"Finally sold" Joy... then Disgust (aka-Pissed!)

As an unfortunate member/victim of the "America's Stimulus Plan", I've been trying to jetison alot of non-essential items around the shop to help keep the bill collecors at bay, unfortunately that included my '39 - which I thought would be a fairly easy sell - not. It's gotta be the whole "more door" mystic thing that still keeps buyers from following up on their calls, e-mails, and visits.

Anyway, after about five months of some serious attention to listing my '39 on various sites, and dropping the price to below what I have in it - parts wise, and entertaining a number of looky-lou's, I finally thought I had the Desoto on its way to a new chapter in its life.
I drove the car to a "half way" destination for the first viewing (as I'd done many a times), then the guy even came all the way out to the shop the second time (with some buddys). I made it clear that it was "Cash" no trades - trying to pay down some bills, and he was fine with that (even though they always seem to bring up a trade scenario regardless).

A week later the guy calls, says lets do it, mails me a deposit check (luckly we banked at the same bank - so I was able to "pre-check" the funds were there), and we set up a delivery - about 45 mins north of Fresno. No big, we had already figured in some gas cost if I were to trailer it up there. Loaded up the car and some spare parts, called to ensure he'd be there and let him know I was heading his way - JOY.

Pull up to buyers driveway, back up to drive-way to ease unloading, pleasantries exchanged, neighbors walk over mussing over the car and what his plans are, etc., I start unleashing tiedowns, then the guy drops the ???, ask if I'd be interested in trading instead of the cash balance - are you kidding!

Long story short, apparently the guy was hedging his finances against selling one of his motorcycles to come up with the balance - but his guy "supposedly" never came thru - figured I'd just cave and call it even. Disgust (aka Pissed!).

Ended up re-attaching the tie-downs, handed him back his deposit - minus gas money - and headed back home. I truly despise wanna-be's.

 

You did the right thing......posers suck.

 

That really sucks, what a pain in the ass. I may have kept more of his money for my time. Had something like that happen to me. Also sold a car (my 57 Nomad) I never wanted to get rid of due to "the no funds blues".

 

Deposits are non-refundable if you pay them to me, I'm keeping it. You're more of a gentleman than I am, if it was me there would be no money refunded.

That's why my cars are for sale until I have all the money in my hand, and also why when I go to look at a car, I bring cash and an empty trailer. Everyone else is sick of the bullshit too and great deals can be had if you come prepared.

 

that sucks!!! why cant people just shoot straight with you now days!!!

 

Hate people like that.......

 

Maybe he will contact you in a few weeks ,Maybe You really want to keep it ,
Maybe its a sign ,Thats what I would tell my wife ................

 

should have kept the "non-refundable deposit" in full and drove off. until i started doing the non-refundable thing i had to deal with too much bullshit. doing this way gets you mostly serious players.

 

right on!

 

Future dealings, be sure to convey that it is a non-refundable deposit..too many dead beats out there.

 

What's the point of a deposit if you give it back?

 

you did the right thing ... he didn't ... 2 wrongs wont make it right ...

 

......You did the right thing.......he was an asshole......

 

x 2

 

I'll 2nd that! I always make it very clear right away that the deposit is non-refundable and make them commit in writing to a date by which the balance is to be paid. With everything in writing they know I won't sell it out from under them while they are getting the rest of the funds together and I know that if they flake, I just made a little extra cash.

 

what a flake--shoulda kept the deposit

 

Your the better man

 

Helped an older non computer friend sell a '63 Mercury convertible several years back, a young lady decided to buy it, he agreed to meet her halfway, about 2 hr drive for him, he trailered it, they met, she said she didn't realize it was so big! Her father was with her, they talked, gave my friend $100 for his time & trouble. 4 hrs driving time, gas, he probably lost money. Then karma kicked in, he was at a local feed store, owners daughter asked him if he still had the convertible she saw him driving several years ago, she didn't know it was for sale, she bought it. I hate selling cars.

 

got tired of the promises long ago and i always tell them bring cash or it stays here. and if you want me to hold it ill normally only hold it for a week and take a small deposit that is non refundable if not picked up by a specific date.

u are the better man for sure! he should have felt like shit and told you to keep the deposit! if I were him, playing the odds like that i would not dare ask for my deposit back. not that i would do that. if i dont have the cash im not coming that far to kick tires anyway.

 

Yeah that sucks, but to be honest, throw the fenders and hood back on it and maybe it might sell easier.

 

I with you on that !

 

that deposit would have stayed in my pocket. period.

 

Kept $2K late last year on a deposit from a dickhead. Started feeling bad about it but later heard he had tried to rip me so his bad luck.

 

Sounds like a few "deals" I have had fall through too. You're a better man than me, I would have kept the deposit too. You never know though maybe this guy will get his act together and end up buying the thing and keeping the deposit would have just pissed him off?! Selling cars is kind of like playing pool, you gotta look at it from all the angles. On another note it sounds like you were in our neck of the woods should have given Jim a call so we could get together and lie about how great we all are! Later, Roger

 

Best thing is don"t even accept a deposit unless buyers signs agreement stating non-refundable. That alone brings out the lying bullshitters to move on. I look at it this way,if I advertise a car,you come to look at it,if you are serious you have the money on you when you come,so don"t low-ball offers or come up with the trade crap and waste my time.I have told a couple of prospective buyers that the stuff isn"t for sale to them just because of their stupid ass attitudes.The day of taking a mans word are gone,cash talks,and bullshit,well we all have enough of that already.Hope you find you an honest buyer for the car.

 

Motto that I was taught by my grandfather many years ago. " Money talks, Bullshit walks! Show me the green, I'll show you the car! Otherwise don't waste my time."

 

I'm going to be the "Fly in the ointment" here... I've committed to a car purchase and had the world collapse upon me financially and very expectantly and had to stop the transaction dead in it's tracks!

I let the seller know what happened and let him retain a the down payment.

This economy is tough where I had "Never anticipated it to be so tough" I had to go back on my word...!

My word was "GOLD" but my finances turned to "Lead" and I'm not the only one struggling to keep a roof over head and food on the table for the children.

If that means loosing a down payment and postponing my dream for a while... so be it...!

There's two sides of the fence and I've been on both sides of failed deals and neither side is better than the other!

Things will work out for you and your frustrations will subside over time and you'll understand the grand scheme in life is to be flexible and understanding of everybody's circumstances.

 

I'll quote it once again - couldn't be more true .

I had a guy flake-out on me , wanting to buy my O/T motorcycle a few years back . This guy was a pain in the ass , stringing me along . I even turned down other offers because I took is money . I'd had enough , so I kept the downpayment (only a couple-hundred bucks , but hey) & sent him packing , so the bastard took me to court ... WTF ?!?! When it came to the day of the hearing , the judge said to him "What do you think a deposit is for ?? To protect YOU from him selling it on you , but also to protect HIM from you backing out ! You backed out , so HE keeps the money ... and YOU now also pay the court costs ." It was a great day . I eventually took some of his deposit money & re-listed the bike and sold it , but took longer than I wanted . I am now much more diligent about the "non-refundable deposit" logic .

 

i`m hearing all you guys, but like alot of people in the world have to agree with wingnut, money is real tight these days for alot of people and hotrods and projects have to come last, don`t know his side of the story, he coulda been at one of those crossroads and really wanted the car, just couldn`t take food out of his kids mouths, and by keeping his deposit might have done the same thing, so, i`m on the fence here, would have had to have been there to know the situation....

 

I've never been a depost holder, payment in full or keep walking. Sorry you got taken by this jerk.