Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:46:56 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: first time buyer
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"; reply-type=response
I think it's way fun to sell cars and particularly vanagons.
My personal style is to educate them, to be helpful, and honest.
I would even advise someone not to get into something they may not be
prepared to take care of properly and get good use out of.
I'm interested in a win win ..actually win win win ..for them, me and the
van.
if people are smart enough to recognize a sincere helpful honest person
selling a van or whatever ..
they are often inclined to buy if the vehicle and price fits their needs at
all, since they know there are many used cars that 'need lots yet' .....or
people just trying to make a fast buck, or people that will say anything,
claim anything, to get the sale.
Decent people recognize someone who is helpful and honest ..
those that are too suspicious ..or want to low ball on price or whatever
....
don't need them.
And usual my final words are ...'I know *I* could own and operate this
vehicle very successfully for years. I don't know that you can ......but
with proper care and understanding ....and the many things I've fixed on the
van it can be just fine, and they are not idiot proof, they take care and
understanding.
... a sale like that a;ways goes down cleanly.
if it's a real junker or something cheap that is well recognized as 'not
being perfect' ..
I tell them........'you drive it 10 feet, it's yours and we're done. .
and 'just anything' can happen in car sales...
I've had people stop from 50 feet away and see one dent and figure it's a
total piece of garbage.
I've had people say they wish it had more dents so it doesn't look valuable.
I sell vans on consignment or a finder's fee basis too sometimes.
To me ..good selling is about educating , and about managing expectations.
And just caring.
And anyone that seems like they are not going to 'get it' about their
responsibility in having it work out for them ....don't sell to people like
that. And tell them the vanagon community is a great network of very decent
helpful people...it's like a family. And that right there is worth a lot !
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "mark drillock" <mdrillock@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: first time buyer
>I am a VW van lover, not a car reseller. I still sell one from time to
> time when circumstances dictate. I generally won't sell one to a starry
> eyed fool who has no idea what they are getting into. They are free to
> ask questions and I will try to answer them, but that assumes they even
> know what they are asking about and what the answers mean. I am not
> interested in teaching every prospective buyer about old cars and how
> they differ from new cars. I sold an old Westy of mine recently and I
> rejected some interested buyers for their own good when their total
> ignorance became apparent. Even ones who then tried to offer more than
> my asking price to let them buy it.
>
> Mark
>
>
> Dave Mcneely wrote:
>> -
>>
>> "unless they uncovered a real issue that I was unaware of
>>> and hadn't already allowed for."
>>
>> But you would not give them a chance to uncover the "real issue." You
>> may feel justified in your behavior, but if your vehicle is what you
>> represent it to be, then you should help the buyer to come to understand
>> that particular vehicle, on terms that the buyer can benefit from. If
>> you are not willing to do that, then why are you in the business of
>> selling a vehicle? You give, by your attitude, prospective buyers reason
>> not to trust that your vehicle is as you represent it.
>>
>> I am not a complete idiot about vehicles, and I do have legitimate
>> concerns in dealing with a person I do not know. Anyone who doesn't
>> understand that ............ .
>>
>> I have walked from sellers who would not answer my questions, and I will
>> do so again. "Why are you selling the vehicle?" is something to give the
>> buyer the boot for? Good grief .............. . The buyer doesn't know
>> if you are a reseller of one vehicle after another that you grab up from
>> wherever you can get them, and try to flip them as soon as possible, or
>> someone who is selling his old, beloved, and well cared for honey bucket.
>>
>> mcneely
>>
>>
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