What has selling cars come to?

[outrunm]

My wife and I decided to pass my 2015 Caddy SRX to my oldest daughter that is finishing up her first year of college. I kept her car (my old one that we gave to her in high school) for a few days last week, and even though it drove fine, I could tell it was starting to show it's age a little.

I didn't realize selling it would be such an education in how people behave online vs. in person. At least 10 people have sent 1 message asking what the lowest I will take is, and 1 person offered me half the asking price with his first message. I actually enjoy the old fashioned art of coming out, kicking the tires, test driving it, and going back and forth, but I guess those days are gone forever in the digital age.

The scam attempts so far have been isolated to the Craigslist ad instead of the Facebook Marketplace ad.

[BADRACR1]

I flip a few.
Lowest price will always be the first question. I don't mind an offer as long as it's reasonable. Haggling is usually good for 10/20% off. But a half price offer will just piss me off. I ignore stupid questions, too, especially if I already answered them in the ad.
When I am trying to buy one I usually have a price in mind that is the maximum I will pay. I tell them up front what my offer will be and ask if that is a price they would consider, don't want to waste anyone's time, and if that's acceptable when and where to meet. If not, thanks either way and best of luck with the sale.

[outrunm]

Originally Posted by BADRACR1

I flip a few.
Lowest price will always be the first question. I don't mind an offer as long as it's reasonable. Haggling is usually good for 10/20% off. But a half price offer will just piss me off. I ignore stupid questions, too, especially if I already answered them in the ad.
When I am trying to buy one I usually have a price in mind that is the maximum I will pay. I tell them up front what my offer will be and ask if that is a price they would consider, don't want to waste anyone's time, and if that's acceptable when and where to meet. If not, thanks either way and best of luck with the sale.

I just ignored most of them, but I felt compelled to answer this guy that goes by “Hood Rich” on Facebook:

[bsmith]

I've had 7 or 8 franchised dealerships contact me about buying mine...but yeah, lowball offers are too easy.
Within hours of posting mine on fb marketplace I had a guy say he'd give me $21k cash.
I told him Carmax offered $23k.

[6spdC6]

As a person that has sold a few cars "off my lawn" in the past it is just not worth it. Way too many assholes out there, and they all want to drive it and them make you a dumb ass offer. They must think you just HAVE to sell NOW.

I only sold something if it was in real god shape and put a decent price (very fair) on it, of course allowing haggle room, offers people came up with were insulting. I sold a 5 year old fully loaded Silvaerado 4X4 with 20,000 miles and this one asshole after looking at the truck offered much lesser amount than a work truck would get. I only sold a vehicle after I got my new one from a dealer.

For that reason when I sold my 15 Vette Vert Z51 6 weeks ago (the one in my Avatar) I got prices from the internet, and some local dealers that said they needed good late model cars and would pay top dollar sucked canal water.

I ended up using Carvana and they were real good in price, at least $2,000 better than the next best offer and like $4,000 better that the other offers i got. I was NOT going to sell it private, the bullshit is not worth it! Real easy and quick, man came to the house walked around car looked at the odometer and gave me a check on the spot. No driving no looking under the hood or in trunk.

[Mike Mercury]

[zeek]

I have sold a lot of stuff on FB marketplace. It can be very annoying with all the low ballers and photo collectors. But, eventually it will sell if priced fairly.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

For that reason when I sold my 15 Vette Vert Z51 6 weeks ago (the one in my Avatar) I got prices from the internet, and some local dealers that said they needed good late model cars and would pay top dollar sucked canal water.

I chortled at the bolded part. Haven't heard that term since the last time I watched "Porky's: The Next Day."

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

I chortled at the bolded part. Haven't heard that term since the last time I watched "Porky's: The Next Day."

Dam I must be old we were using that term in the late 50s early 60s!

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Dam I must be old we were using that term in the late 50s early 60s!

Yup... You're almost fossil fuel.

[The_Dude]

I delete any messages with an offer before they actually see the vehicle.

[Dan Dlabay]

When I bought my C7 I traded in my C6. With the trade in value tax saving and GM Corvette loyalty money I couldn't got much more selling it myself. Doing it this way I didn't have to deal with tire kickers, people trying get me to reduce the price a lot or potential scammers.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

[69camfrk]

I just sold my boat a few weeks ago, and got what I wanted for it. That said, every person that asked me first thing what my lowest cash price was, I blocked their number. Even got cursed out because I sold it, and another dude wanted it. I told him that he should have showed up at my house with cash first. Then blocked his dumbass. My tolerance for stupid ****ing people is at an all time low at this point in my life. Everyone that asked a stupid question got blocked too. F'em...

[Grey Ghost]

What is the mileage? Send some pics.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by Giraffe

This is the world-famous @UniqueDoug Scathing Text.

[Wathen1955]

Yeah I ran into the same crap selling 3 old Dell laptops. I went through all the laptops, updated the OS to Windows 10 with all the latest updates. Took pictures of the screen, keyboard, sides, back, top, bottom, and a pic of the BIOS screen showing the condition of the battery and configuration. I also included the Windows 10 info. Made sure all the hardware was properly recognized in device manager etc.

My price? $50. They have been sitting in my closet for several years so I just wanted them gone. Perfect laptop for a student or grandparent. When I posted my FB marketplace ad, I made sure to state "low ball offers will be ignored". My price is firm. I already priced it to move.

Sure enough, some guy says I'm coming over to buy it. Gives me the $50. I then mark the ad as sold, only to get the others that were interested are mad because I sold it when they were offering me only $25 or $30 - ignored by me. I guess they can't read.

[outrunm]

After the initial barrage of jerks, the process was smooth. Definitely not worth sticking it on Craigslist. After 2 days I got a couple of serious questions, and the first guy to come out and test drive it gave me a deposit to hold until he makes it back across the bay today with someone to drive it home.

[ToolMaker]

This is the reason I am balking putting my 67' up for sale. The last time, when we put my wife's 68' Mustang conv. for sale, I had to throw a couple of guys off my property because one of them was stabbing the floor pans with a screw driver!

[snide]

Originally Posted by ToolMaker

This is the reason I am balking putting my 67' up for sale. The last time, when we put my wife's 68' Mustang conv. for sale, I had to throw a couple of guys off my property because one of them was stabbing the floor pans with a screw driver!

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for your '67 today.