Shit I Have To Put Up With: Craigslist Arguing

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
08/26/2014 at 13:18 • Filed to: None

Sometimes, selling a car can be easy. Other times, it can be difficult. But no matter what, you can't turn down any interest that comes towards your car. And sometimes, things get weird.

To fill everyone in on what they don't know. I have a 2002 Honda S2000 for sale on Craigslist. It's priced at $12,500 right now.

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I try to be a very commodious seller. I take any pictures upon request. I'll give any and every bit of data about the car's condition or service history. I'm honest about imperfections, and normally I try to be a polite, pleasant person when talking to a perspective buyer.

Some of you may have seen my last edition of this series, Trade Offers

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What happened here was a series of questions. He asked about the condition of the top, so I sent two pictures of the wear spots that developed at the fold points; it's fairly common on S2000. He then asked about the condition of the body. He asked about the rear quarter, the rear bumper, and the front bumper, so I sent him pictures of those as well. According to the picture of the front bumper above, it's "banged up pretty good" And the entire convertible top needs replacing.

Now, I'm familiar with this concept of car buying, and it's pretty common. It's certainly not the first time I've dealt with it. The prospective seller will nitpick and look for any imperfections and then use those small problems to make the car seem worthless and drive the price down.

I really don't see the point in it. He came to me about my car, so if it's in such rough shape, then why would he want it?

As you can see here, I started to become annoyed. I understand the rules of negotiating a car's price, but this man's final offer of $8500 for my $12,500 car is exactly 68% of my asking price. Personally, I find the notion that a buyer would assume the seller would take off $4000 worth of price to be a bit insulting.

Also, the notion that you could argue with a seller and the seller would somehow cave and lower the price is also rather insulting to me. I'm the one who actually owns and drives the car, so I'm certainly more familiar with it's conditions and characteristics than somebody from another state who texting me on a cell phone.

Obviously, I could've handled the situation a bit better, but this person started to wear on my patience.

I realize the title make's it sound like I'm complaining, but it just seemed like a snappy title. I'm just putting on showcase some of the wild things people will do when using Craigslist to search for their next car.

DISCUSSION (44)

Rico > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:21

I'd prefer email so I don't have to sit there with these imbeciles texting my phone.

Jay Lauer > Rico
08/26/2014 at 13:22

It'd be preferable, but I have to be easily reached anytime just in case.

macanamera > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:24

I'll give you 3k for it right now cash.

Jay Lauer > macanamera
08/26/2014 at 13:25

SOLD!

But not really.

raygone > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:26

My favorite thing is "8500 On Clean Trade"
Well of course it's 8500; ON A TRADE. Dealerships have to make money again on a car they take in as trade, private party is a totally different thing. Some people have trouble understanding that, and he's clearly one of those people.

As Du Volant > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:26

Welcome to car sales.

I dealt with this every. damn. day. for 6 years... and not only do you deal with this stuff, they paint you as a lying crook before they even walk in the door.

Do not miss it.

Jay Lauer > raygone
08/26/2014 at 13:28

Seriously, you're right.

Everyone thinks they can go out and get the great deal, or find the guy that doesn't know what he has.

Jay Lauer > As Du Volant
08/26/2014 at 13:31

Lol luckily I don't work at a dealer, so people don't have assumptions contacting me. But, I've been flipping cars for about 3 years now, and you see all types.

It's 50% shitty trades, 40% shitty offers, 5% payment offers, instead of getting a loan, and 1% the right buyer.

This is probably the nicest car I've sold that I actually own, so it doesn't hurt me any to keep it an extra month or two.

Rico > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:32

Yeah but at least email let's you avoid the "Will you trade for some pocket lint, a paper clip and 2 IOUs" people

macanamera > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:34

Alright, last offer:

4000 McDoubles.

Jay Lauer > Rico
08/26/2014 at 13:36

I think horrible offers come in every medium. I've received at least 5 'ill give u 8000 cash' e-mails since the beginning of August.

Jay Lauer > macanamera
08/26/2014 at 13:36

At least make them 4000 Big Macs ya cheapo.

PelicanHazard > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:37

This is why I'll probably be keeping my cars until they're scrapped even if I want to sell them. My patience wears thin easily, and I know how to block contacts.

macanamera > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:38

Who am I Bill Gates?

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 13:50

You should work your craigslist magic and find me an S10. Boxy body. I'll pay you $2000 for it.

I like that the guy quotes the trade value, not the retail. Is yours worth clean retail? Not really, but supply and demand means you might as well go for it. But it's certainly worth far more than the trade in value.

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake
08/26/2014 at 14:02

Are you saying you want to find a boxy S10 for $2000. I can look around for you.

Yeah, I would've even been more willing to talk with him if he was offering $11,200 as it sits. But he wants to undercut me $1400 on my price, while I pay another $500 for a top and, do what, buy and brand new bumper? because of a bump at the bottom?

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 14:11

So, as a fellow S2000 owner, I have to say, since I paid 8 for my car, in much worse shape, that you are right on the money for yours. Also, AP1 for lyfe, the 2.2L with it's fancy gold valve cover can go away haha.

AM3R > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 14:26

my inner 14 year old wants to text you sooooo bad

TheCraigy > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 14:27

Your price is high but the guy is being a dick about it.

Kanaric > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 14:27

When someone does that you should just copy/paste this from your article "I'm familiar with this concept of car buying, and it's pretty common. It's certainly not the first time I've dealt with it. The prospective seller will nitpick and look for any imperfections and then use those small problems to make the car seem worthless and drive the price down."

TurnDownForWatt > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 14:46

$12.5k for a 120k mile 12 year old S2000 with chewed up front and rear valences and a damaged top?

You're smoking crack broheim. 2.0 litre cars with that many miles are 10k in good condition, let alone ones that look like they were driven by a 16 year old girl.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 14:49

Yes, I'm saying I want a boxy S10 for $2k

Alex215 > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 15:24

Honestly, this is the problem with text becoming everyones default method of communication. You think this guy would actually stand in front of you and argue like this in person? I bet not. Le Sigh... I'm only 30 yesars old and I feel like all mt complaints start with "kids today!" /end rant

Also 12.5 is a tinsy bit steep :) I have a 2001 s2000 I bought 3 years ago for 10,500 with 45k miles. It has 76k miles on it now and I would probably let it go for 9,500... That is, if you could pull it from my cold dead fingers!

Jay Lauer > Alex215
08/26/2014 at 20:59

I would buy the hell out of your car if that's your price.

I've researched around the area and looked at others. NADA is about 11 to 11.5, and I added a bit for the unmolested condition.

Honestly, I'm totally fine holding on to it for a little while if I have to. It's a fantastic thing to drive. All people have to do is drive it and see it's worth that price.

Jay Lauer > TurnDownForWatt
08/26/2014 at 21:02

Chewed up? It's a tiny crack in the front. And there's nothing wrong at all with the rear. You haven't even seen the top.

I'm assuming you're who I talked to in these messages.

Jay Lauer > TheCraigy
08/26/2014 at 21:07

Fair enough, I agree with you.

It'll sell eventually. But certainly not for $8400.

Jay Lauer > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/26/2014 at 21:10

Lulz, I almost bought an AP2 about a month ago. I've never driven one, and I'm curious.

Seriously, that dude can go fellate himself. I can negotiate my price, but $4000 off is absurd.

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake
08/26/2014 at 21:15

http://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/4567126849…

http://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/4638505172…

Definitely this one, http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/4621922101…

You don't even have to pay me.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 21:36

26 INCHES!!! Need it.

That first one actually looks pretty good. I might contact them tomorrow. The second one looks alright, but I would like it to have a manual.

I'm at the point where if there was one for sale next door I'd buy it, but I'm too lazy to actually contact a craigslist poster. Hence my 'you should buy one and I'll buy it from you' line.

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake
08/26/2014 at 21:42

Fair enough, I can contact posters, but I'd have to make sure you want it before buying it myself.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
08/26/2014 at 21:55

Understandable. If I find one I really want I might hit you up

TheCraigy > Jay Lauer
08/27/2014 at 11:12

Yeah your car is way too nice for $8,400.

EndGoods > Jay Lauer
08/28/2014 at 10:21

Honestly..your car is not worth 12.5k, that's crazy talk..I would be hard pressed to offer 8.5k even..Can't believe you're complaining about someone offering you a more than reasonable offer for your car with 120k miles!!

EndGoods > TurnDownForWatt
08/28/2014 at 10:22

completely agree..Jay you are out of your mind

OPPOsaurus WRX > Jay Lauer
09/01/2014 at 18:15

I am wanting to sale. Way to high school

webmonkees > Jay Lauer
09/01/2014 at 19:39

On the other side.. My recent foray into the CL investigation..

Not bad, not great. Has a check engine light, leaks oil and needs tie rod ends, that's the obvious stuff.

I find it hard to not point out to the seller the expensive fixes that are needed that would wipe out the value of acquiring the car.. (just find another for a similar price without the problem? Well, normally that would work, but it's an issue for all of them at that mileage)

While they seemed open to negotiable last week with my test drive, the ad seems to be recently updated from OBO to say FIRM so he must be trying to deflect the lowballers.

I asked a few owner's forums for what they would pay, and figure I can hover around that range should I revisit the issue. . I mean the car.

Jay Lauer > webmonkees
09/01/2014 at 19:55

I have no clue what you're talking about, man.

webmonkees > Jay Lauer
09/01/2014 at 20:44

Sorry about that. Just recounting my recent visit with a CL seller and why I didn't get it. Just wanted to say a potential buyer will magnify a problem and attempt to take care of the first few repairs by talking down the price, but I went into ramble mode. Apologies.

Jay Lauer > webmonkees
09/01/2014 at 21:07

No problem.

I've sold lots of cars on Craigslist, so I'm not easily intimidated by people nitpicking. They can go fellate themselves.

Stef Schrader > Jay Lauer
09/01/2014 at 22:07

I'd have just been like, "Well, then. It's nada deal." Punny, I know.

This guy seems like he sucks. It's a rock chip on a hard-to-find-stock 12-year-old-car. If it's not terrible underneath, a body shop (or even a good detailer) can probably deal with it for less than the $170ish I paid to unbend the rock bump on my bumper. (And mine was bent on that lower horizontal piece.)

Broseph Duderson > macanamera
09/01/2014 at 22:49

I'll go 4000 McGangBangs

webmonkees > Jay Lauer
09/01/2014 at 22:55

Heh, the last car I got was a matter of nit-picking the tow date.

btw, I am absolutely positively not the flagger. Just to eliminate suspects. I'm not that bored.

Nismogtr600 > Jay Lauer
09/02/2014 at 00:39

When people generally buy used cars, especially one that's over a decade old, they don't give a shit about "market value". The guy at least has enough brain cells to look into it's book value and make you what is a reasonable offer for it. It's not his fault that you think that what you have is worth more than it actually is because "there aren't that many unmolested ones out there". At the end of the day, it's still a 12 year old toy/weekend Honda with six digit mileage, it's not some exotic.

Not trying to be a dick, because I've been in this situation, but for a much newer vehicle where a guy showed up with 18K for a 24K car that I listed 3K UNDER book value. If your ranting was about something similar to this, it would make sense, but it's about a car you're trying to sell for 4K more than it actually is. You basically want almost 50 percent of it's showroom value after driving it for 12 years and racking up over 100K miles...for a common Honda....because you didn't put a fart can or some stickers on it....LMAO.

Working at a car dealership in my college days, I saw this all the time. People who walked in and wanted invoice for the new car but wanted top dollar for their trade in because they thought it was worth more than it actually was....to them, they said GTFO.

Jay Lauer > Nismogtr600
09/02/2014 at 01:05

I'd love to see you go find a nice S2000 for $8000.