Ever sell a car to a clueless idiot?

[Kern Dog]

I have been buying and selling cars over the years to fund my various car projects. Some I buy as a neglected rolling chassis needing a fresh engine and some TLC. I have sold cars locally and on Ebay. My feedback is good.
Last year I began selling more stuff to put together some money to buy a 2015 Challenger. I had a 78 Plymouth Trail Duster that I'd owned since 2011. It was bought with the intentions of taking the wife camping or just some off road fun. I put a rebuilt trans in it, added a new Sure Grip rear diff and kept it in great tune. It was fun but I rarely drove it. I figured it was better to sell it rather than to let it sit unused. I priced it at $2850 and let the market decide what it was worth. I had plenty of calls and sold it within a few days to a local guy for $2500 He was happy to find an unmolested 440 Truck, one that hadn't been crashed or hacked up.
A week later, the calls started. He said the wipers didn't work, the heater didn't work, why is the steering loose, etc. I did forget to replace the nylon linkage parts for the wipers, so I agreed to fix the wipers. he came over, I offered to fix them after I looked at the heater. I flipped the slide lever on the A/C and Heater controls and the fan blew just like it should. "What did you do? Did you just FIX it?" Yeah...I just fixed it because I am so brilliant, I know how to move a switch.
He must have been embarrassed because he made an excuse to leave early, saying he will just fix the wipers himself.
A month goes by, he starts texting with accusations of how I ripped him off, writing that the truck is hard to start after sitting a few weeks. I tried to call back because text arguing is totally stupid to me. STRAIGHT to voice mail. I tried to be amicable because I figure the guy is just used to newer cars with fewer quirks. Over the last 2 months, he pops up occasionally to bitch about something, as if all cars come with a lifetime customer service agreement. Still blocking incoming calls, by the way. I have plenty of experience with old cars, so it is no big deal to use starting fluid to get a ThermoQuad equipped 440 alive after sitting awhile. I am used to wind noise through the windows, the sloppy overboosted Mopar steering, etc. This assclown must have expected new car feel for $2500.
I am not a fan of Censorship. I do not put anyone on an "ignore" list on any forum I frequent. This guy was the first that i ever felt the need to add to the "Block this caller" list on my phone.

[Armudster]

 Sounds to me as he wants to take advantage of you in some way, I would put him on the block list, you are not responsible for his ignorance. Over that time window he could of done a lot of mistakes on the car, and that is his problem now, not yours.

[jaak]

I don't know why some folks don't understand the term "as-is". If he wants a new car/truck, he needs to buy a new car/truck. 2500 bucks, you should expect it need some work.

A few years back, I bought a 99 S-10, it was a nice low mileage truck, but the trans was slipping. I gave 500 bucks for it, and I had the trans rebuilt for 900, put new brakes on it, and had a almost new set of tires in my garage I kept off a Van of ours that got totalled a couple of months prior. So I had less than 1500 in it. I asked 4k for it, just to give some bargaining room. Well this guy comes by, looks at, likes it... after talking a few minutes I told him I'd take $3700. I can't recall now, but he said something that pissed me off. He went and got his wife, they test drove it, and he offered me $3200. I said no... 3700. He kept looking at it, walking around it, he said 'I will write you a check for 3500 right now'! I said I will take a check, but you need to have a couple of one hundred dollar bills to go with it. He kept dickering around, and he said 'how about you meet me in the middle? 3600?' I said no, if you want it 3700! Well he got pissed and left. He showed up 30 minutes later, knocked on my door with 3700. If this guy hadn't been an ass-hat, he probably would have got the truck under 3k, because I had such a mark up on it... but I was pretty firm because of his attitude. He did call me back a couple of days later because the rear seal was leaking in the trans, I ran it back up to the place I had it rebuilt, and they popped in another seal (It was under warranty). Never dealt with him again after that.

Jason

[Windsor]

Had a similar experience when I sold my RV. An hour after I sold it, the guy called saying that they smelled burning brakes and then it wouldn't move anymore. I went and looked at it, and realized it was the driveshaft brake. I crawled under it and found that he had run over a tire in the road and it kicked up, did some damage and jammed the brake. I did the repairs, but made him buy the parts.
About a week later he called me bitching about the floors not being original. I reminded him that in the listing I stated that I had put in a floating hardwood floor and asked why he wasn't happy with them. He was upset that it wasn't the original carpet. Probably a month later he called complaining about the mileage it got on a trip he just took. He didnt seem happy with my response, so I hung up. My response "Listen guy. It has a freaking 454, it's 33 feet long, and you were driving it through mountains. Of course it's not going to get great mileage. If you don't want it, bring it back to me, I'll figure out what has been damaged since I sold it to you and I'll make you an offer. If not, stop calling me and enjoy the f**king thing."  Never heard back from him.

[ws23rt]

I was never one that felt comfortable with dickering over the price of something I'm selling.
It may be a tradition to haggle but the way I do it is (for example).  My price is $3500. the buyer says I'll give you $3400.  I say no thanks the price is now $3600.--- They say what's up with raising the price?  I say you went down in price and I went up in price is that not fair?

[TUFCAT]

I was never one that felt comfortable with dickering over the price of something I'm selling.
It may be a tradition to haggle but the way I do it is (for example).  My price is $3500. the buyer says I'll give you $3400.  I say no thanks the price is now $3600.--- They say what's up with raising the price?  I say you went down in price and I went up in price is that not fair?

I like that!   

[ws23rt]

 For those of you that are helping the buyer out with a few good natured fixes.--- I think that is a mistake. ---
It is setting you up as admitting you owe them something they didn't buy.

A proper bill of sale should have the "as is" part of the sale clearly stated. At the time both parties sign the bill of sale the seller should make that part of the sale clear.

[A383Wing]

I was never one that felt comfortable with dickering over the price of something I'm selling.
It may be a tradition to haggle but the way I do it is (for example).  My price is $3500. the buyer says I'll give you $3400.  I say no thanks the price is now $3600.--- They say what's up with raising the price?  I say you went down in price and I went up in price is that not fair?

I did that once with a pair of chairs I was selling on Craigslist...I was selling them for $30 a pair...she asked if I would take $20, I said no....then she asked what would I take, mind you, the price was in the ad, I told her I would take $40 for both....she came back all pissed off asking why I was telling her $10 more than what the ad said...I told her because she wanted them for less, and I wanted $10 more for having to deal with idiots like her who could not read

[ws23rt]

I was never one that felt comfortable with dickering over the price of something I'm selling.
It may be a tradition to haggle but the way I do it is (for example).  My price is $3500. the buyer says I'll give you $3400.  I say no thanks the price is now $3600.--- They say what's up with raising the price?  I say you went down in price and I went up in price is that not fair?

I did that once with a pair of chairs I was selling on Craigslist...I was selling them for $30 a pair...she asked if I would take $20, I said no....then she asked what would I take, mind you, the price was in the ad, I told her I would take $40 for both....she came back all pissed off asking why I was telling her $10 more than what the ad said...I told her because she wanted them for less, and I wanted $10 more for having to deal with idiots like her who could not read

  Good for you.
I sold a 57 imperal years ago and my price was $392. (one dollar per ci. and a complete running car buy the way).  The buyer offered me $375.  I said come back next year and the price will still be $392 and inflation will have fixed the difference between our prices.
He came back the next day and bought it for the HIGH price. I guess he couldn't wait for his money to lose value.

[1974dodgecharger]

I know a guy who bought a 69 charger, 440, auto, no rust, running condition, for 800 dollars back in 05.  He bought it from a clueless seller he was half slow or something.  He drove the car around the desert here in AZ on his land to get to places.  Guy sold it for 800 bucks, buyer then repaints it orange and puts a 01 on it..is now the general less    didn't have to do nothing to body all in good condition originally bought here in AZ.

[jaak]

I was never one that felt comfortable with dickering over the price of something I'm selling.
It may be a tradition to haggle but the way I do it is (for example).  My price is $3500. the buyer says I'll give you $3400.  I say no thanks the price is now $3600.--- They say what's up with raising the price?  I say you went down in price and I went up in price is that not fair?

Awesome!

Jason

[RallyeMike]

I have more than a few stories, but this one is actually Charger related:

I was parting a 72 Charger and guy came over and wanted the front clip. I torched it off at the firewall and we dragged it onto his trailer. The next week he came back and bought the back half of the car "to put it back together".

[Patronus]

The best is when they haggle - over the phone - never having seen the item...WTH!? Where did you learn that that was proper etiquette
seriously...
I sold this '92 E-350 van to this elderly spanish man... we haggled for a while, I kept saying no -no..finally sold it for $700, was asking $1000. That lil bastard pulled out a wad of hundys like they were wet and paid me. 
Never again - ever will I be had thinking I was doing a good thing.

[myk]

Had a similar experience when I sold my RV. An hour after I sold it, the guy called saying that they smelled burning brakes and then it wouldn't move anymore. I went and looked at it, and realized it was the driveshaft brake. I crawled under it and found that he had run over a tire in the road and it kicked up, did some damage and jammed the brake. I did the repairs, but made him buy the parts.
About a week later he called me bitching about the floors not being original. I reminded him that in the listing I stated that I had put in a floating hardwood floor and asked why he wasn't happy with them. He was upset that it wasn't the original carpet. Probably a month later he called complaining about the mileage it got on a trip he just took. He didnt seem happy with my response, so I hung up. My response "Listen guy. It has a freaking 454, it's 33 feet long, and you were driving it through mountains. Of course it's not going to get great mileage. If you don't want it, bring it back to me, I'll figure out what has been damaged since I sold it to you and I'll make you an offer. If not, stop calling me and enjoy the f**king thing."  Never heard back from him.

This is why I'll never sell anything...

[Ghoste]

In a lot of ways I'm just a glorified used car salesman and I deal with several of these types throughout the year.  It's just the way it is.  (although in your case I would block the texts)

[garner7555]

Alot of times the buyer gets mad at themselves for not looking over and checking everything out like they should.  They don't want to swallow their pride and say I missed that so they try to take it out on the seller.

I bought salvage cars at online auctions when I was in the car business.  Every now and then I would get burned (engine swapped out with a salt water flood engine or a locked up engine ect.) but that is just the nature of that business.  All sales are final, no matter what for the most part.  I wish the public had to buy by these terms.  I hate selling to the public. 

As far as haggling over the price, I enjoy it.  Its like a game, I would tell my wife on the way to look at something "they have it priced cheaper than its worth so I'm gonna buy it regardless, but lets see how much I can get them down".  It's totally the sellers choice whether to come down or not.  I don't insult, I simply make offers until we work out a deal.  I expect buyers to try to haggle me this way too when I am in the sellers shoes.

[Cooter]

Block his dumbass, and remember, stupid people are everywhere. They vote too.

[A383Wing]

Block his dumbass, and remember, stupid people are everywhere. They vote too.

and reproduce......just because you can, doesn't mean you should

[kamkuda]

Alot of times the buyer gets mad at themselves for not looking over and checking everything out like they should.  They don't want to swallow their pride and say I missed that so they try to take it out on the seller.

I bought salvage cars at online auctions when I was in the car business.  Every now and then I would get burned (engine swapped out with a salt water flood engine or a locked up engine ect.) but that is just the nature of that business.  All sales are final, no matter what for the most part.  I wish the public had to buy by these terms.  I hate selling to the public. 

As far as haggling over the price, I enjoy it.  Its like a game, I would tell my wife on the way to look at something "they have it priced cheaper than its worth so I'm gonna buy it regardless, but lets see how much I can get them down".  It's totally the sellers choice whether to come down or not.  I don't insult, I simply make offers until we work out a deal.  I expect buyers to try to haggle me this way too when I am in the sellers shoes.

I agree  I have bought things on impulse that I should have looked at more closely.  Worked out both good and bad.
We were taught to haggle at a young age.  We grew up pretty poor so getting a deal was important.  I expect the haggling over price when I sell.  I have haggled and paid the asking price too. 

[71charger_fan]

I sold an '88 Daytona Pacifica turbo to some numbskull. I had a coupon for a super cheap oil change at the dealership, so I had the oil changed at my expense before delivering it to him. About a month later, he reaches out to me, tells me the engine's seized and that his mechanic told him the oil hadn't been changed in a very long time. I told numbnuts there was a recent oil change receipt in the car. Then, I asked him if the engine turned over when he turned the key. He said yes. Then I told him it sounded like he had a snapped timing belt, a shady mechanic, and not my problem.

[keith88]

Not to say any of those people are not idiots because they are.... But there is the other side of the coin. I got screwed over when i Bought my charger last spring the car was 5 states away could not afford to go see it the description and the condition where two different things the pictures were nice and he did make a video for me that looked nice. But never judge a book by its cover, 1st the transmission was bad had to have it fixed right away( it drove but did not shift right the shop told me it wasn't something that just happened either) the brakes were bad (bad master, booster as well as the proportional valve) the carburetor was run without a fuel filter so so was screwed the gas gauge is still wrong, needed front end work needs exhaust (doing now) rear axle seal leaks a little ....and a ton of other little things that need attention. Mind you im not complaining about it but I was told it was a drivable car right off the truck" just get in and go to a show".. that statement was almost right i had it going at the end of the summer! I don't mind fixing things but i sure would have like to know the honest shape of the car BEFORE i bought it. Guess i should have known better when he had no problem accepting my offer of 3 grand less than he was asking so fast, that being said i feel i still paid a few thousand more than i should have in it condition. I still would have bought it hopefully for less  But I really like the car regardless.

[odcics2]

Block his dumbass, and remember, stupid people are everywhere. They vote too.

Well, good thing they all sat out during the last two elections!     

[Wicked72]

Ppl am r smart.

[oldcarnut]

Not to say any of those people are not idiots because they are.... But there is the other side of the coin. I got screwed over when i Bought my charger last spring the car was 5 states away could not afford to go see it the description and the condition where two different things the pictures were nice. But never judge a book by its cover,:Twocents:

I listed 2 cars I had on Ebay, a 70 Chally RT (clone)  and a 69 Coronet RT (real).  In both descriptions I listed everything I knew about it and probably over did it just to make sure something like above didn't have anyone getting surprises.  Both cars were bought by car dealerships after constant haggling me down. The Chally went to a classic place in Texas and the Coronet to a Massachusetts dealership selling mostly classics.  Both places grossly misrepresented or lied about the cars in their add/pictures and did not mention anything I had listed as not perfect or they glossed it over.  The Texas place listed as a R/T with the 383 and not the originally 318 clone with a 75 Chryslers Newport 400 I had told them was in it.  They sold it for 5k more than paid.  The Massachusetts guy really got on my nerve because after poor mouthing so bad he turned around in 3 months and sold it for 15K more to a someone after misrepresenting  the add

[keith88]

I worked at a dealer ship for 8 years ..they are all assholes some just bigger that others. That dose not surprise me at all...remember if there mouth is moving they are more than likely lieing!! left such a bad taste in my mouth i stay as far away as possible from any dealer.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Whenever i sell something thats a day to day car truck ect i always tack on more than I really want. Cause buyers always want to feel like they beat you down. On flip side when buying i will usually try too. Always polite. I don't get why buyers get mad when u don't accept the offer. I will try to negotiate some unless its something i feel thats a fair price to start with and feel comfortable paying full price. Vehicles you always need to leave a little wiggle room as a used car/truck always needs something.

[Cooter]

RULE # 1 when buying a used car is NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER take the word of seller as 'honest'.

[6spd68]

RULE # 1 when buying a used car is NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER take the word of seller as 'honest'.

Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear

[fy469rtse]

I think you did alright Keith ,
Watched yours from the start, yeh you've had a few problems , fixed now and thats a nice car,
It's in good hands ,
You can enjoy it, most on here are still rebuilding there's 

[Lord Warlock]

Not every seller is dishonest.  I know when I sell a car, I tell the good, the bad and the ugly, if it scares you off it wasn't meant to be, if it doesn't you know what you're getting in bed with and shouldn't have any second thoughts.   But don't call me a week later and expect me to fix it for you, by all means call and ask questions and if i know the answer I'll tell you, but there is usually a reason why I'm selling the car for the price i'm asking, and its usually because  I see no reason to put more money into a car I'm not going to keep much longer, especially if doing so won't make it possible to raise the price to compensate for the work done.

For example, I'm selling a 1994 mazda Miata that I've owned for 3 years, I got it for 3300, I've spent close to 8k over 3 years updating it and bringing it back to life and making it safe for my daughter to drive.  Its real value today is around 4k.  I'll eat the 4k I've already lost but don't plan on losing more by fixing every little thing on it.  I haven't listed it for sale yet, but do mention it to people that I'll sell it.  talked to a Paintless dent repair guy today about fixing the car I'm replacing the miata with, a 2004 hyundai tiburon, during the estimate mentioned I'd be selling her old car since she can't haul stuff to college in it, and he said doesn't need pictures just drive it by sometime next week and he may buy it.  I'll hand him a list of everything i've done to it, and I'll tell him what I think it needs done still, including the valve stem seals that just started leaking and causing it to smoke during first start of the day.  I want him to be happy with it, he can fix 90% of what the car needs, fixing minor dings and dents which is his specialty,  I'll offer to paint the rear bumper if he wants or give him the quart of paint i have for the job.  

After looking at most older miata's on the road, I know for a fact mine is nicer than most, but it isn't perfect, and I wouldn't present it as such.  But don't lowball me, I put an honest price on it, and if you think you can get one nicer you can go get it and take your chances.  Or you can get one with full disclosure.  Which would you want?

I've never had someone come back a week or a month later claiming I lied about it, most times they are surprised I tell them up front what I do.  Sometimes I talk my way out of a sale, sometimes i don't. really depends on how "excited" the buyer is about the car.  Remember the guy who got my 82 mustang GLX GT 5.0 4spd, had 149k miles and it wouldn't die, so eventually sold it to ride in something else.  The guy thought I was trying to talk him out of buying it. 

[Kern Dog]

Today I sold a 1995 Honda Civic with 246,000 miles for $1450. The buyer asked a few questions, heard the engine and forked over the cash.
I like that. I wish they were all like this.

[6spd68]

Cheaper cars are easier to sell with less BS.  I find anything 4K and up will usually cause a lot more scrutiny, and headaches.  At least that's been my experience thus far