Sellers need thicker skin.....

[Rmally]

I went to inspect a 914 that needed quite a bit of work, rust was very minimal but the engine did not run and it needed a lot of cosmetic help. After checking with my shop regarding some repaires just to make it roadworthy I made the seller an offer $900 below his asking price.........You would have thought I just kicked his dog.

The conversation went from a very friendly rapport to a pissed off attitude and curt responses. Seller was so mad he refused to make a counter offer.

I have been looking for a 914 for several months, and this is the third time that I have had sellers get so mad, and I wasn't making low ball offers. I always start low to get the ball rolling and usually get a counter offer, but lately.....wow.

I sold my 911 last summer, I was asking $14,900 and had offers of $6-8k, I always countered or made light and said that would be a good downpayment, but would never respond like a jackass......

Anyway, just wondered if it was me or have others been experiencing this.

[geshaghi]

Some folks do seem to take things very personally. You don't mention how much the seller was asking though - while $900 doesn't seem offensive on a $10,000 asking price, if the seller only wanted $1,000, $900 less might be cause for at least some mild annoyance....

[yelcab1]

In my opinion, the 914 market has a very devoted crowd, which means they are very emotional about their cars. And, the 914 (unless it is a -6) is also a pretty cheap car that is less than $4000 for a clean car. Another $3000 would not change someone's fortune.

The combination means many sellers would just sit on a car and get some pleasure out of it instead of taking a low ball offer and let their pride and joy go.

If I were serious at sellng my SC and someone makes a $5K offer, I would tell him he can have the engine for that, because that is how much the engine is worth.

[Rmally]

Good points,

I should have pointed out the price, he was asking $4,600 and I offered $3,700 (this was a 1.8 car not a 6) assuming that if it was unacceptable he would simply say he couldn't take that and state what he would take. Instead, he blew a gasket.

With so many running 914's in the market I'm really surprised at his reluctance. The car has been sitting for over a year in the weather and is just going to wind up rotting. I bet in another year he will be lucky to get $2k out of it.

Also, not to highjack my own thread but what is with all the ads for cars and yet no one will even return an email. I bet I have sent at least 6 emails over the last week with only one response........Do sellers really want to sell their cars??? and if they do why in the world do they not put in a phone number.

[DRider]

I think some people are pretty wishy-washy about selling their cars - I know I was, when I sold my first Porsche - I had it for sale, but I didn't really try very hard, as in my heart I really didn't want to sell it. I think it took me about 2 years of half-hearted attempts before I sold it... and then I missed it so much I bought another Porsche 6 months later!

So you may still get email back, it may just take a while for them to get up the nerve!

[logan2z]

Originally Posted by Rmally

Also, not to highjack my own thread but what is with all the ads for cars and yet no one will even return an email.

I've had a similar experience recently. There's a seller that keeps bumping his ad for a 911 on the 'For Sale' board, and I've sent him two e-mails over the past week and received no response.

Simple rule - if you're not committed to selling, then don't advertise the car for sale. That just wastes everyone's time.

[samjepperson]

After going thru the process of selling my car here on Pelican in the last month I have a different point of view. This view is that "buyers" need to be realistic with their offers. Even though I had numerous "interest" in my car, the majority of the potential "buyers" were either dreamers or photo collectors. Some of them actually made "really good offers" of 30-45% off of my asking price. I do not know about you but I have a defined amount of time to devote to my hobby and can't understand why sellers should be cordial to these offers when it is a complete waste of each others time?

I was immediately able to tell the real buyers from the dreamers because they talk to you on the phone (versus email) and discuss PPI's, etc. I had two firm offers within days on the car (both lower than expected) BUT they also had a huge list of valid reasons why they are offering a lower price. This was encouraging and showed real class of the potential buyer.

I admit that I am not perfect and have recently backed out of a purchase of some webbers (the race car project I was going to purchase them for fell thru) but I do respect individuals right to ask what they want and to not waste their time. And lastly I do not buy the whole attitude of the economy is in the dumps so everything should be 50% off.

[Matt Monson]

Rmally,
You don't sound like a rude buyer. Sounds like the guy wasn't really ready to sell the car. When I was a kid, my dad took me to buy a used car with him. On the way over he explained to me what negotiation is. He told me that when you are buying a used car, always offer about 20% less than the asking price. that's what you did.

If that's too low for the seller they can come back with something 10 or even 5% off their asking price. Then you know where they stand. Then you have a chance to find the middle ground where both can live with it. I don't think you did anything wrong.

I am with Sam and the others who said this trend of offering 40 or 50% off of asking price is rude and annoying. I don't know where people get that nerve. I just tell those guys to piss off. Obvisously, I don't live under a rock and if I'm asking $8000, I've already taken into account the state of the economy. If you start at $6500 I'm going to talk to you. If you open with $4000 or $5000 I'm going to ask you to leave.

Lastly, I haven't advertised it, but I'm looking to find a good home for my bumblebee. It's a diamond in the rough for someone who wants to do a little work to make it right. I'm not going to give it away for $5000 but at the same time I don't think it's some creampuff show car that's worth $10,000. PM me if you are interested and want to talk further. I'm a reasonable seller and you sound like a reasonable buyer.

[Rmally]

Thanks Matt,

I would never intentionally try and irritate a seller, particularly a fellow enthusiast. I truly felt my offer was fair and valid, and I just don’t understand those who have to respond in such a rude manner.

Sam, as stated above I felt my offer was fair and realistic. I was not a "looker" as I had cash and was ready to call the tow truck. I agree that some buyers can be difficult, but I look at it in terms of the buyer as a customer, I'm trying to sell a product and so I try and treat everyone with courtesy. I've been low balled so many times, but really don't you expect it anyway. Is it that hard to just say no thank you. I can't always spot the "real" buyers as I have sold several cars over the years via just email and no PPI.....is it wise for the buyer, of course not.

Regarding the economy, I agree.

[gregk1]

i have a 73 914 in the works and $4500 would be my starting point and if someone offered $3700 i would gust come back with $4000 and it's yours have fun no problem at all. some people just want every dime they can get it is not that way today unlike 4 years ago. turn down a sale at $500 to $800 less and have to store the thing for another year and then sell it for that anyhow ??

[931GT]

Any good salesman knows its best to just be courteous and politely decline an any offer they see as too low. Its simple "I appreciate the offer but the lowest I would be willing to go is X amount of dollars". The buyer now knows exactly where you stand and if they are truly interested they will come back with the money.

So "lowball away"... you don't wanna buy from some hothead that can't handle a little negotiation. They probably paid too much and spent too much, and want you to get them out of the hole they've dug themselves into.

[samjepperson]

Rmally - my post was not directed at you, just a generalization...I agree with you that your offer was fine and acceptable.

BUT I am not understanding how everyone thinks that a "lowball away" type attitude is okay? I see that as discourteous and a complete time waster - so why should I be cordial to this individual when I know that he ultimately is not serious. I have sold many collector cars over the years and the serious buyers always ask what would my lowest selling price be. This gives the buyer the information needed either to proceed or to abandon ship. The last two cars that I have sold started with that conversation and went from there AND they were cash in hand deals.

So I guess my thoughts are that if a buyer wants to start out with an attitude of lowballing I am going to give an attitude back. In the end it won't be the lowballer buying my car anyways...

[LWJ]

Rmally,
You posted a reasonable offer. The guy freaked. Don't sweat it. I agree. Thicker skin is needed.
Larry