Flippin' cars

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340john

340john

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There has been a few posts on here about flipping cars, one was just yesterday concerning a beautiful 72 340 Demon. I have mixed feeling about flippers. On one hand I feel like it is free enterprise at its best, buy low-sell high. On the other hand there seems something a little wrong about it. I saw a guy in my local car club sell his car to this guy that told him a sob story about how he was low on funds because of medical bills, kids in college and so on. So my buddy dropped the price and gave him a great deal, one week later, the story telling new owner sold the car for a huge profit. What are your feelings on fliipers ? Also, how long is an acceptable amount of time to wait before reselling a car so your not considered a flipper ?
 
In a case like your buddie's story thats FLAT OUT wrong. But If you can talk your dealer down on a new car and the next guy pay's sticker price its not your fault or problem. I dont think you should screw every old lady that has an old dart out of fair market price if you proposed the sale, but if you find a car give the guy around his asking price and you get an offer for twice that on your way home lucky you.
 
Hi everyone. no surprises here, I got what I wanted for the car,even more than guys on this site were offering me.The guy that bought the car is a friend of mine and I knew his plans for the car B5 I even sold it.REMEMBER it was offered here first at a more than fair price and I got low ballers and people whos wives were telling them NO! Eric stepped up,now He owns the car,nuff said.
 
I have no problem with somebody flipping a car or part. The way I look at it, if I have something for sale and I figure it is worth $100, I'm not going to drop my price down to $50 just to give somebody I don't know a break because he/she has a sob story. But if that same person gives me my price and then turns and sells it for $150 the next week, then all the power to him.
That being said, I'm not a hardass either, I have given lots of parts away to those that needed them.

Jack
 
I have only owned a few cars in my life but I know a lot of guys who have had many!

I think when a seller agrees to a price a buyer will pay, the stories over. You all that have a problem with someone making money on cars just don't get it. When you buy a new kitchen table do you have a problem with the seller just buying it and selling it to you for a profit? Same goes for a toaster, a set of new tires, a TV, etc, they ALL just bought them and resold them for a profit. It's the way of our world. If a "flipper" is willing to take a risk to lay out his cash for a car then he is entitled to the reward if one is achieved.

And the sob stories and lies that are told to get a good price really shouldn't mean anything to anybody either. A seller would NEVER sell his car for less than he absolutely needs to get out of it just because someone has a story. If he does then it's a learning lesson. Negotiation is done everyday in car sales, it's nothing new and you cry babies should get over it.
 
I buy cars and parts, mostly parts or parts cars to sell for a profit. It has been one part of the hobby that I enjoyed the most, and for a long time, was the only way I could make any extra money to put into my own cars. I never told a lie as to why I was buying the car. I also never told a guy asking half what a part was worth that he should ask more. If you go about it right, and don't try to screw anyone, there is nothing wrong with it. Doing this allows the parts and cars to flow through the hands of the enthusiast. I haven't had the time to spend doing this in a few years and miss it. The market has also changed and there just aren't that many opportunities to sell stuff off at a profit either. Remember, there is no guarantee that you will be able to re-sell anything, ever, so that is part of the risk.
 
I help musclecarprojects quite a bit. He gets most of his cars out where no one wants to go and brings them to Utah to sell. So he has lots of time and expense in just going and getting the cars. Plus he sells them to people that might not otherwise have time to go find them them selfs. I think that it is alright.
 
Coyote Jack said:
I have no problem with somebody flipping a car or part. The way I look at it, if I have something for sale and I figure it is worth $100, I'm not going to drop my price down to $50 just to give somebody I don't know a break because he/she has a sob story. But if that same person gives me my price and then turns and sells it for $150 the next week, then all the power to him.
That being said, I'm not a hardass either, I have given lots of parts away to those that needed them.

Jack
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I couldn't have said it better myself. That's my philosophy exactly.
We all learn the hard way this lesson at one time or another. Bottom line, get the price you want out of your stuff or don't sell it.
Also, don't sell anything you will regret later.
 
mplsmyke said:
Hi everyone. no surprises here, I got what I wanted for the car,even more than guys on this site were offering me.The guy that bought the car is a friend of mine and I knew his plans for the car B5 I even sold it.REMEMBER it was offered here first at a more than fair price and I got low ballers and people whos wives were telling them NO! Eric stepped up,now He owns the car,nuff said.
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Thanks Mike! Yes, Mike is a friend and he did offer it to this group long before he offered it to me. It's been said that I might make a profit on this car "flipping" it and doing nothing. Well, I'll say this and then decide. First off, I've spent the last 25 years collecting, restoring and playing with Mopar Muscle cars. I've logged a million miles or more going to shows all over the country year round and have bought every book imaginable to study and learn about these cars. I have a huge investment in my truck and trailers to move cars around the country. In this market I still take great risk in buying my favorite Mopars! Now, the '72 Demon, it is a survivor, what more should I do to it? Mike offered the car to me at a set price and I paid him his full price. I personally went to his house and paid him cash and loaded the car into my trailer and took it back to my shop. A shop that I have a considerable investment in to work on my Mopars. I made the transaction easy for him and we discussed in detail what I would do with the car and what price I would ask for it. Now, is that nothing??? We both think highly of the Demon and we will see if my investment pays off or not.
 
I got no problem with flippers, hell everyone I know wants to make a profit, it's up to the buyer to make sure that the profit isn't exorbinant. The problems I got with sellers, for anything, is people that flat out lie to your face. I walked away from 2 71 Demons cuss both sellers were trying to pass the cars off as original V8 cars when they were original /6 cars so then you got to wonder what other lies are they telling. I wanted a /6 car and found this one and bought it cuss the seller didn't misrepresent it even though it had a 318 in it.

Terry
 
I dont have a probelm with flipping stuff ... just dont be a greedy pig over it. I flip alot of parts, I also give parts away for cheap or free... it all depends on the situation. Its called business.... look at a used car dealer... thats what they do. They give you bottom dollar for your trade in hopes they can get top dollar for it. If you are one that doesnt care for the process then sometimes you may not ever get what you want because someone else will definately pay for it and be happy with it. The key is as a buyer... just be aware of the greedy lyin pigs out there that try to damage the market. There are alot of flippers that are fair and honest. Like for example..... me.

Know your source.... I have many repete customers who say they will deal wtih me on anything. They know I make money on it.. but then again they know my time and effort is worth something.

for what its worth... thats my opinion.

-RPM
 
I believe in the "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" philosophy. Keep it within reason.
 
your buddy must not be very smart! he bought a story of someone being broke when they are buying a toy?!?!?!?!? cant be too broke!
 
70dartks said:
your buddy must not be very smart! he bought a story of someone being broke when they are buying a toy?!?!?!?!? cant be too broke!
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thats what i was thinking. the guy chose dropped his price so he really has nothing to complain about.




as far as flippers go i don't see a problem with them.. they did the work of locating the car, got out early and looked and bought the car. i see people bitching about this all the time. well get the paper, scan the internet ads and get to the car first and buy them all up at good prices and just sit on them if ya don't like it. i know a guy that bought his first house by flipping mopars. he worked his *** off at it to make the money. he had the trading times early in the morning as soon as it hit the stands, he called the seller as early as he could and go to the car before anyone else did with cash. i find the people that ***** the most about it are the lazy asses that want a car to fall into their hands for practically nothing. get out there and find that deal first. its really that simple.
 
I have had to sell parts to pay for my hobby which includes what I do at work as a shop teacher. I generally don't sell whole cars, but when I do it is at a loss. Never have lucked into the 340 4-speed car for a grand. Nothing close.

BTW- I generally sell 4x4 stuff. Some Mopar, but not nearly as much because I want to keep it!

I generallly pay what someone is asking, I make sure that I don't take advantage of them by dealing with someone or a relative who knows what it is. Most of the stuff I buy is an anchor on someone's neck who is moving, or aged etc. Not something I have to pry out of their hands at all.

Also, I don't know if some of the people who buy parts really know what it takes. Gas, time, and travel to get the car, and then 80 pics, and then pulling, storing them. That is just to get started, now you have to write the ads etc. Sort through the scary jungle of Craigslist (it can be a rude place) etc. Then the shipping. Follow up emails.

Once in awhile I wish I could get a break and buy a $200 part for $50. It doesn't happen very often.

I like alot of the common sense that is present in this post. RPM especially hit in on the head.

It is fun, I do enjoy it, and I will probably continue.

"It's a dirty job...but someone has to do it......"

Have a good Sunday, ROB
 
This is how I stay in the hobby. If I see a car that I feel I can make money on I go for it. If I have to sit on it for a great deal of time that's on me, my money is tied up and my projects get put on hold. I do not practice socialism nor am I subscriber in car welfare. Sorry, it's a hobby. If you don't have the cash and lay a sob story on me, sorry, I've been there. So for thoise who think flipping a car is evi, build a bridge and get over it.
 
BTW- Dart4forte

You are in the best area that I know of for finding cars.

I am from the lower valley and I swear there was an A body on every corner.

Although each time I go home (twice a year) I see less.

ROB
 
Profit is not a dirty word.
When two people agree on a price, no matter how
it is arrived at, that concludes that transaction.
The seller is satisfided and the buyer is satisfied, end of story.
They shake hands and walk away, period.
What I choose to do with my money or property after the
transaction is my business.
If you can't let it go or have sellers remorse you shouldn't
have made the desision to sell.
I usually have more time, energy, research and money in something I've bought than most people are willing put forth.
They view winning as a lucky event and the lucky always win, nothing is farther from the truth.
Patience and perserverene carry the day.
There are a lot of things I wish I could have kept or still had
but the needs of the moment outwieghed their value at the time.
The only thing I never buy is a family hierloom or something
that belonged to a deceased family member that is of
sentimental value.
 
i think as long as your not screwing people out of cars intentionally just to turn them for a quick buck then its not a big deal...
I bought a 65 dart a while back from some guy who didnt want to get it running. A full body clean 65 dart with all the chrome and parts...
He also gave me a 273,318 904 and a rebuilt 727 with 0 miles on it
Bought the Car and Motors and Trannies for $100.
I put a motor in it and got it running and registered with a total of about $200 dollers... Then drove it for about 6 months and loved it. But i bought a truck too and i couldnt have 3 projects so i put it up for sale and someone bought it for 1200.
So i made $1000 on it and it got me great gas milage compared to my 440 i was driving all the time.
I dont really feel bad since he was only asking 100 dollers for it and i put time into it and made a profit...
I bought my truck for 1954 dodge 1/2 ton for 400 bucks running and driving and just got an offer for $1000 for it but said no just because i dont need to sell it and i dont want to.
The thing is i know another guy who is kinda a snake just buying everything dirt cheap and sells everything at huge profit.. In all reality if he can make money off it then cool but when people just buy old parts of old timers saying there going to use it for a good car or soemthing when they know there about to sell it i think thats kinda out of line.
 
I do not see anything wrong with it.Like anything else as long as your honest.I have bought a few cars and parted them out.And I have bought parts out of the junkyard and resold them.
I bought a 1964 Polara 2 door a few years back.I paid $500.00 for it and it was rustfree.I bought it because it was a good deal and I knew I could make money off of it.$500.00 is what the seller was asking and thats what I gave him.He didn't have the title lost it in a house fire.So I paid for the new title for him so it would not come out of his $500.00.My buddies Dad wanted to buy the car from me car for $2500.00.He was ready to buy it from me until he found out I only paid $500.00 for it.He told my buddy I am not going to let him make money off of me.I said what your Dad flipps cars and makes money off of them all the time either he wants the car or not.Well he did not buy it. I sold it to the next person to look at it for $2500.00.
Jim
 
my problem with flipping is personal experiences. One of my dream cars was a 69 dodge charger. A local guy who had some money to play with, he flipped cars, fords, chebbies, and an ocasional mopar. This was before i bought my duster and i was looking for a project car. The guy bought a 69 charger from a farm auction for 800 bucks....granted it was rough, it was still a good deal. I only had a 1k cash, so i offered it as all i had. He said no, didnt even think about my offer, i couldnt afford to offer him any more. I know he would only have made 200 but thats what bothers me. People that only do it for the money and to take advantage of a deal bothers me...they dont care about the cars or the hobby. I dont think i have ever sold a car or part and made profit, not because i couldnt but because i didnt want to make a profit. Mainly because i know alot of other guys ive sold some parts to were in the same position money wise as i was. It sucks not being able to buy a rusty beat up 40 year old muscle car because somebody thinks they can make retirment money on a deal. Not that i dont love my duster and ill never sell it but thats why Road Runner, Charger, Challenger were out of the picture as even being an option as a project car.
 
When I buy something, even if it's from a friend, I always insist that I get quoted the price that they are happy selling the item for, and I make it perfectly clear that once I pay the agreed upon price, the item is mine. If I end up not needing it or find someone that needs it more than me, I do the same thing, that way I am happy selling it for that price. I have seen many items that I have sold at swap meets in somebody elses spot with a far greater price on it than I sold it to them for and I always say the same thing... better in their spot or riding around with them for the next 2 years than me trying to get what they think it's worth. Besides, money in my pocket from parts is better than parts I don't need. Don't come down on these guys for trying to make a buck, but also don't be an a**hole flipper either and try to rake the uninformed public. Play fair and honest, then you never have to stand behind anything but your good reputation!!! Geof
 
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