Projects how much do you lie to sell a car???

You make a very good observation.
I’ve found this to be true, every one has different perspective on what is mint !

 

Just a very little so I can still get into heaven!

 

I even talk some people out buying my cars if I don’t think they’re listening to the problems. I obviously don’t sell much.

 

I'm wrong now and then, or confused some times, but I wouldn't lie about anything. Gary

 

I always am straight up , seems not so sometimes on the sellers end...buyer beware..bought this one recently and although not as described I thought it was good buymregardless..heck.. A 3 window..complete , straight as an arrow..

 

I don't lie when selling vehicles and I'll tell you why:

In the late 60's I drove about 200 miles to buy a truck which was advertised in the newspaper. Remember that? I had a long conversation with the owner ("long distance"-remember that?) and asked about the condition. He stated it needed a good cleanup but everything was great. I questioned him about why the truck was priced under the market and he replied that he was moving and needed to get it sold soon.

I got to his "residence" which was really a roofing company address. The truck had been used by the hot tar section of the business and had tar on every square inch of the exterior and most of the interior. It even had tar in the glove box however that happened. Honestly, I had to ask him what color the truck was.

Somehow that experience has never left me and it always comes to mind when I am with a prospective buyer..

 

I always try to under sell a car and not have to deal with anything later. Lying in general seems like too much work to me. Telling the truth seems much easier.

 

I just answer questions truthfully, nothing more. I never spice it up like a plaid suit wearing used car salesman.

 

I never lie or try to oversell-tell them every issue and make them come and look or no deal. Jack em up on jackstands and show em everything underneath as well. Never have had any complaints. I have gone to look and buy with a trailer a few times and came back with an empty trailer!! Some folks just are crooks!! I have looked at a few for others and tell the sellers that I need to be able to get under the car-take pics etc. A while back looked at a very nice 55 Chevy convert for a guy-high end car-told him all about it and took lots of pics. He bought it sight unseen and said it was ever better than I described-he has many cars in his stable.

 

REMEMBER THIS GUY?

 

And sometimes the seller really does n0t know the condition of the car. Last December, I found a mild custom 1954 Stude coupe, chevy powered, sharp looking paint in the CL add.

At first, sounded suspicious, car was in Yuma, AZ, owner in Phoenix area. I actually remember seeing this car on I-10 when passing thru Yuma.

Turned out, the owner was in his 80's (I'm in my 70's), had just moved to be close to his son. The winter house in Yuma was being sold and the Stude was soon to be retrieved. Owner did not know much about the engine and transmission, he bought it from a used car lot, as a 2nd car for the winter house.

Eventually, the son trailered the car to Phoenix. Owner called me, said that he needed a couple more days, it needed a tune up and a nearby garage was going to look at it.

Then we showed up with a truck, cash and a Uhaul auto transport trailer reservation. The owners were nice folks, he repeated that he had driven it for a few years, but did not know much about it's history and had sent minor repairs and oil changes out. When I got on the ground, the frame graft (Nova or Camero???) was stacked (Chevy frame slipped BELOW the Stude frame and welded up). The front spring coils were heated to drop the front end (almost no space between the windings).

Rust repairs in the back were crude (One hole looked like it was stuffed with canvas and given a double shot of under coat).

I politely declined to buy this car. He had a couple of other nice cars, including a very nice survivor 1953 Mercury, so we believe that he did not know the details of what was under this car.

 

Gonna be lonely without all the other HAMBers

 

0.

 

Honesty the best policy when selling anything

 

Liar, liar pants on fire. Like someone said in an earlier post. Karma...............and she's a bitch.
What goes around comes around.
I hate getting taken and I'm not comfortable taking someone else. Besides, I have enough to answer for when I close my eyes for the final time.

 

Tell the truth ...way easier to remember

 

an old adage "you never know when you may have to drink from the same well twice". That and a prayer that the right person for the vehicle comes along

 

I was fixing to buy a 63 F100 back at the end of August. I spoke on the phone, asked a ton of questions, and had him send me probably two dozen photos of the exterior, interior and underbody.
Things looked good, the price was right, so I drove there to do the deal. The truck was not as described... paint was bubbling (couldn't see that in the photos), frame had some wonky repairs, truck appeared to have been wired entirely using 4 pin trailer wiring, dash and headlights weren't working. Basically, the truck wasn't as described. The guy had told me up front early on that he wasn't a car guy, so had limited knowledge. So I don't think he was trying to deceive me.

It hurt, but I passed on the truck. Girlfriend and I still made a weekend of it and went camping, but I was out the cost of gas, a U-Haul trailer rental for the weekend, and time. It was a 980 mile round trip, but I'm glad I walked away. I'd rather be out ~$500 for the weekend, than out thousands plus have another project.

You didn't do your homework (pictures, questions, physical inspection), so you got what you paid for in my opinion.
You gotta remember, 'car guy' is a VERY broad term. There's guys that know old cars, and there's guys that like old cars. Appreciation doesn't equal knowledge. Just my 2 cents.

 

Another great example to not buy sight unseen.

Gary

 

Sold my truck recently and in the pictures I posted it looked quite a bit better than it actually was. So I tried my best to accurately describe it in the text. Nevertheless, I got a couple of potential buyers who refused to hear the truth and came to look at it. One weasel came to look at it when I told him I was taking my Mom to the doctor and wasn't going to be home. He showed up and convinced my daughter to show it to him after I told him no. Then he got pissy and berated the truck to my daughter. Pissed me right off. Both knuckleheads expected a $35k show truck even though I told them clearly it was more of a shop truck/beater. Both were pissed and rude. That was OK 'cause the guy who eventually bought it, "gets it" and was just the right person to have it. Selling stuff can be a pain in the ass but honesty is always the best policy, even when they don't want to hear it.
As far as buying, I just can't buy anything sight unseen unless it's dirt, and I mean DIRT, cheap. Basically I approach buying cars like I approach lending money; I never commit more money than I can afford to lose. Never buy anything unless I'm pretty damned sure I can turn right around and sell it to get my money back if I have to.

 

My integrity is worth more than making a few extra bucks selling a car or anything else.
The only enthusiast rig I have sold was my 51 Merc and the guy who bought it had heard about it sitting here in the yard and looked it over and made a cash offer without me ever talking to him about it and it wasn't for sale at the time. A month earlier or two months later and I wouldn't have sold it.

A few years ago I drove 200 and something miles to buy what was advertised as a near perfect 47/53 Chevy 3100 short box bed only to find that what the seller had was far worse than I was wanting to replace and he was pissed that I wouldn't take it saying I wouldn't find one better and I pointed to my truck and that one is far better than yours but isn't goo enough to use as far as I am concerned.

 

It's tempting when you run into one of these sellers who gets angry that you don't buy his misrepresented rust bucket, to tell him you are very keen, and are going to the bank to get money.... wait for me.

 

It takes 20 years to build a good reputation.
It takes 20 minutes to fuck it up.

 

I just say “this is what it is” and only mention major stuff like “clear coat is FUBAR’ed” or “thermostat gone bad”, stuff that’s obvious or would need to be addressed pretty quickly. The minor things I wait to say anything on unless asked

 

It is sooo good to hear all these "I wouldn't lie" comments" when I'm surrounded by a very disappointing world. Ain't the HAMB world a great place to be. It's my retreat from all the crap that is going round. There are lots of great people here doing lots of great stuff!

 

I don't know if I would say that I have not been truthful about any condition problems of a car when trying to make a sale ... I just tell them what they want to hear and what ever it takes to get it sold and down the road ....before they figure out that I'm not the owner of the car......
What was it the used car salesman always said " Trust Me " and sign here....
I kid.... it's better to be up front with people..so maybe they will buy more.... I do remember as a kid going way out on 82 Ave. in Portland Oregon and checking out the back row beater's on the used car lots and few times seeing a pile of saw dust in the back corner of the lot...mmmm...it must of been for there pet rats.....

Sent from my QTASUN1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

thankyou to all of you. I kinda figured people on the HAMB were honest and not out to grab the last penny. I have never been lied to by anyone on the HAMB.
I will try to post some pictures of the progress om my 1955 T-Bird also.

 

and guess what, i tried to transfer the title today, and the title is in a previous owners name, so I cannot transfer the title. I called the guy i bought it from, no response at all yet. He is in illinois, I am in iowa. Has he broken some kind of intrastate law?? Or should I try to contact the guy whos name is on the title ?

 

I'm SOFTLY working to sell my 36 sedan just to make room for the next project. I had a guy come to look at it and I told him EVERYTHING about the car, both good and bad. He is not a hot rod type so I can't be sure how much he understood. The way I see it is if is not happy with my honesty and feels the price is too out of line, I have no regrets keeping her. Mitch.

 

Absolutely not, my self respect and reputation mean more to me than than $$$$