Private party car sale experiences.

I’ve owned many cars in my life and have subsequently sold quite a few without any problems... until the last two. I had, after the sale, problems with both buyers. I expect some degree of scammers, morons, and mentally deranged half-wits; it just seems to come with selling anything these days. But these two, what is wrong with people.
So, I sold my Ram truck when I bought my present Tacoma. The truck was in excellent mechanical condition, serviced, and free from defects other than normal wear and tear. The few cosmetic defects it had were fully disclosed and discussed with the buyer. The buyer was a nurse who was buying it for her son who worked construction and needed a truck. I gave her a good price that was above trade in, well below the most I could have gotten, and far below a similar used retail sale. I ended up dealing with this psychotic ex husband who was trying to get some of the money back claiming this and that were wrong with the truck. Nothing was wrong with the truck, and I ended up going around with this guy for a bit before he hit the road. Later, I was contacted over lots of unpaid tolls which was easily resolved. After that I was contacted because the truck had been abandoned and my name was on the expired registration which was never properly titled. What a waste. Some people’s children.
Moving forward, my daughter bought a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek about two weeks ago and we were selling her 2013 Ford Fiesta we bought as her first car. I advertised it on Craigslist and a few others. The car was in excellent conditions, with no accidents, damage, exceptionally clean in and out, new BFG Comp TAs, Powerstop brakes, and all service records and receipts. I service our cars myself and I record all maintenance, including washes, tire and oil pressure check, cleaning the carpet, wipers... everything. The car had 49,xxx K on it, was smogged, clear title, and ready to go. Several people backed out because it’s a manual. Very few people drive a stick any more. You would think I was asking them to land a plane. One guy couldn’t believe my daughter was driving a stick. Yeah, she can ride a motorcycle too. I guess things are different from when I grew up.
Anyway, I dropped the price after having a number of people back out because it is a manual (yes, I stated that clearly in the ads but people don’t read or have even basic comprehension skills any more). I priced the car lower than blue book, far lower than the junk I’ve seen advertised by used retailers, but above trade in. I felt it was fair for both parties.
The buyer and I agree on a price via text message (which I find a bit odd) and he makes arrangements to come to my home. I have the car in the garage (it’s hot outside) ready for him to inspect. He only gives the vehicle a cursory look over and asks to drive it. No problem, we go for a spin and he says he’ll take it about a half mile in. I ask him if he would like to look over anything or has any questions... nope.
Okay, we finish the paperwork and he’s off. 30 seconds after that, I’m on the CA DMV site filing the release of liability.
Now, week later, he’s texting me saying there is all this water damage on the dash and a leaking windshield I didn’t disclose and it’s going to cost several thousand to fix it. This is all BS and it’s clear this is a grift. He never makes a specific demand but wants to know what I’ll do about it. Each text increases in tempo and intensity, and he contacted my daughter (the car was titled in her name) via her Instagram and her literature/writing web site. Same MO, what can we do, increasing tempo and intensity, and now it can’t be registered. She never responded to him. His last communication was he was going to leave the car in front of our house... um, okay, whatever.
For me, I simply explained used car sales are “as is”, it’s his duty to inspect the vehicle and make his own determination as to condition and value. The sale is finalized and I wouldn’t have any further conversation on the matter. He said he was going to come to my home to discuss it this weekend. I told him he was not welcomed to do that and if he showed up he had been warned about trespassing and I would call the PD and sign a complaint. He has not come by.
I know this is all BS and he is trying to get a discount on the vehicle after the sale. He must think I am either stupid, or I scare easily. He’s wrong on both counts. If he keeps pushing, and goes too far, I’ll have a lawyer draft a cease and desist, or I’ll get a restraining order. My daughter tracked his ip and his contacts with her came from his job. Keep pushing and she is going to contact their HR Dept. (He is some sort of sales engineer with a big sheet metal fab company in Huntington Beach).
Is this what selling a car has come to? This is the second time I’ve had to deal with some lunatic. My wife says we’ll never sell a car again, just trade it in. Is it two bad buyers, or is this the way it works now? Seriously, WTF is wrong with people?

 

Should've met the first buyer at the licensing place to exchange money and transfer title, right there in the parking lot.

And speaking of meeting in parking lots..
Dude never invite someone to your house! Are you crazy? The first warning sign was him agreeing to a price without even seeing the car first

 

It’s possible there really was an issue after the sale. Or maybe even before that you didn’t know or realize. Also very possible they were just hoping to complain enough in hopes to try and get some money back. This is why I just trade vehicles in. Not worth the hassle. Plus I’m my state when trading a car in you get back the tax money on the trade. So getting a bit more money selling private might not really be much more, or could be actually less depending on the sale price. Not sure if that’s the case where you live?

Even if it’s a little less trading it in the time saved from posting ad’s, having multiple people come out to look at it and test drive it, low balling and negotiating, and then having to worry about things like you mentioned, it’s not worth it to me. Seems like there is always some douche or people who want to play games. People also have buyers remorse. Much easier to trade it in to a dealer and let them worry about that and or any problems that the vehicle may have/or present shortly after the sale.

Best part is now adays most places will give you offer without buying anything from them. Even places that will quote and buy it online. So you can compare prices and try and get top dollar for it.

 

I never dale big items from my own home. I always have met at the dmv or the bank when selling a car private party. However the paperwork tends to have addresses.

But yeah, I’ve also always demanded the purchaser to inspect everything and send me a message saying their happy with it via text or email to avoid problems. I actually won’t sale an item to someone unless they visually inspect and verify what they are buying.

 

As is, where is. F off

 

What he said.

I did manage to sell our 2005 Rav4 3 years ago in a day. Yeah I got a couple of emails offering far less "if I have cash". My reply was "I put this into it last year for $xxx and this for xxx so that's where I came to my price, plus I comparison shopped so I think it's pretty fair. I only take cash but if you propose another unit of currency I am curious".

A dealer bought it for full asking the next day. In a way I think I should have asked a tad more but it was worth it to just make the deal fast and know I don't own him any kind of warranty.

For my own protection I made 2 copies of the bill of sale and kept one for myself after we both signed each copy.

 

This, the handful of times I haven't met at the local PD (because the item was too big to load up myself or the aforementioned vehicle which didn't have plates) I make sure my wife is home and watching upstairs

 

Pretty true. I'm trying to sell a gaming PC setup and people are just such flakes. I recently included in my ad "will consider part/full trade for vintage BMX only" just to try and move it. In no order I've been offered a bike less than 10 years old more than once, a mountain bike, and an Xbox. The Xbox would be great if I had time to play the stuff I have now maybe but yeah.

 

Just keep selling cars

 

I just can't read all of that. Paragraphs are your friend.

But based on what little I can decipher that is why I almost always prefer to trade. The way taxes work here I have to sell for at least 10% more than I can get in trade just to break even. I'd need at least 20% to 25% more to put up with the hassle.

The possible exception is if I have a $1000 clunker I'm just trying to move. In that case I want cash, no one is going to lose any sleep over a couple hundred dollars if someone wants to haggle, and everyone understands it is a clunker. Take your chances.

 

i can't stand selling stuff anymore.

found a bose speaker at goodwill. just 1. it was $10 that day. held on to it for a year hoping to find a 2nd, never did, was getting all those notices to "Sell On Ebay!!1!", got tired of it taking up space, figured i'd give it a shot. single speakers were selling(previously sold, not asking), around $70-100. at least decent gas money. i take 50 pictures, of all the scratches, the condition of every side, make a lengthy, specific writeup on the condition and quality, list it for $15 to bid up.

finally sells. for $35+ shipping. after bidding and winning, the buyer suddenly messages me that the shipping cost($15) was extremely out of line, should be free. i come down $5, but reiterate that shipping isn't being priced by me, it's right out of usps's site for the packaging, and box size required for the speaker...

total profit at this point, $20.
then the ebay fees start rolling in. there's the sellers fee, the item listing fee, insertion fee, and at least 2 more i'm forgetting.
in all, they added up to about $25.

so for what amounted to a month of pictures, posting, packaging, and shipping net me a total profit of negative $5.




the ranger i sold to get the tacoma, i was nearly in the same position as the OP. posted to facebook marketplace because craigslist is all but scammers and buy-here-pay-here places anymore. a $5k, 2002 truck, that lived in the snow belt it's entire life, so it had rust. no 20+ year old vehicle won't. this shouldn't shock anyone. i made no effort to highlight the rust specifically(does it have rust? yes), but never tried hiding it or saying it was a 'clean' truck. i simply stated what worked, the mileage, and the recent mechanicals that were updated.

got close to 300 "is this still available?"
then there were the 20 that responded with trade offers. tops was "i've got a jet ski with a cracked hull that runs a little rough, and a pontiac grand am with a 'weepy' head gasket"...
then there were the 5 that tried bartering the price before even looking at it in person. "will you take $2k?" sure, i'll just spontaneously drop the price $3,000 lower than market value because you asked...
another 5 stopped me on the street to ask about it "for a friend, for my daughter, for my son"

finally got 4 different people that were interested enough to actually follow through and look at it in person. first 1 was honest, disappointed with the rust, just walked away. 2nd was (again) shocked at the rust, offered $500. 3rd met up and suddenly realized the ranger is not a full size truck, nor does it have a 5th wheel attachment point. getting really frustrated at this point. 4th was the daughters/sisters first car, mom and brother came with her to look at it, they lol'ed at the rust (as long as we can't see daylight through the floors, it's still good!), and couldn't have been happier.





many moons ago, my parents bought a used chevy suburban from a lawyer. the transaction was uneventful, but being a lawyer, he had them sign a simple document before leaving, "i(seller)____, is selling(year/make/model) ____ to (buyer)___ for $___, with (miles)____, no warranty, expressed, or implied, this is an as-is sale." we've been re-using that form ever since. we make 2 copies, 1 for the buyer, 1 for us, all of us sign, so both have record of it.

while i can say the family has never had someone come back for any reason, i can't say it's specifically the form preventing problems. but it definitely helps to cement to the new buyer that whatever this vehicle is, don't bother talking to me anymore about any of it, it's entirely your problem now!

 

My wife doesn’t like the at our home meet. I do it because I feel I have an advantage. It’s my territory so to speak. We have cameras although, I should add one in the garage. The title has our address, so it would be easy to come back there if someone thought they were going to steal the money back. Generally, I think we have strong security but everything has its limits. He did seem unnerved at our dogs barking.

 

Yeah, the hassle has become more than it’s worth I think.

 

I did keep copies of everything and I keep them for a year or so.
I do t get the “I have cash” bit with people. Under 10k and all I’ll take is cash. Everyone thinks they are negotiators but they come up with all this nonsense.

 

I am going to check Craigslist and see if he is flipping it. This might be a side hustle for him. This should also mean his window is short and if he couldn’t get anything out of me with the text nonsense, he’s done.

My wife is a little concerned he’ll try small claims, but I think he would be dead in the water. I have an additional sales agreement similar to what one of the other responders talked about. It was written by a lawyer and is as you stated, “as is” and “where is”, and states he is responsible for inspection. I think he would have to file here, at the point of sale too which would be a hassle for him as he lives in Orange County.

 

In the simplest terms, and most convenient definition.

 

It is possible there was an issue after the sale, or one unknown to me, that could always be the case. I did sell the car in good conscience, because I had been all over it to make sure there were no issues. I had cleaned the dash, carpet, and changed the cabin filter and had not seen any signs of moisture (dampness, mildew, discoloration, etc.). If there were a leak, I would have had the windshield replaced especially since it has a Safelite replacement which has a lifetime warranty. The car was out of my possession long enough, however, that I have no idea what has gone on with it.

This guy reads as a scammer to me. He makes no specific demands for a remedy, he keeps trying to get me to suggest one. Overstated urgency, false claims he cannot register the car. I think he’s hoping I’ll offer some go away money. The thing is, he’ll just keep coming back.

I’d feel bad if it did have a leak, but the window has passed for me to do anything about that, and this guy’s whole vibe stinks of BS, so he is going to be on his own.

You’re right about all of this not being worth the hassle.

 

You can't be too careful these days.

 

I've rebuilt a couple of totaled Tacos and about six months ago I sold one. I loved the truck, but can't drive two.

So I get a call through someone referred here on TW. The guy is in SoCal and wants the truck sight unseen. He asks a few questions and seems fine with it. He asks for a picture of the title and I send it. And then he says he will wire the money and have the truck picked up.

I'm all kinds of leery. I've never sold anything long distance and always demand cash. But I check with my bank and they say it's done all the time. I keep an account with no debit card and a low balance separately from my real money and I don't do any on-line banking. The money is wired to my account and I immediately transfer the funds to another account. It's cash and the bank says it's my money.

A guy shows up in a couple of days with an enclosed trailer, the front occupied by a classic Mercedes. He loads up the truck, I hand him the title and a bill of sale in a sealed envelope and the extra keys... and the guy drives off with the Taco.

A few days later the buyer texts me, saying the truck has arrived, he's driven it for a day, and loves it.

I haven't heard anything since.

But I have to admit, my alarm bells were ringing until the bank said the money was mine. Even then it seemed hard to believe.

 

It could be the new thing with electronic transfer etc but I am just old fashioned. I had someone many years ago try to give me a check for a car and I refused immediately.