Private sale car delivery
Discussion
Morning all,
Should hopefully be selling my classic Mini soon. Was just wondering what people think is fair regarding charging the buyer for delivery of the car?
I'm in Sussex and interested buyer is in Cumbria, I figure Birmingham is about halfway. I'd have to get the Mrs to drive her car up with us to bring me home. Is it fair to change for all the petrol we'd use for both cars for our round trip? Fair to charge extra for our 'time'? The buyer has not seen the car in the flesh as yet, is it fair to ask for a non-refundable deposit upfront incase he turns it down on viewing...
Just wondering what people's views are on this sort of thing.
Cheers!
Should hopefully be selling my classic Mini soon. Was just wondering what people think is fair regarding charging the buyer for delivery of the car?
I'm in Sussex and interested buyer is in Cumbria, I figure Birmingham is about halfway. I'd have to get the Mrs to drive her car up with us to bring me home. Is it fair to change for all the petrol we'd use for both cars for our round trip? Fair to charge extra for our 'time'? The buyer has not seen the car in the flesh as yet, is it fair to ask for a non-refundable deposit upfront incase he turns it down on viewing...
Just wondering what people's views are on this sort of thing.
Cheers!
Pooky67 said:
Morning all,
Should hopefully be selling my classic Mini soon. Was just wondering what people think is fair regarding charging the buyer for delivery of the car?
I'm in Sussex and interested buyer is in Cumbria, I figure Birmingham is about halfway. I'd have to get the Mrs to drive her car up with us to bring me home. Is it fair to change for all the petrol we'd use for both cars for our round trip? Fair to charge extra for our 'time'? The buyer has not seen the car in the flesh as yet, is it fair to ask for a non-refundable deposit upfront incase he turns it down on viewing...
Just wondering what people's views are on this sort of thing.
Cheers!
I'd say go down the route of £1 a mile, which seems to be about average for companies that offer vehicle transit anyway. Should cover fuel etc and an allowance for time spent. As for depost yes, covering that sort of mileage you don't want it to be out of pocket if the buyer changes their mind. Should hopefully be selling my classic Mini soon. Was just wondering what people think is fair regarding charging the buyer for delivery of the car?
I'm in Sussex and interested buyer is in Cumbria, I figure Birmingham is about halfway. I'd have to get the Mrs to drive her car up with us to bring me home. Is it fair to change for all the petrol we'd use for both cars for our round trip? Fair to charge extra for our 'time'? The buyer has not seen the car in the flesh as yet, is it fair to ask for a non-refundable deposit upfront incase he turns it down on viewing...
Just wondering what people's views are on this sort of thing.
Cheers!
GKP said:
You're in Sussex and so is your car. Why isn't your buyer?
This.If they want your car and cant be bothered travlling, they dont want it much. I've heard a number of stories of situations like this when the person sees the car and says "I'll leave it, cheers" - and you're in Brum out of pocket with two cars to get home. Personally, if you wont come to me to view it, you either pay before or you wont be buying.
Thanks for all the advice guys. The buyer and I are only in early stages of discussion at the moment, he's not said that he won't travel, I was just considering my options when it comes to closing the sale. I will take all necessary precautions to make sure that I'm not out of pocket if he decides to walk away if I have travelled any distance.
The Mini is heavily modified so I imagine my market is fairy niche hence me not wanting to lose the interest in the sale.

Thanks again.
The Mini is heavily modified so I imagine my market is fairy niche hence me not wanting to lose the interest in the sale.

Thanks again.
The Mini started out as a 1989 Mini City.
Fast Road small bore engine. 1062cc (998 +80thou) block, 12G940 (1275) cylinder head with custom HG, Morspeed PH3 cam, balanced crank, Megajolt mappable ignition system, SU HS4 carb with K&N and stubstack, 3.44 final drive ratio, straight cut transfer gears. Full Maniflow 1.75" single box centre exit system. Engine professionally set up, carb needle profiled and Megajolt advance set at ML Motorsport by AC Dodd.
Hi-Lo's all round, G-Max shocks, adjustable heavy duty tie-rods. Polybushed. Solid front subframe mounts.
Carbon Weezel, bespoke, expose weave, glossed, road, one piece flip front, resized Miglia Arches and single skin lockable boot lid. (this carbon cost in excess of £1000 and has seen less than 500 miles, same with the wheels and seats.)
10x6 deep dish anthracite/polished Ultralites covered in Yokohama rubber.
Corbeau Forza buckets, stripped/carpetted rear seats, custom gauge pod in dash.
Currently SORN'd but has MOT and can be tax'd.
Practically no rust after extensive long term, road going, restoration, in my care the car has had new doors, scuttle, sills etc Despite being a fair weather weekend toy only the car still has has regular oil changes and has no expense spared.
What with the shiney exposed weave carbon all over the car the paint, didn't look so nice. I was always planning to have the car resprayed but hadn't get round to it yet. With a quick respray this car could be mag featured/show winner!
Is advertised at the bargain price of £4k
More pics at -> http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Pooky67/Car...
Fast Road small bore engine. 1062cc (998 +80thou) block, 12G940 (1275) cylinder head with custom HG, Morspeed PH3 cam, balanced crank, Megajolt mappable ignition system, SU HS4 carb with K&N and stubstack, 3.44 final drive ratio, straight cut transfer gears. Full Maniflow 1.75" single box centre exit system. Engine professionally set up, carb needle profiled and Megajolt advance set at ML Motorsport by AC Dodd.
Hi-Lo's all round, G-Max shocks, adjustable heavy duty tie-rods. Polybushed. Solid front subframe mounts.
Carbon Weezel, bespoke, expose weave, glossed, road, one piece flip front, resized Miglia Arches and single skin lockable boot lid. (this carbon cost in excess of £1000 and has seen less than 500 miles, same with the wheels and seats.)
10x6 deep dish anthracite/polished Ultralites covered in Yokohama rubber.
Corbeau Forza buckets, stripped/carpetted rear seats, custom gauge pod in dash.
Currently SORN'd but has MOT and can be tax'd.
Practically no rust after extensive long term, road going, restoration, in my care the car has had new doors, scuttle, sills etc Despite being a fair weather weekend toy only the car still has has regular oil changes and has no expense spared.
What with the shiney exposed weave carbon all over the car the paint, didn't look so nice. I was always planning to have the car resprayed but hadn't get round to it yet. With a quick respray this car could be mag featured/show winner!
Is advertised at the bargain price of £4k
More pics at -> http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Pooky67/Car...
Edited by Pooky67 on Friday 18th February 15:44
My son was selling a car last year, and the buyer bought the car over the phone.
He then travelled from Scotland to London, an 1100 mile round trip. If you are selling something unique, then a buyer will expect to travel to see it.
I wouldn't even contemplate doing what you are thinking of.
He then travelled from Scotland to London, an 1100 mile round trip. If you are selling something unique, then a buyer will expect to travel to see it.
I wouldn't even contemplate doing what you are thinking of.
One of my mates was selling an Alpina 540 and collected the potential buyer from the station.
The "buyer" had a quick look around the car and then started complaining about the tyres.
It had a set of Continentals on instead of the factory fit michelins or something like that.
My mate stopped the car 100yds away from the station and told the potential buyer to get out!
The "buyer" had a quick look around the car and then started complaining about the tyres.
It had a set of Continentals on instead of the factory fit michelins or something like that.
My mate stopped the car 100yds away from the station and told the potential buyer to get out!

sim16v said:
One of my mates was selling an Alpina 540 and collected the potential buyer from the station.
The "buyer" had a quick look around the car and then started complaining about the tyres.
It had a set of Continentals on instead of the factory fit michelins or something like that.
My mate stopped the car 100yds away from the station and told the potential buyer to get out!
...and promptly lost a sale.The "buyer" had a quick look around the car and then started complaining about the tyres.
It had a set of Continentals on instead of the factory fit michelins or something like that.
My mate stopped the car 100yds away from the station and told the potential buyer to get out!

I've never understood why sellers get so precious in these situations. It's a game, nothing more. The buyer points out all manner of inconsequential faults in a bid to justify their opening offer. The seller then points out the faults are minor and suggests a higher figure, etc, etc. The buyer isn't making a personal insult or anything similarly dramatic, it's simply the beginning of a process that can often end in a sale.
It's generally worth playing along, particularly when a buyer has travelled a long way on a train with cash - unless there's something badly wrong with the car, they're unlikely to go home without it.
Edited by Risotto on Friday 18th February 16:40
Risotto said:
sim16v said:
One of my mates was selling an Alpina 540 and collected the potential buyer from the station.
The "buyer" had a quick look around the car and then started complaining about the tyres.
It had a set of Continentals on instead of the factory fit michelins or something like that.
My mate stopped the car 100yds away from the station and told the potential buyer to get out!
...and promptly lost a sale.The "buyer" had a quick look around the car and then started complaining about the tyres.
It had a set of Continentals on instead of the factory fit michelins or something like that.
My mate stopped the car 100yds away from the station and told the potential buyer to get out!

I've never understood why sellers get so precious in these situations. It's a game, nothing more. The buyer points out all manner of inconsequential faults in a bid to justify their opening offer. The seller then points out the faults are minor and suggests a higher figure, etc, etc. The buyer isn't making a personal insult or anything similarly dramatic, it's simply the beginning of a process that can often end in a sale.
It's generally worth playing along, particularly when a buyer has travelled a long way on a train with cash - unless there's something badly wrong with the car, they're unlikely to go home without it.
Edited by Risotto on Friday 18th February 16:40
I bought a Z4M in October. Travelled to Essex from Birmingham to see a 'minter' which wasn't, then Nottingham and finally Derby. Decided I wanted the one in Derby and went back to buy it the following weekend.
Sold the TT 4 weeks later to a guy from Bristol.
If they want it, they'll travel.
Sold the TT 4 weeks later to a guy from Bristol.
If they want it, they'll travel.
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