[Braumin]

Originally Posted by R608

OP - I completely get your frustration, but don't let the one experience deter you from selling privately again. I've sold a car on Craigslist along with a set of wheels and other parts and accessories for my old VW via online forums, all with no problems. I think if you put the right information in your ad, and ignore brainless responses, you should be able to complete your sale just fine. A few thoughts:

- If your price is firm, say so. If possible, have similar items that you can point the buyer to as proof that your price is fair.

- If it's wheels and tires you're selling, put the tire size and wheel specs in the ad, let them know what car(s) you know they will work on, and state right in the ad that they likely fit other makes and models also, but it's up to them to confirm compatibility *before* they contact you. If they don't, ignore them.

- For car parts and anything else where there's apt to be an enthusiast following, I'd much rather sell via forums like this one than deal with local classifieds or craigslist. I think you just have a better chance of getting good buyers.

- It was nice for you to offer, but I'd be extremely reluctant to go changing anyone's wheels like that. I wouldn't want to be on the hook for damage to the buyer's car if anything went wrong. I'd rather deliver the wheels to the buyer's house, possibly bringing someone with me for safety's sake, or to a dealer/repair shop and let the buyer worry about getting them on. If that's really enough to lose a potential buyer, so be it.

I did have the tire size listed in the add, and I stated specifically that these wheels fit BMW 3 series from 1998-2012 except 335i. I also listed the other size BMW tires that these ones could replace like 205/50/17 and 225/45/17 etc. I guess I should have put a note in the listing saying they WON'T fit any other cars.

Generally if I am going to sell something, I will use our bulletin board at work first. Unfortunately I had no luck at work - there are not a lot of people with a 3 series I guess. I did sell some Mini Cooper tires through work and it was a completely different experience when you can trust the person buying from you.

I would have loved to sell them on a forum like this, but unfortunately I doubt there are a lot of members here in my area.

Also I love this board - I basically just had to rant a bit because I was so annoyed, and I get a ton of great responses!

[theblackmamba]

First move you made wrong was to invite Him to your house. Second was touch His car.

Every time I sell things on craigslist or these forums I get lowballed to hell (some guy wanted to pay me $2 for a PayPal report BC he felt that he just needed one and I was obligated to help another e90 owner out -- another guy offered me $100 for my helix dv). I never have people meet at my house and usually if they come with something like "oh will you take $50 instead of $100" I just get back in my car and leave.

[Wolf 335]

You're actually lucky you didnt end up doing his wheels, becasue if he had any sort of an accident you could be liable for it. If he could prove that you in fact did install his tires. Lesson learned, dont install anything for anyone, and meet at a predetermined location and not your home.

[Dark_Knight_335]

This ^^

[Braumin]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

You're actually lucky you didnt end up doing his wheels, becasue if he had any sort of an accident you could be liable for it. If he could prove that you in fact did install his tires. Lesson learned, dont install anything for anyone, and meet at a predetermined location and not your home.

Sorry I don't live in the USA. Luckily our courts are not quite as insane as the USA courts as for liability. IE if you buy coffee at McDonalds, dump it on yourself and get burned, it's not McDonald's fault.

[Wolf 335]

Hahaha

McDonalds protected themselves by placing a "Caution Hot" on the cup. Because they did get sued for that issue.

[GChase]

Time is money and money is time

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

meet at a predetermined location and not your home.

I thought that was common sense.....

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of nice people on this forum who want to help others out, but it's no different than internet dating or meeting strangers in any other way. There are predators out there who use the ruse of a purchase to take advantage of people. It's not worth $1,000, to invite one of those individuals to your home.

I went to somebody's house to have work done on my Nissan, imho I talked to the kid on the phone multiple times so I felt he was on the up and up. But I went with my wife's cousin just in case, and he had his buddies there too (they were gonna do some welding for me at a price that was like an hour's pay when the body shop wanted more than 10X that)...

[ChasVS]

Originally Posted by fenixxishot

Cost of doing business my good man. People in general are morons. Thinking has become an overrated after thought no one plans anything any more they just do and hope it turns out in their benefit. No one is appreciative of what is done or offered they just expect it with out understanding who or where it came from. Sorry for my rant I could continue but I fear it will become political and that's not what I want.

[PSEE]

...watch the movie "Idiocracy"


unfortunately, we're already there...

[3Bimmer]

Do you still have the wheels? Will they fit a '72 Ford Pinto?

[3Bimmer]

I sold a set of 16" E46 wheels on Craigslist once. I had three 'buyers' contact me with similar questions like the OP experienced. Very annoying. The real buyer called and asked the right questions, told me what car he was going to put them on and showed up with the correct cash and no issues.

I then tried selling a computer on Craigslist and got all kinds of turkeys -- not one serious inquiry. I did get an offer to ship it to Nigeria, but I politely declined that one...

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by John 070

I thought that was common sense.....

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of nice people on this forum who want to help others out, but it's no different than internet dating or meeting strangers in any other way. There are predators out there who use the ruse of a purchase to take advantage of people. It's not worth $1,000, to invite one of those individuals to your home.

I went to somebody's house to have work done on my Nissan, imho I talked to the kid on the phone multiple times so I felt he was on the up and up. But I went with my wife's cousin just in case, and he had his buddies there too (they were gonna do some welding for me at a price that was like an hour's pay when the body shop wanted more than 10X that)...

You seriously worry about this? Any random bad guy could invade your home at any time. Why bother to go to the pretense of buying something? I'd be more worried as the buyer, showing up at some random place with a wad of cash.

Then again, I live in a place where people often don't lock thier houses. I did not even HAVE keys to my house for the first 8 years I lived here - got them when I bought new door handles. And realistically, locking the door just means replacing the door after the thieves kick it in to steal your stuff anyway. Might as well save the damage to the door.

[Braumin]

Originally Posted by John 070

I thought that was common sense.....

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of nice people on this forum who want to help others out, but it's no different than internet dating or meeting strangers in any other way. There are predators out there who use the ruse of a purchase to take advantage of people. It's not worth $1,000, to invite one of those individuals to your home.

I went to somebody's house to have work done on my Nissan, imho I talked to the kid on the phone multiple times so I felt he was on the up and up. But I went with my wife's cousin just in case, and he had his buddies there too (they were gonna do some welding for me at a price that was like an hour's pay when the body shop wanted more than 10X that)...

I'll agree with you, but where I live that's not a problem. We have our shady characters and they live in their shady neighborhoods so obviously you have to use some common sense, but really it's not a big deal here.

[cbad335]

Hahaha, I feel your pain. I can't believe the BS I've put myself through to sell a few car parts over the years.

[StevenY.]

That was too nice of you to drive him in your own car and even offer to mount his tires for free. The nerves he had to ask for money back because you couldn't mount his tires. :

[The X Men]

Braumin, you are lucky the guy didnt pull a gun on you

[StevenY.]

Originally Posted by The X Men

Braumin, you are lucky the guy didnt pull a gun on you

Oh shit, I thought about that. What if it happened while OP was driving him to the ATM in his 335i, oh damn.

[EQUANT]

So, did you sell the tires in the end? Will those fit my '96 Acura? If yes, i'd like them for free, but you do the fitting!

[Braumin]

LOL they are gone, and guns aren't a big problem here!

p.s. no they don't fit the 96 Acura, but they would if you just convert the hubs to BMW hubs. Should be easy!

[martyp]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

In the US it is the same retards, but they shot on CraigsList, but basically the same experiences - everyone calls and is a moron - has no clue about what they want or need. Some even seem to just be shopaholics, they want it, going to come get it right away, get all the info and then never show. Even trying to give good stuff away isn't worth the effort, I just throw half it away - my favorite is the lack of intelligence - even if I put in the add that you will need a truck of van because you are picking up something giant, people just show up in their civic and then think it is my problem to get it to fit!!!

My wife even had one woman buy some new things that we had for our bathroom - towel bars etc - like $150 of stuff for $25 all new in boxes, then she calls back a few days later says they look used, we don't have time to deal with her shit, so we just leave the $25 on the front porch while we are at work and tell her to pick it up and leave the towel bars, but she just drives over, steals the money and keeps the stuff - people just suck - don't really care about the money, but makes me trust people a little less!

I'm sorry but if you thought enough of a complete stranger to pick up money and leave merchandise, you are dreaming in color.

[Overspooled]

Wow frustrating isn't it? I can't stand selling stuff!