[DeTomaso] NPC - Selling a car on the Internet - question

[Sean Korb]

This is something I've always wondered about and it seems the answer is
really squishy in the industry.  My brother is a mechanic so he has to see
this all the time, but his boss always handles it.. or doesn't.  And this
is why it's confusing.

Cars are complicated and if you tear into one it's going to be more
complicated; guaranteed.  But the agreement with the customer is always
"we're going to fix this and this" but it's never "if we find this we'll do
this and if we find that we'll do that".  When the car is opened up, in the
middle of the job the mechanic goes to management and maybe the customer in
some shops and says "I found this and the other thing and you need this".

The customer always seems surprised.  In fact, I think the customer *is*
surprised.  "You're a mechanic and you used your psychic powers and how
come you're wrong?  Are you competent to even finish this job?"

The ignorance is astonishing.  And it's incredibly common.  Can we make
customers watch a video on how complicated and dangerous cars are when you
come in and say "It's making a funny noise"?  This is what sets up the
relationship between mechanics and customers and something really needs to
be done.  I just don't know what.

Is there a contractual clause you can put in that you can do unauthorized
work up to a certain dollar amount?  Do you have to get everything in
writing?  I think the customer and the mechanic would feel more comfortable
if it was explicit.

My favorite feed of late:  http://www.reddit.com/justrolledintotheshop
**


On Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 7:07 AM, Jeff Cobb <jeffcobb1 at me.com> wrote:

> Please listen carefully.
> Cashiers and bank checks can have stop payments put upon them. I have done
> it.
> I have never heard of a stop payment put against cash.
>
> I sold a Lotus 11 LeMans wide body and a Lambo 400 gt in 1989 (I WAS DUMB
> AND STUPID) and took a cashiers check. Next day the Lambo went to
> California and the 11 to England and twenty two days later the cashiers
> check cleared. The mental pain was too much, even staying after the cash
> appeared in my account. NEVER AGAIN.
>
> IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH. This saying was created for times
> like this.
> Cash was invented for the reason of fair trade and to remove trust issues.
> Cash cancels trust. Trust is the tool used in the absence of cash.
>
> I had a lady (not) two weeks ago cancel her check to me because she did
> not approve me off replacing the massively leaking rear fuel line on her
> SL600 while we did other work. Fifty or so $'s for fuel leak with other
> repairs were about $400. So she got her car fixed for free till I sue her.
> If I would have taken cash only, I would not be writing about this now.
> Worst problem is that I  suspected she would do something stupid, but the
> 73 year old black lady minister said for me not to worry and I believed
> her. Shame on me. But I thought after about 200,000. customers that I could
> read the future. NOT!
>
> I bought my three best (Mangusta-Espada-E430) cars off of eBay and my race
> car (Formula 6000) off of Hemmings.
> All were bought sight unseen and yes I did my due diligence.
> There were absolutely no problems and all were paid on diff levels.
> But when all cars left the owners they were cashed in hand.
>
> Cash must only be in your hand or the bank the moment before the car
> leaves!
> Basically the car owner must always have the upper hand filed with cash.
> And the trust issue must only belong to the buyer.
>
> Cash is nice but never sell something you love.
>
> Good luck,
> Jeff Cobb
>
> On Aug 22, 2013, at 7:51 PM, Garth Rodericks <garth_rodericks at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Wait!  What's the date today?  No, it's not April Fools Day!  Ok the
> answer is "NO!"  Do NOT send the pink slip with only 50% of the cash
> received!  He owns the car, for half price at that point.
> >
> > Options:
> > 1. He send wire you all the money., Then you send him the pink slip.
> Then his carrier picks up the car.
> >     You might provide a signed bill of sale and photocopy of the signed
> pink slip with change of ownership info filled out to give him piece of
> mindwhen he sends the funds, but don't release the pink until all funds are
> received and verified good.
> > 2. He can hire an agent or friend to hand deliver the cashier's check in
> exchange for the pink slip, so you get your cash and he gets the title at
> the same time.
> >
> > 3. Use an escrow service. He pays for the fees since it's for his
> protection.
> >
> >
> > Never release the title until you have "good" funds - verified cashiers
> check, wire transfer, cash, etc.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > Garth
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Original Message ---
> > Appreciate any advice you may have, as I haven't done this before.  Here
> is the situation.  I listed a car on craigslist, and it was found by
> someone in Florida. We negotiated a price, then he ordered an independent
> inspector to come by, and wired me a $500 deposit. He has now reviewed the
> inspectors report, and is happy with it, and wants to proceed with the
> transaction.  He is suggesting that now: 1) he wires me 50% of the money,
> then
> > 2) i mail him the pink slip, then
> > 3) he wires me remaining 50% of the money, then
> > 4) he schedules a transportation service to get the car. Does that sound
> reasonable? What are the risks?  Is there a "normal" way to do this?  I
> know we could use an escrow service, but that can be a mess too.
>  appreciate any insights from those that may have crossed this bridge
> before... thanks,
> > brent
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-- 
Sean Korb spkorb at spkorb.org http://www.spkorb.org
'65,'68 Mustangs,'68 Cougar,'78 R100/7,'60 Metro,'59 A35,'71 Pantera #1382
"The more you drive, the less intelligent you get" --Miller
"Computers are useless.  They can only give you answers." -P. Picasso