Aggressive Sales Tactic, or Understandable Common Practice?
May 31, 2015 10:22 PM Subscribe
I am shopping for a used car, and I found one which passed most of the points in my initial inspection. When I proposed meeting the owner and the car at a mechanic for a complete pre-purchase inspection--for which I offered to pay--the owner said he'd only agree to the inspection if I gave him a $500 deposit. The deposit would be non-refundable if the car passed the mechanic's pre-purchase inspection.
My initial instinct was his demand for a nonrefundable deposit to take the car to a mechanic is an underhanded and aggressive sales tactic, suggesting the car has problems he's hoping I won't find without a mechanic, and he wants me to buy the car with only my cursory field inspection.
On the other hand, I can understand his unwillingness to waste time on a visit to a mechanic since I am not obligated to buy the car if it passes the mechanic's inspection, despite the fact I offered to pay for the inspection.
Is the owner's demand for a non-refundable deposit to meet for a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection an understandable request, an aggressive sales tactic, or is common practice for selling a used car?
My initial instinct was his demand for a nonrefundable deposit to take the car to a mechanic is an underhanded and aggressive sales tactic, suggesting the car has problems he's hoping I won't find without a mechanic, and he wants me to buy the car with only my cursory field inspection.
On the other hand, I can understand his unwillingness to waste time on a visit to a mechanic since I am not obligated to buy the car if it passes the mechanic's inspection, despite the fact I offered to pay for the inspection.
Is the owner's demand for a non-refundable deposit to meet for a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection an understandable request, an aggressive sales tactic, or is common practice for selling a used car?
I've been involved in dozens of private buys and sells and never seen or heard of this before.
posted by stellathon at 10:31 PM on May 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by stellathon at 10:31 PM on May 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
There may be something you like about this car or you have a crush on it for any number of reasons that might influence your decision making, so I want you to picture my voice echoing in your brain like the "Kent, this is God" scene in Real Genius: run.
posted by ftm at 10:37 PM on May 31, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by ftm at 10:37 PM on May 31, 2015 [5 favorites]
Counter-offer to him that he can have a copy of the mechanic's report afterwards, if you don't buy the car. Then he gets something of value which he can use (or not) when selling the car to someone else.
Or if no written report simply point that out to him, that there's value to him in getting an independent car inspection.
posted by mono blanco at 10:39 PM on May 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Or if no written report simply point that out to him, that there's value to him in getting an independent car inspection.
posted by mono blanco at 10:39 PM on May 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Wow, that is absolutely outrageous. Getting a mechanic's inspection is the minimum due diligence you should do when buying a used car, and for them to imply anything negative about you doing so seems extremely shady to me. If you are willing to pay for the inspection, surely that shows you are a genuinely interested buyer and you would already be making an investment that you would lose if you backed out for no reason. I have never heard of requiring a deposit before getting a mechanic's inspection, and it's strange enough that I suspect it is a scam. Do not proceed!
posted by Cheese Monster at 10:39 PM on May 31, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by Cheese Monster at 10:39 PM on May 31, 2015 [12 favorites]
The request is beyond ludicrous.
I agree with mono blanco, have offered to give the seller the mechanic's report if I paid for the inspection and didn't buy the car.
(And at the risk of stating the obvious, don't pass on the inspection. The stories I could tell....)
posted by ambient2 at 12:24 AM on June 1, 2015
I agree with mono blanco, have offered to give the seller the mechanic's report if I paid for the inspection and didn't buy the car.
(And at the risk of stating the obvious, don't pass on the inspection. The stories I could tell....)
posted by ambient2 at 12:24 AM on June 1, 2015
"Sure, if you give me a $500 deposit that's non-refundable if the mechanic finds anything that'd cost more than $5 to fix."
posted by klangklangston at 12:28 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by klangklangston at 12:28 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Run, now. I've never heard of this before, and it sounds especially kinky coming from a private buyer, since getting a mechanic's check overs is standard used-car buying advice.
This seller is either afraid of something wrong being found, or it's a scam --- I can easily see him refusing to give back the money if the mechanic DOES find a problem, insisting either you lied or that the mechanic doing the check CAUSED the problem. (Also, don't use a mechanic the seller picks for that checkup!)
There are lots if other cars out there: forget this one.
posted by easily confused at 2:16 AM on June 1, 2015 [6 favorites]
This seller is either afraid of something wrong being found, or it's a scam --- I can easily see him refusing to give back the money if the mechanic DOES find a problem, insisting either you lied or that the mechanic doing the check CAUSED the problem. (Also, don't use a mechanic the seller picks for that checkup!)
There are lots if other cars out there: forget this one.
posted by easily confused at 2:16 AM on June 1, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's unreasonable, not only because it's too much to ask of a potential buyer but also because it makes no sense. An inspection like this isn't a pass/fail sort of thing; it'll almost surely turn up at least a short list of things to be concerned about. Some might be things you know about already, some might be inconsequential, some might require price adjustments, and some might be deal breakers.
If there's any sign that this person sells cars regularly, i.e. they're a shade tree mechanic who buys busted cars, fixes them and re-sells, then I'd absolutely run away because a person doing that sort of thing knows better than to pull this kind of crap unless they're actively trying to cheat you. However it's not uncommon for private sellers to be irrationally focused on avoiding some nightmare sales scenario they've imagined or read about or experienced once before, and to get invested in dumb, unworkable solutions like this one. I would walk away, but if it's an unusual car that you really like and the asking price is fair then I'd probably walk away politely and leave the door open if they change their mind.
posted by jon1270 at 3:26 AM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
If there's any sign that this person sells cars regularly, i.e. they're a shade tree mechanic who buys busted cars, fixes them and re-sells, then I'd absolutely run away because a person doing that sort of thing knows better than to pull this kind of crap unless they're actively trying to cheat you. However it's not uncommon for private sellers to be irrationally focused on avoiding some nightmare sales scenario they've imagined or read about or experienced once before, and to get invested in dumb, unworkable solutions like this one. I would walk away, but if it's an unusual car that you really like and the asking price is fair then I'd probably walk away politely and leave the door open if they change their mind.
posted by jon1270 at 3:26 AM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
The deposit would be non-refundable if the car passed the mechanic's pre-purchase inspection.
Even if the mechanic does find some things wrong, you think you're getting that $500 back easily? No, he's going to use it to bully you into buying the car anyway. Plus, he knows you're credulous and inexperienced because you agreed to it in the first place. Don't do it.
posted by ryanrs at 4:21 AM on June 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
Even if the mechanic does find some things wrong, you think you're getting that $500 back easily? No, he's going to use it to bully you into buying the car anyway. Plus, he knows you're credulous and inexperienced because you agreed to it in the first place. Don't do it.
posted by ryanrs at 4:21 AM on June 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
When I lived in California I was surprised to learn about the practice of "curbstoning" ... auto dealers posing as private sellers I suppose to entice you to let your guard down and trust them more than you would if you knew they were a professional used car dealer.
This kind of hard-nosed negotiation strongly suggests this is a curbstoner. And if there's anyone less trustworthy than a used car dealer, it is someone who lies about whether they are a used car dealer.
posted by jayder at 6:24 AM on June 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
This kind of hard-nosed negotiation strongly suggests this is a curbstoner. And if there's anyone less trustworthy than a used car dealer, it is someone who lies about whether they are a used car dealer.
posted by jayder at 6:24 AM on June 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
He's basically trying to make you "don't waste my time if you're not serious", which makes me agree with jayder that this may be a curbstoner (dealer posing as private seller). I'd walk.
posted by kschang at 8:48 AM on June 1, 2015
posted by kschang at 8:48 AM on June 1, 2015
The seller may have gotten some bad advice. I would politely say I'm unable to give a non-refundable deposit, and I always have a car inspected if I'm serious about buying it. Please let me know if you change your position.
posted by theora55 at 9:41 AM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 9:41 AM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
You could so easily talk to the mechanic beforehand, and make sure he will say at the end of the inspection, "Here's a list of concerns, FAILED INSPECTION"
But like ryanrs says, it's not about that. It's about having your $500 in his hand, giving him leverage. Plus the "initiative" or take-charge factor - he's turned you telling him what he's got to do to sell his car (you in charge) to HIM telling you what YOU have to do for the privilege of buying it.
posted by ctmf at 9:53 PM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
But like ryanrs says, it's not about that. It's about having your $500 in his hand, giving him leverage. Plus the "initiative" or take-charge factor - he's turned you telling him what he's got to do to sell his car (you in charge) to HIM telling you what YOU have to do for the privilege of buying it.
posted by ctmf at 9:53 PM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's not a very well-thought-out trick though, I don't think. What if you do it anyway, then your accomplice mechanic proclaims it a failed inspection? (I mean, by what standard? Maybe your mechanic is hard to please.)
Now you're in a stronger position if you do still want the car. That price?! For a car that failed the inspection?! You're going to have to come down on that. Every time he brings up what you agreed to/said you were looking for/would meet your needs blah blah, now you say "yeah, but that was before I knew it failed the inspection" as if that's some objective thing and you'd have to be crazy to buy it without significant incentive added.
I guess he thinks that's going to happen anyway.
posted by ctmf at 10:18 PM on June 1, 2015
Now you're in a stronger position if you do still want the car. That price?! For a car that failed the inspection?! You're going to have to come down on that. Every time he brings up what you agreed to/said you were looking for/would meet your needs blah blah, now you say "yeah, but that was before I knew it failed the inspection" as if that's some objective thing and you'd have to be crazy to buy it without significant incentive added.
I guess he thinks that's going to happen anyway.
posted by ctmf at 10:18 PM on June 1, 2015
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posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:26 PM on May 31, 2015 [6 favorites]