For sale gone wrong stories

[dragoneggs]

My latest 'For Sale Story Gone Wrong' happened a couple weeks ago... actually about 12 years ago. It was then when I needed to sell our ski boat to pay for my daughter's college costs. She actually loved the boat so much that she said she didn't need to go to college. I of course did not take her suggestion and sold the boat for a large sum of cash (in a briefcase no less). True story... the buyer was a rich Russian commercial building real estate man doing well in the Bellevue Washington area. This sale went off without a hitch. In the front seat of his black Mercedes. Felt like I was in the movies and was a bit nervous.

Anyways... a couple weeks ago after a long hunt for a newish used boat suitable for the Puget Sound waters and plans for trips up into the Canada on the inside passage I finally found the boat of my dreams. Thought about for a couple days and then made arrangements to meet the owner and check out the boat. Took my wife with me and she actually said yes you can get... this after many many No's for the last several years.

So, I told the owner we were definitely interested and wanted to proceed with the sale. It was then, the owner told me that a day earlier, a guy put some earnest money down... and the sale was pending on the survey and if he could swing selling his boat for additional funds. He had until July 21 to come up with the funds. Well, on the last day I got a call from the owner saying it sold. I was heartbroken. I knew the deal was good and even if I had to unload it in a 3 to 5 years I would loose very little if I took good care as he had. Dang it!!!! Why did I think about for a couple days... would have been first in line! :hissyfit:

What I learned that day... is good deals don't wait for you.

 

[bunyip]

A loooong time ago I bought an outboard about 55hp, so long ago I have forgotten what the make was but we'll say Mercury, a real good price but it wouldn't start but I figured I was so far in front it didn't matter.
Took it to a repairer and he told me it wasn't worth fixing as it was so old, I argued that it was less that 5 years old, he said the cover was but nothing else.
That day I discovered that outboard covers are the same for a lot of models, this is not a sale I often talk about.

 

[Dftodd]

It is July 4 not April 1.

You can pack a lot of stuff under the seat of one of those old trucks. Fwiw, I have a 3 ft tall beer bottle that's a change jug. Jug was about 2/3 full. Emptied it into gallon zip lock bags and took it to the bank and ran it through the sorter. That was $400 plus. Wife Emptied her 2 gallon jug which was half full as well. That was another $200. We cash in our change every other year.

 

[fried1765]

My latest 'For Sale Story Gone Wrong' happened a couple weeks ago... actually about 12 years ago. It was then when I needed to sell our ski boat to pay for my daughter's college costs. She actually loved the boat so much that she said she didn't need to go to college. I of course did not take her suggestion and sold the boat for a large sum of cash (in a briefcase no less). True story... the buyer was a rich Russian commercial building real estate man doing well in the Bellevue Washington area. This sale went off without a hitch. In the front seat of his black Mercedes. Felt like I was in the movies and was a bit nervous.

Anyways... a couple weeks ago after a long hunt for a newish used boat suitable for the Puget Sound waters and plans for trips up into the Canada on the inside passage I finally found the boat of my dreams. Thought about for a couple days and then made arrangements to meet the owner and check out the boat. Took my wife with me and she actually said yes you can get... this after many many No's for the last several years.

So, I told the owner we were definitely interested and wanted to proceed with the sale. It was then, the owner told me that a day earlier, a guy put some earnest money down... and the sale was pending on the survey and if he could swing selling his boat for additional funds. He had until July 21 to come up with the funds. Well, on the last day I got a call from the owner saying it sold. I was heartbroken. I knew the deal was good and even if I had to unload it in a 3 to 5 years I would loose very little if I took good care as he had. Dang it!!!! Why did I think about for a couple days... would have been first in line! :hissyfit:

What I learned that day... is good deals don't wait for you.

That is EXACTLY why I bought my 250 hour 2006 Kubota L48 TLB last month.
I was the first potential buyer to see it, and was quite certain it would not last.

 

[dragoneggs]

That is EXACTLY why I bought my 250 hour 2006 Kubota L48 TLB last month.
I was the first potential buyer to see it, and was quite certain it would not last.

Doing your homework ahead of time and knowing what the market and availability of what you are wanting is key. In my sixth decade of living I am figuring out a lot. Wish I had patience with I was young and had so much time on my hands... now I little of either but least I am get wiser!

 

[om21braz]

A friend of mine and I walked into a gun store (a new one for us). Noticed a nice, clean Remington 1100 12 ga. trap gun on the used rack. What first caught my eye was the unbelievable wood on it - it appeared to be wood off of a D-grade, fancy hand cut checking and all. Price on it $ 375.00. Instead of paying someone quickly and getting out with it, I offered $ 350.00. Big mistake - store owner called over and stated - Oh, I should have already put that away as the owner has decided not to sell it. Lesson learned.

 

[atsah]

Bought a snowmobile about 30 years ago that had a second lean on it and I didn't check it.. Lost 4 grand and the sled.. That never happened again..

 

[Jstpssng]

Bought a snowmobile about 30 years ago that had a second lean on it and I didn't check it.. Lost 4 grand and the sled.. That never happened again..

I'm not sure how you can check something like that, especially on an ATV or snowsled.

 

[atsah]

I'm not sure how you can check something like that, especially on an ATV or snowsled.

I don’t know either. He showed me a payed in full receipt but he had some kind of lean on it. I tried tracking him down through the court and he didn’t show up and then moved to CT and had a warrant on him..

 

[Ken]

Nope. The guy was famous for going through drive through everywhere. When they gave him his change back, the cash went into the wallet, and the change went on the floor board. After a while it worked it's way under the seat.

Dftodd Used to work with a man from Vilonia. that drove pick-up like that you describred .except to tight to go to drive-through food places. Would wipe the smile off George Washington before cashing a buck.
ken