Annoying Buyer - What Would You Do or Say?

[Old Moparz]

Okay, here is the scenario I am currently taking part in & thought I'd post here for opinions & laughs. 

I listed about 5 things last month on Craigslist hoping I'd get a local buyer picking things up because I just don't have time to wrap & package things to ship. Besides, the stuff wasn't expensive, so I just couldn't see going through the trouble of intricate packing for fragile items & high shipping fees that would double the price of the item. I got rid of everything for the asking price except for the one car related item, a Coronet tail finish/trim panel for $50.

Of the 3 or 4 people who said they were interested, none were local & all asked me to ship it. I explained that I can't right now due to trying to organize my Mother's belongings after cleaning out her apartment, & then modified the ad stating "pick up only". One guy emails again & says he has to have it & to get him a shipping quote. I reexplained that I am not shipping it, but if I don't get someone local to pick it up I may have time in a couple of weeks to ship & will let him know.

He emails me a couple of more times asking if it's still available & I tell him yes, but I am not shipping. I finally get one guy who said he can pick it up, but that falls through. After having this part advertised for over a month, I decide that I may ship it. By chance, I found the perfect box at work, & finally find time to wrap this 6 foot long aluminum panel safely. I email the guy who "had to have this part" & let him know that it's his if he wants it I can now ship, but that I would at least like to get an additional $10 for the wood, screws, & tape I purchased to pack it safely.

His answer is, "not crazy about paying $10 more - I thought this wait out was worth a packing job.... but I'll take it i guess."

So who is doing who a favor here, me for spending an hour packing this thing, or him for waiting impatiently & griping about the $10 I asked for?   

[mikepmcs]

He's not being reasonable. That is more than fair.

[Lennard]

I would say: "take it or leave it!"
If it's not worth the extra $$ to him just keep it.

[Alaskan_TA]

Tell him it left during the Rapture.

Then relist it for more. 

[jaak]

Tell him it left during the Rapture.

Then relist it for more. 

[Old Moparz]

Rapture.... 

Sometimes it's hard to gauge someone's attitude online, but by saying that his waiting was worth the price of the packing seems clear to me he's annoyed. If I was a parts vendor I'd have built the packing price into the part as overhead, but it's just something I held onto as a spare & don't need it now. I'm not mad, I found it humorous & may make him sweat it out by not rushing to reply.   

[Silver R/T]

if he really wants it he will pay extra $10. Of course I know tight wad that lost his sleep over a nickel in vending machine

[TUFCAT]

I don't sell much on CL, but when I do I totally "prescreen" all my inquires. If I get the bad vibe...then I just say "Its already been sold". Screw them.

I have good radar for assholes and deadbeats

[Daytona R/T SE]

Saw it in half and send it to this dickhead in two smaller, flimsy boxes....

Be sure to include a couple of pounds of dog shit in each box...

[ITSA426]

It looks like he'll pay the extra ten dollars - grudgingly, so take the payment, make sure it clears the bank, and ship it happily, with insurance.  You get what your money and he gets his finish panel.  All should be happy.

[Old Moparz]

Saw it in half and send it to this dickhead in two smaller, flimsy boxes....

Be sure to include a couple of pounds of dog shit in each box...

  I like this one, except I'd feel guilty that I killed a car part that was in nice shape.

[Richard Cranium]

Although some deals can be had on Craigslist, I have found for the most part that Craigslist is full of cheap-ass bottom-feeders.

[moparstuart]

from his sound , he will grip when he gets it that its not good enough for him

[mikepmcs]

from his sound , he will grip when he gets it that its not good enough for him

Totally agree with this.  He's gonna nitpic the shit out of it.
What year is it? 

[Old Moparz]

from his sound , he will grip when he gets it that its not good enough for him

Totally agree with this.  He's gonna nitpic the shit out of it.
What year is it? 

Good point, I wasn't thinking about that too much since he did see photos.

It's for a '70, & came off a 4 door.

[RTDaddy]

I would just "put it back in inventory" as far as that one was concerned.

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

[Alaskan_TA]

It's for a '70, & came off a 4 door.

Are the headrests in good shape & available? 

[69rtse4spd]

I agree, he will nit pick to death, then re-list it at twice the amount, or at a swap meet. 

[Old Moparz]

It's for a '70, & came off a 4 door.

Are the headrests in good shape & available? 

Sorry Barry, the panel is the only thing I had from the car. It was in a junk yard 25+ years ago, & I snagged it to use on the Coronet I used to have, but never did.

[elacruze]

I usually don't much care what a buyer has to say if the money comes, but this guy smells like he's not done pooping. Buyers who are snide and ungrateful before the exchange don't often improve afterwards.

[Old Moparz]

Interesting. 

Most of you are all on the same page & think the buyer is a dick, & may even be a bigger dick after the sale, too. My gut feeling, after the initial surprise of his unreasonableness, is that I just didn't feel like selling it to him because of his attitude.

The other thing that crossed my mind when I first heard from him, is that I thought he was someone who I had run across on Moparts years ago because of his location in New England & the initals in his email. There was a guy on there who called himself a "parts locater" & ticked off a bunch of people selling stuff before he bought or had it. I don't know if it's the same guy, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was.

[stripedelete]

If it helps in the future:  I had to ship a finish panel.  Used PVC pipe.  Wrapped the panel in foam and taped the ends.

[Old Moparz]

If it helps in the future:  I had to ship a finish panel.  Used PVC pipe.  Wrapped the panel in foam and taped the ends.

Yes, I like using PVC & have used it for mouldings a few times before, it works well.    

I think the '70 panel is a bit wide for the less expensive 4" PVC pipe, & would have to go in 6" pipe. If the guy wasn't happy with $10 worth of wood, tape & screws he probably wouldn't be happy with $10 worth of PVC pipe & tape.  

[ChgrSteve67]

Probably a good idea to pass on this buyer. If he is not happy now chances he will not be when he recieves the part.

I come across people on craigs list from time to time that I just can't seem to work out a reasonable agreement on price and shipping methods.  I usually just take it off the market and wait a while before putting it back up. The origional buyer has usually moved on by then.

Just tell him "I sold the part locally sorry for the headach" and move on.

Just my 2cents

[stripedelete]

If it helps in the future:  I had to ship a finish panel.  Used PVC pipe.  Wrapped the panel in foam and taped the ends.

Yes, I like using PVC & have used it for mouldings a few times before, it works well.    

I think the '70 panel is a bit wide for the less expensive 4" PVC pipe, & would have to go in 6" pipe. If the guy wasn't happy with $10 worth of wood, tape & screws he probably wouldn't be been happy with $10 worth of PVC pipe & tape.   

for the next guy -save you some time , you got a  lot on your plate right now.