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

Fri Aug 23 08:41:59 EDT 2013

Oh, and my mom is a lady minister and she's very nice to mechanics... but
she also drives a Honda.  Something about not wanting to enjoy luxury to
excess...

sean

On Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 8:40 AM, Sean Korb <spkorb at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>

-- 
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