Why don't people respond.....rant

jspbtown · Samba Member Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5156

So I am in the market for a replacement car (non-VW...daily driver) and I am scanning the classic sites like cars.com and autotrader. New cars pop up as "newly listed" and if they are interesting to me I fire off an email to the seller asking some basic questions (original owner, accident damage, etc etc).

I am getting absolutely no responses. I understand that people are scammer cautious, so how do you create your email so they know you are not a scammer? I always identify the car, where I saw the ad, use my full name, and ask real pointed questions. Still nothing.

Maybe the response link from those sites go into their junk box. I don't know. Why put an ad out there if you don't respond to inquiries?

cdnltded · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:26 am Post subject:

it not just there. i have had the same experience on many sites, whether it was a for sale site or a forum
all i can say is, patience is a virtue

MacLeod Willy · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:29 am Post subject:

I feel your aggravation.

Its just as bad as all the people coming on a certain day and time, and can you hold the item and never show up.

EverettB · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:31 am Post subject:

I assume it's the same as happens here:
The car is sold so they don't respond and don't delete the ad
They have email issues - msg goes to spam or their email doesn't work at all
They are flaky
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oorwullie · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:42 am Post subject:

in my experience if anyone is genuinely serious about an advertised car, guitar or whatever then they will pick up the phone and call.

any skoolkid or scammer can type emails or text messages and i think a lot of advertisers are aware of this too these days. Idea

windfish · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:27 am Post subject:

Yep, if there's a phone number listed always try that.
If not, put yours in the email and ask them to give you a call.

My dad will only respond to emails that include phone numbers.

Also, I've had much better luck with craigslist when looking for cars.
Ten years ago I bought a '94 Ranger ext cab with 67k miles off craigslist for $2500. Ads on autotrader, cars.com etc all wanted 5 - 6k for the exact same truck.

greg mgm · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:03 am Post subject:

Agree with Windfish about Craigslist, but the no response thing can happen even if you call. We looked for a car about a year ago and got no call backs many times. I think its a combination of flakiness and being too busy.

TimGud · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:41 am Post subject:

I generally respond to my ads with the exception of those written that look like spam. Even then I usually respond and expect it to go nowhere. That said they usually follow the same basic script. Maybe your wording is close to that???

jspbtown · Samba Member Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5156

Yeah...I have sold several cars and I am pretty adept to picking out the scam emails so I try to phrase them in ways that sound intelligent, that identify the car, reference things said in the ad and ask good questions.

I don't have time to sit and chat on the phone about cars that 30 minutes into the discussion I find out that they are selling for a "friend' or something stupid like that.

windfish · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 11:00 am Post subject:

Cusser · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:32 pm Post subject:

jspbtown · Samba Member Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5156

Yeah...that's a great second question....IF I could get there!

These cars are in all parts of the country. To be honest they are a little more than I want to pay, but sometimes if you establish a relationship with someone so if a circumstance changes they have your contact and know that you are ready to buy.

Its a lot easier to be selective when you want to buy a car versus when you need to buy a car.

greg mgm · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 3:28 pm Post subject:

A very important question to ask is if the pink slip is in their name. That rules out 50% of sellers for me.

EverettB · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 9:23 pm Post subject:

oorwullie · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:30 am Post subject:

daven · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 3:58 am Post subject:

How about the guys that want to hammer your price without even seeing the car? When I shop I ask if they are firm on price and wait till I see the car to begin negotiations. I've hung up an some real but heeds - figure when/if they arrive it would only get worse.
Dave

EverettB · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:38 am Post subject:

nsracing · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:55 am Post subject:

if someone is looking for whatever it is you are selling - THEY WILL CONTACT YOU.

...and if you don't get a call or email or whatever...that means nobody is interested! Laughing

You bring out something rare, and everybody else is looking for and see what happens. You have to beat them back w/ a stick. Laughing

Unless of course your asking price is ungodly too much people might think you actually do NOT want to sell the part.

This is not that hard, man.

Cusser · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 6:50 am Post subject:

When I've responded that I don't have text or picture phone, some sellers just ignore me. Even though I have the cash.

Apparently, they'd rather deal with someone younger who has the electronics but no money.
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TimGud · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 11:07 am Post subject:

Think it's bad here? Try selling stuff on craigslist. I put non-VW items on it and most of what I get are scam e-mails wanting me to contact them at their personal e-mail. Same wording on multiple listings. I never answer them.


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