Had a guy ring me yesterday to ask me some questions about an O/T car that I run a club for. This bloke is a well known spe******t mechanic in the South West. He had maintained the car for the last owner (a retired Army Officer). The owner's widow asked him for a valuation and whether he wanted to buy the car. This car was a very high end build using one of the last NOS engines. The build cost around £11,000 in 1998. It was of simply stunning quality with no expense spared. The builder sold it on shortly after he finished it (he just liked to build cars). The second owner used it extensively (he drove it to the Circuit de Ramparts in Angouleme with me one year) and took great care of it. He only sold it when he had a stroke and was unable to drive. He sold it to owner No 3. The caller told me that as well as this car, he was also offered a similar kit car – built new for the Major about 5 years ago by the manufacturers at a cost of around £10,000. He asked me for a value on the first car – I said at least £7000 in the UK and up to £11,000 if he could sell and register it in France. He was very proud that he had paid only £1700 for BOTH cars. I think he wanted me to congratulate him but I’m afraid I thought it was de****able to rip off an elderly, bereaved woman for well over £12,000. She trusted him because her late husband had spoke well of him for maintaining his cars at a fair price over a period of years. As I see it he has betrayed that trust. Even if she didn't want the h***le of getting them sold herself and was after a very quick sale, he could have offered her much more than that - say £6000, sold one car and kept the other as a "free" car. He knew absolutely the value of the cars and says he has already had a firm offer of £4000 for one and £6000 for the other. He won't sell them for that price because he knows he can get more. I know that I certainly never want to do business with this guy - I'd like to think there's a better code of ethics in Rodding.
For some reason, lots of folks can rationalize just about anything, and somehow convince themselves that they did the correct thing. Honesty and comp***ion are disappearing from society at an alarming rate. As much as you'd like to trust a fellow "car guy", you simply can't anymore. What you described is criminal.
I sleep very well at night...do you? Obviously your "well known spe******t" sleeps well enuff too. R-
and you probably won't again till she's married and out of the house! As one father to another.... I agree that the guy who bought the cars took advantage and I also would not do business with him in the future.....
How long ago was it when he bought the cars? She might be able to sue him. See how he sleeps after that!
The guy could have sold them for top dollar for the widow, took a small "listing fee" to cover some expenses of getting them out there, then a percentage of the sale once completed. The result would have been easy $$$$$ for him, more money for her, a sterling reputation for his performance of the duties, yet his vision for making money on cars is the big kill. Now he can enjoy another kill. His integrity. Once the truth is known throughout the small car community in your part of the world any worries will be over. I just watched "...Money Never Sleeps" this weekend. "Bears survive and Bulls survive, but Pigs get slaughtered", or something like that. Hey, sleep tight and don't let the car bugs bite.
I hate to wish any I'll will on a guy, but I hope he gets the same treatment someday Sent from my iPhone using TJJ
There might possibly be a case for financial elder abuse. I'm sure there's an attorney somewhere (another predator) that could make that case...but what the hell do I know?
Actually I sleep like **** most of the time. Lower back problems, I have "Jimmy Legs". What the hell is a "Bloke"?
Last week - I could fairly easily find out who she is and get a contact number. But if I told her she'd been ripped off and that she had let her husband's cherished possessions go for less than a fifth of their value it would be likely to upset her greatly. I think it's best left to Karma and a few words to the wise. The suggestion about selling them on her behalf, may be on eBay, and taking and agreed cut is what I would have done - and have done for club members who have given up their cars due to illness - but I have never taken a cut, just asked for a bottle of something very nice and the eBay fees. I think the morale of the tale is - tell your wife just what this stuff is worth and have a good friend who will advise her on your p***ing. BTW - I have a 10 week old and a 3 year old so I don't sleep too well either ;-)
that ****s. when I go my wife is just going to call all my friends and tell them to take what they want. she doesn't care what it is worth. the house will be paid off 5 times over and she will go to a warmer climate. dosn't bother me in the least as I will be gone anyways.
what goes around comes around , that is some thing nobody should do will defently let my wife know of the walue of my cars when i go under .
I sleep fine. Someday someone is going to come along and say that I cheated someone but I don't know who that would be or why. Special Ed is right the place we have arrived at in the ethical dept is criminal. I wish th world we lived in was a better place and certainly as car guys it should be a better place than it is, but as long as money is involved there will be room for a complete lack of honor. The very best that any of us can to is watch out for each other and try and make all of our dealings above the board. I don't believe in Karma as some do but I am not a religious man. I do believe that whatever one does will be found out sooner or later, it will be better for all concerned that it comes back as being a good thing and not bad.
Porkn****** - I, too, agree with Special Ed. It's taking advantage of the vulnerable and just not right. I'm going to ask this guy not to contact me again and I keep the email correspondence so that I can prove I spoke to him before, not after his "deal". I wish I'd recorded the phone calls to p*** to his local Trading Standards Department. The whole thing stinks and it's just not something I want to be ***ociated with.
Blackjack, I'd have to tell her, and suggest she get a lawyer, otherwise I couldn't sleep. I'd also let the cat out of the bag, and tell everyone, including the newspapers, how this ***hole prays upon the elderly. I'd also confront this ****wad myself.
I hear you. I really do wish he hadn't phoned me and left me with this dilemma. I think I will make some enquiries with local police
My stuff is mostly "junk with potential" but some of it has value. I have a son and a wife who know full well what things are worth. I also keep a note book with a list of what things are and what I paid or traded for each item, ( this book may be a little incriminating by the household budget to hotrod ratio! ) A few items I have earmarked as gifts to certain people. As I get older I do try to plan a little to avoid ripoffs.
I agree, they frown on that up here. Now the question is did he do the evaluations as a professional or as guy she knew? If he did this as a pro there are many other avenues to use. If he did it as a guy she knew, then the taking advantage of an elderly woman comes into play.
No different than 'American Pickers' and 'Pawn Stars' where they buy things for cents on the dollar and then resell it. For those who think this is 'unique' then please let me introduce you to 'Today's World'.
While it is by no means a unique occurrence, that still doesn't make it any less slimy and de****able. There is a special place for predators like him. He'll find it soon enough. As far as "today's world", well, there you have it. Makes one feel good, doesn't it?
Unfortunatly in these times taking advantage of the elderly is fairly common by both professinals, and even relatives. There are some legal actions that can be brought against the crooks especially if they are in business. We are personally in a case right now against my other halfs 91 year old father who was duped into signing for a new 28K Volkswagon by his own grand daughter! My 2 cents...Help the lady get legal aid against the thief!
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