So after about 4months of looking for my 'dream car', I find it. Awesome feeling. I chat with the guy on the phone and arrange the price and collection etc. All sorted. Three days later I contact him to say the loan is in place but he calls me that evening to tell me he's had a better offer and he feels bad and he reneges. I have to accept his decision as he is having a hard time from his wife, money talks and I'm back to looking again. Should I just accept that he can expect the higher offer or don't we have honour amongst us any more?
edangus,
Aug 21, 7:39pm
Meh, if a mans word is worth nothing, neither is his car.
Best to let it go, if he comes back "if the deal falls through" offer him $1,500 less for effn you about.
thunderbolt,
Aug 21, 8:06pm
Did you pay a deposit on it?
Too many buyers back out of deals these days, cant blame him for taking the offer in front of him.
pico42,
Aug 21, 8:11pm
Interesting thing is that the seller did take the offer in front of him. Then took another.
oakie,
Aug 22, 6:16am
Is he trying to grind you up in price or is the other offer for real? If he comes back you will know he was trying to shaft you and then you can drop your offer
petal_91,
Aug 22, 6:25am
You'd have backed out just as quickly if you were not able to get finance I expect.
kazbanz,
Aug 22, 6:28am
Tjhere was NO deal. No money changed hands no agreement to sell/buy was drawn up. There is NO commitment whatsoever by either party. Much as we would like it to be different the days a deal was sealed on a handshake are gone. -Mind you this wasn't even a handshake deal--it was a deal "done" via phone (text?) Sorry OP but for every story like yours theres 100 where the buyer that was "definitely" coming back to buy never comes back.
tamarillo,
Aug 22, 6:40am
Yeah sorry mate, a deal wasn't done. You needed to have got him a deposit and get the agreement at at least on email. Send an email laying out the deal as you see it and ask him if that looks right, then you have their answer as confirmation , and acknowledgement of taking a deposit. Without deposit it's not a deal. Still a bit shitty of them though.
tgray,
Aug 22, 6:50am
This wasn't a Trademe auction win was it? If that was the case, that's a commitment to buy.
purple666,
Aug 22, 9:53am
I like to look them in the eye as I shake hands, that removes any possibility of them changing the deal, old fashioned maybe but it works for me.
sifty,
Aug 22, 10:01am
Quick, what was your 'dream car' so we can get all judgey.
gman35,
Aug 22, 10:40am
I have to agree with Kaz here, I am a cycle retailer, and when a "buyer" says they will be back for something it does not eventuate 95% of the time even though I get their phone no.'s and say I am putting it aside for them. Things have just got so bad in the last 6 months especially with this, even when I text them (assuming they gave me a correct no.) asking of their intentions, less than half reply (even if they "made up a reason" it would be OK). People just do not care where they leave you hanging now. The really frustrating thing is not getting any idea of why, or what you needed to match if they bought elsewhere. I think most get sucked into a "50% off" deal from one of the big guys (who raise their Orig. RRP's in the first place) Due to the way advertising is done now, and what Joe Public believe, it is just too hard for a small guy who prices his stock at normal margins and even does good discounts off that, to even get enough of a foot in the door to keep a basic income coming in.
quickbuck,
Aug 22, 11:00am
Drifting slightly off topic here, but 100% agree with this. Back in 2006 I got my first real road bike from a big local bike shop (lets just say I am not talking about Chch, but you might be able to work it out). I said put it aside as I am really keen. Just got to move some funds around etc. The salesman knew (or hoped like heck) I was genuine and put the bike aside for me. I completed the deal a week later and rode the 45km home on it.
Fast forward to now and I see that big bike shop has the name of a not so flash bike shop stamped on the side of it. Thankfully the nice salesman has moved and bought half of a smaller bike shop in the same city. I guess what I am trying to say here is that it is such a shame over the last 10 years that the salesmen can't trust the word of the customer anymore.
A real shame that because the nice salesman says hello to me by name every time I walk into the shop. He always askes how my cycling is going. and reckoned I might need a new bike one day soon. It's done a lot of K's!
Last time I walked into the Big Bike Shop I walked around for a full 30 minutes and wasn't spoken to once.
Guess where I shop. So, keep up the good customer service gman35, we remember that :)
socram,
Aug 22, 11:50am
The times are a changing. There was a time (supposedly) when a gentleman's word was his bond, but there have always been those who don't honour agreements on both sides, sellers and buyers.
A deposit and a receipt/agreement to buy at a specific price is the only way I am afraid. Some of us are honourable of course!
gtrb26,
Aug 22, 11:59am
I had one this week, guy was a total wanker could tell from the start he was a tosser, Turned up at 5pm and wanted it the next day, but I had to order an extra part in that he wanted Told him I was getting my wisdom teeth out the next day so wouldn't be ready until the day after, Got it done now the prick won't answer my calls. All this was done on a hand shake can't be stuffed with deposits
kazbanz,
Aug 22, 1:25pm
Flip side of this entire conversation- Ive been dealing "old school" with a gentleman farmer from middle of the north island. The entire deal was done over the phone and was a gentlemans agreement. Price was agreed on,I agreed to hold the car,he agreed when he was coming to get it etc. Good ol kiwi jokers still exist and its a pleasure dealing with them. It restores your faith in humanity to be honest.
budgel,
Aug 22, 1:28pm
I can see why your wisdom teeth arent needed!;-)
trogedon,
Aug 22, 3:18pm
quickbuck wrote:
Drifting slightly off topic here, but 100% agree with this. Back in 2006 I got my first real road bike from a big local bike shop
A BLUE AVANTI right?
gtrb26,
Aug 22, 4:03pm
Haha, I think he would be one of the pain in the a$$ customers that are never happy, so by not taking a deposit I won't have a headache from dealing with him, see I am still semi wise.
gammelvind,
Aug 22, 4:14pm
Yep they are still out there, sadly few and far between as any of us in sales can attest to but really enjoy knowing the good ones.
tigertim20,
Aug 22, 5:21pm
cash talks bullshit walks.
When money has changed hands, the deal is done, and not before.
Ive frequently paid a deposit to secure a vehicle, even purchased privately. I'd ask for the same when selling
mharwood,
Aug 22, 5:25pm
i have to agree there are still real people around from the old school done deals by phone or text which is becoming more popular ''put the money in my bank and i send it to your home in christchurch '' i love that sort of business
sw20,
Aug 22, 5:37pm
OP you never mentioned a deposit, so IMO you are out of luck. Even if you had given him even $100 I bet you would be the owner of the car.
I sniped a car out from other buyers before, because I put my money where my mouth was. Rang the owner in Napier, asked a few questions, I said I would send him a $500 deposit then and there, and I would fly into Napier and pick it up and pay the balance. He accepted and then had to contact a few guys to say, sorry car is sold.
quickbuck,
Aug 22, 6:09pm
Indeed it was/ is.
kazbanz,
Sep 13, 3:23am
hey SW-far as Im concerned that is the ONLY way to do things in this modern world. It sucks but that's reality. (with the odd refreshing exception) I have to say though that as a seller I don't /won't say a car is sold until it has left the dealership. Things change overnight.
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