Whilst looking for that 'ideal first car' for my son, I noticed 2 large boxed ads in the local paper & by the style, placed I assume by a trader. Both cars are not run of the mill and are fairly desirable and reasonably priced. The mileages are not stated so presumably high.
Both these ads ended with 'NO TIMEWASTERS!' boldly stated.
Even if I was looking for one of these models I don't think I'd bother. Mobile no only given so if you phoned this conjures up a meeting place in some car park with an oafish dealer holding out his hand for your wedge within 1 minute of your arrival. Heaven forbid if you want a test drive and don't even mention an independent check. You could just imagine the reaction if you had a 30 minute test drive - using up his fuel and then said --- No thanks!!
No one wants to deal with punter's who have no intention of buying in the first place but surely this is part of selling any item and it is quite likely that people will view and for genuine reasons decide not to buy. Adding NO TIMEWASTERS to me says the same as 'if you view you buy'. Surely I can't be alone in disregarding these ads out of hand.
Anyone agree or disagree
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I agree, there's plenty of other motors out there. Forget these two. It's like some listings on Ebay, if you win you pay within 3 days or else. Timewasters will not be tolerated. Do as the ad says.. don't waste your time.
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I would still call to enquire about these cars if they aren't run of the mill, but I would try to judge what his attitude is like and if I wasn't happy I wouldnt bother.
Unfortunately if you have a car that is even slightly out of the ordinary you are likely to get a lot of timewasters and test pilots who want nothing more than to be a bit nosey, turn up, waste your time and then leave without buying.
Focus RS used to attract them like flies to muck. One guy had the test drive etc. and then on return to the dealership said he wasn't actually interested in buying as he would have to re-mortgage his home to pay for it. That's damned annoying for a big dealer, but would be infuriating for a small trader or private seller!
Blue
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On the same theme I remember speaking to a chap who was selling a Sierra XR4 x 4 when they were fairly new. He told me he had taken 3 £100 non refundable deposits on the vehicle but the punters either couldn't raise the rest of the cash or afford the insurance.
Although he made an extra £300 on the deal he would have preferred to sell it the first time and avoid extra hassle and costs etc.
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Some valid comments ---- I can understand how annoying 'test pilots' can be. To me though, these statements so often come over as a 'threat' rather than a 'request'
How much better does 'Please, no timewasters' sound rather than
'NO TIMEWASTERS!'
One of the main rules of selling anything is presentation and this starts with the ad.
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I think it's a sort of code. It means, this is serious stuff, a bit beyond the ordinary man in the street, so it's warning him not to waste his, and my, time looking at things he doesn't appreciate. But YOU, and you know who I mean, will appreciate this rarer commodity and will naturally expect it to be priced accordingly.
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We still (just about) live in a free country and if someone comes along to view a car or whatever is for sale and, after investigation and examination, decides not to buy then that is their perogative.
No point in buying if it's not suitable or because you feel you are under an obligation by taking up the seller's time.
The customer is always right used to be a common saying.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Person who comes to look at car with no intention of buying = timewaster.
Potential buyer who comes to look at car but decides not to buy = timewaster.
Person who comes to look at car and buys it = mug.
Cheers, SS
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The logic of this escapes me...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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I never thought "No timewasters" was actually targeted towards buyers who want to come around and just check it out. Although I never used any prohibitions while selling my previous cars, I can certainly see how such disclaimers might look to other people. I always presumed "No tyre kickers" to be reserved as defending valuable cars from being abused by teenage punters. "No timewasters" in my mind is today's equivalent to "No canvasseurs". The old form is unfortunatelly pretty much lost on everyone with nature wicked enough to be involved in telesales and as such it only gives them excuse to call and try to flog the seller holiday timeshare, cardata's "we have sellers looking for cars like yours if you pay us just £95" or "vould you be interested in calls to India and Pakistan for just 29p a minute sir?"
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"we have sellers looking for cars like yours if youpay us just £95"
Agree. I put my car up for sale in Auto Trader recently and the only people who called me were time wasting canvassers.
"Hello, are you the person selling the Subaru Forester"
"Might be, are you interested in buying it?"
"No, I am from dog breath car magazin............."
"Two words darling and the second one is 'OFF' bye bye"
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