Miata Mailing List: March 2000, Message #83

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This is why I'm procrastinating selling the Ducati!  Plus the thought of
strangers touching her....  Anyway, since my bike is unusual, someone
suggested Ebay.  Has anyone used Ebay to sell anything?  What did you think
- good, bad, or??

Denise & Scarlett
Shoreline, WA
Team Looking at Some Wheels Tonight :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Lisa E. [SMTP:clash_girl@yahoo.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, March 01, 2000 7:13 AM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Selling a car (NMC) (long)
> 
> Hey,
> Just had to share my car-selling experience with you. 
> I guess more accurately it would be car-NOT-selling,
> but anyway...
> 
> The old Camaro is for sale, although I'm not trying
> really hard at this point, just a free ad on the
> internet autotrader.
> 
> So I was surprised when a kid from Indiana called and
> inquired about it a few times.  He said yesterday he
> and his dad were coming down to take a look at it.
> Yay!
> 
> I thought it would be nice to run it through the car
> wash before they arrived last night, but when I went
> out to start 'er up --- NOTHING.  Battery was totally
> dead.  This surprised me (although it shouldn't have)
> -- in the six months I've been at the apartment, I've
> driven it once.  It had been sitting a few months and
> started right up.....IIRC, that's the only time I
> started it up, too. (I know, BAD Lisa -- should have
> listened to Dad and started it up once a week).
> 
> Sooooo, I'm freaking cause it would be pretty bad if
> they wanted to take it for a test drive and the thing
> won't start -- LOL.  After various methods of trying
> to start the car (praying, cursing, scraping the
> battery terminals, etc.) still nothing.  Ended up
> calling my roadside assistance company to come jump
> it.
> 
> The kid and his dad are late, the tow truck gets there
> in time to breathe some life back into the poor car. 
> We just let it sit out there and idle while trying to
> decide whether to take it to pick up some dinner to
> charge up the battery, since it looks like the kid and
> the dad are no-shows.
> 
> Just as we were ready to leave, the phone rings, and
> kid and dad are right around the corner. (It's
> completely dark by now, they got lost on the way, and
> Dad is NOT in a good mood at all.)
> 
> Well, the cat's bad on the car, and the exhaust
> rattles pretty bad, so since the car is running that's
> the first thing the Dad asks about (although I
> divulged all this in the ad I had online.)  He then
> pokes around looking under the car with a flashlight,
> asked us to turn the car off.  LOL -- we were just
> crossing our fingers hoping it would start back up
> again if they wanted to take it out. LOL
> 
> Dad looks under the hood -- not familiar with Camaros,
> asked a couple of questions (oh, it's fuel-injected? 
> What size engine is this, etc.)  and sounds very
> skeptical of every answer, as if I'm some kind of used
> car lot professional.
> 
> He then asks if I have the title, and asks to see it. 
> He then compares the VIN on the title to that of the
> car!!!! (Like I'm selling a stolen car or
> something???)
> 
> He asks how many miles is on it -- I answer 115,000. 
> The odometer on the Camaro does not go that high, so
> it reads 15,000.  Dad looks to verify my statement and
> mutters to himself "Well, it's rolled over AT LEAST
> once..."
> 
> I'm flipping out!!!  If that car managed to have TWO
> hundred fifteen thousand miles on it, I'd be a
> monkey's uncle!!!! LOL  I don't think dad was used to
> car shopping.
> 
> I understand the need to be skeptical and cautious
> when looking at used cars, but this guy was just
> insulting.  I divulged everything that was wrong with
> the car in my ad, I have no interest in lying to
> anyone about it, and I don't think I come off as a
> dishonest person.
> 
> I know I shouldn't take it personally, but I was
> really stunned by this guy's attitude!  I've never
> tried to sell a car before, and I didn't expect them
> to go bananas over it or anything.  It's a so-so car
> with a really good engine, and I'm asking only $1500
> for it -- I have no delusions that it is what every
> shopper is looking for.
> 
> Anyway, I found the events amusing and thought you
> might too.  Felt sorry for the kid.  He's really young
> (maybe 16 or 17) and the Dad didn't even acknowledge
> his existence, or show him what to look for in a car
> or anything.
> 
> I hate this whole process.  Dad offered to sell it for
> me if I bring it down there, but I don't care to put
> him through all this crap either.
> 
> Just venting, thanks for listening!!! :)
> 
> Lisa & Spike 95R BB
> Lose a Camaro, Gain a parking spot for 7690! LOL
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