Folks Of Interest no response / no courtesy

Get used to it. Buyers today look at any seller with the same expectations they have for a drive thru. Too bad for them. This is all an opportunity to find more, make contacts and broaden your networks, sometimes make new friends. Do I believe and live that? Yup. When I get met with rude I return the gesture. Usually with interest. There comes a point of nothing to lose except the opportunity to do that. On the other hand, it helps to be realistic. People are not sitting still waiting for your item. Shit happens like family sickness or loss, power failures, weather, etc. To that end you give it a couple days, offer a gentle follow up, then stick a fork in it.

"Hey, just friendly follow up to see if you were still interested. Hope all is well, thanks..." that way if shit hit the fan on their end they might appreciate the reminder. If you still get no response then fuck em. Their loss.

 

If someone asks for pics of a car I have for sale and I don't hear from um, I just figure they didn't want it, and go ahead living my life. Must be me....

 

This what my dad has always done whenever someone was wanting something that he had.

 

Every generation seems convinced the next generation has lost it morals and common curtesy...

You Damn kids get off my lawn!

 

My yard is fenced, I also have dogs. If by chance someone is on my lawn, I have other means.

Yes, I could drop into my best Clint imitation if needed. !

 

There have always been tire kickers. It's just easier now when they can do it online.

 

Been trying to sell an off-topic powertrain for a couple of years now. Last week had a bite; sounded serious so I gathered together all the related parts to make it easier. Not another word from the potential buyer. screw him. If he calls again, it's still available, but no discounts. If he never calls again, so be it. He was the one looking for that engine. I HAVE one, so I ain't the one looking for one.

 

It really is a different time. I find myself saying "the good old days" all the time. The internet has really made the buying and selling process frustrating, on the other hand it has expanded the area I can shop for cars and parts compared to the auto trader,tri ad and news paper. The good part of shopping using these, was it was actually talking and in person dealing. You still had rude and no show people but they couldn't hide behind there computer. The internet has brought good (sites like this) and lots of bad, thats a long list. Im just glad Im on the tail end of life. The future looks scary

 

This is why I prefer dogs to most humans,,,,,

 

I try my best to reply but sometimes I get caught up with other things and forget. That's on me.

 

Amen, I guess it goes back to being busy as hell!!! I wake up everyday in a rush, lucky to remember to put my underwear on

 

A guy messaged me on the HAMB. Asking about parts. Said I had an extra set of headlight stands I wasn`t willing to let go yet. He bugged me more than a few times. So, I told him a price. Never heard from him again. The price I got was from another guy who knows what they are worth. I didn`t want to sell them anyway.

 

I believe that the fundamental problem here is not understanding that being a seller is not the "power position" in the transaction. If you don't need the money, you cannot complain about buyer behavior. If you DO need the money, you REALLY can't complain about buyer behavior.

Esoteric car parts are not "needed". They are wanted.

If you are selling something, you are asking someone to do you the favor of buying something that they do not need. In exchange, you get cash. Cash is a generic financial vehicle that you can use to buy what you want, or need.

The buyer's ability to use that cash value for needs is gone, when the transaction is complete.

You are asking the buyer to change their financial position from liquid, to illiquid, by transferring their liquidity to you, an in exchange for an inanimate object-of-desire.

If a buyer refuses this loss-of-liquidity, they will have lost nothing that they need.

 

I see where you’re coming from in this hobby, we don’t need an old car and don’t need to have it on the road, etc.
But if you (3rd person) have an old vehicle missing a part or a part beyond repair, you “need” the part because you “want” to have the vehicle drivable.
Same goes with a daily driver.

 

No amount of want elevates a want to a need.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

 

I just read the link (not the lower part with stages, etc.

Let me ask you this though.
Say my brakes are shot on my daily driver. Do I want new brakes or need new brakes. Do I want to get to work or need to get to work?
I can see his theory in life, ie one doesn’t need to become a millionaire, one wants to be a millionaire.
It does work both ways but the theory can’t be all inclusive, IMO.

 

I've got one, the other way! There is a guy here with a SBC intake like I'm looking for. I asked a couple of legitimate questions. I get nothing back from him! I'm ready to buy, but maybe I need to keep looking.

 

If you can choose to not do something, and not die, or live in psychological anguish, it is a want.

You can get to work via other means. Walking or riding a bicycle, carpool, vanpool, public transit, taxi, ride hailing, etc.

If you live somewhere where none of those are possible, that was a choice base on want, not need.

I ride a bicycle to work, every day that it is not gusting to 70mph, or raining 6-inches-a-minute. I could do it under those conditions, too, if the need arose. Sometimes I walk.

 

As a seller, I solved the picture problem

In my business, I have some fairly rare early carburetors (some so rare you might look for 50 years and not see one!).

A few years ago, in a single week, I got telephone calls from 3 different individuals looking to purchase 3 different carburetors. I priced the carbs, and all three asked for pictures. I sent out the pictures, and heard nothing. BUT within two weeks, I found ALL THREE sets of pictures in wanted ads on the 'net with various captions, but stating that the individual wanted to buy the pictured carburetor.

That created a change in company policy. Pictures are now SOLD; the price of the picture(s) will be refunded from the price of the item IF that customer actually purchased the item. Has this policy hurt my business? I don't think so; we are currently busier than we have been in 25 years!

And since implementing the policy, every single sold picture has resulted in a sale; where beforehand we were running less than 10 percent.

I have another story about a vehicle in a Hemmings ad 35 years ago, but it it not a H.A.M.B. friendly vehicle, so will leave it untold.

Some folks just collect pictures!

Jon

 

True on all of this,,,and more .
A couple of years ago,,,,,,,a really good guy on here had a really nice DeSoto engine that he was selling .
I mean it was great,,,,bored,,new pistons,,ground crank,,,,,complete short block .
Excellent price,,,,we made a deal, and I sent him a personal check .

Then my Dad and Mom who were getting very old had a few issues,,,so I kindly asked if he would forgive my situation and tear up my check .
He graciously obliged me,,,,,,and I am very thankful !

As it turned out,,,,,they held on in good health,,,,but I came down with cancer .
It took everything extra I had,,,,,thank the good Lord that I had the money to pay my bills .
That was 2 years ago for me,,,,,then,,,,,we buried my Mom last July,,,she passed on my birthday .
I am so grateful for all the good guys here on the HAMB,,,,,,you all helped me get through those times .

So,,,,to be fair,,,,,yes,,,,sometimes life does get in the way of plans .
Thank you Don and ,,everyone else ,,for helping me and being so understanding .

Tommy

 

Gimpy, I understand the "needs and wants". My step-daughter would tell me that she needed a cell phone. I told her that if she wanted a cell phone, she could have one as soon as she turned 18 years old, moved out on her own, and got a job. Life is full of wants and needs. I am 82 years old, I am not trying to get rich, but I am trying to divest myself of many years of having parts. I also have my wants and needs, so I understand that philosophy. I guess that in today's society, courtesy is the exemption rather than the rule.

 

I have had 40 inquiring on a car I am selling. Out of the 40 , 4 said they are coming to take a look. All no shows.
My friends and I have made a game out of it. We all have stuff for sale and make bets. I won lunch last week !

 

Well stated Nick, we have known each other for a long time. You have always been a "straight shooter" I have seen the issue you speak of play out during my teaching career. Things are not getting better, there was a time when educators were respected for the work they did. Now it seems as though we have become viewed as indentured servants in part responsible for raising their kids.