Date:         Fri, 14 Sep 2001 20:40:51 -0700
Reply-To:     "MOST,DAVID" <most@UCLA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "MOST,DAVID" <most@UCLA.EDU>
Subject:      should I feel bad? + vanagon spouses
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Last week, I mentioned that I missed out on a syncro westy with 49k at a
good price.  Actually, I called before the guy that bought it showed up,
but because it took me two hours to get there, I missed my chance.  He
only lived a few minutes away.  That's not the end of the story though.

I already felt a little bad having driven a long way without the vanagon
being held for me to look at until I arrived.  I once held one for two
months for someone having promised it to a prospective buyer despite being
offered more money in the interim.   In any case, the guy who bought the
syncro westy seemed like a nice guy (he was handing the cash over as I
pulled up), and I asked him if he planned to use it or was just going to
turn around and sell it.  He acted as if he didn't know what I was talking
about, and he talked about using it as his "urban assault" vehicle, his
primary car.  He asked me a number of times if I thought he got a good
deal, and he seemed happy when I reassured him.  Though I didn't feel
good, I felt a little better believing that he would enjoy the vehicle.
To prevent this long story from getting any longer, I just saw an internet
ad for this very syncro westy for twice what he paid for it.  So, not only
was he dishonest about his intention to use it and his acting insecure at
dropping a fair sum of money, he's also out to make as much as he can on
this transaction.  In retrospect, he was only pretending to feel bad that
I had missed out on it.

Before I get attacked on criticizing someone for trying to make an honest
buck (given the recent discussion of the topic on the list), let me say
that I don't have any problem with such activity.  Rather, the prevalence
of dishonesty is disappointing, and this sentiment is independent of my
dislike of greed.  Unfortunately, there seems to be an abundance of both
in southern CA where I happen to be located at the moment.

During the 6 years I've been on this list, I've never written an email
with such little vanagon content, but I figured that y'all could
appreciate all the dimensions of this story.

And, since this list has spawned a vanagon dating service, I'll note that
I'm single and looking as well.  It's always a distinct pleasure to meet a
woman who appreciates my van(s).now that sounds like a southern CA thing
to say (where who you are is often judged by what you drive).  Maybe Joel
could keep statistics on the single people on the list like he used to for
the vanagons.

David