If filtering out dealers is important to you, this is the easiest method I've found: When you call, say "I'm calling about THE car for sale". If the response you get is "Which one?" you have your answer.
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Craigslist Rant
- Thread starter ClassicBlue
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wait a minute. I'm not a dealer and that happens to me all the time.
Nothing in the world wrong with making a profit. I just don't need someone making a profit selling me a car. If they're able to locate a car for a good price that gives them room to make a profit, then surely I can find a car that gives me room to score a good deal. Why would I want someone else enjoy the benefit of equity for doing something I'm perfectly capable of doing myself?
Nothing wrong with makin a profit. But most car dealers
Will say or do anything to make a sale and maximise profit
A car lots goal is max profit per car
A buyers goal is the best car for the lowest price
Usually no common ground
And most Carlots nowadays are buy here pay here places
So they are asking 3X -5X what the car is really worth
Whatever down payment those places want is what they paid for the car
Mention carfax to a used car lot and watch em cringe.
Okay if you can wait 2 to 3 more weeks we will be getting this very nice 97 Toyota Rav 4 from a guy in Colorado. He's trading it to us for our Vanogon along with some cash. It looks to be very nice. But I have to disclose that we will make a profit on the trade and I fully intend to make a profit on the Rav 4 sale.
The thing I hate about craigslist, or I guess its really a statement of our society today, but people make promises to show up, but never do.
I now usually have an item ready to go, and will tell a person to meet me some where that is close for me, and to call me when they are on the way.
I now usually have an item ready to go, and will tell a person to meet me some where that is close for me, and to call me when they are on the way.
Okay if you can wait 2 to 3 more weeks we will be getting this very nice 97 Toyota Rav 4 from a guy in Colorado. He's trading it to us for our Vanogon along with some cash. It looks to be very nice. But I have to disclose that we will make a profit on the trade and I fully intend to make a profit on the Rav 4 sale.
I wish you the best and hope you make all the profit you dream of, it just won't come from my wallet. Now, if and when the day comes that you can provide a service to me for something that I'm not capable of doing myself, then I will be happy to compensate you for your skills and service.
P.S. Careful with that Rav 4, they're notorious for having transmission issues.
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Well, you regularly buy and flip cars, so in essence you are a dealer whether you're licensed or not. That isn't necessarily a negative thing, but there are some people who feel more comfortable buying from an owner who actually used the car for a reasonable amount of time and know the issues a car has.
The downside to buying from a pseudo dealer is that even the most honest guys don't know much about the car they're selling you. What bothers me are the guys who masquerade as "owners". They have 8 cars for sale - all parked in different grocery store parking lots scattered in a radius around their home. They most often buy 'em, wash/armor all 'em, and park 'em for sale. They don't know the history, if it has crash damage, if the transmission is on the way out, or whether or not it will pass an emissions test - but they'll tell you that it's their daily driver and that it runs great, though the title wont be in their name.
Most Buy Here lots like to stick to the low end stuff like PT Cruisers, Grand Ams etc. That way the down payment does cover the wholesale cost of the car. The interest is their livelihood.
I have worked at probabl 7 or 8 new/used lots in middle GA since 1994. The last lot I worked at was Jeff Smith Kia in Perry in 2012. I will NEVER sell cars for a lot again. I can not stand it when a customer rides up on the lot and the whole drill starts over again. They want a price on a used car and you don't know what it is. So you're SUPPOSED to hook them into coming inside and going through the whole stupid routine. And most folks just want a price so they can decide if they want to go any further. But it's not setup to give them that.The last time I worked at a car lot the managers were staring out the window at us to make sure we dragged EVERYONE inside. And if you didn't they'd threaten to fire you. The old saying goes " If they come on this lot looking for directions to McDonalds they gotta talk to at least two people before they leave."
That's what I hate about traditional car lots and that's where Carmax wins. Traditional car lots average about $3000 gross profit on most cars. The last week of every month that profit can be as little as $500.00. And that really screws the salesman. But the managers/owners don't care because the managers get paid on the number of units sold. The owners get to keep the $500.00 Doc fee on every vehicle.
So either go to Carmax ( and they have plenty of cars in the $10K and under category) or just be patient with CL.
One of the primary incentives NOT to buy from a dealer when buying used has been done away with thanks to the new title tax in GA. Before March 2013, you could avoid paying sales tax by buying from a private individual. Now, whether you buy from an individual or a dealer, you won't owe "sales" tax, but you will owe "title" tax, which is currently 6.75%. So, if you buy a used car worth $10k, you will owe $38 tag and registration, plus $675 title tax at the tag office. A lot of people are still caught off-guard at the tag office and are unpleasantly surprised when they get to the window. At a dealer, you can roll it into the financing if you didn't want to cough up $700+ at the tag office. Just something to consider. You still have to deal with dealership fees, though, but those can usually be negotiated. If you can negotiate a good sales price, a reputable dealer (I've heard they exist, somewhere) may be an option to consider.
The other thing you can do is just be patient with Craigslist. I have bought and sold many cars on CL, and have always had good experiences. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks, other times it takes 2 months to find the right deal. I look only for original or second owner cars with average or less mileage, and in excellent condition. You usually know how well a car was taken care of based on its exterior and interior condition. Have cash or financing ready because the good deals go fast. You gotta move quick on the one-owner Hondas and Toyotas, for instance. They don't last more than 24 hours.
The other thing you can do is just be patient with Craigslist. I have bought and sold many cars on CL, and have always had good experiences. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks, other times it takes 2 months to find the right deal. I look only for original or second owner cars with average or less mileage, and in excellent condition. You usually know how well a car was taken care of based on its exterior and interior condition. Have cash or financing ready because the good deals go fast. You gotta move quick on the one-owner Hondas and Toyotas, for instance. They don't last more than 24 hours.
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