Sellin a car = bullshit

So this got a little longer than I expected. But just my insight into Kijiji/craigslist. My views as a buyer/seller. And whatnot.

I recently bought my 72 Scamp off kijiji. Kijiji is great...IF you have the patience and ability to handle it. It's a lot of searching. I wasn't after one particular car. I had an idea in mind of what I wanted. But for every one car priced reasonably, there was 10 that weren't. If I had a dollar for every mullet mobile, 383 S10, clapped out car, I could have bought mine for free. I seen guys listing a rusted out, fenders cut up, hasn't run in 25 years, "SS" nova, for 5g. "All it needs is a carb and distributor to run". Except that it hadn't been turned over in 25 years. Or their mid 70's or more challenger/roadrunner/whatever with a non running 318, dented and rusted and sat in the back yard for 10 years, and hes "taking offers, so far I'm at (whatever) dollar". These guys watch too much barrett jackson, see a car and say "hey, mines only two years older, it must be worth close to that!" . Or the old "Not sure if its for sale, just looking to see what I get offered!"

Let me telling you what I'll offer. **** all. Your ad isn't worth my time if your not actually selling.

As a buyer, it can wear on you. Dealing with guys who are too sentimental about their vehicle and sabotage the sale before it can even happen. We all love our cars. But don't list it if you don't wanna sell it. Be serious about it. You don't walk into a store and hear the guy behind the counter go "Well I'm not sure what I wanna sell that for....". Its for sale. Period. There is a price you will sell it at. Period. Or don't list it.

I was looking at a 440 duster but could never get a hold of the guy. Emailed a couple times. Never heard back. I was willing to fly, pick this thing up, drive 15 hours back for this car. That's how serious I was about a car.

When I found my scamp. I asked what I wanted to know. Asked for pics, details, etc. Cause I was traveling 5 hours to get it. I'm not going up there to scratch my *** and look through the window. After that we got to talking money. I was straight up with the guy. I said "I know you're asking this, I won't waste your time. This is what I can do". Straight up no bs. I offered him a little lower than he was asking. And we met just shy of the middle. I went up there money in my pocket, deal done. That's how it works. Am I going to pay what your asking? Maybe. I haven't yet. I look at something. I ask what I wanna know about, and make my judgement based on that. Going and looking at it is only to confirm what I knew about it. Check that you weren't full of it. And most likely buy it. Yeah sometimes I go and look at cars that are a "maybe", sometimes seeing it in person can sway me to buy it. But 9 times out of 10, if I go to look. It's cause I'm buying. And we've negotiated it all out already.

There's a lot to it beyond that though. If I see your ad up. And every week the price drops. I know that what you're asking isn't what its worth, to you or me. I am gunna offer you lower than you're asking. Say you're asking 10, but last week it was 11, and the week before it was 12. I'm gunna offer you say 8,500, maybe 8. Depending on any more of the info you give me, any more pics you send me. And your attitude (yup, attitude can make or break a deal, it's part of selling something). I'm not out to lowball you. I offer 8 because I expect to settle around 9, I just don't wanna wait till you list it at 9 next week. It's a give and take. I expect the same when I sell. If I ask 2500, I'll probably settle around 18-20. Would I like 2500? Yeah, of course I would. But I set a hard low. If it comes to brass tacks I won't drop below a certain amount.

On the flip side. I sold an old project truck. Answered all the kids questions. Which were endless. Even after the sale. He texted me for two weeks asking stuff about the truck. How does this work. Why does that do that. etc etc. Was it annoying? Yeah. Very. But I'm not one to leave a guy twisting in the wind.

I can't describe every ad or sale or purchase I've made over sites like kijiji/craigslist. Each sale is its own beast. Gotta figure it out as you go.

In the end. I have basic rules as a buyer and seller.
Be courteous
Be honest
Ask what you want to know, answer what they want to know
Treat their time as valuable as yours
Don't get taken for a ride, don't take them for one either