Date:         Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:06:57 -0800
Reply-To:     Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: first time buyer
In-Reply-To:  <4D3868F2.8090202@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I bought my Syncro in the Bay Area, 500 miles away from home with a plan to
drive it home.  I planned ahead and brought tools, some supplies (tape,
wiring, etc.), jack and jack stands.  The seller was initially skeptical of
me, but when he saw that I came prepared, he instantly turned around.  He
said plainly that this preparation gave him confidence that I knew what I
was getting into, and he would not have sold me the syncro unless he was
satisfied that I was a competent buyer.

That night I had to swap some tires and make other adjustments / quick
fixes.  The ride home was 10 hours of pure adrenaline, a combination of
"Yes, I got a Syncro!" and "OMG, is this thing goona break down in the
middle of nowhere".  Which is why I won't sell it now that it is mostly
dialed in to where I want it (there is always more to do!).

Roland

On Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 8:55 AM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:

> 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
>>
>>
>>