Why are some sellers so unhelpful?

NIMAN

I plan to change my car in the coming months, and have been considering a Leaf.

I seen one on DD and it has been there for >50 days.

I emailed the seller, asking if he took trade-ins and if not what was the best price he'd sell for. I got a reply ok, with a figure and a 'no' to the trade-in. Great, happy with that.

Then replied to his email, asking him 4 more questions re: service history, charging cable, if it was an Irish or import and if I could possibly get the reg to run a check on it.

His reply? "Look, I am 66 years of age, and if you would like to phone me or come and see it I have all the paperwork".

Jez:rolleyes:

Now if I was selling a car I would be a little more helpful, personally replies like this would quickly make me lose interest in a seller.

AerynSun

One question: do you have a Polish accent? :P

ba_barabus

Noccy_Mondy

There's plenty of other helpful people out there that would only be delighted to sell you a car!

Supergurrier

Seems reasonable enough

Scortho

Supergurrier wrote: »

Seems reasonable enough

That's what I was thinking.
Generally with a car that's been up a while I'll send a text is it still for sale and then ring the seller for a chat about the car.
Is rather get all my questions over with in one 10 minute call than 2 hours spent emailing back and forth only to find out that the head has blown.
Waste of my time.
What's wrong with giving a seller a ring?

thecomedian

You get a lot of rubbish through emails and texts when selling a car. In fairness to him he answered the first one and then asked you to ring him.

Maybe he doesn't like going through email?
Anyway a phone call is the best way to get information from a seller.

visual

A typical 66 year old wouldn't be obessed with sms and emails and spending their day on FB

Phone would be the best form of communication ( only better way is meeting in person)

Atlantic Dawn

I don't mind how I am contacted but when someone asks for best price without seeing the car I generally treat them as being a muppet with no intention of buying the car.

650Ginge

NIMAN wrote: »

I plan to change my car in the coming months, and have been considering a Leaf.

I seen one on DD and it has been there for >50 days.

I emailed the seller, asking if he took trade-ins and if not what was the best price he'd sell for. I got a reply ok, with a figure and a 'no' to the trade-in. Great, happy with that.

Then replied to his email, asking him 4 more questions re: service history, charging cable, if it was an Irish or import and if I could possibly get the reg to run a check on it.

His reply? "Look, I am 66 years of age, and if you would like to phone me or come and see it I have all the paperwork".

Jez:rolleyes:

Now if I was selling a car I would be a little more helpful, personally replies like this would quickly make me lose interest in a seller.

I think you are being a unreasonable yourself. At 66 years old he may not be very comfortable with texts or emails, a lot old people don't adapt to new tech.

Just phone him and ask.

I actually find if rather cowardly when people have to use a text or email or other now personal method to ask the donedeal special, "what's the lowest you'll take?". Ring him and make a counteroffer to the price in the add.

colm_mcm

Go see the car, if its local you'll probably be the first. He might be sound in real life.

There is a black leaf on dd. Keep in mins this guy is also selling an auris hybrid and was tech savvy enough to be able to block out the reg.

Note that neither of the 2 cars he's selling have tax discs in the screen.

corktina

NIMAN wrote: »

I plan to change my car in the coming months, and have been considering a Leaf.

I seen one on DD and it has been there for >50 days.

I emailed the seller, asking if he took trade-ins and if not what was the best price he'd sell for. I got a reply ok, with a figure and a 'no' to the trade-in. Great, happy with that.

Then replied to his email, asking him 4 more questions re: service history, charging cable, if it was an Irish or import and if I could possibly get the reg to run a check on it.

His reply? "Look, I am 66 years of age, and if you would like to phone me or come and see it I have all the paperwork".

Jez:rolleyes:

Now if I was selling a car I would be a little more helpful, personally replies like this would quickly make me lose interest in a seller.

I have to say I get pee'd off by people asking what my best price is...it's on the ad, if you want to negotiate, come and see it first! The ads been up 50 days or so, how many timewasters do you think have txtd him in that time?

Nixer Jim

Whats your best price OP? What will you commit to, right here, right now, before you see the car! No going back now :P

If you're interested in the car then give him a call, ask the questions you need to ask and then - at that point- make up your mind. Go and see the car or leave it.

As to why you couldn't have asked all that you wanted to know in the first e-mail is beyond me. 20 e-mails later and you end up saying "thanks, I'll leave it" Surely you can see the sellers point!

djimi

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I don't mind how I am contacted but when someone asks for best price without seeing the car I generally treat them as being a muppet with no intention of buying the car.

Agreed. Ridiculous question to ask first without even seeing the car. He thinks you're a time waster.

Seweryn

djimi wrote: »

Agreed. Ridiculous question to ask first without even seeing the car. He thinks you're a time waster.

+1.

I can't understand how someone would ask that question without seeing the car, never mind as one of the first questions through email correspondence. I would say if I was selling the car, I probably wouldn't even bother responding.

biko

I don't think the seller was unhelpful at all.

rwg

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I don't mind how I am contacted but when someone asks for best price without seeing the car I generally treat them as being a muppet with no intention of buying the car.

Disagree totally with this, sales and marketing has changed over the last 10-15 years - people nowadays are well capable of making their mind up to purchase items, including cars, before an actual viewing

more and more people are inclined to seek a "bottom dollar" price before viewing, and if the item is in an expected state upon examination then they are likely to purchase

ba_barabus

rwg wrote: »

more and more people are inclined to seek a "bottom dollar" price before viewing, and if the item is in an expected state upon examination then they are likely to purchase

It's impossible to know what a car is worth without checking it out. Two cars could look identical and both have the same mileage and both could be worth very different amounts. Therefore price should be discussed upon viewing. Donedeal gives people a good guide as to what the cars are making but then again most people just pick the lowest price and assume that's what it's worth.

Now I would myself ask "is the price flexible upon viewing". This lets me know if haggling is ok and if the buyer wants to haggle. Otherwise I accept the price is the price unless I can find bargaining tools such as worn tyres. Of course some sellers price a car correctly and haggling isn't needed.

Bread Head

biko wrote: »

I don't think the seller was unhelpful at all.

Nope. More a case of an unhelpful buyer tbh

ba_barabus

Bread Head wrote: »

Nope. More a case of an unhelpful buyer tbh

I don't fully agree. I think the seller could have been more helpful but I'd draw a line at discussing the price.

rwg

ba_barabus wrote: »

I don't fully agree. I think the seller could have been more helpful but I'd draw a line at discussing the price.

Why draw the line there? If I have a car advertised for 5k, and I have a bottom dollar price of maybe 4.5k, why not reply with 4.5k non negotiable?

ba_barabus

rwg wrote: »

Why draw the line there? If I have a car advertised for 5k, and I have a bottom dollar price of maybe 4.5k, why not reply with 4.5k non negotiable?

I'll stick to haggling.

thecomedian

rwg wrote: »

Why draw the line there? If I have a car advertised for 5k, and I have a bottom dollar price of maybe 4.5k, why not reply with 4.5k non negotiable?

If your selling, let the buyer make the first offer.

Atlantic Dawn

rwg wrote: »

Disagree totally with this, sales and marketing has changed over the last 10-15 years - people nowadays are well capable of making their mind up to purchase items, including cars, before an actual viewing

more and more people are inclined to seek a "bottom dollar" price before viewing, and if the item is in an expected state upon examination then they are likely to purchase

If I stick my car up today for €5000 I would want to be an idiot to tell the first person who texts me that I will actually take €4000 as my lowest price. This kind of sales tactic will result in the person either trying to reduce that more with still no viewing or else will arrive to view the car and then start out fresh knocking down the €4000 amount as if it's the original sales price. Also only a fool will blind bid for a car they have not physically seen.

A used car is not like buying a used television or mobile phone, it needs to be properly inspected and viewed prior to sale.

ironclaw

rwg wrote: »

Disagree totally with this, sales and marketing has changed over the last 10-15 years - people nowadays are well capable of making their mind up to purchase items, including cars, before an actual viewing

more and more people are inclined to seek a "bottom dollar" price before viewing, and if the item is in an expected state upon examination then they are likely to purchase

I doubt many people are employing game theory in their car purchasing habits. :pac:

But it is a bad move as a buyer in my opinion, if you ask what the best price is and the seller responds, then you are pretty much showing all your cards and your room to negotiate is minimal. i.e. When you turn up, the seller can just say 'Well you knew the bottom dollar price before you arrived' As opposed to being a shade more agressive and using the car as a bargaining chip after viewing i.e. "I'll need to do X, Y and Z, and its needs a W" Just my views.

But I have to agree, the seller was totally right. I do a lot of my work in person and on the internet. And we regularly get stock inquires at 3am in the morning and the person is irate at 10am the next day when we haven't responded (Considering the shop opens at 9, and we are generally quite busy. For the record, we have a proven 12 hour or less response time to emails etc) The same question could have been answered by a 30 sec phone call. And it gets worse when they start asking more questions excepting a facebook-esque instant chat reply.

I can't understand why people can't ring.

_Kaiser_

I can kinda see both sides here ...

As someone very comfortable with technology (IT Manager), I buy most of my goods online.. from groceries to latops to pizzas (too many of those! ), but despite that I would never buy something like a car based solely on an internet ad. I'd use it as a starting point sure, do my research on the model/issues etc, motorcheck or similar report, and probably stick a thread up here (or on a dedicated forum) asking for feedback from owners of that car

It's also the case that even though I can work from home, sit here on the laptop taking conference calls and emails from around the world, there are still a lot of things that need to be done in person.

But that's me.. a lot of people (old AND young) can barely use a computer and with those you have to deal in person/on the phone and that's fine with me too.

I also think we're in danger of becoming a little too reliant on the tech options myself. Slightly O/T but I find there's more people in their 30s these days who can barely construct a sentence thanks to txtspk and auto-correct. Similarly, I've interviewed people who came across poorly in person but had great tech skills - and as anyone who has worked on an IT helpdesk will know, it's often as much about personality and ability to persuade reluctant users to cooperate as pure technical ability. Think also of scenarios when you're out with people who spend more time glued to their phones rather than actually interacting with the people in front of them.

Maybe I'm just getting old!

colm_mcm

There are feck all used leafs for sale in Ireland, they seller likely knows this and knows that anyone in the market for a 2011 leaf will have to do some running.

Del2005

colm_mcm wrote: »

Go see the car, if its local you'll probably be the first. He might be sound in real life.

There is a black leaf on dd. Keep in mins this guy is also selling an auris hybrid and was tech savvy enough to be able to block out the reg.

He could know someone who can block out the reg.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Note that neither of the 2 cars he's selling have tax discs in the screen.

And nothing to hold tax and insurance discs

digzy

NIMAN wrote: »

I plan to change my car in the coming months, and have been considering a Leaf.

I seen one on DD and it has been there for >50 days.

I emailed the seller, asking if he took trade-ins and if not what was the best price he'd sell for. I got a reply ok, with a figure and a 'no' to the trade-in. Great, happy with that.

Then replied to his email, asking him 4 more questions re: service history, charging cable, if it was an Irish or import and if I could possibly get the reg to run a check on it.

His reply? "Look, I am 66 years of age, and if you would like to phone me or come and see it I have all the paperwork".





Jez:rolleyes:

Now if I was selling a car I would be a little more helpful, personally replies like this would quickly make me lose interest in a seller.

op
I've sold one car in my life last year-my wifes 03 corolla-on done deal.
the amt of tyrekickers who's opening line is 'whats your lowest price for the car? or txt messages along similar lines. I ignored the txts and fobbed off the callers. i told them all come have a look at the car if you want and if it suits you we can discuss the price-which is reasonable enough, I think. I'm 35 too.you're buying a car not a t=shirt. surely its worth a phone call at least.
As has been pointed out already, if someone couldn't be arsed calling out to the car they probably wont be your buyer!

I know its off topic but I wouldnt touch any 2nd hand car without getting an aa check or another good mechanic to give it a once over.

bazz26

First world problems and a generation gap:

Older generation are not used to interacting with others exclusively through social media, they are used to talking to people in the old fashion way of either over the phone or in person.

Latest generation are brought up interacting with others solely via a keyboard or keypad and are just not accustomed to dealing with people directly.

To be honest if I have questions to ask a seller then I just pick up the bloody phone and ask them. SMS/email tennis in these matters just bores the feck out of me when can be done in a 5 min conversation over the phone. Also the tone of the seller's voice when asked questions is just as vital as the actual answers imo.

corktina

ageist. :-) ..I'm older generation and have been on the net for over 10 years. There can't be that many dinosaurs out there

bazz26

Yeah but your special. :pac:

Fore what it's worth, I'm in my thirties and don't have a twitter account.

Scortho

corktina wrote: »

ageist. :-) ..I'm older generation and have been on the net for over 10 years. There can't be that many dinosaurs out there

My mother in her 50s doesn't know how to turn on the computer.
At the same time my dad is a tech genius, but between him, my brother and I we've given up trying to show her how to use a computer.
She has to show us how to use the washing machine though!:pac:

Valetta

bazz26 wrote: »

Yeah but your special. :pac:

Fore what it's worth, I'm in my thirties and don't have a twitter account.

I'm also illetwitterate. -:)

corktina

I genuinely don't know what a tracker mortgage is....and I have one!

triggermortis

Valetta wrote: »

I'm also illetwitterate. -:)

beat me to it.... :P

_Kaiser_

I have one but only cause you need it for commenting on certain sites (TheJournal)

I can't stand Facebook either but have one cause it's the only way of staying in touch with some people.. luckily I can limit it to the IM part alone via Pidgin.

bazz26

I don't have a twitter account because I don't care who is eating their cornflakes and tweeting a selfie of it.

BTW facebook is so yesterday, Instagram is where it's at now according to my daughter! :P

toastedpickles

bazz26 wrote: »

I don't have a twitter account because I don't care who is eating their cornflakes and tweeting a selfie of it.

BTW facebook is so yesterday, Instagram is where it's at now according to my daughter! :P

Pffft snapchat is where its at, having said that, I'm 22 and don't have, twitter twatter, instagram, or snapchat, because i have no idea how to use them :pac: that and the fact I have a full version of photoshop to edit photos and a proper camera for photos :pac:

NIMAN

For some more info, I am currently working nights and have been searching for Leafs.
I saw his for sale, but since it was late I decided to email him rather than call. His advert allowed emails so I assumed he didn't mind answering them.

When I got back into work the next night I got his reply, again I decided to email rather than call and ask him what I thought were fairly reasonable questions. It was his response which set my alarm bells ringing and as such I now have no interest in the car.

As for going to see it first, well the car is 3.5hrs-4hr away from me. So you think its unreasonable to ask is there any leeway on price before making a 8hr round trip to inspect the car? Personally I don't and if the seller is serious about selling then he should be prepared to asnwer simply questions. I am sure he has not had many enquiries in the 50+ days about a Leaf, they aren't exactly highly sought after cars are they?

And as for those who say I am just wasting his time and not serious about buying the car, well 6 months ago I made similar enquiries about a car in Dublin, asking the same type of questions and got prompt and full replies from the seller (maybe he had nothing to hide?). I ended up going and buying the car off him for cash, so I am definitely not a time waster. If he feels people asking questions are time wasters, then good luck to him.

Scortho

NIMAN wrote: »

For some more info, I am currently working nights and have been searching for Leafs.
I saw his for sale, but since it was late I decided to email him rather than call. His advert allowed emails so I assumed he didn't mind answering them.

When I got back into work the next night I got his reply, again I decided to email rather than call and ask him what I thought were fairly reasonable questions. It was his response which set my alarm bells ringing and as such I now have no interest in the car.

As for going to see it first, well the car is 3.5hrs-4hr away from me. So you think its unreasonable to ask is there any leeway on price before making a 8hr round trip to inspect the car? Personally I don't and if the seller is serious about selling then he should be prepared to asnwer simply questions. I am sure he has not had many enquiries in the 50+ days about a Leaf, they aren't exactly highly sought after cars are they?

And as for those who say I am just wasting his time and not serious about buying the car, well 6 months ago I made similar enquiries about a car in Dublin, asking the same type of questions and got prompt and full replies from the seller (maybe he had nothing to hide?). I ended up going and buying the car off him for cash, so I am definitely not a time waster. If he feels people asking questions are time wasters, then good luck to him.

I'd get fairly pissed off if I had a potential purchaser who was taking 24 hours to get back to me. Had you called, or arranged a time to call you'd have found out any info you needed to know there and then as opposed to dragging it out 24/48/72 hours, wasting both of your time.
Likewise it's an asking price, not the selling price, there's always leaway on it.

While you mightn't have thought you were time wasting, you exhibited two known time waster traits, one being not calling and the other asking what his best price was without having seen the car.

650Ginge

6 months ago you made an enquiry about a car....and you're not a time waster?

NIMAN

Eh?

6 months ago I made an enquiry about a car and the day after that enquiry I did an 8hr round trip to test drive it, get it checked over and then the next day I made the trip again and bought it.

Yeah a real time waster.

NIMAN

Scortho wrote: »

I'd get fairly pissed off if I had a potential purchaser who was taking 24 hours to get back to me. Had you called, or arranged a time to call you'd have found out any info you needed to know there and then as opposed to dragging it out 24/48/72 hours, wasting both of your time.
Likewise it's an asking price, not the selling price, there's always leaway on it.

While you mightn't have thought you were time wasting, you exhibited two known time waster traits, one being not calling and the other asking what his best price was without having seen the car.

Ever worked nights? There's a thing called sleeping you have to do, plus tend to a small family when I get out of bed.

If the car is an 8hr round trip away from you, I don't think its unreasonable to ask about price, its €15k we're talking about!! No point making the trip if you are not sure if the seller will budge on price.

Scortho

NIMAN wrote: »

Ever worked nights? There's a thing called sleeping you have to do, plus tend to a small family when I get out of bed.

If the car is an 8hr round trip away from you, I don't think its unreasonable to ask about price, its €15k we're talking about!! No point making the trip if you are not sure if the seller will budge on price.

I have done many a 12 hour night shift, in fact when I first enquired about my 156 i was working nights and sent your man a text asking was it still for sale. For a reply back saying it was and told him I'd ring him on my break in 2 hours time. Found out everything I needed to know in that phone call and a few days later went down and bought the car.

The cars 8 hours away which is a journey alright. But the seller could tell you the price is negotiable, you get there and find out that the car is a wreck and worth nowhere near the asking price. You leave empty handed.

Whenever I sell anything and I get the whole best price today lark I ignore them. If they're interested they'll call, if they ask what the best price is I tell them come on down and well haggle. All sellers have an asking price and a price that they'll sell for.

djimi

NIMAN wrote: »

Ever worked nights? There's a thing called sleeping you have to do, plus tend to a small family when I get out of bed.

If the car is an 8hr round trip away from you, I don't think its unreasonable to ask about price, its €15k we're talking about!! No point making the trip if you are not sure if the seller will budge on price.

You know the price; it's written on the ad. You can probably take it as a given that there will be some leeway, but you can hardly blame the seller for not taking you seriously if you start the conversation by asking how much are they willing to knock off the price.

Del2005

NIMAN wrote: »

Ever worked nights? There's a thing called sleeping you have to do, plus tend to a small family when I get out of bed.

If the car is an 8hr round trip away from you, I don't think its unreasonable to ask about price, its €15k we're talking about!! No point making the trip if you are not sure if the seller will budge on price.

If you aren't willing to pay 15k why didn't you email him the max you would pay along with the questions? Even if he said he was willing to take €20 you could still have driven 8 hours and not bought it once you inspected it.