Buying the seller

[Shaun @ Tru6]

How often do you listen to your gut when buying a car or whatever? If it's a great deal but something doesn't feel right, do you still buy it? Did it work out in the end? Or did you get burned? Conversely, did you "have" to buy that car because cosmic tumblers all fell into place and the deal and the seller just felt right?

[Arizona_928]

Trust your gut. Or due diligence.


Either or will work

[Zeke]

Interesting question. I find that I come to terms with what I will offer, do that and wait. I haven't bought that many cars, but it usually takes about a week before I get a deal made. If they took the deal right now, I'd be worried I left big money on the table.

I sold cars for a very brief period. I went through GM training so I got the sales technique from some pretty sophisticated and well developed method. It's great to have been on the 'other' side.

I was leading the board, as they call it, when some dickhead sales manager berated the whole team. I told him to FO and I walked, literally, off the lot. Came back in a couple days and picked up my license card. Never wanted to do that again after seeing the back side of a dealership..

PP buying and selling is a major PITA. So if I'm buying or selling PP, I'm just a total dick. There's really no other way.

[Superman]

Good to see you, Zeke.

I have learned to trust my gut. Worst outcomes are when my heart knows what it wants, the little voice says no, and I don't listen to the voice. Heart-Voice-Intellect. Three stooges. Marx Brothers.

[Baz]

I've bought 4 cars sight unseen - and all deals worked out unreal.

'81 911SC Targa on Auto Trader (Miami)
'69 Volvo 145S (stick) (McIntosh)
'64 356C on eBay (Fort Lauderdale)
'97 Volvo 850 wagon (stick) on eBay (Orlando)

No PPIs....just asked a few questions. The 356 I asked no questions - just went with my gut. Turned out to be the best deal I ever made!

So gut is important but as someone famous once said..."Trust but verify!"

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Zeke

PP buying and selling is a major PITA. So if I'm buying or selling PP, I'm just a total dick. There's really no other way.

I disagree and actually can’t believe you would have this perspective given what I thought I knew about you.

If a deal isn’t mutually beneficial, I’m not doing it. When I sold my WRX recently, I was totally open with all prospective buyers, told the low ballers to FO. I eventually decided not to sell it and took down all of the ads. I guess I missed one as some guy called, I told him I decided not to sell it but if he wanted to come see it and make an offer, I’d show it. I didn’t bother to wash it, didn’t accommodate him in any way - come to my farm, I’m not driving into town for this…anyway, he made an offer and I took it, then I said since the warranty is nearly up, I arranged a Indy inspection at a Subaru Independent shop for next week. I will still pay for that so you have peace of mind. If they find anything, the warranty will cover it. They found nothing, that car was perfect.

When we sold the Tribeca a month or so later, we made an effort to sell it by bringing it into town to show people. 7 people saw it in an afternoon, all recent immigrants (given the low asking price). We went home and a guy called with a lowish offer (not a low ball and certainly in the ball park). I told him that I would take his offer but only if he could do the deal that night. They met us half way to tow and bought the car. It was a good deal for everyone.

I won’t deal with a55holes, life is too short. I won’t treat anyone like an a55holes either - not how I roll.

[911boost]

Interesting timing on this thread.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I bought both the 356 and Bumblebee without seeing them. I was supposed to see the 356 but COVID. I did have a ppi. The seller was outstanding and the car is better than advertised. The 914 was a BAT purchase. It was a weird bidding situation. Very pleased with it but I was worried until I saw and drove it. That seller was also great.

[LWJ]

I am NOT a jerk. And I have reaped many benefits from this. Just this week, I bought a guitar. I handed the guy an envelope with the full amount. We chatted. I left. Little did I know my bank had put my license in the envelope! The seller ran out and gave my license to me.

I have had other situations just like this, both as buyer and seller.

Karma is a thing. Be a good person. It pays.

(Not a commentary on a PPI or other research. You gotta do the homework)

[Bill Douglas]

I bought my much loved SC sight unseen. At the time they were expensive in NZ and cheap in Britain.

I advertised in the UK Porsche Club's newsletter and got a few replies.

RUF GB were located near the seller, and actually sold the car to the seller (does that make my car a RUF SC), they said they new the car and it was a good car. They did a PPI for me.

So I'd done due diligence, and followed my heart, and have been VERY happy ever since.

[911boost]

I have never sold any type of fun vehicle in anything other than much better shape mechanically and cosmetically than when I got it. Particularly with my 911’s over the years. My latest one the 997 RS I met the owner in person prior to purchasing it and also worked with a broker who I would use again in a second.

[unclebilly]

I bought my first 911 sight unseen in Columbus OH off this forum almost 20 years ago. The car was as advertised. I didn’t bother with a PPI, just trusted the seller and it worked out OK.

I bought an Indian MC off Craigslist sight unseen in Boston and had it shipped up with TFX, another great transaction.

I bought a unimog sight unseen off of eBay and again this time in NY. It was shipped up and was fine.

I later ‘bought’ another unimog off the shipper of my first unimog… I got screwed on that one. That guy is still in jail for his little scam. https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/snyder-county/keiper-sentenced-in-snyder-county/523-550ab5e6-b12b-419b-9cb3-fe5a39230922

My lesson that I learned on this deal is to at least google the seller / buyer to see if they are legitimate and known for scamming people.

[asphaltgambler]

Patience with other people and their situations is key. So yes, always I buy the seller. Depending on what it is how much stock of that I invest. I politely maximize my leverage up to the point where any farther and it becomes uncomfortable. I ask and present my 'side' of the deal and go from there. I never rush through. My experience is treating people with respect and kindness, if only for that moment makes all involved feel more at ease. I've worked on 'perfecting' this over many decades, early in my teens watching my father negotiate deals that involved 5 - 6 figures in the late 60's to 80's.

If someone thinks they need to be a d**k on either side, they're completely missing the point........and likely leaving $$$$ on the table...

[cstreit]

I bought from jerks before - but I won't buy from anyone that feels like a flipper.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

That guy is still in jail for his little scam. https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/snyder-county/keiper-sentenced-in-snyder-county/523-550ab5e6-b12b-419b-9cb3-fe5a39230922

They mention someone harmed as far away as Canada. Who might that be?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

14 hours driving to and through the Pennsylvania countryside, my gut was right on the seller and the car.





The 1700s stone homes in the area were pretty cool. Wish I had the time to stop and take pics of many of them.











Always love the GW Bridge

[Kraftwerk]

Bought a 914 on ebay years ago..when I went to pick it up the seller, Mike, got the car on stands and let me look underneath, also showed me a full box of new and used parts which could be good or bad but usually good. He also said I can back out of the deal, no problem. I suppose he was hoping a higher bid would roll in if he could only re-list? Or he could tell his wife, buyer backed out & he had to keep it etc.? All in all it seemed like a no risk transaction considering the decently 'no risk' low price.. On the drive home I had a 'mechanical' Was just bad luck, I think, nothing nefarious: a jug sucked (or blew? one of the old paper gaskets. So I started ownership with a parts-search and a repair bill. That said, I wish I had that car today, all 79 Hp of it was a hoot, but ya can't kiss all the pretty girls.

[Noah930]

I bought the 964 because I knew the seller (Mrs. Noah:s best friend's dad) and had known about the car for years. He had taken it to a reputable indy wrench. And though it had a rebuilt engine, that had been done by another super reputable shop, and the motor didn't have a drop of oil on its underside when I went to look at the car.

[cstreit]

Reminds me of the epic MotorMeister scams. They've been closed for almost a decade now.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I disagree and actually can’t believe you would have this perspective given what I thought I knew about you.

If a deal isn’t mutually beneficial, I’m not doing it. When I sold my WRX recently, I was totally open with all prospective buyers, told the low ballers to FO. I eventually decided not to sell it and took down all of the ads. I guess I missed one as some guy called, I told him I decided not to sell it but if he wanted to come see it and make an offer, I’d show it. I didn’t bother to wash it, didn’t accommodate him in any way - come to my farm, I’m not driving into town for this…anyway, he made an offer and I took it, then I said since the warranty is nearly up, I arranged a Indy inspection at a Subaru Independent shop for next week. I will still pay for that so you have peace of mind. If they find anything, the warranty will cover it. They found nothing, that car was perfect.

When we sold the Tribeca a month or so later, we made an effort to sell it by bringing it into town to show people. 7 people saw it in an afternoon, all recent immigrants (given the low asking price). We went home and a guy called with a lowish offer (not a low ball and certainly in the ball park). I told him that I would take his offer but only if he could do the deal that night. They met us half way to tow and bought the car. It was a good deal for everyone.

I won’t deal with a55holes, life is too short. I won’t treat anyone like an a55holes either - not how I roll.

I'm going to thank you for thinking better of me. It all depends on your definition of a 'dick'.

After reading your post, it doesn't seem like you are a sweet granny when dealing either. As I said, I've been behind the curtain. And let me qualify my statement, I haven't always been necessarily a dick. But in the last 10-15 years I can't think of one situation where buyer/seller really told the whole story w/o bending the facts or just leaving things out when asked. Not one.

So let's just say I'm extremely skeptical in all things. People really aren't very good. There are exceptions or there wouldn't be rules. So, I make up MY mind how it's gonna go down and stand my ground.

Sounds like you do too.

I recently looked at an '06 Cayenne. They guy was in real estate and he was obviously flipping this car. You should have heard the poppycock story about why he was selling after such a short period of ownership. Total BS. However, given the market late last year, he sold the car within a day or 2 of my looking, and I suppose he got his price because mine was only a grand off.

So by 'dick' I really mean to say I determine my plan, stick to it and don't believe anything I hear unless it's fully documented. And the Cayenne was not.

Last car I sold I was given an insignificant deposit while the buyer sourced funds. He finally raised the money and came back to me short, and that was all he had to offer. I told him I could part it out and make more (it was a 25 YO Chevy PU), so, as you put it, FO. He then produced the agreed amount. But he had held me up a week. At least a week.

Typical situation around here. As Chuck Berry said, "Too much monkey business."

(apologies for using the M word to all you woke folks )