I can't believe people today...

[Cooter]

I have an ad in the local trading paper here. Selling my Subaru after 9 years of faithful service, it is bar none, the best damn car I will ever own. Now, I have it listed as a 1984 Subaru GL Wagon, lots of miles, but gear to gear timing so no belts/chains to worry bout. Cold A/C, power everything, Top of the line back then. Runs great, but leaks oil, and needs TLC. 5-speed. 30 MPG. $750.00 OBO..


I knew full and well i'd be getting the tire kickers, but damn....Here's just s glimpse into who's been calling..

"Yes, calling bout the Subaru"..
"ok"
"Can you tell me a little about it?"
"Sure, it's a 28 Y/O Subaru. The body has rust and interior is rough".
"So....How does the body look?"

"um, Rusty?"
"ok, But does it look really bad?"
"um, I guess that depends what you deem as "bad"

"Well, I really need a ride to work, something good on gas, but if it looks bad"

"ok, so you want to ride today or you looking for a $750.00 show car?"




"yes, I'm calling bout the Subaru"
"ok.."

"well, how many miles on it?"
"611,000, still runs great though"..
"Well, i'm looking for something with a little less miles on it for around $500.00. You have anything else?"
"By anything, you mean that gets 30 MPG today? Used? Cheap?"
"yes."

"Nope, Good luck though"..

[Kern Dog]

This is a familiar story.
People have heard stories over the years about "screaming" deals that some fried scored..."Hey dude...I just bought a 76 Maverick for $150 and it runs great!  This rumor mill feeds the cheapskate mentality of society. I had a set of 20" aluminum factory Infinity wheels advertised for $800. These wheels are over $600 each from the dealer. I got a text from some dork offering $200. When I politely responded with..."You DO realize the price is pretty fair already at $800, his response? Uhhh, $200 is all that I can afford. NOBODY needs these wheels, they are a "want" not a "need".
I had a bashed up 74 Dart Sport advertised as a parts car. I told everyone that called the truth about the car: It was used as a stunt car in a home movie that I made. I jumped it 6 times and it was far beyond repair. I still got people asking if the registration was valid for street use.

[skip68]

DAMN cooter!   You would think for a $750 car that runs there wouldn't be any other questions. 

[Dino]

This is not the case with cars only.  I put a bunch of my college textbooks on CL hoping to get a few bucks for the next semester.  I listed each book with its isbn #, a detailed description of each book and a link to the same so they people can see a pic of it.

My prices were waaaay lower than any place else and still I had low ballers.  I was clear that people could pick up the books at a variety of places since I don't want anyone coming to my home, heck I even offered to meet at the damn college and still I had people email me and say get me a quote for shipping. 

After selling one book and a ton of dumbass emails I decided the extra few bucks wasn't worth the hassle and gave up.

The one book I sold was mint and I was asking $25.  A young lady said she'd meet me at a big box store so we could do this.  She showed up with $20!!!!  I said the price is $25, and I was very clear about that in my email to her.  She looked at me and said 'well, I have $20' 
I knew she planned it this way thinking I'd take $20 but I told her she could go into the store and get some more with her card and that surprised her.  At that point I was sorry I even bothered and told her to get the extra $5 now, or go home without a book.  She got the $5 but I'll be damned if I ever do that crap again!

Selling a car?  I don't think I'll bother, too much stress.   

[RTDaddy]

"Once upon a time" we did the yard sale thing.  You know, passed family members and accumulated "stuff."  Had everything priced etc.  had about a 50-cent little glass knick-knack (figurine), woman asked will you tke 0.25?  I looked the thing over, thinking the time it took to sort stuff, price stuff, move it out, etc.  and told her no I think I'll just put it back in inventory and heaved it back off of the carport into the back yard, (field).  Wife said I do not have temperment for yard sales.


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

[jaak]

Back when I was selling the 73 a few months ago.....

When I list something for sale, I'm honest, give a complete description, and list my bottom dollar, I hate all the BS and haggling. Well a guy called me on it, seemed legit. He talked about how he had a car just like it when he was a teen and he wanted mine. He asked for pics and I emailed him about 20. He loved the car, said he had the money and wanted it. He lived about a 2 hour drive away and asked it I would meet him (about a 40 mile drive for me) on Wednesday (this was on Sunday) and he would buy it. I told him I could work something out. I talked to him again on Tuesday, still wanted the car. So I leave work early to drive out and meet him. But he never calls me, and I start getting a gut feeling, so I decide to call him before leaving. No answer. Try again. No answer. Then I finally get him, dude has a totally different demeanor, sort of sounded po'ed that I called. He says "well I got a problem, the trans just went out in my Mom's car, so I got to have that fixed. But if you still want to sell the car, I'll give you 3 grand for it ($6800 was the price he was willing to pay a couple days before hand). I said "No deal, and thanks for letting me know you wasn't going to show up!" Then I hung up on him.

I'm just glad I got that 'gut feeling' before driving up there to meet him.....and him not be there.  Jerk.

Jason

[rattlehead_74]

I had some parts for sale ..online...A bumper,two grill assemblies,tailight lenses,and some other stuff....the guy contacts me about the parts..we agree on a price ...i go buy the lumber to crate the stuff up...crate the stuff up...then he backs out ...i understand shit happens..but if im that committed in a deal ...i go through with it no matter what! so i ended up with some firewood and the parts went to the scrapper

[Chryco Psycho]

I had a brand new Battery Impact gun used once  , pain close to $200 for it , advertized it for $100 Had a bunch of people [idiots] call one guy offered me $25 , I asked him if he wanted me to deliver it for that price as well so he took me seriously & gave me his address , I never showed up & he called me back pissed at me LOL . we wont even mention my 71 Charger that is still for sale  

[moparguy01]

I've had a few real interesting ones the past few years since I moved to Minnesota.

I had a 80 gallon 2 stage air compressor I got that i was told the motor didn't run. I ended up needing space before I got to getting the garage to be wired for 220. I said in the ad, "sold as is, was told the electric motor is bad, but don't have 220 to be able to verify this. Buy at your own risk" and put 400 bucks on it. I figured it was a 1000 dollar compressor, so for 400, if you buy it, and it needs a new electric motor, 200 bucks will get a new one, so theyd have a good compressor for alittle over half price of a new one. (it was almost new bought by a flooring company that had issues, used 2 weeks) So i sell it after the guy takes 3 weeks to show up, then he calls me the next day demanding money back because the motor didn't work.

I would say make sure to write the ad in crayon, because then these guys would understand, but on craigslist you cant do that.

the other was a small old table saw. send a pic with all the accessories i had and pics of everything he'd get. he comes, sees it, buys it, we load it up, then he calls saying something is missing and wants to return it. Sorry dude, i told you it was all i had with it, and its done.

i hate selling stuff.

[Fred]

I placed an ad for a ride on mower. Described it inside and out even back to front................all the info was there, there was no need to ask a single question. Then the calls start coming in "can you tell me about it, does it have this or that..........blah blah blah!! I say............did you read the ad? they say yes. I give up.
Did finally sell it to a sensible person who, after picking it up rang back 4 hours later to let me know he just mowed his grass with it and how happy he is and how it was the best money he ever spent.  Now that doesn't often happen.

[dukeboy_318]

None of this surprises me. People are stupid now a days and i think they are only getting stupider.  On one hand, I can understand trying to haggle the price down on something, but there is a fine line between low-balling and trying to rip someone off and trying to get a fair deal for all by negotiating . On the other hand, there are some people that are trying to sell absolute junk and wanting an arm and leg and 1st born kid for it.

Cooter, 750 i think is fair, I wouldn't take less than 700 personally.  Good luck. 

[Cooter]

Hell, I priced it at $750.00 thinking someone would most likely beat me down to around $550.00 for it. I'd have been cool with answering all these questions and talking to blatently stupid people if someone had the FREAK
IN' MONEY! Everybody wants you to kiss their ass a little and they call these ads to see juts how far your willing to kiss their ass. Then, they tell you after you've jumped through numerous hoops, that they really don't have the money. I finally lost it on one guy.

Called yesterday.

"Yeah, (In typical yankee accent) calling bout the Subaru?"

"Yep"....
"What kinda shape is the body in?"
"What are you looking for a restoration project, or a ride to work?"
"Well, I'm just wondering if the body is eaten off it as they were kinda known for that 'ya know"

"Of course, being 28 years old, it has SOME body rust, but isn't eaten up"
"Ok, and how mnay miles on it?"
"You really wanna know, or are you just hoping I'll come WAY down once you find out how many miles are on it?"
"You know what dude you gotta bad attitude, I've been driving Subaru's for over 30 years PAL!"
"Well then, you should have known all the answers BEFORE you called then right? You wanna swing a deal or what?"
Hung up phone.

For once I almost felt sorry for the little sh*t. ALMOST. Dude knew what he was asking. knew the answers most likely and judging from his area code, he was at least two states away and never asked where the car was.
I promise I will try and be better on the phone. (READ more patient with stupid people). ..If I call someone, I ask Relevant questions. Or if I have a question I usually say something like "I know you've had to answer this all day long, but I have to ask"..
This way, at leats you have let the owner know your half assed interested.

[bakerhillpins]

These problems exist on both sides of the argument... Buying isn't a picnic either. 

That doesn't make it any less than a PITA though. I don't even bother with selling the little stuff anymore.  With leftover building materials... I ask around my circle of friends to see if they are interested and just give it away, If not it gets put out front with a free sign or I take it to the local goodwill salvage place and just let them sell it to fund their services.

[Dino]

it gets put out front with a free sign

I've started doing just that last year and I can't believe how much stuff I got rid of!  All functional items I simply had no use for and that held no real value.

[moparguy01]

The other thing that drives me nuts selling is those damned tv shows. Everybody thinks they're on that dumb pawn show and can make you come down by half.

[The70RT]

I hope you sell your car without too much more hassle   I had two people inquire me This week as I have had a couple of tire kickers as well. I listed a 67 Tempest part car on Craigslist and a guy emailed me and said deal for 700. He then came by WITH NO MONEY and said he wanted it and will pay next Thursday (4 days later)  I said ok  I need a deposit to hold it and then i have to take a day to get it out of where it is. He said i will come back tomorrow and give me a 100. I had a friend over then and he asked if I need ed help cleaning it out. It was completely stuffed with parts I stored in there. It took us like an out to clean it out and he never showed with the deposit. He emailed me saying " Kid wrecked in morning no deal now"...wtf? Another guy showed with a trailer and drove 70 miles to get here and tries to low ball me....and said 500 and then tells me scrap metal is 270 a ton in KC. I said not but he bought a 125 worth of other parts. Earlier today a guy emails me on parts I had listed 25 and up. I have really nice 68 Chevelle deck lid and the guy says is 25 all the lower I will go. I said that piece is 100! You can go buy a repop for 300 plus shipping. Good luck finding one cheaper.....last I heard from him. I have had people send me money and never picked up the items.....yet. I sold 2 propane stoves and that was 3 years ago. I sold a 455 for 500 6 months ago and i still have it, but he called last week and said he would be up sooner or later.....his kid dropped his cell phone in the toilet. I contacted Stuart on here a couple weeks ago and said hey remember those heavy mag like 70's hubcaps you said you liked on here a while back and sent him a craigslist link. Ad shows 100, Stuart says see if he will take 50, I said no I want 100  

[74charger2011]

Hi !   I'm not surprised that you have encountered those that lack just common sense. I know there is those  that will over inflate the description of a vehicle to try and get more than what its worth. This obvisiously isn't what you did. I recently made a huge mistake buying a 1974 Dodge Charger on ebay being the trusting sole or stupid trusting sole I am. The vehicle was just good enough that I couldn't afford to salvage it because I had way too much invested. My wife hasn't let me live it down. I currently have a car that needs a major restoration. The car wasn't remotely close to the condition the seller decribed it as. Ebay is only interested in the revenue that they get from the sale and could care less if the vehicle sold has been fraudently described. If the owner had been as honest describing the vehicle as you was this wouldn't have happened. I'm currently in need of numerous parts for the car with limited resources and I have no one to blame but myself. HOPE I DIDN'T BORE YOU !  THANKS FOR LISTENING!     (DON  IN   ILLINOIS)

[dkn1997]

I am the guy who would totally low ball a seller for a car on craigslist, but I would only do that if I was standing face to face, cash in hand, and if the asking price was average.   Always polite too.  I will also point out the flaws I see, but not in an insulting way.  There have been times where I couldn't get the seller to come down and walked away, but I would always say, "I'm not debating it's worth what you say, but at this moment, to me...it's only worth this much.   No hard feelings, and my offer still stands, here is my number.  If you reconsider, please call me" 

If the asking price is a smoking deal, I have just paid it.  A guy who works for me was selling his 99 S10 pickup, 4cyl, 5speed, A/C, standard cab 2wd, hard bed cover, 132k miles, some dents, no rust.  Needed a clutch and he was asking 600.  I just paid it.  He felt good and I felt better when I got it home, bled the clutch master, and have been driving it since last July lol.   

[RallyeMike]

None of this surprises me. People are stupid now a days and i think they are only getting stupider.

The ease of access via the internet has attracted a lot of trolls to buying and selling stuff. Any least that's my theory. I used to buy and sell a lot of stuff, but really can't take dealing with the people any more, so I've been winding it down. 

[jaak]

These problems exist on both sides of the argument... Buying isn't a picnic either.  

If you ever place a wanted ad, you get some interesting calls too! Hey just read the wanted section on here, it cracks me up sometimes. The ad will read something like this...'Wanted, 1968 Dodge Charger project. Would like a big block automatic car. Willing to pay up to 12k.'

Then the first reply is something like this..... I have a nice 1970 Charger 318 automatic, solid as a rock asking 18,500.

Years ago (late 90's) when I was looking for a charger, I placed an ad in the local paper looking for a 68 or 69 Charger project, I got a call about a 73 Charger, 71 Satellite, 70 Roadrunner, a Dodge Monaco, and even someone calling to see if a had a pair of taillights for a 66 Fury....Never once did I get a call about a 68 or 69 Charger. I don't think people ever read a complete ad before replying.

Jason

[Fred]

These problems exist on both sides of the argument... Buying isn't a picnic either.  

If you ever place a wanted ad, you get some interesting calls too! Hey just read the wanted section on here, it cracks me up sometimes. The ad will read something like this...'Wanted, 1968 Dodge Charger project. Would like a big block automatic car. Willing to pay up to 12k.'

Then the first reply is something like this..... I have a nice 1970 Charger 318 automatic, solid as a rock asking 18,500.

Years ago (late 90's) when I was looking for a charger, I placed an ad in the local paper looking for a 68 or 69 Charger project, I got a call about a 73 Charger, 71 Satellite, 70 Roadrunner, a Dodge Monaco, and even someone calling to see if a had a pair of taillights for a 66 Fury....Never once did I get a call about a 68 or 69 Charger. I don't think people ever read a complete ad before replying.

Jason

Or maybe they just think .................what have they got to lose!

[Silver R/T]

I've been bothered by tire kickers, ebay buyers, you name it.

[mauve66]

i listed a car on craigs list in feb and everyone that called wanted to know how much i wanted for it............................ it was listed right next to the damn phone number they called me on

[Budnicks]

Unfortunately it seems most car people in general are just dumb or tight a$$e$ & don't want to pay for what somethings worth, trying to get a deal on everything always, "I guess it's just human nature", but to me it seems like the Mopar community is even more & more going this way, I know a ton of Mopar people that think there stuff is worth it's weight in Gold, even a rusty pieces of $--t, but won't pay what anyone else ever "wants" for their parts, worth it or not... It seems like it's been this way for along time now... Being on the other side of the equation, a bunch of times, hearing comments from people that didn't know I was also a die hard Mopar guy & being a lover of allot of different makes, but my 1st love is Mopars... For a long time I knew many people in the car/racing community that thought Mopar people were a little squirrelly, for a lack of a better word or lower on the food chain   ....   I rarely sell anything any longer, because I would rather give it to someone that needs it for little to nothing or trade something, than have some guy I don't know try to get it for next to nothing, it's just insulting sometimes, people can be so callous or disrespectful of others, there are the other side of the equation too, that are just out right crooks, trying to sell junk for premium prices also & have no problems doing it... If I absolutely need the part & someone has it for a reasonably decent price, I will pay extra just to have it or get it quickly... It's not always about the money, But that's just me I guess... Sorry for the long winded rant guys or if I offened anyone....

[BrianShaughnessy]

No offense,   but if you would have just said 611K miles instead of "lots of miles'.    You wouldn't have been bothered at all.

[moparstuart]

I hope you sell your car without too much more hassle   I had two people inquire me This week as I have had a couple of tire kickers as well. I listed a 67 Tempest part car on Craigslist and a guy emailed me and said deal for 700. He then came by WITH NO MONEY and said he wanted it and will pay next Thursday (4 days later)  I said ok  I need a deposit to hold it and then i have to take a day to get it out of where it is. He said i will come back tomorrow and give me a 100. I had a friend over then and he asked if I need ed help cleaning it out. It was completely stuffed with parts I stored in there. It took us like an out to clean it out and he never showed with the deposit. He emailed me saying " Kid wrecked in morning no deal now"...wtf? Another guy showed with a trailer and drove 70 miles to get here and tries to low ball me....and said 500 and then tells me scrap metal is 270 a ton in KC. I said not but he bought a 125 worth of other parts. Earlier today a guy emails me on parts I had listed 25 and up. I have really nice 68 Chevelle deck lid and the guy says is 25 all the lower I will go. I said that piece is 100! You can go buy a repop for 300 plus shipping. Good luck finding one cheaper.....last I heard from him. I have had people send me money and never picked up the items.....yet. I sold 2 propane stoves and that was 3 years ago. I sold a 455 for 500 6 months ago and i still have it, but he called last week and said he would be up sooner or later.....his kid dropped his cell phone in the toilet. I contacted Stuart on here a couple weeks ago and said hey remember those heavy mag like 70's hubcaps you said you liked on here a while back and sent him a craigslist link. Ad shows 100, Stuart says see if he will take 50, I said no I want 100  

i still got 50.00 and will be in topeka may 12th at gary hardy   

[The70RT]

4 x  is still 100 

[moparstuart]

4 x  is still 100 

come on brother discount  i'm coming to topeka to get em   

[69finder]

I hate selling stuff, but my way is this..

1) Sell it for the cheapest that's available (race to the bottom I figure!)
2) Never move on the price.

If you move on the price even once (even a little) the guy thinks he can a) get it lower or b) he's not getting a good deal.  If you're hard on your price, the guy will think, damn!  I got it for the right price!  Or he won't buy.

[Kern Dog]

Brian.... PLEASE tell me that the person wearing that gridwork in your title is a woman.

[Cooter]

WE have a WINNER!


Got this one this morning....

[Lady's voice] "Um, calling bout the Subaru"
"ok"
"Hang on a minute"
"uh, ok"
[Dude's voice..Why is it some guys get their ol ladies to call for them? Like the selling party can see 'em or something?] "Hello?"
"yeah"
"uh, yeah, calling bout the Subaru"
"a-ight"
"What trans is in it?"
"5-speed"
"you wouldn't sell me the trans would you?"
"sure, as long as you buy the rest of car, you can have trans with it"
"Well, maybe you can help me. See, i got an 83 Subaru and it's making this noise when I shift gears. Whaddaya think it might be?"
"You need my Subaru"..


"Well, I'll call you back"..
"sure".....

Got off phone and had to just take a deep breath. This is why America is in the shape it's in right now. These types actually voted.

[Road Dog]

This is why America is in the shape it's in right now. These types actually voted.


Cooter this is a statement I've made numerous times.

[Fred]

It's not just America. It's global. We have the same ding bats in this country.

[Kern Dog]

This is why America is in the shape it's in right now. These types actually voted.

What side do YOU think that these types vote for?

[69finder]

It's not just America. It's global. We have the same ding bats in this country.

Same here in Canada.  But we use 'Kijiji' instead of craigslist.  Photos and everything RIGHT on the preview of the ad, but man people post some stupid questions.

[cavemanno1]

It's not just America. It's global. We have the same ding bats in this country.

Nop not just America!Stupid,ignorant people are the same no matter where they are!

Well we were selling our charger put it up on ebay and had a guy who wanted to make a deal outside ebay!We agreed the on the price and said he is gonna come over to struck the deal!The day before he was supposed to come send me an email to let's wait till the bidding finish and see what happens!I told OK whatever!
Auction finished lowere what i have agreed with the guy and he sent me an email saying my car doesn't worth the price we agreed because it didn't sell!
I got pissed at him and said maybe it's not worth to you but then why haggle me with the price the first time(i dropped the price for him a bit)then saying you are gonna buy it then after the auction saying this car is not worth that money so he would buy it for way less!

Needless to say i told him i wouldn't sell him the car even for a lot more then i asked for and what a lowlife,spineless a$$hole he is!I put the car back on ebay and he kept asking if the car is still for sale,i said not to you!sold her 2weeks later to a guy who didn't even asked for more info and picture but i sent him anyway!
It turned out he didn't even read that long email about the car i sent him!He turned up at 8pm(pitch black) to look at the car drove it to the gas station filled her up and said he will take it!Pulled the cash out no haggling nothing!

He also had a '68 r/t being restored but he said it's been going on for ages and never will end so wanted to have an other one to enjoy!He knew nothing about chargers,didn't even know how to open the hood or how the lights operate!

[Cooter]

Sad thing is, going in, I knew I'd have to go through about fifty of these types before you finally run up on the "Oh sh*t, my junk just blew up and I need a dependable ride to work bro". guy...But it still amazes me how many people will research the hell out of a $700 car like they are buying a $70K car. i mean, REALLY? do you need to know if it will last 5 more years, or has body damage? Geesh, it's a $700.00 car!?

[mauve66]

my 1st car was only $800 and it would still be on the road today if i hadn't put it in a ditch

[Cooter]

I tell 'ya, sometimes, it's just hard to gauge the public..
"Hello?"
"Um yeah, I'm calling bout the 1983 Dodge truck?"
"Ok"
"What's the best deal. I see it says OBO"
"Well, I guess I'd let it go if I could get $1300"
"Can I meet to look at it?"
"Sure when?"
"Tonight"
"Sure, you can follow me"
"That'll be fine"


Long story short, I thought the Subaru would sell first. Nope, Dodge truck sold...Sub. gets 30 plus MPG, Dodge gets around 13?

[Kern Dog]

Pretty durn hard to haul a 'still in a Subaru!

[Inked_Ghandi]

It is crazy how few people don't read ads. I put my charger up for sale as a parts car and said I just needed it gone and described how it was, and some a**hole started texting me at almost midnight wanting to know if it ran and that his brother was restoring a challenger and the charger was just like it and his brother would restore it for him. I wanted to shoot the guy. Then some poor guy who actually wanted the car but didn't have a way of getting it and offered me $700 more to bring it to him. Poor kid. It was his dream car and because of work I was not able to bring him the car.

[Chryco Psycho]

Congrats on selling the Dodge truck at least 

[TX9H6E4CUDA]

I was recently selling this


it had 88,000 miles and ran and drove awesome (I drove it for two years and owned it from 30,000). The only hitch was it had a salvage title (right rear 1/4 panel damage) I asked $3,000 ($5,000 was my asking price) less then the cheapest ones on craigslist. I never had so many retards calling me asking why in getting rid of it and try to delve into my personal life to figure out why I was getting rid of it (I bought a Jeep for towing my little fishing boat and hunting). More people trying low ball me, get me to drive it to them 100+ miles away, wanted a 100 perfect car (I.e dent in rear 1/4), made up problems with the car, didn't want it because of the color (4 pictures of it showing its white), or the 5 people yelling at me saying I cannot sell a salvage titled car and they are unsafe to be on the public roads and they are going to call the cops on me (its fully inspected by the state and legal also I'm a part time officer lol) and its only a parts car, what hit it? (I don't know), can I buy the right hand mirror, will you trade straight up for my 91 Chevy truck, will you take payments of $100.00 per month, etc etc.
I sold the car to my sister for $4,000 and she is happy she now has ice cold AC, auto start, and CD player.


I hate selling on clist but I'm a good buyer (I've even been told this by sellers) I don't play games and I bargain a little bit but not to the point of offending people.

[Cooter]

Pretty durn hard to haul a 'still in a Subaru!

Nope, I've done just that, AND had THREE (3) 440 engines in the back of it as well.(Not all at one time though)