Bad experiences with private car sellers

1DayAAT

Has anyone else had bad experiences with private sellers being arrogant and seemingly not even want to sell the car at all?!

(We can leave traders out of it - whole 'nother kettle of fish!:eek:)

But for example.
Started looking for my last car, did all my research etc, then had a particular make, model, age, spec and even colour in mind. Found one on AutoTrader that matched it within the right price bracket. Made a couple of polite enquiries to seller and then arranged to visit a couple of days later. I arranged to have the money avaliable in full should I want to secure the purchase there and then. (Car was selling at approx £3600 and I had the full amount from the sale of my last car).

They lived over an hour away so I text in the morning to say I was leaving and an ETA. I was about 30 minutes from their house when I received a text to say that the car had just been sold in cash!!
Why did they let anyone come and view it when my appointment was set up, let alone sell it to them! :eek:

I was really upset and tried to contact them to discuss why this had happened but they didn't answer the phone or texts again!

Shortly after this I found another one matching the spec I wanted and made enquires to see it. Again it was located just over an hour away. When I spoke to the (young) guy selling it, he very quickly stated "you can't haggle with me" or something, quite rudely and proceeded to tell me that he'd had it up for sale for over a grand more just a few weeks ago. I went silent on the phone at this point as felt he was trying to put me off - and then he changed his tune "I'm not saying you can't have it at the price listed but I'm just saying it's worth a lot more". As a buyer, I sorta expect to be treated with a bit of respect even if it's a peer to peer sale, it just felt so hostile - like he was doing me a favour letting me buy the car.

Yeah but you didn't SELL it at that higher price, did you dude? I could list anything for any price, doesn't mean that's what it is worth. Something is only worth what someone will pay!
(Regardless, I did buy this one - paid in full upon viewing and drove off in it and still very happy with it).
This business seems to be a magnet for arrogance, time wasting and hassle. I like to think I am honest and friendly throughout any of these kind of experiences but getting the same in return is kinda rare.
I think next time I will use a garage for the whole process and P/X, swallowing the costs but saving a nervous breakdown.:mad:

Sorry this was a bit soapboxy but I feel better now

Anyone else had a bad one?

WTFH

So, it's a problem for you when people don't buy your car (you call them timewasters and idiots), but when it comes to you wanting to buy a car, suddenly it's the seller who's at fault?

For the first car you went to see, why should they not be allowed to show it to other people? Did you tell them you were arriving with the exact money to buy it? Did you ask them not to show it to anyone else?

tykesi

Why did they let anyone come and view it when my appointment was set up, let alone sell it to them!

Seriously?

You honestly expect someone NOT to sell a car at a price they are obviously happy with because you're on your way to view it and might NOT buy it?

I think you are going to keep having these experiences if this is your view on it.

The other guy does sound a bit of an idiot if he really started the conversation like that but then you bought it anyway so despite your distaste at him being 'hostile' you went ahead anyway so his attitude was irrelevant!

1DayAAT

Yes, I had made it clear that I was coming with a high likelihood to buy - I had left the house and was en-route - wouldn't it be nicer to have said to the other buyer that someone is coming, if they don't take it, we'll give you a call.

The type of idiots that I am referring to when trying to sell my car are the Gumtree scammers who want you to ship your car to Nigeria or the guy who was in Manchester and said he was going to travel to London where I am to view it - waited in all day, then phoned me at 8pm to say he still hadn't left yet. He never came.

Bit different , I feel? I didn't waste anyone's time whilst buying, I was serious, honest and friendly at every point of the process.

worried_jim

4 years ago I tried to buy a Peugeot 306 19td to run on veg. It took me three day to reach the seller by phone as he had a landline only. He explained he had dial up internet and had been online all this time so his phone was always engaged. I asked him if he thought it was a good idea to put a car on autotrader and then not be available to sell it. I then arranged a time to go and view the car but I didn't bother to turn up to waste some of his time. I had the cash at home so I went to Miami Fl instead.

DUTR

1DayAAT wrote: »

Yes, I had made it clear that I was coming with a high likelihood to buy - I had left the house and was en-route - wouldn't it be nicer to have said to the other buyer that someone is coming, if they don't take it, we'll give you a call.

The type of idiots that I am referring to when trying to sell my car are the Gumtree scammers who want you to ship your car to Nigeria or the guy who was in Manchester and said he was going to travel to London where I am to view it - waited in all day, then phoned me at 8pm to say he still hadn't left yet. He never came.

Bit different , I feel?

As a recent private seller I can probably answer as I sound like a seller you describe.
Firstly 1st to arrive and complete the deal gets the car period.
Where the buyer is travelling from is not my problem, I'm not selling the car because I am desperate for the money, I could afford a newer car and my offer of a sale is for the next person to enjoy the car, if you as a buyer can find better then go and buy it. You have to remember the seller will often have to stomach timewasters with daft questions like "what's the lowest you will take for it mate?" Even though they have not yet even viwed the car, as for cash? I don't want it, transfer it into my bank account, I don't want to be party to money laundering, we have seen posts on the board where the bank wouldn't accept a large cash deposit. Buying a car can be difficult, it's one of those things you will have to learn to accept.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Car sellers and buyers reflect the population at large, meaning what you say and saying what you mean went out of fashion some time ago.


edit...''questions like "what's the lowest you will take for it mate?" Even though they have not yet even viewed the car''... that question asked outright leads to an immediate end of conversation when they try it with me, not the sort of people i wish to meet.

arcon5

If I see a car i think ill like but not quite happy on price ill happily ask that question to gauge whether there is going to be movement on price. If you hang up or act like a moron then you've answered my question.

When selling a car the first person with cash gets it - ill tell you if it's gone before you travel down, but if somebody wants to view it sooner then tough luck.

vaio

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

..........''questions like "what's the lowest you will take for it mate?" Even though they have not yet even viewed the car''... that question asked outright leads to an immediate end of conversation when they try it with me, not the sort of people i wish to meet.

On the other hand, on the last but one car I bought I had exactly that conversation with the seller before travelling (250 miles) to see it, then it was simply a matter of inspecting it, paying and driving it away with no discussion on price.

Had we not agreed a price in advance I wouldn't have travelled that far "on spec".

spacey2012

When something is "for sale" I always take the first to the door with the money and save nothing.
I think that is what happens when anything is for sale, someone walks up with the money and buys it.

Only advice I can give, is do not put things off,
"The early bird gets the worm"

DUTR

vaio wrote: »

On the other hand, on the last but one car I bought I had exactly that conversation with the seller before travelling (250 miles) to see it, then it was simply a matter of inspecting it, paying and driving it away with no discussion on price.

Had we not agreed a price in advance I wouldn't have travelled that far "on spec".

It will depend onthe car sought, my brother will travel miles to view cars (he likes Mercs) lots of times we have travelled from 0500 in the morning to get across the country to view a car only to be let down by the seller's descriptions of the vehicle .
There will be sellers that say they are coming to view and not show,so travelling to view is the risk a buyer has to take .
But in the case of the OP , the question is who is doing who the favour? If a seller is not selling a lemon then they are doing the buyer a favour. The last two cars I have sold comparing to those of similar age, not because it was mine but I think I priced at the more sellable rate for the age/condition mileage, I sold in September and a couple of the one slightly higher price I noticed were still on advert recently.