Is there a duty to alert your fellow pelicanites?

[maninblack]

Wondering what the consensus is...

If you see someone offering a car for sale here, and you have factual proof that the seller is making a significant misrepresentation, do you have a duty to o alert your fellow pelicanites (pelicaners?)?

I understand the mind-your-own business aspect of online transactions but would you want someone to warn you if a car you were buying was being misrepresented?

Just wondering...

[SilberUrS6]

I will answer your question with another:

If you were the guy buying that car, would you want someone to tell you that the seller was being dishonest?

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

I will answer your question with another:

If you were the guy buying that car, would you want someone to tell you that the seller was being dishonest?

Yes, I certainly would. But certain forums seem to try their hardest to keep anyone from commenting on others for-sale ads.

[atlascafe]

My 2-cents is (if you want it)... if someone is making a gross misrepresentation and is trying to sell online to remote persons. I would like to know if I were the buyer. I had bought a car from a person in Wyoming, advertising that it was in Idaho, though he didn't give too many details on the condition of the car he eluded to the fact that is was complete and in decent condition. I was extremely disappointed when I got the car and more or less ALL the good parts were picked off (no dash-just a cover, cracked windshield, cookie cutters instead of fuchs, frozen motor, wrong transmission, etc).

But on the other hand, maybe someone is putting bad press on a car to drive potential buyers away to get a good deal for themselves.

[mreid]

Yes. This is not a sales site (other than for Wayne). This is a forum of enthusiast that happens to offer a service for members to sell items to other members. If you want to rip someone off, go somewhere else and buyer beware.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by maninblack

Yes, I certainly would. But certain forums seem to try their hardest to keep anyone from commenting on others for-sale ads.

I have seen that. Peanut gallery commentary like what happens on Bring A Trailer is part of the internet used car market, and I don't think there is anything that can be done about it. And PP is not a site that makes it hard to comment on any particular sale. There is this forum, after all.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

PP is not a site that makes it hard to comment on any particular sale. There is this forum, after all.

Actually, I think PP is a site that makes it hard to comment on a sale. Just the mere fact that only the seller can comment on a for sale thread accomplishes that. I'd venture to guess that only a small percentage of forum buyers stumble across the marketplace discussion forum.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by maninblack

Actually, I think PP is a site that makes it hard to comment on a sale. Just the mere fact that only the seller can comment on a for sale thread accomplishes that. I'd venture to guess that only a small percentage of forum buyers stumble across the marketplace discussion forum.

You can create a new post in the FS forum with a link to the sale. It may not last, but you can do it.

When I was looking, I absolutely searched here for the seller to verify that he wasn't someone who had shady dealings.

[COLB]

If you have firsthand, physical knowledge, I think it is appropriate, provided the comments are objective, like:

claiming the "Paint is not original" because you physical viewed (or owned) the car, and it has visible overspray or you tested thickness.

What is not acceptable is "I looked at the pictures and it looks too glossy to be original." Those are second hand, subjective assessments -- and you get a ton of that on Bringatrailer.

[Canine64]

I would absolutely want someone to tip me off if something was not right about a certain car. Twice this year I have been close to purchasing a 911 but something in my gut told me something was just not right. Sure enough, car #1 had body damage and mismatched panels. Quite a shame that the car was totally misrepresented by both the original owner and even the Porsche dealership who had the car. The dealership ended up selling the car sight unseen to a buyer across the country.

Car #2 was billed as a no accident, no paintwork ever by the owner. But then I just found out yesterday that the entire left side was repaired and repainted due to a mishap at Lime Rock. So glad I passed.

Both of these cars were not the average run of the mill 911: 1989 Speedster and 1997 993 Turbo. Unfortunately, both of these cars will always have a "story" attached to them. And I really hate those kinds of stories.

Mike

[aschen]

I think pp has the marketplace forum specifically to discuss cars for sale. I would have no reservation linking the add and listing the facts that you found. I can only imagine the heartache of discovering the car you bought was grossly misrepresented. Again I would only list factual info about the car in question. No drama or comentary on the listers ethics.

[Matt Monson]

What others have said, you must have first have knowledge of whatever you disclose.

I had a what's it worth thread up on my Bumble Bee. Some jackwad came in saying it couldn't be one because it had sail vinyl. Nevermind that anyone can add sail vinyl to a 40 year old car, but I have a COA. Guy knew it had sail vinyl. He had NO knowledge about whether or not the car was an LE.

[techweenie]

Yes, we're in The Pelicanhead Brotherhood. We're looking out for each other -- or should be. Earlier this year, maninblack was good enough to share a PPI he had paid for -- when he passed on a purchase. That's the best form of 'looking out for others.' If it's a black and white issue (known previous accident, etc.) we have a duty to alert serious prospects if the seller has not.

In one case recently a car was put up as a 'feeler for sale' by the owner, and the owner was apprised of some history unfavorable to the car's value. This particular seller revealed all these things he previously didn't know in the interest of protecting his ultimate buyer. I think that reflects the community we have here. At least, IMO, it should.

[maninblack]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate your opinions.

911 for sale being misrepresented

[Wayne 962]

In the past, a lot of people made unnecessary comments on for sale postings. This led to many complaints by sellers, and a significant drop-off in the number of ads placed. Sellers do not want their cars picked apart on their ads, and they won't post the ad if that can happen. This is indeed what happened in the past.

About 90-95% of the comments posted on ads were unnecessary and were perhaps wrong too. So, we decided to not allow these comments on the ads, as they were killing the classifieds section (to the point where people just stopped placing ads). Plus, a lot of the comments were subjective - one man's trash is another man's treasure. I leave it to the buyer and seller to determine the condition of the car along with pricing, and I always recommend that people get some type of PPI.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

In this case, I have indeed removed the ad, and sent the seller a stern note.

-Wayne

[techweenie]

Your house your rules. Thanks, Wayne, for the forum!

[Wayne 962]

Exhibit A for what happened all the time in the past:

1972 Porsche 911T for sale $65 OBO

Just positive affirmation that not allowing comments is a good thing.

-Wayne

[aschen]

Good policy Wayne it seems the peanut gallery can never stay quiet on other peoples ads on nearly every forum that I participate. I think the marketplace section is a good place to allow this sort of discussion

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by aschen

Good policy Wayne it seems the peanut gallery can never stay quiet on other peoples ads on nearly every forum that I participate. I think the marketplace section is a good place to allow this sort of discussion

Thanks, that's why it's here. As an avenue for discussions like these...

thx,

Wayne