Selling a car - I don't understand this scam...

Supersonos

Nicky_S said:

I had similar problems then I updated my advert with "no time wasters". 

What makes you think saying "no time wasters" will stop time wasters?

Herzlos

frayedknot said:

motorguy said:

Penelopa.Pitstop said:

Recently saw old Rav4 for £3100 private sale. Two days later, the same photos, trader in different location selling it for £4900 and it was sold quickly. Seems like original owner priced it too low.

Yes when i was trading we scanned the new adverts dairly - sometimes several times a day - to find cars that were under priced and we'd then buy to resell.

Quite a common practice.

There's a difference between spotting a bargain and ringing a seller with a correctly priced car and making comedy offers even before seeing the car.

For a car dealer, any £ you knock if the buying price is an extra £ in profit. It also gives a quick gauge on how desperate the seller is - even if only one in 100 takes the offer, how much time is it worth for £2k? How many do they think could be talked around?

I dare say that as a dealer, it's not worth pursuing the private sellers who won't budge a penny on price.

buglawton

Dealers can offer finance and make a profit on that. A long time ago I sold a 3.5 year old car, went straight to a dealer thinking this, and got a fair no hassle cash price.

Supersonos

buglawton said:

Dealers can offer finance and make a profit on that. A long time ago I sold a 3.5 year old car, went straight to a dealer thinking this, and got a fair no hassle cash price.

I ended up selling to a trader who was honest enough to tell me exactly that - he would add a mark-up but most of his profit would be from finance.