Personal Dilema

[greenthumb]

I just sold a car this week. the buyer (and his wife)test drove it, looked at it, looked at it, looked at it etc. they made a offer I accepted. the car has just over 100,000 mile but is in good shape. I have been driving it off and on since mid summer. no problems. anyway, they came back Tuesday with money I signed over title took cashiers check etc. they drove away happy as they could be. Last night (two days after they had it) the buyer calls me and said he took the car in to be inspected and the mechanic told him a huge list of problems that could go wrong and they don't want to deal with them so they would like their money back. He has already titled it and licensed in the state of Michigan I feel bad but isn't his job to do this before he buys? I had no clue of any problems especially the ones he said could go wrong. The car still runs and he did not have any trouble he just feels that it will be unsafe to use because of the potential problems. Do I just be mean and say buyer beware. Also I turned away two callers over new years while they waited for their bank to open tuesday

 

[Gatorboy]

It's HIS problem now.

 

[LarryD]

I could generate a list of potential problems a car with 100K miles might experience and I'm not a mechanic, at least not for a living.

I think you're right to say it was an as-is deal. Maybe their mechanic is looking for some business.

 

[Marlowe]

I've been in sales for years and occasionally deal with buyer's remorse. It's a tough call. If you simply give them their money back, you are the one injured and they get off free. If you don't give them the money back, are they really injured? They took it to a mechanic who told them they might have problems, not that they would have problems. Certainly someone looking at a vehicle with over 100,000 miles on it didn't expect to get one in perfect condition. I think what happened is that the mechanic was trying to cover himself in case anything ever went wrong. Put yourself in his place. If something goes wrong and he didn't predict it, he looks bad. Therefore he nitpicks the devil out of the car, finding things that will likely not be a problem for many miles to come. I'd hate to see the list of possible problems with my old truck. It would likely scare a buyer to death, but it keeps on truckin'.

Obviously they should have had the mechanic look at it before the deal was consumated. If you're comfortable that you sold them a good vehicle, I think I'd let the deal stand as is. You're not at fault here and shouldn't be the one to pay.

Tom

 

[California]

You didn't misrepresent it.

Over 100,000 miles is a clear indication that several of the car's sub-systems will need reconditioning in the next few years. Their mechanic simply listed those systems, he didn't discover concealed damage.

If the car was priced average for similar models I would say the transaction is finished and not look back.

 

[Dutch445]

greenthumb,
It sounds like you made a deal with the buyer, and represented the car as is. the only possible problem
could come from any representations or warranties you may
have given him, either verbal or written. (ie: "there is
nothing wrong with this car, it will last you 10 more years" yadda yadda yadda)
If you hadn't made any statements, of which he can contradict with his mechanic, then I don't think you can
be required to refund any money. It seems they had ample
time to check the car over, and made their decision and now somebody else (who may very well sell cars on the side) is telling them they got a bad deal. Like somebody previously said, they had the option of having a mechanic check it before the purchase, right? And, this isn't a new car, and one would expect some issues with any car over 100K. As long as the car is mechanically sound, and drives, and would pass any state safety inspection, I don't think they have a leg to stand on.
Would you say the value you had on the car was within reason for it's condition?
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LMTC]

You are not being mean by saying "no." I would be polite, but unless you made a gross misrepresentation, he is completely out of line. No way, no how. SO when does "yes" mean "yes"? We have had buyers like this, makes me nuts. I usually (and ONLY because we are a business, and live off sales) do it but tell them to NEVER come back to us again, because their word is worthless. Had a shopper do this recently...give verbal assurances, renege on them, then be angry at us because HE changed his mind and we didn't dance to the tune.

Just politely say "no." You may have lost other sales already.

 

[KubotaSteve]

I say it is his problem. What did he expect for a car with 100,000 miles on it? If you look at Kelley Blue Book's website they list prices for cars if you are buying from a dealer and also if a private owner is selling the car. They state the reason is that a dealer will usually offer some type of warranty thus charging more for the car. You didn't misrepresent any of the facts. They could have caused some of the damage themselves.
I sold a used car once to a family and they came back 3 days later and said the transmission wasn't shifting right. I looked under the car and it had clearly been scraped up. They then proceeded to tell me they drove it in the orchard where they worked and it scraped and drug on the ground /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. It looked like they damage the tranny pan and lines and it was leaking fluid. I told them that the best advice I could give them was to get some fluid in it and get it fixed.
If you still feel bad and want to help the guy out then at the very least, he will need to pay a rental fee to have used the car as well as the cost for you to re-title & tag it since most people will want to test drive the car.

 

[Humbleto]

I would suggest that you take it back under the condition they pay you $.40 a mile for all miles driven. Also they pay for the re-linsensing fee and any taxes that might be applicable. I would also check to see if they did any damage to the car first. They should have had an inspection before buying. You sound like a nice guy.

 

[MarkV]

Tell him that you have already spent the money just like he did. If you mortgage company will give you your money back you will give him his.

That’s a little sarcastic but when he wrote the check and you signed the title the deal was done. No reason for you to feel bad.

MarkV