hi all,
been trying to sell my car on gumtree and carsales.
founded i've received heaps of msg via txt or email in regards on negotiating on the car's price. Bit surprised anyone would even consider making an offer without seeing the car in person or test driving the car.
i personally wouldn't offer to buy a car like this, but is this a current trend with things?
ok but if you agree to buy a car @ XXX and find something wrong with it, why agreed on a price?
ok but if 10k is your max and seller wants 12k firm, why go and see the car ?
if the seller hides / not disclosing the "something wrong" , then that's his problem on buyers backing out.
i heard some people just want to test drive it, I had this experience (10years ago when i was selling a sport cars).
will you buy a car without test drive ?
will you buy every car that you've tested ?
if you don't like ppl test drive your car or don't like the hassle, then just sell to dealer, easy.
Takes less effort to haggle over price than to inspect car. You need BOTH: 1. Acceptable Price, and 2. Good Car - so makes sense to get the easy one out of the way first.
No idea, not a car person at all, my assumption though is they might be trying to lower the price beforehand, then they come in to do the inspection and anything they aren't happy with they try to knock the price down more? Assuming it isn't a scam.
I also wonder whether people won't do an inspection unless its within their price range? Then they are like yeah I'll come out to see?
Yes, normal. Also normal for such people to turn up to buy the car and either
-find "faults" with the car, or
-not have the right amount of money,
culminating in them offering you less than they offered previously.
Some will be scams, others will be idiots fishing for a bargain before they come to inspect.
It's just one of those things you have to deal with.
Make sure they have a Driver's Licence before the test drive for both Identification purposes and Insurance purposes.
thanks, i guess lowerballers will be lowballers.
I'd rather be low balled before they arrive..otherwise it is a huge waste of time.
true.
On carsales there is an option where you can receive offers from Dealers /Buyers sight unseen. The offer is made subject to the vehicle being in the same condition as described by the vendor. The offers come via Text and email. Perhaps you didn't deselect this when setting up the ad on carsales.
It is normal. Many people are deluded and price their cars well above what they are really worth. Making an offer "pending inspection" is pretty normal practice. Most people way overprice their cars. I have been watching cars sit around for months on end, it is not until they price them around the Redbook trade value that they start to sell, because guaranteed you will still get more than any dealer will offer, they will probably be at least 2k below the redbook value.
yea this happens. its annoying but not so bad. as a buyer, it helps to know if you can get the price around where you want it to be before spending time inspecting. useful if the sellers price is inflated and you want to make sure that they know it. or if theres a bunch of cars youre interested in at the same price, and you want to filter them down a bit. or if you know some models are out of your price range, but you are just being hopeful
sometimes its just lowballing though, which isnt good for anyone
as a seller, its better to be lowballed before an inspection, than after. sucks preparing the car and spending time for inspection and getting your hopes up from an interested buyer who seems happy with everything only to get a text afterwards offering half price
still annoying to have a bunch of negotiation before they see it though, knowing that there will still be more after
Keep a lookout for people who are currently working offshore on an oil rig who will send a courier to collect the car.
Don't even bother wasting your time replying to those.
This is rather specific, did I miss a thread?
There are a few variations to this scam. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1696818
Some will ask you to pay the "courier" first and send you a screenshot of Paypal payment for the car+courier(which is bogus).
That's hilarious. Thanks!
Most likely a recent scam
Wow - I'm amazed this is so widespread for such a specific (and really really dumb) tactic…
Yes, this is the norm. I sold my car last year, I was pretty over it at the end. I think it is better to negotiate a price before inspection, rather than taking the time to organise the inspection and then get an obscene offer. Some people also want to get a mechanic to do inspection, so it is best to agree on a price before they spend money doing that. I guess at the end of the day, the car is only worth what other people are willing to pay for it, not what red book or any other book says.
I guess at the end of the day, the car is only worth what other people are willing to pay for it, not what red book or any other book says.
This
As someone who has worked in new and used car sales and still deals a lot with wholesalers, most private sales prices are drug money. I will often ask where they have stashed the kilo of cocaine in the car to make it worth that much.
For example: Similar car is on the dealers lot for $15,999 and private seller wants $18,500. Wholesale/trade price is about $10,000. Dealer has to pay GST, wages, overheads, prepping, commissions, offer warranty, etc. private seller, none of this.
If I’m buying a car privately, I just tell them this. I can get it off a dealer for $xxxx less and be covered. I will give you more than a trade in offer, but less then what a dealer will sell it to me for.
If only there was a term to use for when a seller acts like the tyre kickers.
Similar car is on the dealers lot for $15,999 and private seller wants $18,500.
I think that happens because people aren't realistic with the depreciation takes on the value of their cars.
Some also unknowingly or subconciously place a "sentimental" value on their car, which really means nothing to a potential buyer.
Another reason could be, the seller knows that people will be negotiating hard so they have a set price in their mind and jack up the advertised price to account for a "discount".
@bobbified: I think your last point is the most valid one. I think people over jack the price, so when a potential person gives them a more realistic price, they take it, giving the buyer the feeling of “I just negotiated $5,000 off that car!”
And sentimental value is terrible. I ask them, if it means that much to you, why are you selling it? As soon as I hear something like… “this car belonged to my dad who died 8 years ago….” I’m out.
If only there was a term to use for when a seller acts like the tyre kickers.
Dreamer
Jousting sticks? How much?
When friends ask me if the price on a car they are looking at is ok and it’s way too expensive, my reply is usually, “what’s he selling? Jousting sticks?”
Dealer car has been wound back by 100,000km. While private car is genuine km's with original handbooks.
@Ken1977: Riiiiiiight… Maybe on your '86 Commodore. And not to mention that if a dealer gets caught, they can lose their LMCT and cop a massive fine.
I would say that it is more likely that a private seller would try this shit on. A lot of modern cars require the speedo unit, BCM and EMC replaced to change a speedo reading… Dealers tend to want to deal in newer cars, not old shitbox ones.
@pegaxs: Really? I was looking at a 2009 Nissan Murano at a respectable car yard. I was very keen to buy it. Was looking through the service books in the glove box and it had the original owners details printed in the front cover, which was a small business. Called the business and spoke to the guy who had traded it in at a dealer on a new car and they had obviously wholesaled it. He said it had been an ok car just started having troubles with it. It was also discovered that it had somehow lost over 100,000km from when he traded it in a month prior.
People are always looking for ways to buy for cheap. If they go to only ask if you can lower the price and you say no than both your times are wasted. If they ask first you accept they check out the car and done deal. No wasted time.
If you lied about the condition of the car but you agreed to lower the price. They'll ask for a lower price than the discounted price because you lied and wasted both parties.
It's better to just ask first. The worst you can do is say no right? The best thing that could come out of it is a buy.
Pretty normal. Even dealers deal with this as well lowering the price then get it checked out.
I will always negotiate the price pretty much before I come out, then I will ensure that its in the same condition I expected. If its not, price can be negotiated or walk away
No point wasting everyones time taking it for a test drive if you don't want to move on the price
Be prepared to have a lot of your time wasted.
Helped a few friends sell their cars (I personally don't bother). Should see the number of time wasters.
As soon as you sense a time waster, start closing the deal. If you hear "I wish it was the colour I really want" or "those rims are really boring", don't bother allowing a test drive. Just tell them your price and you're firm. If they want to test drive, they should commit to buy if mechanical inspection shows all clear.
A serious buyer will either negotiate price first, test drive a little (won't be mechanically savvy, just a formality) or will rock up with a torch and start going through bonnet, undercarriage and interior, talk price, and test drive.
Let's be honest, you've inflated the price. You never set the asking price as what you actually want, likewise buyers never offer what they will actually pay. It's all about negotiation. The buyers just want to know you will actually negotiate before they make the effort to inspect the car.
Being someone who was looking to purchase a car recently I did just that. Cant be bothered inspecting if the owner is not willing to accept what I can pay. Simple really, why waste their time.
Bingo on this. I do my research on the car/bike before I call them. Get an idea of market/wholesale value and then call. I tell them what my MAX is and it is pending viewing the vehicle. If they say “no, I want more”, no problem, saves me a drive and them a tyre kicker.
I find most sellers on gumtree lie about everything, and want more than they paid for it
Talk about time wasters.
Gumtree lets you set a minimum offer limit so you don't have to deal with the really lowballers who want it for nothing.The only inquiries you get will be at your minimum price or above.I've just sold a car listed for $7300 with minimum offers above $6000.
All of the offers were around $6000 so I sold it to the highest one who came with the money first.
The other alternative is Ebay auction starting at .99c with a realistic reserve and inspections invited.Sometimes you will sell it pre auction this way.
I've used both methods and they both work if you are realistic in your asking price
very common practice, most of these offers come from a age group that is scared to talk on the phone, bottom line is the offer is good for fa, its just a process to get the price lower than your asking and if you accept a lower price with out viewing the price will be renegotiated at viewing to a lower price again in most instances.
i sell quite a bit of gear including cars on gumtree and i find that if you message them back suggesting if they have the cash you can meet in the car park for an exchange with out any further negotiation or viewing that ends conversation on the spot and weeds out the time wasters that are in most cases just cracking puberty.
Nothing wrong with offers. They know that some sellers list their car at a higher price just to test the market if they aren't after a quick sale.
You will 100% be low balled on Gumtree so if you have a price in mind maybe advertise it a bit more because generally you won't get your asking price.
thought about this recently when selling my own car
ended up using the text "open to offers/negotiable after viewing in person"
100% effective - none of the time wasters whatsoever (even thought it was only listed on GumTree!), and let people know that i was willing to move if they were serious
yes, normal
if price is not right (not enough money) , why bother to see in-person wasting time of both parties.