LG John

We have our 2nd car up for sale at the moment as we simply don't use it enough.

I have been amazed how many people have read the PH/gumtree/ebay/etc adverts and have gone to the trouble to email us something like the following:

"hi, interested in your car if it is still available, can you call me on 07xxx xxxx xxxx to discuss"

Our numbers are included in all of these adverts. Why go to the trouble of emailing me to phone them when they can just pick up the bloody phone and call me.

Are they being tight....or am I missing something. It is invariably a mobile number they want me to call and I'm not bothered by the money. It's more the principal and the fact that they are making me work by calling them. TBH, I'm not that arsed about selling the fvcking car. If they want to buy it, bloody well calll up, ask questions, then come and poke around it.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

You're concerned about a few pence / mins of your time when you're selling a car worth £thousands

TX.

LG John

It's got nothing to do with money or time. If they phone me I will happily chat for hours and answer all of their questions (if they are that tight, I'll know a £5 off after final negotiation to cover their phone costs)

It's just the principal of them going to the effort to email when they could just pick up the phone and call. I want to know their motivation/logic.

MDS_WRX

iTrader: (1)

I think I know, call me on 07xxx xxxx xxxx and I'll tell you...

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Couldnt agree more SB, screams of dreamer / waster to me

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

When you go out to buy something, do you go to the shop to buy it, or do you expect the shop to come to you?

The enquirer is either lazy, ignorant, or a home based dealer/chancer too busy to mess around calling everyone.

You calling them smacks of desperation to sell. So if its a home based dealer or a scally, he'll know he can knock you down a few bob.

hodgy0_2

could be premium numbers

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Just had a thought: if you used "call safe" or some other phone number masking service, they do charge callers higher rates; so it would put off the cheap skates.

Pistonheads can charge up to 37.5p per minute!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/phonesafe.asp

LG John

Wow, never realised call safe was that expensive!

PaulC72

maybe they are all on PAYG and have no credit?

why not just for a laugh call one back and establish if they are a dealer / pikey or shopkeeper?

LG John

Called one and he was pretty pikey sounding. He's coming to see the car tomorrow....so I guess we'll see.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

^^ See, it wasn't that difficult

TX.

Wish

iTrader: (2)

He wont turn up

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I had exactly the same problem (if you could call it that) while selling my bike last month..

I put it down to people worrying about what time they should call, or if they are going to disturb you.

The guy that bought it in the end was a number I called back though.

skoobidude

I can't understand some people. I'd personally ignore all those asking me to call them. If they are interested and have money then they should call!
Sound like tight ***** to me who will screw you down and want to pay peanuts.

Good luck

LG John

I just see it as slightly rude/lazy. It's kind of like they are 'scared' to call up a stranger so they cop out and get me to make first contact. That's just gay.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I admit I hate using the phone. Its not that I'm scared of talking to a stranger, its just my brain doesn't seem to work on the fly too well. So I try to avoid it where I can.

Don't know why, its got worse over the years. I think part of is I can't hear people on the phone properly. Maybe something to do with switching to digital exchanges with calls having so much compression the frequency range is so limited and quatified my ears/brain struggle to decipher it. I end up concetrating so hard on trying to hear them that I lose track of what I want to say or ask.

But then that's maybe just me being a freak.

I can tell the difference between a 128kpbs and a 320kpbs MP3, but can't tell a word that Sue at Lloyds TSB cards services is saying to me (British call centre BTW ). I swear that when she (mis-)sold me payment protection that she said it was free (maybe she did and told porkies, I can't be sure).

If I was still at Uni, I'd think it'd make for a good research paper

Will

LG John

Ali, at the point on the claim form where it asks why you believe your were mis-sold PPI I have to say that you've come up with something rather original

Leslie

It maybe that they are looking for a psychological advantage by trying to get you to ring them, or even pure laziness.

Les

billyray911

iTrader: (4)

I had someone put a business card in my window,asking me to contact them if i ever wanted to sell.
Was thinking of selling,so I gave him a call and sold the car to him,more or less imediately for a really good price-happy days!
There are a few genuine people out there-lots of dodgy ***** too.

LG John

That situ is somewhat different though.....a nice spot to be in though! My uncle used to have a guy beg him to sell his R32 and - eventually - he did

zip106

Well...?

StickyMicky

If they want it, they will call.

The rest - time wasting *****.

pslewis

It's the cost of the Call-Safe Number which puts people off, simply that.

I got caught out this summer calling after a hatch WRX on the CallSafe Number, he was Russian and struggled to 'understand' what I was asking - so, the call took a while AND COST A FORTUNE!!!!

I will never ring a CallSafe Number again!!

Hence the e-mail to ask if you can call them - or e-mail them a landline number - simples.

LG John

Well, I made the guy phone me...which he did, and he came and bought the car today. Result