Need some sellers advice

[Johnny Blaze]

Heres the deal, as you may know I have my C10 up for sale. I've had a few bites, but need some advice, heres the background.

On 11-16, I get a call from an interested buyer, (buyer A) We talk, I send pictures, etc.. This guy is 500 miles away. He is interested but wants to talk to his body many.

On 11-17 I get a call from another guy, (Buyer B) We talk, send pictures, etc...This guy is 400 miles away.

On Nov 19, Buyer B calls and says, " I am interested, when Can I come see it. I tell him Friday, 11-21. He says, "great I am lining up a couple trucks to look at, but I will come to you on Friday, I am really interested"

On 20 Buyer A calls and says " Talked it over, consider it sold, BUT, can you meet me halfway with it? I will send you a deposit now"


So heres my issue. Buyer A called first, says he definalty wants it, but wants me to drive 250 miles one way to deliver the truck, which means I whould have to have someone follow me to take me back home, so I would be driving 750 miles in reality.

Buyer B has not said definatly, but is willing to come to my door.

Neither have asked me to lower the price at this point either.


What should I do?

Both seem like nice guys, and I like to try to keep my Karma in good standings, however, I never said in the ad I would deliver.

[meenaggie]

Consider it sold to the first person who actually buys it . . . Looking is just that which is not buying. Considering the economy having to spend $200 in gas seems like a reasonable compromise especially considering you are getting asking price. Just my $.02? I passed up an offer and ended up selling a car for less to see it go a month later.

[regal454]

I would consider the sale pending to Buyer A. Buy B hasnt commited to buying it if he's still looking at other vehicles. I've heard so many times from folks that say they are coming to look at something and you never see or hear from them. If you are not good with delivering it, I would thell buyer A to throw in a little gas money for your time.

Nice truck btw.

[Johnny Blaze]

Thanks guys, thats what I was thinking. I was thinking about asking for a little gas money, or see if he would driver a little more then half way.

[Johnny Blaze]

Another concern is if I do drive 250 miles and the guy says, no, I don't think I want it, then I'm out a lot of time and gas money. If I take a deposit, should it be nonrefundable?

Remember this truck gets about 14 mpg.

[Fras]

A had an old mustang for sale a while back in the same situation. The guy wanted me to drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles and added $1000 to the price and put a check in my account. Once I trailered the thing out to LA, he said offered me 1/2 what i was asking and had cancelled the check he deposited while I was driving.

I would say if he wants it bad enough, make him drive or make the deposit non-refundable and agree on a price before you drive out there with no haggling once he sees it. Good luck with your sale.

[regal454]

Another concern is if I do drive 250 miles and the guy says, no, I don't think I want it, then I'm out a lot of time and gas money. If I take a deposit, should it be nonrefundable?

Remember this truck gets about 14 mpg.

I think it's reasonable to ask for a deposit to cover gas money. If this guy is really interested in the truck, it wont be a problem. If he says no, then you just weeded out a tire kicker.

[Johnny Blaze]

A had an old mustang for sale a while back in the same situation. The guy wanted me to drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles and added $1000 to the price and put a check in my account. Once I trailered the thing out to LA, he said offered me 1/2 what i was asking and had cancelled the check he deposited while I was driving.

I would say if he wants it bad enough, make him drive or make the deposit non-refundable and agree on a price before you drive out there with no haggling once he sees it. Good luck with your sale.

Thansk for the advice.

[Rick Dorion]

First, good luck with your sale. There's so many tire kickers, scammers and spammers that it gets discouraging. I try to be aboveboard and honest in my dealings. As others have said, some travel $ is not unreasonable to assist in delivering. I've had people tell me they're on their way with a deposit, etc and never show up. I'd be a little dubious about buyer A saying to consider it sold sight unseen but you never know.

[Johnny Blaze]

Thanks Rick. Yeah thats my concern, but I did send the guy about 30 pictures and he said he took them to his body man.

Of course gettign a chase vehicle lined up might be tough for me as well. I planned on my Father, but our schedules just are messing at the moment.

[67rally]

I'd ask for a non-refundable deposit to cover the cost of gas and compensate your time. If the buyer goes through with the deal, you can always apply the deposit towards his total since he's giving you asking price.

Or you could just offer to knock a couple hundred dollars off the price if he'll drive all the way to pick it up from you.

[Johnny Blaze]

Thanks.

Well at this point it looks like it would be a couple weeks before I would be able to have someone follow me. So, I think I will offer the guy a couple hundred off if he comes all the way and see what happens.

[Fras]

How much are you asking for it?

[67rally]

Thanks.

Well at this point it looks like it would be a couple weeks before I would be able to have someone follow me. So, I think I will offer the guy a couple hundred off if he comes all the way and see what happens.

You could also borrow/rent a trailer and tow it to a meeting point. I rented a Uhaul trailer when I picked up my first '67. You don't pay mileage on it, just a daily rental fee. I think it was around $50 for the day.

[Whistler]

I'd refrain from meeting him anywhere. Like said many times above, give him 200$ for gas even though it'll barely cost him half that to drive the truck the entire way. You hold a better position to avoid him trying to negotiate the price upon seeing it, when he's the one with a thousand miles to drive win lose or draw.

[Bill Howell]

I would tell the one guy that I had another looking at it on Friday. If Friday looker did not buy then we could talk about deposit and delivery. IF he wanted to PP you money for deposit that is different but so far all you have is a verbal commitment, which, in this day and time means little. Without money in hand, I wouldn't consider it sold.

[mpozzi]

^^ What he said. Make sure both of the prospective purchasers know that whoever pulls the trigger first, goes home with their new truck.

Mary Pozzi

[Tom Welch]

Have them come to you, this way you maintain control of the situation. I sell a car now and again at my shop in GA. I don't move a car until I see some money, people know that I don't negotiate from a weak position. This avoids the low ball prices and is a good filter for the guys with no money.

[vintageracer]

A deposit should always be "Non-Refundable".

If not why even bother taking a deposit???

As a seller you want to get the largest deposit you can. As a buyer you want to give $0.00 deposit if possible.

It's sold when you see the full amount of the sale price and the tailights of the car as it leaves. The car is tentatively sold to the buyer when you get a Non-Refundable deposit based upon the terms you the seller agreed to before taking the deposit. If the seller does not perform "as agreed" I have no problem what so ever keeping the buyer's deposit.

That's the price the buyer pays for taking the car off the market for him/her to purchase as agreed.

[ARAD RS]

Have them come to you, this way you maintain control of the situation. I sell a car now and again at my shop in GA. I don't move a car until I see some money, people know that I don't negotiate from a weak position. This avoids the low ball prices and is a good filter for the guys with no money.

I agree with Tom

Now days there are too many nuts loose out there. If the interested party is really interested, maintain control of the situation.
Id be real nervous of meeting anyone I did not know half way with those distances to look at a car they might buy. Deposit or no deposit. You might end up loosing the ride, deposit and who knows what else.
Besides, It would probably cheaper for the interested party to fly in to a local area airport. That would at lease show how serious they are of buying the vehicle. And you still maintain control of the situation.
It would also probably be cheaper for them to fly in rather than filling up a gas tank 3,4 or 5 times.

[Johnny Blaze]

Thanks guys.

So heres another update.

On Wendsday night buyer B calls and said he got a truck locally.

I called buyer A and let him know it would be a few weeks before I would be able to have someone assist me on meeting, so I suggest he come all the way, his concern was time and he would need to get a hotel here to stay the night. I offered to knock $200 off the price to cover gas and lodging. He agreed.

As of now he is planning on traveling here Tuesday.


Now, the funny thing is the truck has been great, and for some reason it felt really good driving it on Thanksgiving, so I have decided if this guy doesn't buy, I'll probably keep it.

At thanksgiving, my dad starts telling me about a 1971 Camaro that he just checked out. ( That was my first car in school and has remained my all time favorite, I've considered it a unicorn of sorts because I knew I'd probably never be able to get one again)

This camaro is drivable, and priced in my range! On top of that is even the same color as mine was, except for the primer.

SO, if the truck does sell, I am going to look at this camaro and will likely buy it! I'll drive it for a year or so, and get my iroc together again so it would become my daily driver.


I see this Camaro as a sign of good Karma! Lets just hope it all works out! Pics will follow of course!

[MonzaRacer]

My buddy always offers to pay people for coming to look at his cars, he always atleast trys to be fair.