Beat by a flipper

kc911s · 06-18-2015, 12:21 PM

Well it was bound to happen. I recently sold a porsche so am in the market for another. Found a 911 a few hours from me- owner sounded nice- has owned the car since '02 and I felt confident it was represented well. Recent valve cover reseal, newer dual exhaust and I think white looks so clean on a 911. Made plans to go look at it today- and what do you know- get a call "a buyer(reseller) is flying in from North Carolina and is paying full price- if he doesn't show or flakes I'll let you know". I tried to let him know what this guy was going to do with his car but oh well he didn't care. I didn't think this would hurt as bad as it does- getting beat by a flipper- but it does. Now on to finding another.

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kc911s · 06-18-2015, 12:22 PM

The Craigslist post

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Norm K · 06-18-2015, 12:47 PM

Tough to ignore a full price offer. Of course the buyer, whoever/whatever he actually is, might've offered full price over the phone only to take the car off the market until he can get there and have a chance to pick it apart, followed by the presentation of a lower offer. At that point, the seller, not wanting the hassle of of other potential buyers doing the same thing, accepts the twenty or so grand being waved in front of him. C'est la vie.

kc911s · 06-18-2015, 12:50 PM

Oh I know full price is full price. Just stings knowing it's going to be resold.

sugarwood · sugarwood's Garage

If you really wanted the car,
you would have offered to pay $1000 over full price tonight.

kc911s · 06-18-2015, 01:13 PM

Cars gone. He gave him first crack at it. Guy already had ticket bought when he called me back last night.

Otter74 · 06-18-2015, 01:45 PM

I understand. Given what I am shopping for and why, no way am I going to do what that buyer did (too much risk and uncertainty) but I've seen a few cars that looked promising disappear quickly, probably to the same kind of buyer.

David

Matt Monson · 06-18-2015, 01:48 PM

That car is so far under full market price I wouldn't even consider beating someone up over the price. I generally will not discuss price by phone or email. That's an in person conversation. I use the two pocket method with my money. One pocket is my offer. The other pocket carries the difference to take me up to my max offer.

Sucks to get beat out but this isn't a market to act slowly.

Scottc714 · 06-18-2015, 02:02 PM

^^^^^Exactly what I thought as soon as I saw the picture. That car was gonna sell in 1 hot minute from the get go at that price. You cant sit on your hands when you find a deal like that in this market. making arrangements and scheduling a meeting to see a car is great , but aint gonna get it done right now. Not when people with shoe boxs full of cash are offering full pop sight unseen...

Scottc714 · 06-18-2015, 02:05 PM

Hopefully it isnt Bobbydino who scored on it

pnut_lee · 06-18-2015, 03:00 PM

Craigslist is tough. Too many proffessional flippers in this market incessantly refreshing Craigslist waiting for deals like this to pop up. No time for the casual buyer to react. Sucks for we enthusiasts.

Rick Brooklyn · 06-18-2015, 04:49 PM

Is there any such thing as a website where you register and it scans the web for ads in a smart way, so that you put in your search details and it alerts you in real time as soon as something pops up?

Unobtanium-inc · 06-18-2015, 05:05 PM

It has been years since I have bought a car off craigslist.
I went to Gullwing Motors one time when I was still in NYC, Kumar had three women sitting in front of computer screens refreshing them, craigslist, ebay, all the forums, that's why he will call you when you put your car up 15 minutes ago. You can't compete with that.
I stand by the method if you are a true enthusiast and want a really nice car, go to as many events as you can locally, make lots of friends, the best cars never see the light of day, they just change hands. There is a Speedster near Philly that has had five owners, and it has never left a 5 mile radius!

And yes I flip cars, but 90% of the cars I buy never get advertised, my phone just rings and I buy the car, and if it's a good price, pay full price. I have bought many a car being the 2nd or sometimes 3rd guy to see a car, because I didn't feel the need to squeeze the seller out of a few dollars, if the price is fair, pay it!

--Adam

SilberUrS6 · 06-18-2015, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unobtanium-inc

And yes I flip cars,
--Adam

I would argue that you are not a flipper, and the negatives that go along with that, but a reseller. You help bring cars out of the shadows and barns, and make them available to folks who will actually drive them. You seem to be completely up-front about what you do and how you do it, which means that you don't have to accept the flipper label - and all the dishonesty that implies.

Reseller, like techweenie.

Arne2 · Arne2's Garage

LOL! There's a P-car shop owner near me who has more than once expressed contempt for Adam (by name) for combing the country and "stealing" cars from garages of people who don't know their values. Of course, this guy also tries to do the same as Adam on a local basis, so I've always taken it as sour grapes.

Unobtanium-inc · 06-19-2015, 07:58 PM

Arne-
I only know one shop in Eugene, and stopped there shortly after taking this shot of a Super 90 Roadster in the local Home Depot parking lot. I get that alot, "poaching", more often than not it's exactly the opposite. The local guy knew about the car and wants to steal it, the seller calls me based on a good recommendation, I fly in and buy it for what the owner is asking, and everyone is happy, except the local guy...
Such was the case when I stopped off at the shop in Eugene, he seemed real pissed I flew in and bought a car locally. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was sold in about 3 hours, I left it at my friend Rod Emory's place to be picked up by the new buyer and flew home with nothing but my dirty clothes, and a big smile.
The car popped up a couple of years later at auction, guess I didn't make all the money on the deal, but there's always enough to go around in this business.
Also, if the only people who hate you are the competition, you are doing a pretty good job.
---Adam

WANNA930 · 06-21-2015, 10:29 PM

Ah the evil flipper plot.

Sorry but don't see what this has anything to do with buyer being a flipper? You saw car you wanted priced at least 7k under market and waited instead of buying. Guy paid full price. Where is the wrong doing here?

Ah! were you the evil negotiating buyer that tries to negotiate even a great deal?

Lesson is next time buy the car or at least lock it up with deposit.

Sucks losing a car but next time be ready. 911'S sell within hours not days. Have you bank on speed dial. There will always be another don't get yourself crazy over a car you never seen.

Reddy Kilowatt · 06-22-2015, 04:43 AM

Man, if I saw a car that I wanted priced like that, I would have made plans to be there 5 minutes from now. You snooze, you lose.

Otter74 · 06-22-2015, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reddy Kilowatt

Man, if I saw a car that I wanted priced like that, I would have made plans to be there 5 minutes from now. You snooze, you lose.

I can testify - Late last week I saw a car that was barely over my budget but a much better car than I would normally find within my budget....I immediately called the seller and arranged for a friend who lived nearby to go see it for me and make the deal if it was as it appeared....he was the second person to come see it and the first one bought it. I am a bit too conservative to buy a car sight unseen even if it seems like a slam dunk, but I can hardly complain! The only way I could have gotten that car would have been to take the risk and offer the buyer his asking price over the phone and have my friend bring money and pick it up. Disappointing, but I learned!

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

So has it popped up for sale yet???