Why do people do things like this? (lowball offers)

[triple_green]

I got a call a work today from my son. Two young guys were at my house (univited) and wanted to buy my Charger and Challenger. Said they had a bunch of cash. We live down a private road that deadends into a lake after the next house. People don't just drive by. The cars are under the structure of the house in three sided carports.

It turns out one of these guys had followed me home when I had the 69 R/T SE for sale last May and seen my other cars. Anyway everything has it's price, so I told him to tell them $32K for the Charger and $65K for the Chally Vert (BB car with a 15K mile  1969 426 hemi transplant).

Anyway the guy immediately offers $20K for the Charger. So I had my son show him the end of the driveway. Why do people do thing like this? Does $20K sound anywhere near $32K to you?

I have a 55 YO Boeing Engineer at our summer swim club who has been trying to buy the car for $30K for the last two years.

What is with these BoZos

[Charger-Bodie]

Ill give ya 22k  Just kiddin.

Some people just dont get it, but I suppose it didnt cost them much to try 

[69charger2002]

yeah on one hand you can't blame them for trying. but on the other(more important hand) it is so annoying. all they basically did today was WASTE YOUR TIME
trav

[Charger1973]

I always quote a ridiculous price, if someone really wants to give me $50,000 for my car id be more than willing to sell.   

[kylem4711]

not too ridiculous to me

[moparstuart]

I got a call a work today from my son. Two young guys were at my house (univited) and wanted to buy my Charger and Challenger. Said they had a bunch of cash. We live down a private road that deadends into a lake after the next house. People don't just drive by. The cars are under the structure of the house in three sided carports.

It turns out one of these guys had followed me home when I had the 69 R/T SE for sale last May and seen my other cars. Anyway everything has it's price, so I told him to tell them $32K for the Charger and $65K for the Chally Vert (BB car with a 15K mile  1969 426 hemi transplant).

Anyway the guy immediately offers $20K for the Charger. So I had my son show him the end of the driveway. Why do people do thing like this? Does $20K sound anywhere near $32K to you?

I have a 55 YO Boeing Engineer at our summer swim club who has been trying to buy the car for $30K for the last two years.

What is with these BoZos

thats way cheap for the challenger

[69bronzeT5]

Yea, some people just dont get it. Theres been a few threads like this. I remember back in 2003, my car was worth atleast $5k and this guy offered $800 for it because he wanted to cut the rear clip off of it for his wrecked '69. When we told him it was worth $5k, he said yea right. We showed him to the street and he left

[NMike]

because once in a while you find a guy that is about to divorce his wife. cash talks big words sometimes.

i bought my XR650 that way. guy wanted $7000, i offered $4500, and he took it on condition i didn't mention it to his soon to be Ex-Wife.

[70charginglizard]

I don't even mess with them anymore.

They get the "not for sale" speech from me. and then the See ya.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I'm usually open to offers...      but then again i still own my charger   

[BMOTOXSTAR]

On the flip side, if you are in financial dire straits you can sell that investment quick if you need to.
Sometimes a buyer may be thinking that you may need the money and make a low ball offer.
You never know until you ask. There is a difference between stupidity and low balling on an offer. There is however a fine line.
That is what happened to me. A unnamed person purchased my 73' SE from me, the person knew for years that I owned the Charger, I was in a super huge financial jam. It was loose a bigger investment that I still have now or sell my Charger.
I could have got about 5,000 more I believe , if I would have advertised the Charger, however I needed  $8,000 fast to keep my bigger investment.
The person hit me up at the right time and as much as I miss that Charger ( I have to see it for sale for $14,00 every time I go to the MOPARTS.COM B Body for sale section) in the long run I gained 2 Mopars and kept my other investment.
But it sounds like you do not need the money so I guess my comment really does not pertain to you but that is why people low ball, find someone in a tight spot at the right time.

[hemihead]

Look at the other threads on this forum like " Why doesn't this guy sell it for $2000 to me instead of letting it sit " or " I saw this Charger sitting and how do ask about buying it " . Usually the guys that are bothered by people asking to buy their cars and low ball offers are the same guys doing it to someone else . Like the old saying , What goes around comes around . Now everyone can get mad at me again .

[Mike DC]

 
There's never any set price for anything in this hobby, some people are just totally uninformed, and people's bargaining styles can be drastically different. 

So I never mind listening to the crazy-low buying offers, at least not initially.  As long as they don't get too rude and pestering about it.

-----------------------------------------------------------
   
Try leaving a note on the dashboard (visible through the windshield) saying:

"Sorry, not for sale.  You can find similiar Chargers on Ebay for about $______ if you're serious about buying one." 

That covers all the bases.  It states your position, it demonstrates that you know exactly what the car is really worth, and shows you've got a good reason not to take their lowball offer.

  

[nakita7]

Bought vehicles over the years. I ALWAYS offer 1/2 to 2/3 asking price, and take it from there, because (surprisingly) most people are usually trying to make a profit when they sell their cars. That's how it works.

[Charger1973]

Ive tried the not for sale sign on my dash too.  It works somewhat but theres always someone...

[TheGhost]

Had a guy offer me $500 for the Barracuda a few months ago.  Considering how I just bought an 8 3/4 for $500, I refused the oh so generous offer.

[dukeboy_318]

it happens, yes its annoying, but id do it too, never know if the owner needs/wants to sell it bad, get the best deal possible. on the other hand, when you tell someone what you bottom dollar is and they keep pestering or try to debate with you, thats when they crossed the line in my opinion    had a guy that kept asking to buy my 74 for  several weeks, seen it one day at work.  offerd me 600 bucks for it, i told him 3k and he gets it, i bought the car for 800, rebuilt the entire brake system, new tires, new suspension(polygraphite), new deck lid and reupholstered interior, he never got the point, said he could go get one from a junkyard for 600, i told him to go ahead and get one then, i just wanted the 3k i had in the car.  I didnt mind the lowball offer, it was the pestering that ticked me off especially when they pull the "I know where i can get one for $_______" line. 

[280bb0]

Just the cop in me but next time get a plate Number of the car they are driving just in case your cars end up missing NO Reason for people to tress pass if they liked the car that much then leave a note or mail it  to set up a meeting.

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Just the cop in me but next time get a plate Number of the car they are driving just in case your cars end up missing NO Reason for people to tress pass if they liked the car that much then leave a note or mail it  to set up a meeting.

[hutch]

not too ridiculous to me

I always go low. Sometimes you get lucky with low.

[BEAPARTS]

What has really worked well for me to separate the buyers from the dreamers is to say, "Yea, I would considered selling one of my cars, except, I really don't need the money" wether you do or not.  Never act like a motivative seller no mater what.  If you are truly selling a car and a price has been set I'll tell the prospective buyer long before he arrives exactly how the deal will work.  First and foremost you tell them "I don't need the money" then I'll say the price is what it is and if any negotiation the deals off and you can leave.  It's very simple, you bring money and look at my car and it's a yes and the car leaves with you or no and you leave by yourself.  If it's a car that needs trailered and the buyer doesn't show up with one then they don't get in.

[triple_green]

Did I mention this guy did the same thing last May? Maybe becuase I have four kids he thinks I need money 

I don't think my house and neighborhood would lead him to believe I would need a "fire sale".

Anyway, just remind me to get to work and finish up the last few things on the Challenger.

3X

[41husk]

I don't think offering 10k less than what you are asking is to bad 15-20 k is a little hard to swallow,  They probably wanted you to try to meet them in the middle or don't have any money and couldn't buy it if you said 15k.  I guess $2,500 for the both won't fly?

[triple_green]

Can I offer you $3,000 for your $15,000 car. It is the same thing......

[41husk]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't blame you for having your son show him the end of the driveway.  If some one offered me $5k for any of my cars I would just say NO, and that would let them know they are not even in the ball park.  I have always bought projects, and firmly believe I could have saved a lot of money, time and bloody knuckles forking out 30k for a finished car rather than sinking several years and 20-30k gathering parts and finishing a project myself.  I do have many memories I wouldn't have had if I had not started from the project stage. (and some of those memories are good)

[Troy]

I don't know why people are so intent on owning someone else's car. If I stop to look at a random car it's because I think it's cool and I like to hear the owner's stories. As a rule, I only try to buy cars that are listed for sale. Maybe that's just me? If someone approaches me, I generally just stop them right at the part where they ask if it's for sale (or sooner if I'm positive that I know why they are there). "No." I don't leave room for negotiation or give them an opportunity to throw out a number. That just opens the door for them to keep on harassing - plus, they go into "buyer" mode and start nitpicking the car. If you do give a price be sure to make it clear that you are firm and they can take it or leave it. And by all means, don't give out a number unless you'd really sell it for that price! I'm more than happy to discuss the car or cars in general because I get to meet some really cool people that way but I get annoyed very quickly if they don't let up.

Troy

[jmanscharger]

What gets me is the hypothetical sale ogres.  You tell these guys its not for sale and they want to play the how much would you ask it was for sale game so they can then play their little negotiation game.  I have learned to say it's not for sale and go look up the NADA price. These games used to work for some guys I guess.   People do the same thing with deals (houses and cars) occasionally lightning strikes and they get a deal or they go on living in a fantasy world?

[Old Moparz]

I never took any offense to any kind of low ball offer on a car or part, people just want a bargain, we all do. Having said that though, I almost never offer any price unless the seller gives me an idea of what price range they want. I'm not going to waste my time or anyone else's, if both parties are separated by a percentage in price that's too high. Like if I see a $5000 car & the seller sees a $20,000 car. Why bother? All I do is say I'll think about it & leave.

It's rare that I've met anyone obnoxious enough to irritate me during a sale, but I am a very patient person. There has been a few people, but I just politely say no & don't even make a counter offer. If I had someone knocking on my door asking, I'd be on my guard first & foremost since I live on the end of a private road that is more like a driveway. My house cannot be seen from the road at all, so if you're there, you were probably invited.

I think too many people, have read too many stories they see on forums about how someone found a rare & expensive car for the price of an old lawnmower that doesn't run.

[Mike DC]

People constantly pester the owners of cars w/o any "for sale" signs because they're hoping to scoop something out from under and owner for less than market value. 

[suntech]

People constantly pester the owners of cars w/o any "for sale" signs because they're hoping to scoop something out from under and owner for less than market value.

Maybe they  have been reading the treads about this here

There has been long treads here, with creative ideas about how to get a car cheap, that not really is for sale
Value of a car is simply the highest price somebody is willling to pay for that car.

[Magnumcharger]

This is what I used to do when people pestered me to sell "that old Charger behind the garage".
I'd either:
a) Ask for their offer IN WRITING (no matter how much it was for). This eventually lead to:

b) Tell them to write down their offer in a notebook I kept by the door for that purpose. In the notebook was a couple of dozen other offers (some real, some not) with offers for various sums. I called it my "standing offer book".
I always said that if I ever decided to sell the Charger, I have firm offers right here, and all I have to do is call the highest bidder. If he can't fulfill his offer, I'll just go to the next bidder.
This way they could actually see what others had "offered" and see that their chances for scalping me were slim to none.
Some of these guys put their name and number in the book, along with their low-ball offer. Good luck Charlie!!
Best part is: if somebody decided to come back to "shop" my backyard...I had a list of suspects!

[69charger2002]

but you could store it indoors where it deserves to be and call it good right?   
just messing with ya

[Magnumcharger]

but you could store it indoors where it deserves to be and call it good right?   
just messing with ya

Back then...I didn't have a garage...or a house of my own.
No shortage of project cars, and trucks though...

See above.

[Charger1973]

Yeah not having a garage sucks.  I rent my house and there is a garage, but the landlord has it full of maintenance stuff for his rental properties.      But he is in the process of putting up a new building and when its done the garage will be available.  That might even be enough convince me to live here a while longer.   

[BMOTOXSTAR]

That Charger looks better every time you post a new pic.

[Charger1973]

Thanks   I havent been able to work on it since fall because its so damn cold out there though. 

[sick dawg]

Becsause they are dumb!

[68RT4ME]

I got a call a work today from my son. Two young guys were at my house (uninvited) and wanted to buy my Charger and Challenger. Said they had a bunch of cash. We live down a private road that deadends into a lake after the next house. People don't just drive by. The cars are under the structure of the house in three sided carports.

It turns out one of these guys had followed me home when I had the 69 R/T SE for sale last May and seen my other cars. Anyway everything has it's price, so I told him to tell them $32K for the Charger and $65K for the Chally Vert (BB car with a 15K mile  1969 426 hemi transplant).

Anyway the guy immediately offers $20K for the Charger. So I had my son show him the end of the driveway. Why do people do thing like this? Does $20K sound anywhere near $32K to you?

I have a 55 YO Boeing Engineer at our summer swim club who has been trying to buy the car for $30K for the last two years.

What is with these BoZos

I hope you have taken precautions and secured the cars. Who's to say these guy's weren't there to check out the surroundings and to come back another time to help relieve you of your toys? Just a thought but always a possibility. I never leave my garage open when I'm inside the house. Bad enough that when I pull the cars out onto the driveway, I get rubber neckers and the occasional person stops to see the cars. Course I'm not a trusting fellow 

[triple_green]

this guy had visited me in May when I had the 69 R/T SE for sale. He had followed me home from a local gas station. If he wanted to rip me off he already had 6 months to do it.

The car ports are under the structure of my house. At night the Van is parked in front of the two Mopars. There is only one way out of our neighborhood. IT would be really hard to steal the cars. My wife  and college age son are home most the of the day too, between the tw of them.

But I do try to be careful and I have GREAT neighbors who look out for me./

3X

[hemihead]

 I guess I'm not as paranoid as most people   

[89MOPAR]

 "If he wanted to rip me off he already had 6 months to do it."  Very True.

  And, I'm guessing, 3X Green being a savvy fellow,  he probably has the cars insured for their full value.

Not much would help a guy being pissed off if his car was stolen, but having the funds to replace it with something similar is a comforting thought....
 

[BROCK]

I guess I have a pretty firm way of saying no when people ask me to sell my cars.
No-one has ever given a dollar amount.

[BMOTOXSTAR]

 

[Khyron]

First, Im gonna use the notebook Idea, thats freaking great! 

Second, When asked if my Charger is for sale I do just say No. I haven't gotten any follow up prices, but am often asked other questions about the car

Third, when asked how fast it is. my answer is always "Whatever the speed limit is"

Forth, If ever outright offered some crazy about of money, I very well may consider it.

Fifth, My car is garaged and locked up at home, and I have a gun. If my lights in there are ever on, and someone is in there. I may have to sell the Charger to cover my legal fees.

[Magnumcharger]

Good one!!