one day saying him and my mom are stranded on the side of the road. He'll only drive Tacomas BTW. Found a 2018 Tacoma 4WD in Phoenix (2 hours away). During initial call, guy says he's outta town and can show the truck tomorrow. After several rounds of texts messages, I wrote we'd like to buy the truck tomorrow. So I arrange a time and location with him. Texted him today "leaving now". 20 mins into our drive I get a reply "Truck just sold". DB move IMO....

 

Or maybe if I was a dealer, but that's probably a more secure thing.

My motto when selling "look at the comparable items for sale, ask a little more and write a better ad"..and "If I offered it up for $10 I'm sure everyone would try to get it for $5". My favorite was my $400 Datsun that 2 guys came an hour plus for and the guy offered $150. I said definitely not, he started picking apart small things like scratches etc on a 10 year old car. He then said "OK $200 if my buddy lends me the $50" after 20 minutes of being shown all the minor flaws. I replied saying so you want it for $150 since you came all this way b/c that's all you have, if it was $10 in your pocket you'd want it for $10? FOH with that.

 

I will take a EFT in a heart beat over cash

In fact I got paid that way for a few jobs.

Then if your hiding funds it will not work.

 

i've heard of this a few times, unfortunately. definitely a DB move. just because i'm jumping up and down with a $20 bill doesn't mean mcdonalds would allow me to jump the lunch rush line to order off the dollar menu! first come, first served used to mean something...

 

This.

When someone tries to low-ball your price on the phone, at that point you know what you're dealing with. Respond, "Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. You haven't even seen the truck yet, but you already know how much it is worth? Thank you for calling." CLICK. I don't suffer these people. Been horse-tradin' too long.

I've never traded in a vehicle. Always sold them to individuals. I do what is called an "in-and-out" at the dealership so that I can take the price of the car I am selling off of the new purchase just as if it was a trade-in. That way the DEALER is the seller and the buyer signs their purchase paperwork. This just adds one more layer of protective paperwork. I add my Bill of Sale, chock full of all the legal paragraphs that I have lifted from other legal documents through the years, and which includes the "sold as is" clause. It also contains a Hold Harmless and Indemnity Clause. Bitches gonna' be whacking a lot of legal weeds before they get back to my pockets. I do not pay the dealer's in-and-out fee either: No sale unless no fee.

Cash only, no checks. Buy you one of those counterfeit detection pens. Last truck I sold (without new purchase) the guy gave me ten $100 bills. Used the pen. Two were counterfeit. Things got real real, real fast. Gave him his "money" back and stuck my hand in my desk drawer. He left, called back and said he wanted to come back, this time with civil stand-by. Second time all the bills passed muster. You meet all types. Be prepared.

Finally, some of you don't like selling your vehicle yourself because you're no good at it. Probably not as good as you could be at buying either. When you master the art of the deal you look forward to the give and take of negotiation. Price your vehicle fairly, so that you never have to have your hat in your hand. Remember this phrase: "Thank you for your kind offer, but I can't accept it. If you don't buy it, you know the next person will. Thank you for coming." Full stop. Awkward silence (which you want). Enjoy this moment because you have seized the high ground. Next person that speaks loses!

 

I've seen this before. If only 2 were counterfeit I would assume they didn't know, cut them some slack and give them a chance to come up with the money. If they all were then they can pound sand.

 

That's what I did. His uncle drives our garbage truck and that's how he found out about the '98 Chevy sitting in my driveway and it not moving for a few years. Good friend of mine. Still, I'd never met these two. When there are two of them and one of them has just handed you counterfeit money, you gotta' man-up, immediately.

 

Last year I listed a new in box 3D printer..sadly inherited when my friend who just bought it passed away. I listed in my ad the price that day on Amazon and the manufacturer's site, priced mine about 20% less at $175.

I got one lowballer "I'll give you $100 and that's top dollar". I employed a move an old family friend told me recently. I replied "OK yeah I could do $200". Immediately I got "what that's not right you listed it $175!" I said "well, you felt the price was negotiable even though I wrote FIRM..so you gave me pause to question if I was asking the right price. I think $200 is good"

The answer was oh I can get it on Ebay for $150 right now, I said "ok go for it and then pay for shipping too"

I almost look forward to the haggling if I'm selling, as my comedian friend's arm tattoo says "Hey at least I got some good material out of it".

 

Not hiding funds, I just haven’t done business that way so I’m not comfortable with it.