Sellers not interested in selling...A little venting here...

Post by **Eddystone** » 29 May 2019, 08:49

At the risk of raising another forum member from the weeds...

Who loves dealing with Craigslist sellers who list cars they apparently don't really want to sell?

An ad is put up with one blurry 3/4 view of a car that's enough to see that it has some bits I would like to purchase, even if I have to buy the car to get them. Advertised as "bad engine" and "new" tires. Contact the seller asking where the car is located and if it's still sitting in the parking lot where the photo was taken. Asked what "bad engine" means, as in just won't start or clouds of white smoke or oil on the ground. Included my phone number.

Answer: "Car turns over."

Ask again. what's with the engine and is the car someplace where it can be flatbedded.

Answer: "Interior beyond trashed. 303k miles. $425 non-negotiable."

Phone calls prove local salvage yards offering $200 for the car.

Already gave the guy my phone number. Told him I don't usually deal with people who don't answer questions and are evasive. He LOLs me.

Why even put the ad up if you aren't going to talk about whether or not the car can be gotten to by a flatbed? What's the point? I'd probably be willing to give him $400 for the parts I want and let him junk it for another $200 bucks, and he'd be getting more than he's asking in the ad?

Just as well passing on this one, I guess.

Post by **abscate** » 29 May 2019, 11:01

ebay , craiglist, auctions arent the way to go. You will have to look at 20 turds to find the frog that can be turned into a Prince.

The venue to go for is the high rent zip code where a decently maintained car has reached end of use, and can be bought for $1000, and referred for same.

You could have bought my T5M56 in 2013 for that, instead I have written off $55,000 in taxes.

Post by **Eddystone** » 29 May 2019, 11:55

I've had a lot of positive experiences buying and selling through Craigslist, and I do tend to buy from the well to do areas, as well. What's bad is that some people these days cannot communicate in sentences longer than three or four words tapped with their thumbs. That's insufficient. Non-running twenty-year-old cars are not worth much to salvagers these days, and metal prices are continuing to fall. "High rent zip code" sellers in my area are just as likely to not even bother selling the car. One phone call, and it's gone.

Post by **abscate** » 29 May 2019, 12:06

"Ive got a 2004 S60 R" Lots of good parts. Call me 555-867-5309

-Jennie

Somehow you don't confident that Jennie will know if she has your exhaust CVVT

Post by **amblerman** » 29 May 2019, 13:31

Tell us more about how old volvos help with writing off $55k in taxes. That sounds like something we'd all like to know.

Post by **abscate** » 29 May 2019, 13:43

Federal business mileage rate is 55 cpm. Should have said "written of revenue, not taxes"

Im self-employed. The hours are flexible, but the boss is an idiot.

tardcart · Post by **tardcart** » 29 May 2019, 15:07

I got my 850 at an estate sale. Until that time I had no inkling I wanted a front wheel drive Volvo. Low milage but outside its entire life and under a tree undriven for three years. mice had eaten the expensive plastic fuel line. very few show up on clist any more.
I don't think I would ever own any volvo 98 up. Ive noticed you might as well ask only one question as that's all that will get answered on Clist. I guess due to fact people use phone texts while they are working. You pretty much have to go see it and bring some money for a deposit at least. don't show up with a trailer if planning to bargain. The car will always be worse than it looked in the pics. most of the time its not drivable or registered so there is no way to check the problems. I have never seen an old volvo that is not maintenance deferred.

Post by **amblerman** » 29 May 2019, 15:42

Ah yes.. mileage. Great if you can take it. I thought you were making a joke that all s70 manuals were valued at $55K for donation purposes.

wrybread · Post by **wrybread** » 29 May 2019, 16:38

The venue to go for is the high rent zip code where a decently maintained car has reached end of use, and can be bought for $1000, and referred for same.

How do you find those cars tho, if not Craigslist? Drive thru the area and look for "for sale" signs?

Personally I've had lots of great experiences on Craigslist for everything (there was a time when literally everything in my life came from Craigslist except food, ha), and I just bought my S70 from someone in one of those high rent zip codes. Was handed the keys in what I'd call an over the top mansion. Found it on Craigslist...

But of course that wasn't the first one I found when I was looking for this car. The worst was a flipper selling a nice looking S70 T5, but who wouldn't answer any questions about the car even on the phone, and eventually hung up on me. When I googled his phone number I found the Yelp reviews for his "business" that all said to run away from this guy, total scammer.

Post by **erikv11** » 29 May 2019, 16:59

I used CL to find six of the seven Volvos I have owned. There are still many good deals to be had there, you do need to wade through the lemons (sellers) though.

The 95 R came from MVS, someone on here posted they were sick of wading through the engine rebuild and wanted to let it go. I soon discovered the guy lived 3 blocks from me!