Next time you try compare ebay auctions to dealer prices...

motorguy

arcon5 wrote: »

A sub £1k car has significant differences in value based on the mot status alone! A ford KA can easily be picked up for less than a hundred quid with no mot, then sell very well with a full ticket.

Although a clean, good shine and some decent pictures do go a long long way. Many people want to buy a car ready to go straight away not sit in somebody else's filth until they can find time to valet themselves

A sub £100 Ford Ka is going to be rotting everywhere and anywhere. Patching one up to get it through MOT wouldnt be my idea of fun.

Agreed RE: a good clean. Theres a "margin" in there on the sub £1,000 stuff that could be as simple as sticking a years ticket on it and giving it a clean out. BUT with peoples expectations through the roof and amount they're willing to pay through the floor, its hard going these days.

arcon5

motorguy wrote: »

Am i reading this right?

You buy and sell low priced cars and you're a bit miffed because you have got caught out on a purchase because you didnt do your due diligence?

motorguy wrote: »

And presumably you dont either given you've just got done over?

I haven't been done over. I buy blind and take the risk.

It was a rant, and aimed at car buyers not private sellers! You've clearly missed the point!

arcon5

motorguy wrote: »

A sub £100 Ford Ka is going to be rotting everywhere and anywhere. Patching one up to get it through MOT wouldnt be my idea of fun.

Agreed RE: a good clean. Theres a "margin" in there on the sub £1,000 stuff that could be as simple as sticking a years ticket on it and giving it a clean out. BUT with peoples expectations through the roof and amount they're willing to pay through the floor, its hard going these days.

That's my point. People want to pay private prices and bear no risk and want everything working perfectly.

I have a clear policy advertised quite clearly that I don't barter on price... and for a while it's been effective! But this week had a couple turn up wanting it for nothing and not even being able to afford to buy at stated price!

As said, I don't care about the risk when buying privately, i'll just drop a new engine in (they're cheap enough on this car) or strip it to act as a donor for similar models i'll buy in. In this case there was no signs of the fault, probably cleaned up before collecting, and no smoking at all. Next day when preparing for MOT fault arose.... so people need to learn if they don't want to pay the price they just be willing to take the risk. Hopefully some people will see this video and think twice before moaning 'gumtree have them half the price'! Well get back on there and buy one

takman

arcon5 wrote: »

That's my point. People want to pay private prices and bear no risk and want everything working perfectly.

I have a clear policy advertised quite clearly that I don't barter on price... and for a while it's been effective! But this week had a couple turn up wanting it for nothing and not even being able to afford to buy at stated price!

I think you should price it around £25 or £50 higher than you want to sell it for and if someone tries to haggle then let them have the £25 or £50 off. It may not seem like much but psychologically they think they are getting a good deal by getting a little bit off the price, so means they are more likely to buy it!.

I personally will always haggle on the price of second hand items because their is nothing to loose by trying and a lot to gain!.

Herzlos

takman wrote: »

I think you should price it around £25 or £50 higher than you want to sell it for and if someone tries to haggle then let them have the £25 or £50 off. It may not seem like much but psychologically they think they are getting a good deal by getting a little bit off the price, so means they are more likely to buy it!.

I personally will always haggle on the price of second hand items because their is nothing to loose by trying and a lot to gain!.

I totally hate doing that; it means you need to price higher than you actually want so you can knock it down to the real figure. From both sides of the transaction you're worried you've overpaid or undercharged.

Why not just put it at the figure you want and say "no offers"?

takman

Herzlos wrote: »

I totally hate doing that; it means you need to price higher than you actually want so you can knock it down to the real figure. From both sides of the transaction you're worried you've overpaid or undercharged.

Why not just put it at the figure you want and say "no offers"?

I once priced a car higher so I had room to haggle and the first person to view it gave me the full asking price!. So its always worth it in my opinion. Plus it keeps the people happy who always have to get a little bit off the price. Anyone viewing a car or selling a car should always have done their research so they know how much to buy it/ sell it for.

Saying "no offers" I think is likely to put a lot of people off from viewing and buying the car. I have seen a car advertised at a good price based on the description. But when I viewed the car a few problems were not mentioned. I asked for some money off because of this but they wouldn't budge a penny so I didn't buy it. So it was a waste of both my time and theirs!

motorguy

arcon5 wrote: »

That's my point. People want to pay private prices and bear no risk and want everything working perfectly.

I have a clear policy advertised quite clearly that I don't barter on price... and for a while it's been effective! But this week had a couple turn up wanting it for nothing and not even being able to afford to buy at stated price!

As said, I don't care about the risk when buying privately, i'll just drop a new engine in (they're cheap enough on this car) or strip it to act as a donor for similar models i'll buy in. In this case there was no signs of the fault, probably cleaned up before collecting, and no smoking at all. Next day when preparing for MOT fault arose.... so people need to learn if they don't want to pay the price they just be willing to take the risk. Hopefully some people will see this video and think twice before moaning 'gumtree have them half the price'! Well get back on there and buy one

I notice a lot of dealers now simply dont negotiate - simply because you have to price the car rock bottom, although as you're finding theres always some smart !!! who finds a car like yours only with no mot and 200 miles away for £100 less.

The other problem is, you're selling cars to people with no money, so if anything goes wrong, they're back on the phone roaring and shouting.

It doesnt sound like its got any easier since i quit doing it. Glad to be out of it TBH.