Right or wrong

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

since everyone saying they would not take advantage is a liar, i must be one - then again, not everyone would. nor would everyone would buy the "don't ask questions cheap dvd player from the pub" either

if i bought that car for $20,000, i would be embarrased to tell my friends the price i paid. my friends would be secretly ashamed of me - and for good reason. $80,000 may be a lot of money, but my soul is worth s#!tloads more than that

i cannot change the world, but the world will never change me

So, you would offer $100k for it?

"Gday mate Im here to look at the Monaro"
"Yeah no worries mate, its round the back"
"Gee shes in good nic mate. Yeah Im interested, but I have an issue. Youre only asking $20k for it, but I cant accept that because they are worth way more than that, heres $100k instead."
"Gee willickers mister, I had no idea. Wow, hold my hand and lets skip down lollipop lane."

While I agree if it was a mate, or anyone for that matter and I wasnt able to buy the car anyway, it would not be unreasonable to inform him of it its worth. In that case, I probably would too. But if Im in a position to buy it at $20k, Id rip skin from my hands trying to get my wallet out. There is no way anyone is going to just gift him the $80k.

There is nothing unethical about accepting a price a seller offers it at. You are not obligated, nor expected by any decent society to correct them. You know its worth, they dont. You know its worth because you pay attention to the market, much like someone buying and selling shares. Other people dont care, to them its just its old. See it like any other specialist thing, you are fortunate, and your knowledge has paid off.

It would not be hard for them to get an evaluation themselves. If they cant be bothered, why should I as a buyer cost myself $80k?

If youre not a buyer (or youre a presenter for 3aw), then fine, offer the information. Nothing wrong with that.

[GHIA AU]

I heard this on radio and have my doubts that this car was really forsale, the guy selling said doesn't know much about, and what the would be worth, but then says the car has the original Aqua jet tyres, mmmmmmmmm.

If you didn't know much about these cars, I would say that you probably wouldn't know about the tyres, just sounded a bit sus to me.

[geckoGT]

I was in a similar situation, one of the guys at work has a completely original XK ute, matching numbers and original paint in good straight condition. Considering its age this thing is amazing.

I had our Super Pursuit parked next to it while on shift together and I was grabbing a pic of old and new when he told me about it. He had bought it about 10 years ago as it is now and it stayed in the shed while he was away with work (he is ex army). Now he drives it to work regularly but has seriously thought about selling it as he has things he wants to get and the old girl is getting a bit hard to maintain because of the availability of parts. I asked him how much he was thinking of and from memory he said about $7k. I almost fell over and considered making some phone calls and dropping $7k on him there and then.

Call me crazy but I could not do that to him. I asked if he had looked into what they are getting on the market for that model and condition. He said he had not and that he does not really follow the market on old cars, he thought it would be worth a few grand more than he bought it for. I told him to do some research as they are fetching a lot more than that.

I saw him some time later and he bought up the subject of the old girl, he is keeping it and he said he was surprised at what they are worth.

Yeah I killed my own chance of a bargain but I would have felt bad taking advantage of someone like that.

If he had of said that he knew what they are worth but he was happy with $7k, I would have a XK ute right now.