Used car buyer complaining

LSashy on 21/05/2020 - 19:58

Hello,
I have recently just sold my car (10 years old) and have looked after it very well (always filled up 98% petrol), serviced at the dealership. Never had any mechanical issues with it.
I had it serviced and a RWC issued two weeks before listing it for sale. The buyer urgently needed a car, spent an hour inspecting and test driving it and haggling the price down. I didn't go down much as it was priced very well already and had several other interested buyers booked in two days later.
On the same day he bought it, he sent messages stating how unhappy he was as he ran the VIN and saw that this brand had a recall issued for the vehicle to be checked. I had it at the dealership with all recalls checked two weeks beforehand!
He stated I should have known and that he is disappointed and feels misled etc. and now he needs to bring it to a dealership to do a free check on the car.

I feel like I did all the right things, provided him with full service history (yes, even went as far as getting the dealership to send the detailed receipts) and he got a very good deal. (In comparison to what was being advertised on carsales at the time).
What is my responsibility in such a situation? I feel like I was offering a great deal, but the whole experience has left a sour taste in my mouth.
I feel personally attacked, and as if I purposely tried to mislead a buyer.

Automotive

Comments

  • roguescholar on 24/05/2020 - 14:38
    +1

    On the same day he bought it, he sent messages stating how unhappy he was as he ran the VIN…

    Sounds like he should have run the VIN before the purchase of the vehicle.

    He stated I should have known and that he is disappointed and feels misled etc. and now he needs to bring it to a dealership to do a free check on the car.

    Sounds like something he should have known and checked anyway… being such a thorough purchaser of vehicles.

  • conza on 24/05/2020 - 16:01

    None he's a numpty, move along.

    I have sold a car with low rego (specifically listed in the ad and discussed with the buyer), and they called me up weeks later when the police pulled them over as they hadn't paid it. I explained it was such a good price because, the rego was nearly due, and they saved $200 because I would've put the price up $1k if I hadn't sold it.

    I also bought a car that, low and behold, had a recall, it was the catch all recall probably the most common that I know of, the takata airbag one.

    Forget about it I'd say, no further responsibility.

  • seraphim2017 on 25/05/2020 - 09:08

    I thought as long as you disclose any defects it's 'caveat emptor'?

    However, before we judge, remember this guy/epic thread https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/529062

    OP, did you box up a 10 year old car and sell it as an used car! :)

    :)

    • Melb69 on 30/05/2020 - 06:08

      Gold. I think I read it initially. Phew 900 odd votes on the poll

  • a b i on 25/05/2020 - 11:44
    +1

    As someone who bought used cars from dealerships and private owners. It’s always Buyers responsibility to check the vehicles they buy.
    With private owners, I follow these rules:
    1. Check the motive for selling, always try to get a feel for the honesty
    2. Accept that there is no obligation from the owner to disclose every fault in the car (intentionally or otherwise)
    3. Do a check of all major failure points in the car. You need to know what you are buying.
    4. Accept that there will be minor issues with the car, no matter how well looked after the car is.
    5. Accept that despite everything there is a chance that there will be something major broken in the car. That is the risk we take with a private seller.
    6. Keep aside 10-15% of the cost of the car for fixing whatever is broken.

    Given you have provided the service records of the car including receipts. I would say that you were an honest seller. As a buyer, the other party should have done his due diligence. Interestingly, if its a product recall the manufacturer would do it for free, and you are in no way at fault. If he chose to buy the same model of similar age from any other seller, he would have had to do the same regardless.

    TLDR version : The buyer is an idiot. It’s on him for not doing his due diligence. He should have set aside funds / time for fixing the car. If not he should have bought a new car.

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