Selling Cars...and Crazy People

Ever sell a car (or anything) and have to deal with crazy people? I sold a car recently. A guy (let's call him Larry) who I communicated with a few times via email and I responded to with my phone number, repeatedly called and texted while I was working in person with another guy who bought the car on the spot. Since I told Larry it was sold he has emailed me multiple times complaining, insinuating that he was first in line, saying he would have paid $500 over asking price, that I left money on the table, and also to send me the definition of integrity. The emails after telling him it was sold are all after no further contact from me. Who does that? What is wrong with people today? Just for fun, here are the actual messages: from: SIYLeads@cars. com reply-to: Larry to: Matt date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 2:56 PM I'm interested in the 2004 Nissan Altima you have listed on Cars. com for $6,000. I would like to know more about this vehicle. How flexible on the price? I looked this car up on Kelly blue book and you have priced it above it's private party sale values. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ from: Matt to: Larry date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 4:30 PM I have some room to move on the price, but I think KBB is really low. NADA lists the car at $5737.Based on what I see these being listed for locally, I think somewhere between $5k and $6k is a fair price. You can call me at ###-###-#### if you would like to take a look at it. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (At this point I am at my house working in person with the guy who bought the car.) from: Larry to: Matt date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 6:05 PM Can you get pictures of the dings you mentioned? How many are there And where/what size? What other scratches/flaws? Has it been smoked in? Any accidents or paintwork? Thanks ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ from: Matt to: Larry date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 8:00 PM subject: RE: Cars. com Used car lead for - 2004 Nissan Altima Sorry. The car has been sold. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ from: Larry to: Matt date: Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 7:00 AM subject: RE: Cars. com Used car lead for - 2004 Nissan Altima I texted you, and also called you to come see it, but you didn�t respond to me. I would have come right over and had the cash. Appreciate it.. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ from: Larry to: Matt date: Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 7:08 AM subject: RE: Cars. com Used car lead for - 2004 Nissan Altima Oh no!! My mother needed this car. She wrecked her Altima. I had hoped I was the first one to contact you about it ?? I saw it right after it posted and asked you to call. I have a TN number, but she lives in Jackson and isn�t on the computer. She said she would have paid $6500 for it�� You left money on the table. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ from: Larry to: Matt date: Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 5:29 PM subject: Matt in�teg�ri�ty inˈteɡ ri ty noun 1. 1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. "he is known to be a man of integrity" synonyms: honesty, probity, rectitude, honor, good character, principle(s), ethics,morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness,scrupulousness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness "I never doubted his integrity" 2. 2. the state of being whole and undivided. "upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty" synonyms: unity, unification, coherence, cohesion, togetherness, solidarity "the integrity of the federation"

I'm about to list our trailblazer tow-behind for sale and was joking with kcattorney that I am really looking forward to being offered $1200 and a slammed civic, so long as I can finance the $1200 for him over the next 84 months.

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He asks about you being negotiable on price, but then wants you to believe he would have paid more than asking? This is why I just gave my Escape away. Person that got it is happy as they needed it. I'm happy because I didn't have to deal with all the ding bats. Well the Civic would go with your "race" car

First, email him back with the Urban Dictionary definition for "whiny bitch." Whiny Bitch - Noun 1) What a sensitive guy becomes if you don't talk to him and it makes him cry. "Larry's a dumbass, so I ignored him and he became a whiny bitch." 2) One who complains, moans, bitches, or is an all around annoying dramatic *****. Second, suggest that his mother just continue riding that Yamaha vibrator with a kick-start. Finally, add a filter to delete any further email from him. One of the problems with people today is that they are starting to believe that the idiocy that they demand to be treated with when, say, they go to a restaurant or a coffee shop extends to other areas of their life. When you say the following in an exasperated, condescending tone of voice at Starbucks, the other party is obligated to serve you anyway: "NO! *sigh* "I'll speak more slowly this time: that's a tall soy chai with two pumps of vanilla, dropped into a venti cup, and a gluten-free poppy seed muffin with most of the poppy seeds removed." If you use the same tone of voice with someone who does not have a reason to put up with your sh*t - say, for example, it won't cost them your job - there's a chance you're going to get punched in the throat.

YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOOSE, would be my reply.

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/rockon.gif

The guy is nuts. Don't respond...even if it would feel better to bitch him out. If you respond, it's just going to add fuel to his fire and incentivize his rationale for spamming you with more BS. Don't open the door to him. Let it him tire himself out. As an aside, this is why I don't give my cell # to people I don't know and why I've also set-up a separate email account for buying/selling stuff -- so I can shut it down and change it easily if/when I start getting notes from *** hats. -Eric

4-5 years ago I got a company car and after job security it was time to let go of my paid for 2002 z71 Tahoe. I loved this truck it was capable and IMO the best looking Tahoe ever. It had 137,000 miles and had some wear, but overall still a solid truck which easily had another 75,000 miles left in it. So I made a cl add listed it $5500 and parked it with a flyer at a parking lot. About 35 mins later I got a call and was off to show the truck. Dude pulls up in a beater and tells me how he's always wanted this truck so I sympathized and said take a test drive and we can work something out. After an uneventful test drive he presented me with this offer: "Dude I have to have this truck, but I don't have $5500. I can give you $6500. I give you $500 now and make payments to you and put the car insurance on my name. I'm good for it bro" I said no way sounds like you need a buy here pay here place He says "dude that's f Ed up and proceeded to tell me how much of a Dic* I was. He has kids, job, yada yada. At this time another gentleman parked and was looking at the Tahoe. The guy asked to take a test drive and the other guy responded with "nah man cars sold". I said no bro car isn't sold and I'd appreciate it if you'd allow me to speak with the other interested party. More name calling commenced and they other guy said here's $5k if it it checks out I'll buy it. Which he did. Fast forward till a few months ago: Getting gas in turbo and mr payment plan who didn't recognize me walks over asking about the car which eventually leads him into a sales pitch. I say look bro give me $500 today and you can make payments to me as long as you get it insured in your name. Mr deal maker is jazzed about this, I get in my car and drive off. Deal maker is still dreaming about the one that got away.

Just went thru this in a 4 month ordeal, you can call your cell phone co & have them block certain phone # from calling your phone. I hate the endless back & forth texting. I used to enjoy selling cars.

Bunny Boiler.... I recommend a disposable phone and a hot-mail address if your selling. If it all goes wrong just start again.

Being I never trade in cars I've heard them all. My favorite was a lady looking at my crapped-up Focus for sale for $1250 asking. It's a 5 speed, and she was - unskilled on the clutch. We went for a short drive and I had to tell her she couldn't drive it home because I can't afford to repl the clutch, so I'll drive. She complained I was asking too much, and I said to make an offer. She complained some more and left. The next guy showed up 3 hours later, and bought the car and drove off. She came by that evening and said she would give me $900 and no more. I said it's gone, too late. And man - that set her off. She was first in line, she had right of refusal, she test drove, and I owed her a car for $900. I told her I would buy it back from the guy I sold it to for $1500, and sell it to her for $1600. She was not impressed.

Many people think that "I saw it first so it's mine" means anything. This goes for things sold on forums too when members start posting "first dibs.....seconds dibs" posts, thinking this will reserve them some sort of a spot in the line. Unless there is a specific agreement between the buyer and me, I always sell things to the first person that shows up with the money. I've heard the "first right of refusal" request before too and have ignored it, even if it was from people that I know. Either you want it and buy it or it goes to the next person with the cash.......there is no "call me back when the next buyer is offering a money". I don't have the integrity to stiff a buyer with this BS when they are standing in front of me with money in hand.

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Money talks bs walks

I normally list my ads for whatever I'm selling to please have your finances ready and permission from your significant other. The worst was when I sold a bike, some guy asks if I'd take his LP vinyl collection as a form of payment with cash on top. He was dead serious too.

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Most phones have this capability as well...but there are other ways to exact your revenge beyond blocking the number. Like a grindr account, for example.

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WTF?! Is this a 'thing' this guy just does in your town?! I'm surprised it hasn't come back to kick him in the face until he's unrecognizable and 6ft under ground. -Eric

Happens with everything, not just cars. When we were moving we placed a bunch of old furniture on Craigslist to sell that we couldn't get rid of after a yard sale. Someone called me about a desk we had, asked a thousand questions and kept making appointments to come by and visit but could never make it because of numerous excuses. Another buyer came by and like nothing picked it up for the asking price. So the original inquirer calls me and tells me she is ready to see it. I tell her it's sold. She then starts berating me about not giving her a chance to follow through with the purchase. Also sent me a couple of stupid emails but I just ignored them. Remember, 50% of the people are stupider than the average person so don't give the public too much credit!

I was 'that guy' once too. I was hot to buy a plane in VA. Since I couldn't get away, I asked all the questions, had a brief insp done, got all the FAA paperwork sorted out, and made an appt to go get it in 5 days. 3 days before I'm scheduled to fly out comm, the guy calls and says the plane is sold. I didn't put a deposit on it, but I spent $240 having it looked at, and committed to a plane trip. I wasn't really upset with him personally, but I would have appreciated a call when the plane went off the market. It was still advertised on the day I was to collect it, but not for sale.

Matt Harrison - Why you no return my calls? Texts?

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But he called you. Why didn't you put a deposit on it?

So I got on an airplane to Phoenix to check out an old BMW that was in "perfect" shape according to the owner. I had communicated with him via phone & email and the car seemed to check out. Clean title. As soon as I saw the car I knew I had been BSed. It had an obviously new, horrible, paint job (paint came off on my finger and lots of overspray) . I then took it for a test drive and the car had NO power whatsoever. Something was clearly wrong - also the convertible top was fed among other things. Long story short, I told the owner of all the problems with the car. He was kind enough to have his son give me a ride to the airport. The owner then proceeded to harass me via email and text for the next six months. He sent me lots of nasty texts and he was very mad that I did not pay his son for giving me a ride (remember I bought a PLANE ticket to check out his crap car.) What a nutter. Eventually I just blocked his number on my phone.

I've been on the other side though and it is quite disappointing but you move on... I was looking for a Porsche 968 for quite some time and finally found one in Philadelphia at a used car dealer that specialized in foreign "exotics". I was living in New York City at the time so I drove down there with checkbook in hand to put a deposit down. When I had speaking to them they told me the car had been there for a couple of weeks so I figured it would be safe for me to wait until the weekend. I arrived, saw the car parked up front but it looked like it had just been driven. Got inside and saw someone working on the paperwork for it. I was devastated but that's how it goes. Thankfully I couple of weeks later I found the 944 S2 I ended up buying at a dealer in Queens, NY so my drive there was much shorter! But no, I didn't send any nasty messages or hate mail to the dealer!

Maybe it's just me but I see a big difference between a buyer who has paid for a PPI and is actively communicating in a progressive manner vs. someone who is just emailing and not really engaging. For the former, I've always given them a call to say, "I know you're interested but I've got someone here with cash in hand. If you're serious and want to pay [X] then it's yours. If you're still on the fence then I've got to let it go." The risk, of course, is that I might lose the deal with the person standing in front of me. I also tell most buyers they're not the first to contact me (to mitigate the risk of them playing the "I was first in line" card; although crackpots being crackpots...) and often remind tire kickers that others are interested and it will go to the first person who has cash in hand. At the end of the day, the classifieds (craigslist, ebay, etc) aren't match.com -- selling isn't about making friends, it's about making money. It's a one-off sale. You're not building a brand. You're offloading your car. So, while I treat people respectfully and hope for the same in return, it never surprises me when people grab the money and run. -Eric

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Well, first point - he called AFTER he sold it to someone else. Second point, I wanted to put eyes on it before I stepped up with a deposit. I've been stiffed before on a 'refundable' deposit before and didn't feel like being out a few thou if the plane didn't meet my expectation. Third point - once I had a comm ticket to go back there, I was expecting him to sell it to me since I had the PPI done at my cost. Lot a folks have 20-20 hindsight, but it all worked out in the end. Following week I found a better plane for less money in MO, closer to home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was also the 'other guy' on the buying end once. I saw an ad for a 1990 928 5 speed for $6000. I drove over there, took it for a short ride, stopped at the bank, got some cash, and handed it to the seller. About 4 hours later a guy landed at Dallas from out of town, wanting to buy the car. Too bad, so sad. Money talked.

George Carlin Stupid People - YouTube

I love crazy people, keeps me in business.

I sell a lot of cars to all different types of people. I'll always post with lots of pictures and honest descriptions of any flaws or stuff it needs, this way folks have a good deal of decision making info early in the process. Still though, I get tons of crazy questions, - didn't you even read the ad or look at the pics before you called? Lots of people's expectations are unreasonably high. Lots of people disappointed who didn't pull the trigger when they had the opportunity, and want to be mad at me. I'm an honest guy, but do reiterate that THIS CAR IS FOR SALE. Lots of people called for directions, brought cash and left happy. As folks say "Takes all kinds"!....

I had a BMW 5 series for sale a few years ago. Very clean, 160,000 miles, new clutch, $5,500. I wanted a quick sale, and knew I needn't take less. Sold it for asking to the first guy that actually looked at it, but suffered several wacky e-mail exchanges with a few folks in the process. My favorite was a guy who lived 90 miles away. Before he even asked anything (we had gotten on the phone) he started complaining that I had a lot of nerve asking that much for the car, especially since it was a stick! In his mind, that lowered the value, but of course curiously the other people that were interested in it were so PRIMARILY because of the stick! I tried to politely tell him he needed to see the car before he could conclude I was asking too much, but finally suggested this wasn't the car for him. He wasn't from our culture, but still...

when I sell anything online, I use a burner phone and a yahoo or gmail address

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If you just hang up the phone they will call back if they are interested, when they do let them leave a message. You can tell by the message if they are worth calling back!

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Since the plane seller never received any deposit from you, he had no obligation (legal or moral) to hold the plane or to even call you when the other buyer was there. I understand you wanted to protect yourself but so did the owner of the plane. Unless there is some special agreement, money always talks! As for the 928 case, if the owner knew the buyer was on it's way, he should not have let you see the car until affer wards. If you knew the buyer was on it's way........sell that's not exactly moral either but not as bad and what the owner did.

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Wait a minute here. What is different between the guy that sold the 928 to doc and the guy that sold the plane to someone else? In doc's narrative he did not say that he just bought a plane ticket and headed down without saying anything to the seller. So if we assume that in both cases the sellers knew they had someone traveling in with the intent to finalize the deal, why does the plane seller get a break but you think it was bad form for the 928 seller? The main fault was certainly on doc's shoulders (and the failed 928 buyer) for not putting a deposit down, but as I'm going to guess that a PPI on a plane is a tad more expensive than on a car I think that plus him flying down is a pretty good indication that doc was a serious buyer.

Me personally, I wouldn't take on the expense to fly to see a vehicle without having a very firm deal in place with the understanding that my trip wouldn't be for nothing. I would even likely provide some earnest money with a caveat that if the vehicle was significantly misrepresented or something the money would be returned. If it was represented fairly, but I decided not to get it, the money would be the seller's.

I made the deposit on my car non-refundable no matter what because I knew it wasn't going to last until the weekend when I could fly out to get it. I did some due diligence from afar first but felt comfortable enough to make that $1,000 deposit.

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No spit Sherlock. Never said he had any obligation.

Money talks, Bullsh*t walks, simple as that. This is why I just trade in instead of selling. Tire kickers and the "I would have bought the car if I knew someone else was interested" annoy me

I sell construction equipment ranging from $30k to over $1M and we deal with this same nonsense daily. I try to make it clear that a non-refundable 10% deposit is required to hold the equipment. If the buyer doesn't have any skin in the game it's too easy to walk and we may have missed out on other potential buyers in the meantime. I actually love it when I tell people they need to put a deposit on it and there's other people interested in it... hate to see you lose it... blah blah... then they don't and somebody else buys it. Then the next time they know I'm not BS'ing them. Even with that I still get people all worked up because I should have told them somebody was interested. However... I would NEVER give a deposit to a private seller. It's way too easy to get scammed out of that one. In fact, they had a show about that a while back on 60 minutes or something. Here's how it went: Nice looking woman rents a house. Lists her car for sale on the cheap side nut high enough that most people won't have cash like that one them... especially on the weekend when the banks are closed. Tells people if they want to leave a $500 deposit to hold it they can because there's more people coming. She ends up getting a deposit from like 15 people, moves out and moves on. They're all out their money.

Not a frequent seller but if I've talked to someone a couple times about a vehicle and I get other interest, I will at least give the first guy a chance. But only one chance. TC

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+1 One chance only, or first with deposit/cash wins.

I've offered up 2 vehicles in the last 2 years, both well maintained sometimes my first contacts are friends who want vehicles for their kids a 12 yo old 4 x 2, F150 much like this...maybe 107k 5.4l V8, ARE topper, heavy bed mat, tow package (never towed) fresh battery, alternator & pulley kit Functional Viper remote, both set of keys/fob a wholesaler told me to CL it at $7500 a lifelong friend offered my $6k and wanted me to finance @ no interest, for 1 year (owns a business and two rental properties) the wholesaler gave me $6500 and brought the money by the next day

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Wow! Is this person still a "lifelong friend"? That is a bad situation. It could have gone bad since you didn't make the deal and bad if you did make the deal. I REALLY try not to sell cars to friends. Not because I'm doing anything questionable or dishonest, but because there are too many things that could go wrong. The transmission could blow up the next day or it could just have problem after problem after my trouble-free ownership. In the case of financing it for them, if anything other than prompt payment occurs things could go sideways there. I would much rather sell to someone I had no emotional attachment to.

The saddest tale of woe for a deal I did had to be the guy who bought my Prius(sorry, I know) a few years back. Him and his son came over and haggled a bit on the car, then went away, then came back with an offer which was ok with me. It was for his son who had just been accepted to the AF Academy in Co Springs, and was going to drive it up there from Fort Worth. Of course, being a vet I gave him a decent discount but they still had to finance part of the price. So - I waited a bit, and they got the deal done, brought me a couple of checks and away they went. The very next afternoon the old guy called me and asked me some weird questions about the recent tires and batt I installed. Seems his son left for Co Springs at O-dark 30 that morning, made it all the way to Springtown(~30 miles) and nailed a 120# buck head on at 70. Kid got out with a few scrapes and scratches but the car was totaled. Lucky thing since they financed it, the car was insured for collision and he got all his money back from the ins co - hence the questions about the new tires and batt. Last I heard a few weeks later they took the money and bought him a 3/4 ton Chebby truck.

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And was his name Yoav?

One time I had been working with an Audi dealer on the phone to buy a used X5. Everything sounded pretty good, and we even talked about my putting a deposit down on the vehicle, but it was Friday evening and I had plans to make the 4-hour drive the next day with the intention of buying the car, so I didn't give the dealer a deposit. On the way up the next day, salesman calls me and asks what time I'll be there. I advise that I'm still an hour away, and he tells me there's someone else looking at the car. "No problem," I say, "Let me give you my credit card number for however much deposit you need and I'll buy it at the last price we talked about." He balks and says his sales manager won't let him do that because the other guy was first and was already in the dealership. At this point I figure I better just get there as quickly as possible. Walk in the door, wave my checkbook at the sales guy and say "I'm ready to buy". They kept me waiting for an hour while they tried to work out a deal with the other guy...literally would not take my money. I started to leave several times and they profusely apologize and say that it won't be much longer. Right when I'd had enough, I see the other customer walk out the door empty-handed. They usher me in to do the paperwork for the previously agreed-upon price. I laugh and tell them that we both know what just went on here, and that I valued my time at $x, and I'd be glad to write them the check for the price minus that number. They didn't much like that, but eventually agreed after I said I was leaving. I don't like to do business that way, but I also didn't like being made a pawn in their game. I'm in sales and have seen all the games. I don't care for them and prefer to do business as "you have the car, I have the money, let's just agree on the price." At one point the sales manager accidentally handed me the other guy's paperwork and I saw a 543 credit score.