Even at the penultimate moment before a contract is signed and/or money changes hands, either party is free to say "You know what, come to think of it, I've changed my mind. I don't want to complete this transaction after all". If so inclined, a polite offer of a drink or whatever for his trouble may then be offered in apology for taking up the other party's time.
This is completely legitimate and, yes Watson, even ethical. It happens in business all the time. One of the more famous examples of recent times is the management buy-back of Harley-Davidson with literally less than 5 minutes to spare before a competing transaction was to close. Sure, the details were different, but the core principal is the same.
I hate to admit...I totally agree with you.
However, I did in fact try to give the buyer money down right after he emailed me his price. And, as the seller requested - contacted him regularly while he waited for the title. This process took about three weeks. Just a week ago he told me he should have the title shortly...and at no time did he give me any indication he was planning on changing his mind. I feel the least he could have done was told me he had a change of heart on the price and given me first option on buying at the new price - rather than saying nothing and listing it on Autotrader.com.
Whatever - I'm over this car...I'll keep looking and will eventually find another. I remember when people were paying crazy amounts of money over MSRP for GT40's and whatever else was "flavor of the month". No hostilities towards anyone here - if I waited more than a year for a car, I'd want to make money as well.
It seems that what drove the original poster to rant was his own expectation, excitement, and hope... rather than any actual greed by the seller. The notion of greed is simply interpretative. For the seller's change-of-mind to appear/occur as greed, there must have been an equal-and-opposite reaction (expectation) going on. Since it's nearly impossible to control the action of another, we're left to deal with our own 'stuff.' My advice? Manage the expectation next time. The deal's not done until the fat lady sings! It may be unfortunate (from the poster's perspective only) that the deal didn't work out... but it's really ONLY an issue of expectation. There was never the required "meeting of the minds" with (1) offer, (2) acceptance, and (3) consideration ($$$) which are the nature of contract law. The rant (and any subsequent agreement with the rant) disempowers the original poster from shifting from blaming the seller of moral corruption to managing his own expectations, excitement, and hope. Those would be authentic sentiments that indicate taking responsibility. The poster could have paid $18K for a smart while waiting for a better deal at $17.5... was that a greed-based decision, too? Let's look at the whole equation.
As I agree with you that the seller could no doubt have been more organized and diplomatic in communicating with you. Alas, one must in such (private sale) situations make many allowances for the fact that most often the players on both sides are woefully inexperienced in the etiquette of business deals.
What really counts here is the fact that without doubt neither of you meant to do the other harm.
Another suggestion. Use this forum to find what you're looking for... post exactly what kind/equipped smart you want, and people on here will undoubtedly keep an eye out for a good deal for you. We've all felt similar excitement/stress over getting our smarts. Good luck!
Another suggestion. Use this forum to find what you're looking for... post exactly what kind/equipped smart you want, and people on here will undoubtedly keep an eye out for a good deal for you. We've all felt similar excitement/stress over getting our smarts. Good luck!
That's exactly what my first post was...more than a month ago.
Again...no stress here - I've owned many unique cars and am fine waiting for another to come along. That being said...my ideal car would be a white Passion with either black or red interior in Florida.
A few years ago, I decided to sell a car on the "Lemon Lot" at Ft. Lewis, WA. I got a call from a guy saying that he "was interested in the car!" I said, "Hey, I'd love to sell it to you!" He said, well, I want to talk to my wife....it'll be her car, and then maybe we can both come out tomorrow and take it for a test drive." I said, "Sure. Just give me a call and I'll meet you there." A short time later I get a call from a guy that says...."I WANT your car, and I've got the CASH!" I said, "I'll be right there!" I went, he payed cash (my asking price!), and that was it. As a common courtesy to the other guy, I called and talked to his wife and told her the car had been sold. He husband called back later ranting and raving and threatening to sue, etc. etc. Ridiculous.....utter nonsense!! I had promised him the car.....we'd had an agreement.......etc. The only "agreement" that we'd had was that IF he called the next day, I would meet him & his wife there to look at and test drive the car! So...........it just goes to show that some people think that there has been some sort of meeting of the minds, when that's just NOT the case!!
A few years ago, I decided to sell a car on the "Lemon Lot" at Ft. Lewis, WA. I got a call from a guy saying that he "was interested in the car!" I said, "Hey, I'd love to sell it to you!" He said, well, I want to talk to my wife....it'll be her car, and then maybe we can both come out tomorrow and take it for a test drive." I said, "Sure. Just give me a call and I'll meet you there." A short time later I get a call from a guy that says...."I WANT your car, and I've got the CASH!" I said, "I'll be right there!" I went, he payed cash (my asking price!), and that was it. As a common courtesy to the other guy, I called and talked to his wife and told her the car had been sold. He husband called back later ranting and raving and threatening to sue, etc. etc. Ridiculous.....utter nonsense!! I had promised him the car.....we'd had an agreement.......etc. The only "agreement" that we'd had was that IF he called the next day, I would meet him & his wife there to look at and test drive the car! So...........it just goes to show that some people think that there has been some sort of meeting of the minds, when that's just NOT the case!!
I sold an Insight on eBay a little over a year ago. The car was one of the cleanest Insights around NATIONWIDE! I originally had it listed on Craigslist and had a guy trying to get funds, I waited a week and during the time he was getting those funds we still corresponded - at the last moment he backed out, said he lost his job. During the week I was waiting I got two other bites, I told them a deal was possibly in the works and if they'd like I could put them on a list. I got back with them and found out they weren't even ready to pay the price I wanted as it was firm.
That was when I was ready to list it on eBay. After 5 days and dozens of questions I got cold feet and didn't trust selling it that route. One buyer stood out and had sincere interest and IMO seemed like a genuine sincere person. While I corresponding with this person I asked them if they were willing to pay $XX,XXX for the car if I did a Buy It Now at precisely O:OOpm - he jumped on it.
In the end, he got the car for a deal and a half and I got quite a few thousand OVER what I was asking for on Craigslist. Karma- I was a person of my word on Craigslist and it came back to me even better for a flawless profitable transaction on eBay. Actually it wasn't profitable but I sold the car after driving it for 2 years and 40k miles for what I paid for it.
The Smart is just as desirable of a car, a seller "should" just be honest and things will work out in their favor. Don't get greedy.
Last edited by Kermit; 06-19-2008 at 04:50 PM.
Reason: slyxdexic
I would have to disagree about the up until the very moment of the deal it is ethical to call it off reasoning. I had a guy offer to sell me his Smart. We agreed on the price and on when we would get together to complete the deal. He agreed to pick me up at the airport. I bought a plane ticket, and rented a hotel since I had to catch the early flight. He knew the details of my flight as he had agreed to meet me outside baggage claim. At 9pm the night before an 8am flight he leaves a message on my machine stating not to bother coming down because he's decided he's just going to keep the car. I lost $89 on the hotel and even though I had already checked in for the flight I cancelled that and now have credit on Southwest if I use it within a year. I have bought and sold several vehicles. I have always honored my word. If I tell someone they can have the vehicle at a certain price and we agree on a date of payment, they have until that time to pay me. If they can't pay me by that time then it goes to someone else. I've never renegged on my word. Some people feel it's ok to do whatever gets them the most money. If you can sleep at night with that attitude.... well, I guess I feel a little sorry for you. You're probably someone that not a lot of people respect. But then again, you probably don't care. That's just not how I do things or what I expect of others.
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Ridiculous.....utter nonsense!! I had promised him the car.....we'd had an agreement.......etc. The only "agreement" that we'd had was that IF he called the next day, I would meet him & his wife there to look at and test drive the car! So...........it just goes to show that some people think that there has been some sort of meeting of the minds, when that's just NOT the case!! 
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