how would you respond?
 

Sent a PM to a fella regarding a car listed in the classifieds here on Pelican. The car looks great in the image provided. I asked for a written representation (none provided in the ad) and additional images. The response:

"I am not sending any further photo's. Have done so in the past, only to no response. Therefore, if you are serious, forward your phone #, a price you are willing to pay in the next day, or so, and a good time to call. Thanks."

I've sent a polite PM in return but if it were you...??

Thanks for a great site Wayne!!!

Selling a car is a Royal PIA, but that being said, the seller has to treat each and every inquisitive mind like a buyer. $0.02

2c
 

I have had the same problem recently. I send a detailed list of questions to determine in writing what has been done to the car in order that i can discern weather to bother with spending the money on PPI.
I feel if you are serious about selling your car then you should be prepared to answer the first and second round of questions.
Obviously there is a limit because there are some real time wasters out there but basically I think its on both Buyer and seller to be ready. Buyer to have done homework, and ask pertinent questions seller to expect those questions related to the marque.

I've got my car up for sale and have received several emails asking for more pics. Each time I do, I add them to the listing, so as to cut down on further emails. But I agree that you have to take each and every inquiry seriously. In even the best scenario, every single inquiry except one is a dead end. It can be a pain, but too bad. I think a seller who sends you a response like that is shooting himself in the foot, because he's going to really turn off the person who's ready to pull the trigger. I can understand the frustration, but that's the game of selling a car.

If it were me I wouldn't have even replied back to the seller unless it was a super rare one of a kind car that I was dead set on acquiring. Otherwise there are just too many nice cars available in a down economy to deal with a-holes. You made what I would consider a very reasonable request and the seller's expectation that you make an offer without providing further information about the vehicle is laughable. Sounds like he doesn't want to sell the car, or if he does, he doesn't have a clue how to treat people with respect and courtesy.

I just made a shutterfly website with complete pics and info on the car and send every potential buyers who ask for more pics or info the link... it seems easier this way.

I thought it most remarkable that I was demanded to commit to a price on one image and a non-description....sheesh.

I would say " move on" there is a better car out there for you. I have bought and sold half a dozen Porsches and have enjoyed the process each time. As a seller I welcome questions and as a buyer you should get your questions answered.

57 - 356 coupe
79 911SC
85 Original 911 ( for sale)

The last car I sold on-line had no less than 30 detail photos and a 1.5 page description of the car. I still had to respond with more details and specific photos to potential buyers. I had to beat off the low-ball offers with a stick and sold the car for asking price to someone who appreciated the detail I provided. I had to be patient to get my asking price though.

Perhaps the seller wouldn't be over-loaded with e-mail requests if he/she listed the car properly in the first place.

If you're only willing to pay wholesale prices, be prepared to take wholesale risks. Buyers wanting top quality cars and sellers with high end cars should be prepared to 'defend' their respective positions.

I agree with others who've responded - time to move on, photos hide a lot and if the seller can't back it up with details in writting or additional photo detail perhaps it isn't as good as it looks from a distant photo. Or, if the price is right as-is and the car fits your desired criteria, get a PPI scheduled and snap it up before someone else does.

Sounds like seller is tired of the selling process. If you are truly interested and a number was provided.. call him. If not, move on to the next car. Some people just don't know how to sell very well. Don't take it personal.

If the seller is really interested in selling his car he could just take it to the local dealer. They buy cars all day long. If he doesn't like the price they offer then he needs to respond better to inquiries like yours.

I agree with Racer. Selling a car is work and it seems like the seller is discovering that.

Exactly. How many ads do you see where the seller leaves out lots of obvious basic info.

IMO, if you do business with a jerk, you shouldn't be too surprised by what you get, or what you may find out later. Self entitled guys with attitude usually have no issues with selling their problems on to the next guy. In their minds, if you put up with them and do business, you deserve it. Some will even say as much if you confront them later.

On our cars, knowing that we may find issues with worn cam lobes, broken head studs, or bad syncros, etc., we need to be very careful who we buy from. It is on us as consumers to make sure that we see, inspect and drive the car, as well as getting the crucial PPI with valve covers off. Contrary to popular belief, rust can be an issue with galvanized cars, and accident induced chassis damage can wrack a straight looking car.

IMO, an attitude where someone implies that there is nothing wrong with the seller, and you either want the goods or you don't is just a smoke screen to hide the real problem. The seller doesn't have time for you or your questions because he knows or suspects the car will never stand up to close scrutiny.

And lets be blunt. Some Pelicans are real scumbags. Just because someone posts here does not automatically make them a better person. They may be only one out of one hundred, but they are here. Trust me, I have found this out the hard way. People get really funny sometimes when money is involved.

There are lots of Porsches out there. Get a good one, from an upstanding guy. And ALWAYS assume it is your responsibility to make sure the car is good.

Be very cautious when dealing with a seller like this....
 

I just wasted a few days time and $1k on a flight to check what appeared to be a minty '40 Ford coupe (for my dad), but it could just as well be a Porsche (or any vehicle for that matter). A similar event happened on an '89 911 cab I wanted as well, but at least I was smart enough to get a PPI and did not make a similar trip!

Getting information from the seller was like pulling teeth, and what little I received was sketchy "I don't know much about cars, my grandfather died and left it to me, etc...." The photos looked good, and in the end, that and the reasonable selling price ($25k) & vehicle color (dark blue) they suckered me in.

It had an older amateur restoration with rust repair in numerous places with ill fitting panels, dents/dings and frame welds/cuts, which failed to show up in the photographs. It was an odd condition car as well. It was too nice to spend another $20k to make it right, and it was a bit scary to drive in the current condition.

My biggest warning flag was at least two people (probably many more) had looked at it before me and it had remained unsold. To not waste time in the future I suggest that you call the gent to confirm your current reservations about the vehicle and feel him out. If that turns out o.k., politely request additional photos/info and if he acts fishy, I'd say "Run Forrest, run..."

There's a chance it could be a legit deal, but remember if it has been for sale for a while, and it's not a some remote site where it can be seen, the chances that it's a great deal is slim to none, or somebody would already have picked it up!

Good Luck, there are many nice vehicles out there, don't be in a hurry, and get a PPI!!