Are Porsche sellers flakier than most?

logan2z · 08-02-2009, 06:42 PM

I know this thread isn't exactly full of 'technical' content, but I had to vent - I've started looking for an SC or Carrera to use as a DD and have found some promising cars for sale within reasonable driving distance from me. Most of them have been advertised on Craigslist which provides e-mail links that can be used to contact the seller. Almost all of the sellers I have contacted have either never replied or replied three or four days after my initial e-mail. Of those that did finally reply, several promised to send me additional information/pictures, etc. and then never came through. I don't get it, are these people really interested in selling their cars? Are their wives pressuring them to sell and their hearts really aren't in it? Should I take this personally, or have other people experienced the same thing?

RichHawk · RichHawk's Garage

flakiness is a craigslist trait. not so much a Porsche thing.
I sent ten different criaigslisters ten different emails on cheap digital cameras today. I got one reply.

Richard

82Euro · 08-02-2009, 06:52 PM

My buying experiences have been much more pleasurable than my selling experiences honestly. Worst is the guy that wants to "try before he buys". Except he wants to simulate a track day on his test drive! Not fun.

I find the people I've bought from are honest to a fault; generally knitpicking the car's issues no matter how miniscule. They know their car better than I do at that point and are eager to point out the good, the bad and the ugly. I'll walk if its ugly!!!

Communication has always been slow though when buying. Seems like the P-car crowd is a very busy crowd!!! Probably don't want to seem overly eager to unload their ride also.

Wyvern · Wyvern's Garage

Craigslist may be more of a "while I'm at it posting"
I have bought and sold a lot on Craig's (Ohh ... and a good place to find hookers)

When I was looking also in the Bay Area had the same thing.
Many post elsewhere and Craig'slist for a additional placement.
When selling on CL .. the responses are many and often weird.
So maybe they start discounting your serious intentions.

mickey356 · 08-02-2009, 08:07 PM

I bought my car from CL. I contacted a few sellers and got relatively quick responses. I looked at about 20 cars, 3-4 off CL, the folks that posted did seem to be a bit "less motivated" than others but who knows, maybe just coincidence. I live on the east coast and in general people over here are usually a little more "hyper". Don't be in a rush. The right one will come along.

WilsonTC · 08-02-2009, 08:18 PM

I've always suspected that Craigslist e-mail system is faulty. I've sent e-mails over & over again to people who have re-listed items multiple times with no response. I've also posted bargains (as in "free") with no response. I don't think it's the sellers that are flaky, I think it's Craigslist.

widgeon13 · 08-03-2009, 03:34 AM

I think there are a lot of flakey Pcar sellers. They end up with seller's remorse, when you respond they think they haven't asked enough for the car and then start wondering what they can do to get the price up. Then they start saying that someone offered them more in hopes of getting the bid up. They really don't want to sell the car, just want to see what they can get for it.

And of course the wife is hounding them for the new refrigerator or stove or a whole new kitchen or clothes for the kids, etc. etc.

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Tough crowd. I bought my 'new' old car (a 911SC) through SF Craigslist and the guy was no problem. Turns out he also had it advertised here but I didn't spot it.

Try advertising a car on CL and see the level of idiotic and spam replies you get. It's a two-way street, where your initial email has to show you are a serious buyer, not just "what's your best price".

Not saying that is you, but it is lots of people.

kanadary · 08-03-2009, 05:17 AM

i bought my 87 from cl and it was a easy transaction to the point where when i told him i wanted to book a ppi the following week, he said i didn't need to leave a deposit and he would just give me the car to take to the ppi the night before. i sold stuff thru cl too with no issues.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Here is the thing, lots of people want these cars but for most of these people, this is merely a dream. They come out, look at the car, ask to test drive it but don't have the means to buy it. You get sick of the time wasters pretty quickly.

And then there are the prople that call up and make an appt to see the car and then never show...

berettafan · 08-03-2009, 06:26 AM

i have developed the opinion that non-hardcore Porsche owners are some of the flakiest people in the world.

dandyw · 08-03-2009, 09:09 AM

That's funny, I've got an SC on Craigslist in Portland OR, and I was wondering if it's the buyers or the sellers. If you're looking for something specific in a car, have a good conversation and drill into the specifics that you're after.

You do get alot of crap from scammers trying to get you to deal with them on anything from using them to sell your car to more than you're asking for, to the people who want to send you a check for 2x asking price, then send them the difference back with the car.

I guess all it takes is one buyer for the car you have, and it's got to be a good transaction for both.

I've returned all calls and sent additional pictures to those who have asked. However, to the earlier point, I do travel often on business, and sometimes it takes a few days to respond.

The car is still available.

logan2z · 08-03-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndglynn

It's a two-way street, where your initial email has to show you are a serious buyer, not just "what's your best price".

FWIW, in my initial e-mail, I usually ask a set of standard questions if the ad hasn't already addressed them - for example, I ask if the seller has all service records from new, what the car's oil consumption is like, where the car been serviced under his ownership, etc. To my mind, the issue of price is secondary to those things, and isn't worth discussing until the other details are known. But maybe that's not typical...

logan2z · 08-03-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandyw

I've got an SC on Craigslist in Portland OR

Let me guess, yours is the one that comes with the '101 Projects' book

I'm not looking for a targa, but your car looks very nice. Good luck with the sale.

logan2z · 08-03-2009, 09:41 AM

It's probably also worth pointing out that it's not just sellers on Craigslist who seem to exhibit this behavior, I've had similar issues recently with sellers advertising on the PCA Mart. Frustrating...

vincer77 · 08-03-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyvern

Craigslist may be more of a "while I'm at it posting"
I have bought and sold a lot on Craig's (Ohh ... and a good place to find hookers)

.

Is this a Porsche owners trait?

dandyw · 08-03-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

I'm not looking for a targa, but your car looks very nice

Mine is a coupe. And I'd have to ask several $$$ more to include the project book! Thanks...

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan2z

FWIW, in my initial e-mail, I usually ask a set of standard questions if the ad hasn't already addressed them - for example, I ask if the seller has all service records from new, what the car's oil consumption is like, where the car been serviced under his ownership, etc. To my mind, the issue of price is secondary to those things, and isn't worth discussing until the other details are known. But maybe that's not typical...

I did say:"Not saying that is you, but it is lots of people."

logan2z · 08-03-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandyw

Mine is a coupe. And I'd have to ask several $$$ more to include the project book! Thanks...

Oops, I must have missed your car then, I don't see any SC coupes for sale in Portland. PM me a link to the ad.

logan2z · 08-03-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndglynn

I did say:"Not saying that is you, but it is lots of people."

Right, I wasn't trying to imply that you thought I was one of 'those' buyers. I was just pointing out the kinds of things I ask in my initial e-mail in case anyone noticed something in there that might put off a seller.