Would you steal an A?

freak

freak

Senior Member
Last week there was a 28 tudor in my town on craigslist for $2000.00. There were pics and it appeared complete although a little rough but actually little rust and no holes. I doubt that it ran but it was indoors and I'd guess it wasn't seized. It looked to be worth more than $2000 even without an engine. I bet it was worth 3x what he was asking. It wasn't the deal of the century but I think it was way under-priced. I called the same day and it was gone. The ad disappeared quickly as I bet he had never ending calls on it. At the time I was so excited that I bet I would have taken the car and ran. I might have felt guilty about it later though. It would be hard to pass up a steal. What would you do if someone had an A for sale and obviously didn't know the value. Would you laugh as you drove/hauled it away?
 
Each person values their merchandise on how they see fit. It is not up to us to question another persons property and how they value it.
 
Hmm. Tough question. I think I would feel out the seller first and see what his inclination is.

A lot of selling isn't for the money but rather "to get it in the hands of those who will use and appreciate it." This especially so for the Model A where it has such a following among the adherents.

If the seller's primary motivation is transfer to an afficionado - then I could be burdened to take it "at a steal."

If the seller's primary motivation is to make money on the car - I'd have a little trouble going ahead with the deal.

But this is me. I don't like to take advantage. And fairness trumps profit or acquisition.

Other's mileage may vary.

My most recent acquisition of this sort was a gentleman who was selling a Gordon-Smith head for the Model A Air Compressor. Advertised on Craigslist for a couple of months at $75, it seemed to go nowhere. I finally called and went to see him.

He knew what he was selling. In fact his interest was more into 1950s era Chevrolets. But he had happened upon the Gordon-Smith setup and thought he might use it himself. But never did. And now he was cleaning out.

"You're interested?" he said. "You TAKE IT and if you get it going - you send me something that you think is fair."

I had trouble with this too. When I buy something, I like to think the deal is done. And I didn't want the encumbrance of remembering to settle with him later.

We finally agreed to split the $75 in half and I would pay him $40 (the closest even bills I had in my wallet.) The Smith setup is worth all of that.

But I consider that a deal well made. We each got what we wanted. The Smith setup is "saved" (his interest) and in the hands of someone who can either use it (our interest) - or will get it to someone who can. (my interest.)

Joe K
 
If a person is asking a price like that pay it. But when they have no idea and you give them a price and its very low. Then yes I would feel bad. You never know the reason for getting rid of a car. I've seen them sell real cheap because people just want them gone. A few years ago. My dad found a 25 touring car t. In a barn that belonged to a old lady. She told him to make her a offer. That she did not know what it is worth. He did not either and could not get ahold of me. A guy my dad had coffee with that afternoon. Went and offered her 300 bucks. And she took it. I hope that guy never sleeps again.
 
Think about this for a moment;

You see a car in an ad for $2000, what you feel could go for 3x the asking price.

The wife of a friend comes to you and wants to sell you their deceased husbands car for $2000, that you feel could go for 3x the asking price.

Is there a difference?

In my case yes, I would jump at the first and renegotiate the second, offering more.
 
I ran this scenario by a minister at a recent gathering stating that sooner or later I will stumble upon the deal of the century with the seller not knowing, should I bring it to his attention or not and his reply was that it is the sellers responsibility to know pricing.
 
Nope, as long as you pay what they're asking, and not try to still low blow them with a offer below that. I'm not the type to try to nickel and dime everyone to death. If you know it's a great deal, and have no problem spending the money just give the seller what they want. I did this with the deluxe phaeton we just bought. I knew it was a steal, and the guy selling it knew he had priced it low. I didn't barter prices with him at all, I just asked when I could come get it. If you low ball someone, then a 3rd party is liable to out bid you and maybe even offer for than what the seller is asking. But most of the time, if the seller isn't a crook, if you offer that person full asking price they will sell it to you and nobody else. But don't get me wrong, if something's not a good deal or overpriced that's when I discuss price with someone. Just my .02
 
In the early 80's I bought a couple Chevy dealer's albums from the 50's when the Chevy dealer had their going out of business auction. This was at a small town in S.D. and I was able to buy them for $10 each. A year later I sold them at a swap meet for $25 each and was told as soon as I sold them that the going price is $125 each. Live and learn.
 
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freak,

Sometimes the seller just wants to sell it to someone that THEY think will appreciate it for what it is, and maybe that so happens to be YOU.

I got approached once by someone who wanted to trade my '25 something for a '30 Model A. We dickered for a couple of weeks and eventually traded pink slips, so to speak. He wouldn't sell it for cash.

As it turns out, I ruined Christmas for several people that year. But, in retrospect, I believe it was fate. I didn't take advantage of anyone, we were both happy.

Darryl in Fairbanks
 
I recently sold a high dollar camper for short bucks just to get rid of it. Buyer was happy, I got some room in the garage. Sometimes people overthink a situation.
 
bart78 said:
a car. I've seen them sell real cheap because people just want them gone. A few years ago. My dad found a 25 touring car t. In a barn that belonged to a old lady. She told him to make her a offer. That she did not know what it is worth. He did not either and could not get ahold of me. A guy my dad had coffee with that afternoon. Went and offered her 300 bucks. And she took it. I hope that guy never sleeps again.
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That's pretty low,,,,what a scum bag no other way to describe cheating an old widow lady and I'm sure she could have used the money.

He'll get his someday, somehow.
 
Went and offered her 300 bucks. And she took it. I hope that guy never sleeps again.
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And we wear our reputation like a cheap suit!

Perhaps his fits him all too well?

Joe K
 
:mad:I just watched a nasty experience unfold. A close friend of mine gave his daughter a beautiful low mileage 29 Briggs bodied town sedan(24,000 miles).It was all original except the paint and new LeBaron Bonney interior. Fast forward 10 years and the father develops dimentia. The daughter wants to sell the car and contacts a local buyer,seller,restorer of Model A fords who actually did work for the father. This kind hearted buyer took it off her hands for slightly over $2000. Makes you wonder how these people can live with themselves. It still makes me sick and I was in no way involved.
 
:rolleyes:Yes I would, just as it is a let the buyer beware world {have you ever been screwed or mislead on an item?}Than let the seller beware if they don't know or care to find out a fair price than so be it! Yeah I am grumpy today! bobbycoke
 
I no longer list things on eBay for others. Had an item, researched past sales and listed it for $100., it sold for $150. Next week the "friend" bitched that "my friends said it should have sold for more". MILLIONS of people got to see the item World Wide, she got $50. more than she wanted. No more, list your own stuff. Bob
 
As a dealer, I have been in the situation many times of buying the item being sold that was under priced by the seller because of their ignorance. If the selling price is ridiculously low, after I have closed the deal, I have advanced a reasonable difference and asked them to use the money towards their needs. I have learned to close the deal first with finished paperwork in hand because of my experience on a car that a seller asking $2,000 for. Instead of paying the price, I offered them $4,000 for it, in which they raised their asking price to $5,000. and they were now firm at that price. I didn't buy the car because it was then a little more than full price and I felt betrayed because I had been honest with them. In an open auction, when ever a purchase is made far below its true value, I only pay what my wining bid was. Honesty is still the best policy.
 
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