Need advice on touchy subject - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-31-2009, 09:40 PM

Hey guys have a problem I have a friend "John" and he has a 1983 240D with 223,000 miles on it with no working AC and a few rust spots on it but the paint looks good and such and no service history other than the salesmens promise that it had bee taken care of at their dealership. He bought this car a few years ago against my advice for a lot of money 7K or so if I am remembering correctly. Now "John" wants to sell if for 6K ish......my question is how do I tactfully bring it up that his car isn't worth anywhere near that much without hurting his feelings?

Jeremy5848 · #2 07-31-2009, 09:44 PM

Perhaps you could search around this forum for some comments on the value of models similar to his, find some eBay or Craigs listings and forward them anonymously. A 240D (stick or auto?) with that many miles, rust of any kind, and no records is unlikely to sell for more than a thousand or two. If it sells at all.

cdplayer · #3 07-31-2009, 09:44 PM

You could wait a few days until several of us respond. Then print them out deleting your own response.

Or, do a search on 240D value and see what comes up.
Throw in a printout of a Kelly bluebook based on the mileage and location(ZIP) of the car.

1stimer · #4 07-31-2009, 09:50 PM

He'll learn really fast when he doesn't get any nibbles. Show him craigslist ad's in the area and completed listings on e-bay.

#5 07-31-2009, 09:56 PM

Upon reflection Brian is more than likely right. I think I will just send him to ebay or such.......I just hate for him to find out the really hard way. Thanks for the repsonses guys!

Brian Carlton · #6 07-31-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpplease

Upon reflection Brian is more than likely right. I think I will just send him to ebay or such.......I just hate for him to find out the really hard way. Thanks for the repsonses guys!

In this situation, the "hard way" is not all that bad. After a month or two, he'll lower the price. There is no harm other than the passage of time.

He may never lower the price to the point where it will sell...........the embarrassment might be too heavy for him to bear. This is his right and you'd be ill-advised to intervene.

kerry · #7 07-31-2009, 10:13 PM

If 'John' didn't educate himself before he bought it, it's unlikely education is going to have much effect now. I know of RV's which have been for sale for many years while the owner claims he is asking a market price. Perhaps he will find another uneducated person to buy it.

Brian Carlton · #8 07-31-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

If 'John' didn't educate himself before he bought it, it's unlikely education is going to have much effect now. I know of RV's which have been for sale for many years while the owner claims he is asking a market price. Perhaps he will find another uneducated person to buy it.

This approach normally works with houses. If you wait long enough, the market finally reaches the asking price.

It doesn't do all that well with most vehicles...............

BodhiBenz1987 · #9 08-01-2009, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

In this situation, the "hard way" is not all that bad. After a month or two, he'll lower the price. There is no harm other than the passage of time.

He may never lower the price to the point where it will sell...........the embarrassment might be too heavy for him to bear. This is his right and you'd be ill-advised to intervene.

I agree with BC here. The market will tell him. I see plenty of old Mercedes listed for WAYYYY too much, in the classified, by the side of the street, and of course on eBay and craiglist. A lot of people just don't know ... it isn't that they're stupid or trying to rip anyone off ... they just check out NADA value and don't get that that isn't going to fly. My 240D was in NADA at $3,275 as the low when I bought it ... seller started out at $3,000 ... makes sense. He had gone pretty far down from that when I bought it, and if it weren't for me, probably would have had to go down farther. I'd say that's how it will go with your friend ... no one's going to bite at $6,000, and he's going to get a lot of much lower offers or suggestions. It's his choice where he goes from there. I don't think it would be out of line to politely say that might be a bit much, considering the poor economy ... you don't have to insult him or the car, just the lousy market.

Or you could send him here, where there are plenty of people who get a bizarre kick out of tearing apart every poor soul who thinks his Mercedes is worth more than it is.

TylerH860 · #10 08-01-2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

Or you could send him here, where there are plenty of people who get a bizarre kick out of tearing apart every poor soul who thinks his Mercedes is worth more than it is.

strelnik · #11 08-01-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

I agree with BC here. The market will tell him. I see plenty of old Mercedes listed for WAYYYY too much, in the classified, by the side of the street, and of course on eBay and craiglist. A lot of people just don't know ... it isn't that they're stupid or trying to rip anyone off ... they just check out NADA value and don't get that that isn't going to fly. My 240D was in NADA at $3,275 as the low when I bought it ... seller started out at $3,000 ... makes sense. He had gone pretty far down from that when I bought it, and if it weren't for me, probably would have had to go down farther. I'd say that's how it will go with your friend ... no one's going to bite at $6,000, and he's going to get a lot of much lower offers or suggestions. It's his choice where he goes from there. I don't think it would be out of line to politely say that might be a bit much, considering the poor economy ... you don't have to insult him or the car, just the lousy market.

Or you could send him here, where there are plenty of people who get a bizarre kick out of tearing apart every poor soul who thinks his Mercedes is worth more than it is.

Agreed. The ONLY sometimes exception I know is a celebrity car. I know a guy who bought one of Steve Martin's cars and it still had Steve's personal ownership papers, the registration with his signature, and a bill of sale as well. Plus he took photos with himself and Steve standing next to the car. He paid a little more and sold it for a little more than that several years later. But he couldn't retire on the difference.

H-townbenzoboy · #12 08-01-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

I agree with BC here. The market will tell him. I see plenty of old Mercedes listed for WAYYYY too much, in the classified, by the side of the street, and of course on eBay and craiglist. A lot of people just don't know ... it isn't that they're stupid or trying to rip anyone off ... they just check out NADA value and don't get that that isn't going to fly.

That reminds me of this lady I met trying to sell her 300SD, I think it was an 83. It had about 112k miles, but it had the usual problems with a car of its age such as clearcoat peeling on the hood and trunk, vacuum leaks, oil leaks. In fact, the vacuum pump was kaput and she was driving it around without power brakes or center vents, she showed up and shut the car off under the hood. She was asking $12k for it, and that's after she came down from $14k since the vacuum pump was broken.

She said it was appraised at $14k, I wanted to ask her who appraised it for her because no appraiser I knew would seriously appraise a car in that condition at that high of a price. I knew it had to be some site like NADA. She probably printed out the guide to see what an 83 in "Excellent Condition" would bring, though her definition of Excellent Condition seemed to be way off base, at least to me.

Brian Carlton · #13 07-31-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpplease

......my question is how do I tactfully bring it up that his car isn't worth anywhere near that much without hurting his feelings?

Unfortunately, there is no possibility of doing that. Anything you say can and will be used against you.

There is no purpose to attempt this discussion. The marketplace will educate this man.