I guess I'm a fool

[greglepore]

I just sold a nice, one of 200, 96 v12 Mercedes on FBM. It was a very well sorted car that actually was my dd, although for me that's like 10k/yr, others in the fleet. If your curious, listing is here https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/861758123232194

My strategy with FBM sales is that if I list something there, I'm willing to accept $$ under market as I hate sales friction. The car in question is likely a 12-15k car if one was willing to wait for the perfect buyer and put up with all of the "well, the sunshade doesn' work" and "the bumper needs a repaint" stuff. There's a perfect low mileage one listed at 45k that'll never sell, and Victor, the youtube mercedes diy guy out of Brooklyn (he does amazing things in his driveway) has his personal car with more miles and less cosmetics listed at 12. I know myself well enough that if I wanted full value the car would sit for a bit and I'd decide to keep it, which would be dumb as the reason its nice is its been garaged since new and I'm out of garage space. So I listed it at 8500.
Of course, I got inundated with responses. I explicitly said in the listing that the price was firm and I wouldn't respond to pokes that merely said "is this available".
Car sold 2nd listing day to a nice collector 2 hrs away who was a complete gentleman.

Now the interesting part. I immediately got a message from one of the "is it available guys" in Md who's all pissed off that I didn't respond to him as "he had a buyer willing to pay 22k" and I "cost myself 8-10k by not responding". Now, I don't feel bad as I reminded him of the listing, and I know in my heart that he wasn't going to give me "8-10k" over my full price, he was mad because he lost the flip.
But it got me thinking...

Am I a fool? Assuming the cash isn't trivial but not a big deal overall, am I just being weak with my "lets move it" sales posture? Is 3-4k enough money that I should endure a couple weeks of answering endless FBM inquiries and a weeks angina of going back and forth about keeping the car? Am I too emotionally invested in buying/selling?

Whaddya think?

[KFC911]

I think we must both be fools then

[sc_rufctr]

You're not a fool. Pricing and car to sell quickly has lots of advantages.

And I've never liked strangers at my house.

[onewhippedpuppy]

“Is this available” guy is a moron who didn’t read your ad. I wouldn’t be upset that I missed out on interacting with a moron.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I do this all the time. And a lot of times I give fairly valuable stuff away for free.

Yes, both you and I are fools.

The exchange is absolutely no drama and it's gone.

[wdfifteen]

I, too, “…hate sales friction.” I also sometimes put, “Will not respond to, ‘Is this available’” in my ads.
I think it is foolish to keep something around that you really want to get rid of. It’s like walking around with a pebble in your shoe. Sell it for what you’re comfortable with and don’t look back.

In this case I think the flipper was a fool for not being serious about contacting you. If he could make $8k by typing a friendly sentence, but instead opted to just tap a button on his iPad, he’s an idiot.

[slow&rusty]

M120 C140 Coupes are truly fantastic cars.

That's a lot of car for $8500, the miles are low as well.

[masraum]

That's exactly how I sell used stuff (cars or otherwise). I don't want to haggle or deal with wankers, so I make it a good price. When I sell stuff, it's usually quick and easy.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

M120 C140 Coupes are truly fantastic cars.

That's a lot of car for $8500, the miles are low as well.

Just noticed you're from Houston. The car came from there, some oilman traded both it and a sister M120 sedan to the local MB dealer. The parts counter guy there bought them in '17 rather than sending them to auction, and his friend in Metairie sold both for 7k each. In retrospect, I should have bought both. I drove the coupe home in a tropical storm that followed us up the east as far as Fort Knox.

Its an incredible car for the $$. As I age out of diy wrenching it becomes somewhat worrisome to keep going, hence the sale. With labor rates being what they are, and parts becoming randomly nla , the complication of a 140 is a "thing". The 123' s are much easier to deal with.

I'll miss it, but not regret it. The e28 m5 I regret...but long ago.

[oldE]

You set a price with which you were comfortable, aware of the trade off between financial gain and preservation of your time and peace of mind. Nothing foolish about that. To me it would be foolish wasting time trying to get every last cent of value out of something you wanted to move on.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by oldE

You set a price with which you were comfortable, aware of the trade off between financial gain and preservation of your time and peace of mind. Nothing foolish about that. To me it would be foolish wasting time trying to get every last cent of value out of something you wanted to move on.

Pretty much. It depends on the situation. I had a 3-point scraper blade for sale for 6 months. It sat outside, not in the way, no problem, so I didn't budge on the price.
But I had a few hundred dollars worth of 356 parts that I needed to get out of the way. I listed them on FBM for $100, but listed then for free when they didn't sell in 2 days.
Because they were in my way.

[herr_oberst]

I just don't understand that knothead in MD. What was he going to accomplish by complaining?

We've all missed out on good deals, we've all been disappointed...but who here has decided that deriding the seller after the fact is going to change the outcome?

You're no fool. You made a plan, you carried it out and you've lightened your mental load.

[vash]

nope. once it is sold, I quit wonder about "what ifs"?


I have way under priced a few things..but it is what it is. I should have done more research. hahha.. that's on me. if it wasn't for this thread, I wouldn't have even remotely revisited it in my head.

[HobieMarty]

Not at all. I would do the same thing, price something with what I would want out of it, fair and decent price, and move on. The dude complaining and throwing numbers around is full of it. You did good.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Zeke]

FBMP is a sewer. You are lucky you even met a "gentleman." AFA the flipper goes that's just part of the stink that arises out of the sewer. There's nothing you can do about someone that comes back out from the ones that you didn't respond to.

I have a dealer I repair for that gives the address of the police station. He does this every day. He gets the wheat from the chaff. I'm sure he has sold so many 1000's of items to 1000's of people that he has a sense.

So if they call from the PD and want to know where you are then you have a real buyer. He then directs them a mile north to his location telling them he got delayed by some BS story. If they are willing to go through that process he has a buyer and more, he already has the upper hand.

He also has someone willing to show up at the PD. That's gold enough right there.
(Several of our local PD's have a public meet up space.)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I just don't understand that knothead in MD. What was he going to accomplish by complaining?

We've all missed out on good deals, we've all been disappointed...but who here has decided that deriding the seller after the fact is going to change the outcome?

You're no fool. You made a plan, you carried it out and you've lightened your mental load.

It's surprising how many numbnuts like that there are out there.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Now the interesting part. I immediately got a message from one of the "is it available guys" in Md who's all pissed off that I didn't respond to him as "he had a buyer willing to pay 22k" and I "cost myself 8-10k by not responding". Now, I don't feel bad as I reminded him of the listing, and I know in my heart that he wasn't going to give me "8-10k" over my full price, he was mad because he lost the flip.
But it got me thinking...

Am I a fool? ?

Electrons don't have feelings.

[Baz]

"Hello Greg......Just saw your ad for the Benz and would LOVE to purchase her from you! I have cash in hand and am flexible on when we could get together on it - whatever is convenient for you. I have experience with these cars so fully understand what you have there and will not waste your time.

I am an honest and trustworthy person to do business with and am neither a scammer nor a flipper. Your baby will be going to a good home!

If not already spoken for, I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss the purchase with you. My number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Hope to hear from you soon either reply here or phone call preferred so I don't have to type so much!

Best regards,
My full name
City, State
Phone number
eMail addy

============

As a buyer - this is how I respond to classifieds or merchandise I am interested in buying.

Not "Is the car still available?"

MOST of the time I can tell immediately if I want to buy it or not. This allows me to enhance my purchase inquiry elevating it above all others.

In most cases the sellers tell me they knew my inquiry was legit right off the bat - thus I've accomplished my overall objective as an "unknown" entity in the sea of the Internet.

Of course, the seller likewise has an obligation to represent themself and their merchandise as legit - which you did in your excellent classified, Greg.

Now to the question of were you foolish to cut her loose at less than market value......

Is holding out for more money worth the hassle of maintaining the classified?

Like an ex GF used to say......"Everything in life is a tradeoff."

So I think this is maybe a question only you can answer, Greg.

Finding the right person to do business with is worth something and it sounds like you were able to do that. There's value in that for you, right?

An end to having to tend after the classified and responses has to also hold value.

And consider all the enjoyment and smiles that baby brought you during ownership - priceless by some accounts and certainly of value.

I think we've all had seller's remorse (and buyer's remorse) so don't beat yourself up too much - life is too short.



Best regards,
Baz

[porsche tech]

That’s why people are willing to take less and trade their car in rather than selling it themselves…to avoid all the hassle. Your “I have a buyer” guy sounds like the same guy that after you buy something would tell you “I know where you could have gotten that a lot cheaper”. Life is too short.

[A930Rocket]

Not a fool. I price things to move, not eak out every last penny.