I just went through what I would call an absolute nightmare… What's everyone else's experiences?
I'll list some of my experience….
yep.
offer too low?
send it in a message!
Was fine for me when I sold my car. About 20 offers, only 2 serious ones. You expect that.
But you do hear horror stories.
Ditto
Lots of stupid low-ball offers, lots of scam offers, some genuine callers who promised to come take a look and never showed,and a couple of genuine buyers who took a test drive one of which purchased.
Apart from fewer stupid low-ball offers and the obvious scams it's the same experience as you get paying $60 on Carsales.
Me too. Sold a shitty corolla for almost the same price I paid for it. Of course I advertised high to start with, and gave a discount.
Not a nightmare, but pst me off nonetheless - On eBay the other day someone offered me $6 (plus postage $6) for a $10 item and when I didn't respond, they lowered their offer to $10 and in small print wrote (including postage). At that price, after fees, postage and item cost, I would be paying them .60c to take it! I didn't even realise best offer was selected, I swear the eBay app adds this itself sometimes.
After selling a few items lately on ebay, I've concluded it's literally not worth it anymore… final value fee is an absolute killer.
Not sell car when buyer want pay by PayPal that scam.
If you do the maths, you can calculate how much you need to sell to get what your want.
Totally agree.
What's everyone else's experiences?
Sounds about right for ANYTHING sold on gumtree…..
Low balls, stupid offers, change of mind, people who don't show up etc.
I guess there's a reason why it's referred to as "Scumtree"
As crap as ebay is and as costly as it is. I strangely find the buyers 'better' there and don't have to deal with all the crap that scumtree buyers brings.
I would rather sell it there and suck up the fees, for the hassle free sale, compared to scumtree. Just not worth my time, low ballers etc.
I've sold two cars on Gumtree with no problems. At the end of the day you're in control.
low ball offers to the point of just stupidity
—> Always like that. Such as life as Scumtree
aggressive buyers who will not take no for an answer
—> ignore them, use below tactics
multiple calls and texts after midnight
—> When you want to sell something MAJOR like car, get a disposable SIM, new email and create a new account first. The is not to avoid responsibility for selling bad stuff but to avoid abusive calling / messaging behaviour!
—> Or Never show your personal mobile #. Download the app and only use in app messaging. This cut out people who are not serious. If they like what you sell, they will use your prefer way of communication.
—> Try to collect small amount of non-refundable deposit $500/ $1000 if they agree to buy. This is the tricky part. have both party signed on both copies of the deposit receipt. The receipt need to clearly indicate the intention of the buyer to buy your car at an agreed price before a sertain date. And it need to state the deposit is non-refundable if the transaction is not completed in X (14or21) days. This could be contractually blinded. (legal expert please?)
—> Serious buyer generally will sign this if they really like your car as they worry you sell the car to someone else. Sometime if you gave buyer reasonable discount they may also consider to sign.
—> No sign document, no confirm deal.
—> Only fill in transfer application after you collect the full payment, or even after you bank the bank cheque.
people overestimating cost to fix any issues..
—> Unfortunately is part of the negotiation. If you don’t like what they offer you can always counter offer or walkaway.
Well said, great advice. Only thing I thought was a hard sell is getting someone to sign a “non-refundable” clause contract.. I just don’t think that would stick if they wanted to pursue it through legal avenues. I guess it would depend on the amount they are leaving for deposit and your proof that them not paying you the full amount cost you what ever the deposit was. Car dealers (and this may vary from state to state) are only allowed to take a set amount or small percentage of any deposit to cover incurred costs relating to the sale. It would be hard for you to justify anything more than say, listing fees, advertising and maybe a roadworthy if it was required.
And as always, I am not a lawyer, but I do sell a lot of cars and bikes that I buy, fix and resell.
All I do, to save going to court, is say, the car is for sale and open to all offers. I only accept payment in full upon transfer. Other buyers have expressed interest in the vehicle, so it’s a case of first in with payment gets the vehicle. No holds and may be sold at any time, but I will call if the car is sold before you get a chance to come back.
I don’t take deposits for private sales as it ties you into that buyer, serious ones always come back, time wasters always waste time and never come back. Of the few times I have taken a deposit, almost all of them have requested it back.
From Fair Trading website; (nb: this pertains to traders, not private sales, but would imagine it would work in similar fashion.)
The actual amount the trader is allowed to retain depends on the circumstances. This money compensates the trader for the time and expense devoted to the transaction, but should not be so high as to constitute a penalty. As a gesture of goodwill, many traders will return your deposit.
The problem is the people you are dealing with, not Gumtree as a platform.
If you are coping texts and phone calls late at night, do not list your phone number on the add.
Yes this does add a hurdle for buyers, however it will fix that issue for you.
My preferred classifieds is Facebook Marketplace.
If you do not want the hassle, the other option is to sell/trade to a dealer.
Facebook Marketplace in my area mostly consists of "broken iPhone 4, screen faulty but in good condition $150" or "matching wedding dildos -slightly used- $60 ONO"
Woeful.
Interesting, I have looked on FB marketplace searching BNE and its surrounding 161kms for cars, motorbikes and electronics previously.
Seemed to be some thing for "everyone".
Look, I can save you all this trouble. I'm working on an oil rig at the moment and are prepared to ….
When people low ball me, I increase the price and make it sound like I just gave a discount. I too can play the game.
Love doing that… I like to respond.. "for you, I'll sell it at retail, because you're so special".
Gumtree is just the method of attracting buyers, it's no different than advertising on the old Trading Post or on the side of the street.
Gumtree allows you to make contact.
The problems you're describing are just related to dealing with people, get over it.
Barrier to entry is next to zero and has near infinitely larger reach. You're less likely to get morons paying a few $ to buy the trading post or meeting up with unscrupulous individuals on the street harassing you. Your analogies are on a completely different scale, like comparing race times between an old grandma in her wheel chair to a North Korean ICBM, traveling across the Nullabor.
Sold 2 cars in gumtree. Just know how to ignore tyre kickers
I’ve sold and bought many stuff from Gumtree (yes including a car). No issue whatsoever as long as you are prepared and have done your research.
List your item, put a fixed price or negotiable. Write in the description that any lowball offers will it be responded to. If they still try you either point them to your ad explicitly stating this or block their number.
Nothing is set/final until a piece of paper is signed between both parties stating any conditions if any.
Buyers who will take no for an answer… well… how would you like if I go up to you and say you need to give me $100 and I will take no for an answer…… you get the point…hopefully.
Write in the description that any lowball offers will it be responded to
Bottom feeders will still do their thing regardless
Nothing is set/final until a piece of paper is signed between both parties stating any conditions if any.
I would revise this to "money/funds have changed hands"
Buyers who will take no for an answer… well… how would you like if I go up to you and say you need to give me $100 and I will take no for an answer
?
Have only sold one car. Got lucky, first contact was the person who ended it up buying it.
Guy came to see it day after I put the ad up, offered a bit under what I wanted, reached a middle ground.
He paid a deposit while he got a bank cheque, gave it to me a couple days later. Off it went.
For cars, no offers over the phone or by email. Come see the car, test it and if you like it, make an offer. Put in the first part of your ad “no low ballers, no offers over phone or email.” It slows a lot of them up.
I have a disposable “Gumtree” phone number and gumtree email address. I turn the phone off until I’m ready to check it. If their message has a lowball offer in it, I delete it or send them a link to Redbook.com.au to show them the value of the vehicle and ask them, if they were selling the car, would they sell it for that, then I block them.
Never allow pick up from your house, always meet at a fuel station, car park or somewhere there are lots of people and cameras about. If they want to drive the car, just say no, sorry but my insurance won’t cover you, but I will drive it for you. If they say no, that they want to drive it, than thank them for their time and drive away.
I dont take a deposit. I say that the car is sold to the first person who pays in full. And I don’t think any amount of paperwork saying “non-refundable deposit” would hold up if they took you to court. All it would take would be them to claim something out of the contract wasn’t acceptable or the seller changed the condition of/description of the vehicle. Even car dealers have an issue keeping a deposit and the most you could probably legally keep is any transfer or advertising fees. The other thing a deposit does is ties you into that buyer. If a better offer comes up, what do you do? Sell it to the other person and give the original buyer their money back? Then why take the deposit in the first place. Just tell them, “no holds, first in with full payment get the car.”
NEVER put a lower price on the transfer form. Apart from it being illegal and fraud, you owe the buyer nothing (unless it’s family.) They can turn around and say, hey, why did you cash my bank cheque for $5000 when the price was agreed at $2000 as per the transfer/bill of sale? A friend of mine got caught. Wrote out a bill of sale and rego transfer for a lot less, got taken to court for the difference after he cashed the bank cheque. If you want, leave the rego price blank but the bill of sale has to be for the full amount.
As for people over quoting issue repairs, I just say, “well, if your mechanic charges that much, you need to find a better mechanic… “if they keep going on with that shit talk about repairs for insignificant items, them I just say, sorry, this car isnt for you and prepare to leave. This is just low balling disguised. They want to knock the price down and every little thing is an issue. I hate when I sell a bike or car and make it well cheaper than trade in and mention that it needs a gearbox or engine work and the first thing the idiot says when they turn up is, well, a new gear box will be $3000, I’ll take that off the asking price. Well, no, moron, that’s why the car is already $4000 cheaper than trade in prices.
TL;DR: Get a disposable SIM. Turn your “Gumtree” phone off at night. Ignore low ballers and mention in your ad “no offers over phone/email.” Walk away from/ignore aggressive buyers and ALWAYS meet in a public space with cameras. Be firm, only take money at time of exchange. Don’t fudge/bullshit on paperwork, it may just save your arse later on.
Good advice, thanks! Regarding the meet in a public place part - I presume that's so the lowballers don't know where you live, as the eventual buyer would have your address on the rego papers?
Meet at the public place is more for the aggressive buyers/car jackers/robbers casing and scammers.
And never give over the rego papers until you have the cash in your hand. There is nothing they need to check on there that you can’t read on the car (VIN/Eng No.) or check online (rego due date.)
On top of that, some sellers don't know how a deposit even works. I've read a few stories of sellers accepting deposits and then continuing to sell the car to another bidder offering a higher price.
If this is your idea of a real nightmare, then your life sounds pretty sheltered.
Gumtree is a free online service, you're not obligated to use it.
I find that using this sentence at the start of your item description helps.
"People who make low offers or can't write a polite message will be ignored and no further correspondence entered into."
You will still get (profanity) who waste your time, but you have already communicated to them that you aren't interested, thus saving you time replying.
I've found that some genuine buyers have a laugh at that line and strike up a conversation which often leads to a sale.
I refuse to use Gumtree after seeing a couple of flatmates use it and have experiences similar to yours. Would rather pay fees with other places to save my sanity.
Some people will always make low offers. Thats normal.
Otherwise from a long term Gumtree user none of the rest have been a problem for me.
There are good reasons for all of these occurring and I think YOU must be the problem….Professional whinger by the sound of it.
Besides everything you have said is GROSSLY EXAGERATED!!!!
One person does not equal people
1 or 2 calls after midnight is not multiple calls - why do you have your phone on anyway…turn it off if you want to sleep.
People overstating cost? Maybe in your opinion.
Repairs nearly always cost more than people think.
And if the repairs are so cheap why dont YOU fix them before selling the car.
Hence I have to conclude buyers are frustrated with YOU rather than the other way round
And Frankly I would not buy a car from you as you are obviously hiding things about your car and not willing to reasonbably negotiate.
Let me assure you that most buyers probably know the market better than you
you want a cuddle mate?
No but I think you definitely need one.
Tried to sell one car via Gumtree. Got multiple low ball offers, tyre kickers, and people way over stating how much it would cost to fix things (I gave them a full run down of what was needed). I eventually gave up, spent a few bucks fixing it myself, and paid for ad on Carsales. Sold it quickly on that, made around $2.5k (after including costs of repairs and ad) on the deal compared to what I was asking on Gumtree. Your mileage may vary, just saying what happened to me. :-)
I recently sold two cars on Gumtree for a good price on both occasions.
One guy was persistently trying to swap me for an older car worth half the price of mine. Yes it was mildly annoying but I just ignored him and moved on.
If you get offended and stressed out by dealing with sharks/bogans/scum on Gumtree then that's your fault really. But at least try not to be prejudiced because anyone who does enquire is a potential customer. If you play your cards right, a lowballer may just double his offer.
Welcome to Gumtree.
I notice that the Gumtree minimum offer amount blocking thing does not actually work.