Our Two Cents: How Have You Declined an Offer to Buy Your Vehicle?
One of the perks of being someone in our shoes is that we are often in an enviable position when it comes to cars, trucks, motorcycles, or anything in between. Maybe not to everyone we come into contact with, but at least to enthusiasts who have a keen eye for spotting the more desirable vehicles in a parking lot—which often means we’re approached for conversation. And, more frequently than you might expect, offers to purchase our rides. Whenever this happens, I am reminded of a not-so-famous scene from a long-forgotten crime drama about a man who loved his vintage Mustang.
Everyone has their price, I suppose, but for the most part, we tend to be motivated to hang onto our vehicles. Managing a would-be buyer can be difficult, depending on how you deal with them. And that’s what we asked the team here at Hagerty Media, as we wondered aloud how we handle those notes left on our pride and joy asking to contact them with a sales price.
Were we salty, sweet or did we just ghost them like a bad first date? The answer is a profound yes on all counts.
More than you wanna spend, pal.
“My piles of over-restored, highly maintained, undesirable junk normally rest below the surface of appeal to the general public. As they should, as they are the rolling embodiment of the sunk cost fallacy. Well, except for my 2011 Ford Ranger XLT: The one bright spot in my portfolio is this compact truck with a regular cab and manual transmission.
I am regularly asked if it’s for sale, often after it receives a compliment for its condition. My answer usually revolves around “an asking price higher than Carvana lists them on their website.” That ends the conversation quickly, nobody has yet to whip out their smart phone and start checking prices online. Everyone wants a cheap truck, and everyone wants it for cheap.” —Sajeev Mehta
But money can’t buy love?
“While on a run to the hardware store for a few bolts to wrap up a project, I came out of the crisp air conditioning of the bolt aisle to the steamy summer humidity. Before pulling my helmet back, on I noticed a slip of receipt paper folded and tucked between the two large gauges. Apparently someone named Tim took a liking to my 1977 Kawasaki KE175 and was interested in purchasing it. Sadly, I was more interested in riding this vintage enduro than sitting on my couch with a small stack of cash in my pocket. I can’t knock the attempt though. Sorry Tim.” —Kyle Smith
Your question is irrelevant?
“To avoid this headache, I simply don’t own any cars that anyone would ever offer to buy from me! Problem solved!” —Ben Woodworth
“Sir, I would like to buy your car, now you have a problem.” – Sajeev Mehta
No, but if it did happen…
“In a world where I had anything of value, I would pull up the Hagerty Price Guide and request the #1 value for the car.” —Cameron Neveu
“Followed by the classic words, ‘Don’t low ball me! I know what I got!'” – Ben Woodworth
Silence isn’t necessarily golden
“Yes! I street parked my 1986 Mustang over the summer of 2022. Over those three months, three separate people left notes asking to buy it. I didn’t reply to any of them.
In return, I’ve probably left a dozen notes myself and don’t remember ever getting a call.” —Larry Webster
Well, that’s a silly question!
“At least twice a year, some rando knocks on my door and offers to buy the shitbox Volvo 242 that has been growing moss in my driveway for the last eight years. ‘Why would you want to do that?’ I say, and then I close the door.” —Stefan Lombard
Delete, block, and unsubscribe?
“I haven’t gotten any notes on my cars, but Carvana didn’t hesitate to share its ongoing interest in my Cadillac ATS-V, especially at the height of the pandemic. The dealer reached out several times wanting my wife’s car, too, but we both tend to hold our vehicles for a long time. Thanks, but no thanks, automated offerers!” —Eddy Eckart
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I think everyone who attends a cruise night or car show and drives their car to the store with a special and well kept ride gets asked quite often. I get asked what will you take for it and I tell them it’s not for sale, then they get stupid with offers. I ask them if you owned this car, would you sell it? I drive my 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan everyday it’s not raining, snowing or if there’s salt on the roads. At least you know there’s a market for your ride!
No matter how stupid the offer, I am always polite and thank them for their interest.
We’ve all been there I’m sure, myself included.
A couple years back at a car show a person asked about my 71 Rivi and returned several times during the show to ask more questions and to look it over more, even though I said it wasn’t really for sale. As I was packing up after the awards ceremony and securing my 2nd place trophy and tote of detailing stuff and getting ready to leave, they came back again , but with a offer .
After wiping the soda off my face after it coming out my nose from laughter , I just chuckled and smiled. I politely told them the 10K they offered wouldn’t even cover the cost of the materials I’d already used in restoring this previously one owner all matching , unmolested rust free boat tail Rivi with only 58K original miles on it at the time, 12 K of which it I’d put on sense owning it.
Though I don’t know if this is true, I was told by a very reputable source I met at the Nationals and whom was a past President of the Riviera Owners Club there is 3 years while I downsized to a new house and building a new garage there , both the front and rear seats , the carpet and padding were all destroyed in both the trunk and interior by squirrels and mice ! The smell was so bad I even had to redo the “spatter paint” , which I just finished up this last week and am now waiting for the new carpet, padding and sound deadining material to arrive.
What a shame too sense the original interior was pretty much pristine other than a couple small coffee stains on the front seat.
So don’t believe the old wife’s tail about dryer sheets working, They Obviously Don’t,,, those pesky vermin even built a nest in a half of a 160 count box of Bounce drier sheets I’d left in it, along with placing , bay leafs and peppermint & Wintergreen oil soaked pads inside and in the trunk !! These vermin in the mountains of VT are tenacious little buggers and nothing seems to stop them, this is now the second interior they have totally destroyed on me , despite all my best efforts !
Does anyone use the ultra sonic rodent repellents and do those actually work , I’m grasping at straws now after having 2 interiors destroyed at this point ?
I’ve redone the trunk upholstery already and I’m back to square 1 on the interior on the Riviera now and am just waiting on an estimate to have the seats redone to see if I’ll have to put in a claim in through Hagerty or not, but I’m already into 5 full days of work and about a grand worth of materials so far , not even counting what ever it will take to redo the seats ?
Dam Vermin !!! GERRRRR
OOPS , I need to delete this as I messed up typing it can I edit it?
I was advertising a 1969 280SL for sale in London, England, where I was living as an expat, working for my American company. A guy from New Jersey who seemed to be on vacation in London called on the car. This was in 1980, the 11 year old SL had just 9,800 original miles on it. I was asking $20,000 for it; he indignantly said he could buy them in NJ “all day long” for $13,000. I excitedly told him that I would give him an instant profit of $2,000 on every one he purchased for $13K with 9,800 original miles. He was just back pedaling after that. Sold it to the next prospect for what I was asking for it, sight unseen. Buyer called, told me it was “sold” if it was as advertised, which it was.
Sajeev says – “Sir, I would like to buy your car, now you have a problem.”
I would love to have this problem. How ’bout a 1940 Ford Deluxe two-door sedan. Original. Not running but has new brakes and mostly new electrical. Sajeev?
I would like to buy that too.
The key word is “like” not “am willing to buy.”
Some guy wanted to buy my ’61 Econoline. As soon as he saw the three-on-the-tree and said “That’s the shifter?” I know this was going nowhere. He said he’d see me in a few days, but it’s been a while longer than that.
Whenever someone asks me how much I would sell my car for I tell them there is no ‘For Sale’ sign on it – how much are you willing to give me for it? They invariably say how much would you take for it so I have to repeat my 1st response. After a few times of this they usually give up without telling me a price.
I’ve had just the opposite problem, tried to sell my truck more than once. All I get is “low ballers” and scammers. And no I’m not overpriced, I tried the “I don’t want to sell it” price once just to see.
Agree with Tinkerah ….. ‘put your money where your note is’. A few grand over market price might keep your note from being tossed.
A favourite story belongs to a friend. He had a candy red 65 Corvette that he loved to drive around late at night and visit restaurants and bars. One night a youngish looking young man came to him and asked if the car was for sale. He said in a loud voice “KID you can’t afford this car”. That kid had just signed a $3 million dollar contract to play hockey in the NHL.