A little story, your thoughts please

[1900sr]

A few years ago a friend of mine advertised a classic for sale. A chap came to look at it, it was exactly what he wanted as he was a collector. He'd been looking for that particular model in that colour for years as back in the day his dad had a dealership and the lad fell in love with this car in the showroom. So my mate's really happy that the car is going to someone who will treasure it, and a deal is done. A few days later the chap picks the car up and says it's going straight to the paint shop to sort some minor issues.

A few days later the car appears for sale at a classic dealers in exactly the condition it was bought in, although at a considerably higher price.

Last month another friend advertised his classic for sale, he didn't want to sell but needed to. He had a guy interested with a similar story, but at the last moment my mate changed his mind about selling. The seller was gutted he'd missed out. A few days later friend one and friend two are talking about this, and friend one says he's willing to sell his one to someone who'll look after it. A phone call is made, the buyer comes to see the car and the deal is done. A few days later a transporter comes to pick the car up with another classic on already. Friend one asked if the buyer is a dealer (he'd said he was a collector) and was told no, the other car was for someone else. Yesterday friend two notices an advert online from a dealer for the car, again at a significant mark-up, with the other one next to it.

So my friend has sold a couple of cars at a price he was happy with in the belief that they are going to be cherished by collectors, only to find they were both dealers. In the case of the first car he wasn't too worried, but why did the guy lie? In the second, the car would not have been sold if the guy had been honest about his intentions.

So, have any of you had a similar experience, is this a common ploy amongst classic dealers? Also, what are your thoughts on the practice?

[SEE YA]

I had the same thing five years ago went to buy a old car, between me and another chap.

The seller wanted it to go to someone that wanted to keep it , and not a dealer.

He made a better offer £500 more I would have matched it if I had know.
Anyway a week later, the car turms up on Ebay with a higher price.
I made a offer turned down I knew what he had paid in the first place for the car.

He wanted a £4k profit after a week of buying it.
When the seller found out he was very upset as he knew I wanted the car to keep.

I give the dealer my details to pass on to the new owner when he sells it.
Which he did I kept in touch with the new owner it sold about a month later.
I sent him Christmas cards, email etc , two years later I got an email and I got the car as well.

He was upgrading to a 993 if I could match his PX price the car was mine.
Which I did and my five year search, was now over after looking at 12 models of the same car.

[suffolkpete]

Anybody prepared to sell a car for less than its true value just because the buyer is an "enthusiast" is just asking to be taken for a mug. Get as much as you can for it and let the buyer do as he wishes with it. Dealers get higher prices because they can put much more effort into marketing and advertising than a private seller and because they have to meet their legal obligations under the Sale of Goods Act. Regrettably, it's a hard world out there and you have to look after number one.

[Martin Evans]

I'm lucky that I have not had to suffer trying to sell cars very often. When I did have to advertise one, I had a few beggars enquire (Some were trying to knock me down without even seeing the car ) but eventually someone came along and we agreed a price. I wasn't interested in who bought it, just so long as they paid for it. Yes I suppose we don't like to think of our cars going to philistines but once it's sold, it's sold; if it worries you that much, don't sell.

[stagman]

you sell the car, you get the amount you wanted for it (otherwise do not sell it to them) - to be honest I cannot see a problem

[Mrotwoman]

Doesn't really matter,the vendor was obviously happy with the price he got for it,the dealer needs to make a living,not all the mark up is 'profit' ,there are various overheads to consider. It's called capitalism.

[6sabre]

Just because a dealer has bought the car, it doesnt mean it wont go to someone who will love it later. In fact as the next buyer will pay more, they could be more inclined to cherish it.

The reason dealers use this ploy IMO, is the very fact the seller 'narrow mindedly' ?? wouldnt part with it to a dealer. There money is as good as any elses?
Its the same mentality as someone who has a heap of junk in the garden, and wants the market rates you would pay for a roadworthy classic. They forget it takes thousands to restore any car. If its rotting why not part with it????

[TriumphDriver]

I have a great friend who repairs cars, he also has a transport business for breakdowns. Never a day goes by that he doesn't have a classic of some description in his yard, he fixes it up and sells it on. Some of the profit he makes is amazing, but he only ever has one, two at most. The average guy wouldn't call him a dealer, but he handles thirty or forty a year. He also sells cars on behalf of owners. I would say that while he looks after them and does a great job on the repairs or restorations, they're only items for sale to him.
I sold a Triumph a few years ago and saw it two years later at a show - far from the gleaming model it had been with me it was dented dirty and had horrible wheels. It was difficult for me to remember that I had sold it and it wasn't mine any more... BUT: the new owner can do with it as he pleases. Get the best price you can and wave it goodbye.

[bnicho]

I've never been in the situation where a dealer has purchased one of my cars (unless it was modern getting traded in, which harly counts).

When I sell a car I'd like it to go to someone who will look after it, but in the end I can't control what they do with it. Any money is good money.

Cheers,

[1900sr]

I think I clouded the issue by mentioning the fact that they are at a considerably higher price, as you say a dealer has to make a profit. I think my real point is that the dealers concerned haven't been honest in their purchase of the car, and more to the point that two dealers have used the same ploy.

It is interesting that I phoned the first dealer to enquire about his car (mainly to see if he had done anything to the car to justify a £3k markup on a car that he paid £3k for), and I was told so many lies about the car it wasn't funny. The car had become one owner fom new (it was three), was mint but had never had any paint (it had some parking dings and scrapes when sold, so either had paint or wasn't mint) and others I can't remember now.

Used car dealers have got a bad reputation, it's a shame to me that ones specialising in classics seem no better, alhough I guess there's no reason why they should be.