Owner Just Lost a Sale

"Long-Voyager" (long-voyager)
03/16/2018 at 07:43 • Filed to: Unnecessary Car Shopping

I posted this van for sale a few days ago:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Seeings we’re going to Minnesota next weekend, I decided to message him about it, looking for more info.

I asked what engine it had, if he had any pics of the other side, if it had any issues.

He sends me the pics from the ad and says he’d have to go open the hood to see what engine it has.

I say ok, how’s the other side?

He replies with: you’ll have to come see it if you want to know more.

I reply with: I’ll be in Minnesota next weekend, I would like more info because if it’s what I’m looking for I will be bringing cash and taking it with me.

He replies with: It’ll be sold today.

I replied: Good luck, when it’s not sold feel free to get me that info and I’ll still come get it.

DISCUSSION (21)

vondon302 > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 07:53

Craigslist is gonna Craigslist

McMike > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 08:16

He’s technically not losing a sale if it will be sold today. :)

He’s probably just lazy and and has other interested buyers who are local and aren’t asking questions or asking for more photos.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 08:23

Well if you told him you’d still buy it he really didn’t lose a sale did he?

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 08:24

I’ve looked at 2 different CL Neon SRT-4's this year and both times the owner didn’t show. When I texted the one guy the number pulled up a text stream I had in my phone from 2 years ago and I realized I had contacted the same dude years before about another SRT that I’m certain was a scam.

It’s possible that I’m the least shady Neon fan in all of southeast Michigan.

NKato > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 08:28

High pressure sales tactics are not a way to make money.

E92M3 > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 08:36

Sounds like he’s confident he has a buyer that is going to come thru.

Anyway, he should of said that, and said he’d provide you with that info if the sale should fall thru. Because afterall, I’ve had craiglisters say they are on the way to the bank and will be here in 2 hours, then never show up.

Top Tip: Anyone that agrees to buy a car without seeing it in person first, is usually full of shit.

Nibby > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 08:48

87'd

shop-teacher > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 09:09

He sounds like a real peach to deal with.

MonkeePuzzle > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 09:10

gonna have to speak up homer

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
03/16/2018 at 09:54

Dunno how far you’re willing to travel, but I have a friend in Seattle who might be selling his SRT4 soon’ish. Not sure how many miles, red, aftermarket wheels. If you want I can ask him about it.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Schaef_Camaero Z/28
03/16/2018 at 09:59

I think that’s too far right now at least but I really appreciate the offer. I’ve been looking for cheap ones for a couple years now but they all are such disasters I still haven’t pulled the trigger. Now I’m willing to spend the money for a good one but finding a fairly stock and rust free SRT-4 is pretty rare at this point

Long-Voyager > shop-teacher
03/16/2018 at 10:01

I almost guarantee I will hear from him middle of next week to see if I’m still interested.

Long-Voyager > E92M3
03/16/2018 at 10:03

Eh, If I’m driving 4+hrs for it, I want to know what I’m getting before I go.

Especially after I drove to Iowa for a Turbo van that was supposed to be clean and good running. I showed up to find a rusted mess that blew it’s HG on a 5min test drive.

Long-Voyager > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
03/16/2018 at 10:10

After that discussion, I’m pretty turned off.

But if it’s as clean as it looks, I would likely still buy it.

Long-Voyager > McMike
03/16/2018 at 10:13

It’s a late 80s minivan, I’m one of the very few people who are looking for them, it’s doubtful he has had much interest.

Regardless, not giving potential buyers the info they need, especially if they are driving a long distance, is a good way to lose a potential sale.

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
03/16/2018 at 10:14

No problem. I know the struggle. My Saabaru had a lot more rust that I was aware of when I bought it. Car shopping for 10-15 yr old cars in the midwest kinda sucks. Let me know if you change your mind. His is fairly stock, well kept (he is a mechanic) and should be rust free being in the PNW.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Schaef_Camaero Z/28
03/16/2018 at 10:21

Will do. There are actually a lot of those Saabarus around here because it let people who work for GM have an impreza but they could still park in the “GM cars only” lots closer to the buildings. I use to see them all the time

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
03/16/2018 at 10:28

Haha, that’s a nice little work-around. I have only ever seen 2 in person around the STL area.

McMike > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 10:47

I would have asked the same questions you did. I just put myself in the shoes of a lazy craigslist seller.

shop-teacher > Long-Voyager
03/16/2018 at 12:37

I think that’s very likely.

Long-Voyager > McMike
03/16/2018 at 13:20

Already figured it was a lazy seller as they couldn’t even bother to do a quick clean inside before snapping pics.