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Message
Buying used car via Craigslist/private sale
Posted on 11/29/17 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 11/29/17 at 2:04 pm
My SO and I are looking for a family car and found one we like on craigslist but would like to stay a couple thousand below the poster's asking price. What in your opinion is the best way to navigate negotiating price through craigslist ad?
The owner is 2 hours away so likely we would purchase the car on the first day we see it in person if test drive and mechanic checks out. My SO says not to mention price until we meet in person, giving us more power that he wouldnt want us to walk away even if it's a low ball offer. I would rather settle on price beforehand so that when we meet up the deal is done and we don't have to leave without it if we cant agree. CarFax report looks good. Any advice is appreciated.
The owner is 2 hours away so likely we would purchase the car on the first day we see it in person if test drive and mechanic checks out. My SO says not to mention price until we meet in person, giving us more power that he wouldnt want us to walk away even if it's a low ball offer. I would rather settle on price beforehand so that when we meet up the deal is done and we don't have to leave without it if we cant agree. CarFax report looks good. Any advice is appreciated.
6
Posted on 11/29/17 at 2:37 pm to Freebird11
What is the year/make/model and what is the list price?
Going from 45k to 42k is a lot more reasonable than going from 8k to 5k.
Going from 45k to 42k is a lot more reasonable than going from 8k to 5k.
Posted on 11/29/17 at 3:01 pm to Freebird11
I tried buying a vehicle off CL twice. Both times I found the seller unwilling to compromise on price one bit. I wouldn't drive 2 hours to look at a car without agreeing on a price first.
Posted on 11/29/17 at 3:13 pm to Freebird11
Last time I sold a vehicle on CL I drove a vehicle 2 hours away to meet a buyer in the middle - at my bank's branch. Once there he tried to knock $500 off our agreed upon $12,000 for paint chips on the leading edge of the hood. On a 9 year old Yukon. He was just looking for bullshite to knock down the price - my pictures and descriptions were accurate.
This was the second time a CL buyer pulled this shite on me (the previous time was selling a set of wheels and the guy showed up $100 short), and I was in no mood to be haggled by some old coonass. I held firm, he paid our agreed price.
My point is: don't waste someone's time, but also don't pay CL's usually inflated prices. MOST of the vehicles in my town are listed for well over KBB dealer price. I would hammer down the price - show the seller comparable ads or book values if you must.
He's also in a better position to tell you to pound sand for the "surprise" price adjustment. You don't need to tell him "I'd like to keep it under 15", you need to tell him "your shite-arse 2012 Odyssey is worth $15,000 to me - if that's fine with you, we'll come see it." What's the KBB private party value? I just ran a 2012 Odyssey EX with "typical miles" of 84,000 and it returned a private party value of $11,642.
This was the second time a CL buyer pulled this shite on me (the previous time was selling a set of wheels and the guy showed up $100 short), and I was in no mood to be haggled by some old coonass. I held firm, he paid our agreed price.
My point is: don't waste someone's time, but also don't pay CL's usually inflated prices. MOST of the vehicles in my town are listed for well over KBB dealer price. I would hammer down the price - show the seller comparable ads or book values if you must.
quote:
Owner is a doctor so I'm assuming he's more prone to making a deal since he's probably trying to just get it off his hands
He's also in a better position to tell you to pound sand for the "surprise" price adjustment. You don't need to tell him "I'd like to keep it under 15", you need to tell him "your shite-arse 2012 Odyssey is worth $15,000 to me - if that's fine with you, we'll come see it." What's the KBB private party value? I just ran a 2012 Odyssey EX with "typical miles" of 84,000 and it returned a private party value of $11,642.
This post was edited on 11/29/17 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 11/30/17 at 12:37 pm to Freebird11
As a seller, I never negotiate on the price of my vehicle over the phone. Based on tons of experience, I have never had a phone buyer show up and buy the car.
If you are not willing to drive to see the car, only shop local CL. It is not the sellers fault that you live far away.
He may negotiate, he may not. HIs car may be worth the extra $$ depending on options and color.
If you are not willing to drive to see the car, only shop local CL. It is not the sellers fault that you live far away.
He may negotiate, he may not. HIs car may be worth the extra $$ depending on options and color.
Posted on 12/1/17 at 7:46 pm to Freebird11
are you taking out a loan on this or paying cash/cashiers check?
Low ball approach and talking price before seeing vehicle typically irritates sellers. If they aren't in the ball park sometimes I'll just hang up the phone. I sell cars for a living. The question is, how long has he been trying to sell this thing and how much interest has he had in it so far ? If he's had it on the market 3 days and had 5 calls, you're likely going to get a different settlement than if he's had it on the market 3 months and got zero calls.
Your wife has a great point about not trying to talk money over the phone before you've seen it. But, if you want to save the 2 hour road trip b/c 17k is too far out of the question, it's ok to say something along the lines of "I really like it, it probably is worth what your asking, but all I'm working with is 15k bank loan" or 15k savings, whatever. He can say ya or nay, and you can start inching up with different ways you can raise additional capital if he will give you a day. 15k is enough in the ballpark he should spit out a "bottom dollar", then you can say well "I can get in to our christmas money a little bit, I can sell a gun, I can get in to my retirement funds" etc. All of which he probably don't want you to do or wait on. If all else fails blame the wife, you have to talk to the wife no matter what.
Low ball approach and talking price before seeing vehicle typically irritates sellers. If they aren't in the ball park sometimes I'll just hang up the phone. I sell cars for a living. The question is, how long has he been trying to sell this thing and how much interest has he had in it so far ? If he's had it on the market 3 days and had 5 calls, you're likely going to get a different settlement than if he's had it on the market 3 months and got zero calls.
Your wife has a great point about not trying to talk money over the phone before you've seen it. But, if you want to save the 2 hour road trip b/c 17k is too far out of the question, it's ok to say something along the lines of "I really like it, it probably is worth what your asking, but all I'm working with is 15k bank loan" or 15k savings, whatever. He can say ya or nay, and you can start inching up with different ways you can raise additional capital if he will give you a day. 15k is enough in the ballpark he should spit out a "bottom dollar", then you can say well "I can get in to our christmas money a little bit, I can sell a gun, I can get in to my retirement funds" etc. All of which he probably don't want you to do or wait on. If all else fails blame the wife, you have to talk to the wife no matter what.
Posted on 12/3/17 at 10:13 pm to Freebird11
If you and your SO are buying a family car, it sounds like you have kids. My first advice is to get married if you aren't already. Secondly, know the blue book value based on the condition of the vehicle. There are several websites based on location and rating of the car. Third, consider making a check list of everything you should check on the car before making a decision (does AC work on all settings, is oil clean looking, condition of tread on tires, etc.) It's easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about a lot of those things.
I know you said the seller was a doctor and not the owner, but as a side note, it's kind of funny at the number of times I've looked at used cars and the sells person told me the previous owner was a doctor. I guess they think people believe all doctors take good care of their cars or something.
I know you said the seller was a doctor and not the owner, but as a side note, it's kind of funny at the number of times I've looked at used cars and the sells person told me the previous owner was a doctor. I guess they think people believe all doctors take good care of their cars or something.
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