Too Little Too Late

[lisamac]

Sooooo.....I started this post writing how I was looking for advice on what to look for in a Chevy G20 conversion I had an appointment to look at one tomorrow that had 86K owned by a someone who's mother had passed away six months ago and the son was selling it (he had already gone through all the paperwork to get the title in his name). In the middle of me writing, I got an email from the guy that it had sold. I'm beyond disappointed/frustrated. We had been emailing and talking on the phone for the last two days. Don't get me wrong...the guy didn't do anything wrong. He even emailed me to let me know to keep me from making the 1 1/2 hour drive to look at it. I guess it just wasn't the"one" for me.  But, dammit, I had finally taken the "big" step to get a rig. Even went to the bank today and got the cash out.  It's just so frustrating trying to find something decent (and hopefully dependable) without 194,874.567 miles on it without paying a bunch of money.  

 

[BradKW]

I can certainly relate to that...much of my vehicle shopping over the past 16yrs has been done from a distance of minimum 3hr drive, and that really puts you at a disadvantage. I remember finding a modified Yamaha that pushed all the right buttons, but was 6 hours away. I ended up sending the guy $500 via paypal to hold it, and I can tell you that gave me indigestion and lost sleep for a week until I made it there to get it.

True good deals often go fast, and the person down the street has a huge advantage. I know people that have bought vehicles and boats on Ebay and I don't understand how they feel comfortable dropping $10k + on something unseen. But they do, and so far all I've seen are people happy with the result, so I guess it can work well.

 

[lisamac]

I was already stressing on carrying enough cash between here and there. Even put it in a mason jar in case of fire between now and the morning, and to make sure I didn't set it down somewhere. Squirrel! lol!

 

[MrNoodly]

I had searched listings from Virginia to Florida to Tennessee and thought I'd found one just a couple of tows from me. I drove to the small used car dealer. As I approached the door, another guy was walking from the other direction. Being a gentleman, I held the door for him, so he technically got there first. To my dismay, he asked the sales guy about the same van I'd come to see. I waited with my fingers crossed while he took it for a test drive. He came back, said, "Will you accept $XXXX for it?" The dealer said he would. So I lost out on the van by two seconds. Literally.

 

[lisamac]

Wow! That sounds like my luck. I'm just trying to look at it as "it wasn't meant for me" Your experience would have made me be a little less "optimistic" about it. You definitely have some good karma coming to you though!

 

[BradKW]

You definitely have some good karma coming to you though!

Probably lost that good karma when the following week he kicked a woman in the shins and slid through the door first...    

 

[lisamac]

Bwahahahaa! I have a mental picture.....! lol! That made my day!

 

[Dennis]

I have been trying some online auctions lately and not having any luck. Unreal what some of that untested stuff goes for. A lot of it I think is due to the "person down the street" as BradKW said.
Three days ago I found another one I thought was worth taking a chance on and after making a few bids I was the high bidder. For a day and a half no other bids made on that van. I thought no way are the other bidders going to let that happen. Right up to two minutes before time for auction to end? Sure enough a new bidder thought they would catch me asleep. lol
That didn't happen but what did happen is the other bidder was willing to give more than I was. So....another one gone.

 

[lisamac]

Makes me not feel so bad now. I'm about ready to give up.

 

[eDJ_]

As long as you have time to shop,  good thing will appear before you as the table turns.   There may be some disappointments along the way but keep your eyes peeled during this time of year.  People are trying to sell
their older used stuff so that they can buy something new when the 2017's come out here in August and September. 

They want to go to the car lot and tell the salesperson that they are going to buy "outright" with a cash payment.   (and get their rock bottom best deal)   Salespeople are wanting to sell first off new models to get them showing on the streets around town.  Early bird shoppers often luck into  these deals.  Salespeople gulp
hard and say...ahh  pay no attention to that sticker on the window,  you don't have a trade in so lets go see
what kind I can do ya....you ready to buy today ????   Ahhh we gotta special promotion going on this week
since we just got these new models in.

This is the time of the year when a lot of stuff is being sold so the owner can grab something brand new if he can move fast.  And that means he/she may be willing to deal with his used vehicle so he can move fast on a deal  as it comes off the truck.

Think of it like any other sale.  Ya just gotta seriously shop.  I know people who go hang around car lots when they are closed just to try to meet people with a car that they are thinking about trading in....and try to persuade them into selling it to them for a little above average loan value.

 

[boxcar]

give up ? ) don't do it it's a trick ....I have an idea maybe go look around were you live and find a local business that uses the type of vehicle your looking for and see if there about to up grade you might get lucky and land a good one

 

[Txjaybird]

 As I approached the door, another guy was walking from the other direction. Being a gentleman, I held the door for him, so he technically got there first. To my dismay, he asked the sales guy about the same van I'd come to see. I waited with my fingers crossed while he took it for a test drive. He came back, said, "Will you accept $XXXX for it?" The dealer said he would. So I lost out on the van by two seconds. Literally.

I believe in what goes around comes around, You were polite and well mannered and It looks like you lost a good deal.....However just maybe it wasn't such a good deal after all.   Several years ago in TX at a gas station the lady in front of me and I were talking about lottery tickets.  I said that I liked the $1,000 a week for life scratch off,  she said she did too especially since she already won it once.  She told me that at the same store a guy nearly knocked her down to get in front of her to pay,  no excuse me, I'm sorry, zip, nada, zilch.  He bought 1, $1,000 a wk scratch off stepped to the side scratched and it was a loser.  She was right behind him bought 1 ticket of the same kind and it was  the $1,000 a week for life winner!!!!!!  I asked what she did when saw it was a winner.  She said she smiled to herself  & said aloud " another dud " and went home.  She figured if she was nearly trampled just to buy the ticket she didn't want to announce it was a winner.  

If he was polite and well mannered like you he would have had the winning ticket.  Karma ya gotta love it  

After nearly 8mo of looking for a van or larger pick up I have started to just fix what I have which is a 25yo Ranger 4x4 truck.  Now I need 2 new tires, front end alignment, and a crankshaft seal at the front of the engine and I'm good to go drive about.....A little bondo on the rusty wheel wells and sand down and seal the roof plus some kind of headliner and maybe it will last another 216,000 miles. 
 Anyways the bigger vehicle I have the more crap I'll try to drag along with me! :huh:

Now that I think about it I'm only 28 miles to FL and the lottery.  Queenie is always up to a early morning road trip.  
                       Jewellann

 

[MrNoodly]

Probably lost that good karma when the following week he kicked a woman in the shins and slid through the door first...    

Hey, I learned my lesson. First come, first served. Outta my way!