First and foremost, please only serious responses.
Okay I might be breaking some car dealer code or something, but come on and let me in the loop, becaue I’m at my witts end with this crap.
My story might be a little long, but vaild for how you might respond.
A lot of people that I have contacted in the newspaper (because this is the only way I can find cars within my price range) will tell me that they have sold the car I’m calling about, but the all of a sudden they have another car but it’s supposed to a little more than the car I was calling for. A lot of these men that I’m calling seem to already be dealers.
The feeling that I’m getting is that these dealers are buying cars from these accutions that regular folk can’t get into, and they probably half a** fix them up and sell them. Am I correct and should I avoid these type of deals. Does anyone have some hidden advice that you could give in dealing with these people.
Also when the sellar says they will make it where that you want have to pay sales tax is that another way of knowing that they are dealer and something might be wrong with this situation?
WANDA
Comments
A dealer cant legally sell outside of his lot. This is called “curb-stoning” and is in violation of the rules set forth by the DMV when he obtained his Dealers License. Even if he is a wholesaler he has to note it in the newspaper ad. Will usually look like this “call 555-1212 dlr. ” They have to note if they are a dealer.
sounds like a dealer, and by dealer I don’t mean a traditional new car dealer or used car lot, but someone who sells so many cars per year (maybe from their home) that they are required to get a dealer’s license from the state to legally buy and sell in quantity.
Most ads in the paper from dealers say “dlr” by the phone number. Many of these are traditional dealers. Some may be a guy with a dealer’s license.
I wouldn’t deal with the kind of folks you’ve corresponded with.
When you find a car you like, take a test drive, and ask if a mechanic of your own choosing can inspect it. An inspection should cost $50-$100 for an old Big 3 or Asian car. You should pay for the inspection.
I will be honest I don’t know the answer to your question. But I just wanted to express my sympathy. I know what you’re going through. Just today I was scheduled to meet someone who claimed to be selling a car that I was very much interested in buying. Really long story short…she no-showed!! When I called her number suddenly her husband was telling me about another car they had instead. I couldn’t believe it. I guess I’m a little naive and expected the best out of people. I took off work, drove an hour to meet her…and she no-shows? No call or anything? It was really disappointing. So, somehow, someway I need to gather the strength to head out and try it again, because like you I’m on a budget (it’s actually my 16 year old son’s budget), and I don’t know where else to look.
You need to check out they have an excellent article that gives you the inside scoop on dealerships. The admin used to be a car salesman. Its worth checking out.
Mac150 is right about the terminology–Curbstoning is described as “Curbing” which is the illegal practice of unlicensed dealers selling cars by posing as private sellers.
Or in some cases even dealers selling cars outside of their place of business.
Most states have specific laws that prohibit this practice. If you find this to be the case perhaps you should contact your local Attorney Generals office. The cars that are sold are often times salvaged vehicles with clear titles, or at a minimum just a pure piece of junk.
If you seriously consider buying one of these then extensive is research is in order, especially with the title, registration and over all condition. If the seller can’t produce a title with him/her listed as the owner then in all cases you’d be wise to search else where.
It’s difficult these days to find an individual seller from the newspaper and not much you can do except ask when you first call. Sometimes you can find individual sellers in smaller auto catalogs such as Thrifty Nickel, American Classifieds etc, but even then most of them are from dealers, either used car lots or dealerships.
Jerry