ever get burnt out on People messing with cars

Lately I have been in a kinda FUNK, seems I'm getting burned out messing with cars, since I'm now unemployed and semi retired, I have to hustle to make a buck here and there, I don't screw anyone, and I challange anyone to prove otherwise, I find good deals and resell them, and try to put something together for Myself from the leftovers.
Lately, I really seems like a hassle, Ya have something that is worth X amount of dollars and people want Ya to give it to them, or think Your so stupid You will take little or nothing for it.
Now I don't have deep pockets at all, so I can't drive an A-12 or a restored Hemi Cuda, and I'm thinking maybe I need to pare it down to one car and never turn loose of it, and maybe wheel and deal on the side, I have to admit I have a knack for finding some deals pretty frequently, but dealing with people is one hell of a hassle.

Little story from last weekend:
1: I found a 60 Chevy Impala 2 door sports coupe, a friend of mine's dream car, 348 motor, totally complete, dual rear antenna, original red car, continental kit, great red and white houndstooth interior, great glass, great trim, no rust, justs needs paint, could have made a few bucks off of this car, since I know this is his dream car I call him, he comes and looks at it, he agrees to buy it, the next weekend we make arrangements to go get it with My truck and trailer, meet a 7:30 Sat morning, he gets there, I said ready to go get Your dream car? He says Yes, but I don't have the money, maybe a week or two, can You buy it and I'll pay Ya back?, I did, but damm, why not tell me this before that morning, then, get there and end up spending an another $600 for extra parts!
2: I was thinking for selling the 64 Dodge 440 426W 4 speed car I found, matching number car, totally complete, a guy calls and has the hots for it, offers me $3000, says is all he wants to pay, damm, what an insult, I turn it down, calls later and says his brother or someone wants it, offers $5000, hey ya know what I say come with it or stay home. the guy is probably on here, but I say so what, I'm a nice guy, but I ain't giving **** away unless I want to (and Have)
3: bought a 51 Chevy custom, the guy that owns the shop says he will install my motor and trans for 500 bucks, get everything hooked up, next day I deliver the 350/700R4, says he needs a radiator to make sure where the mounts need to be, 2 days had it there, then he nees a shifetr to make sure where it will sit with the trans installed, two days I had a new Lokat shifter for him, then they are going to detail the engine bay before installing the motor, two cans of black spray paint, all over the brake lins and AC nipples and it "detailed", it's been three weeks, the motor is still sitting in front of the car and no progress! If ya don't wanna or can't tell me I'll get someone who will, and I ain't asking for Ya to do it for free, You told Me what it would cost, I agreed and NOW DO IT!! I don't expect ya to do it for free and I ain't asking for You to!!!! dammit
Now I don't know if the planets and a 12 pack have aligned to cause me to kinda rant like this but now that I have it down it's done, and after reading it I know, it's definately the people I have to deal with, cars have nothing to with it!

aaqar2 said:

2: I was thinking for selling the 64 Dodge 440 426W 4 speed car I found, matching number car, totally complete, a guy calls and has the hots for it, offers me $3000, says is all he wants to pay, damm, what an insult, I turn it down, calls later and says his brother or someone wants it, offers $5000, hey ya know what I say come with it or stay home. the guy is probably on here, but I say so what, I'm a nice guy, but I ain't giving **** away unless I want to (and Have)

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Would this be a bad time to say I had been waiting to hear what you wanted for it?

That makes a lot of sense, and great advice, thanks

4 quick stories, a little long, but worth a read. Some of you will say,
"Hey, I've been there and done that too."

A while back, 10 plus years or so, I was in an entry level position making an OK buck, but there wasn't alot of money for the hobby. I could afford a vaction and extra dinners out and such, but the hobby waits. Fustrated is a good word.

1 One day my freinds Mom pops by and asks me to do some work on her car. I have known this women since I'm 6. All work is free and would never be any other way.

She helped me out by telling two freinds who told two freinds and the word spread of a mechanic that does quality work cheap. Hey, no overhead, it's easy. All the money I made was extra food and parts for the hobby.

But theres allways a joker in the crowd. I looked at her (The joker) blankly and said, "I do this as a hobby, that's how I stay in biz and YOU came to me via word of mouth. Theres not a damn thing wrong with what I did and your car isn't grease filled by me. Take it on a hop and beat it."
She was the only problem in the 3 years or so that I was wrenching at home for a buck.
Moved up in the job and have not wrenched for money since.

2 Once a guy came to me one early morning. Pulled up infront of my door while I was having morning coffee and comes off like a boss saying; "You the guy that works on cars cheap." Wondering who's son he is........ "Yea, that's me, what's up?"
"Your gonna work on my car starting with the brakes."

"OH! I AM?" I don't think so." I asked him what year the car was. (At the time) The car was a 2 year old Lexus. I giggled and told him to take it to the dealer.

After I said that, his mouth went ballistic and drove off. I say good. Anybody that owns a 2 year old car, a Lexus to boot should be taking there ill's and woes to the dealer.

3 To make ends meet for the hobby, I also purchased and sold cars. Pick up the beater and fix it decent. Resell it accordingly.

When you buy a $500 car and it is sold as is writin on the title, it is what it is. Ask any question about and I'l tell you. I'll tell you everything I know about the car. We all know honesty will get you futher in the game than being a jerk on it and getting such a rep that you can never shake.

BUT, there is allways a joker in the crowd. Allways. One line that pissed me off was, "Don't you think you should sell a car that works 100%. HEY! YOU brought it knowing, you asked a million questions and if something isn't right or not working that I didn't know about, don't be a dick about it. After all, when I direct you to look at the bill of sale and title, it says real big like, "Sold as is!"

Now, I'd like to thank those that nicely complained and asked for help on something. Those people I did for free. And I was glad to do it. Some even returned for another car.

4 Tire kickers are part of the game. I don't have it in me to deal with these people for long. When I get filled up with them, I look'em straight in the eye and say real seriously like; "It is what it is and that price isn't chaging, that's the bottom line, take it or leave it, have a nice day." and walk away. You'll be surprised when they chase you saying sorry. My advise is to look'em in the eye again and say plainly, "Money talks, bullshit walks, put up or shut up the cash or don't bother me again!" Walk away.

Money ethier comes rolling out of there pocket or after a trip to the bank, or they go away.

:skeptical:

Nope. Just scratchin my head over this thread

Sometimes we just need to vent. :fight:
And then move on.:fishin:

charger70 said:

Sometimes we just need to vent. :fight:
And then move on.:fishin:

Click to expand...

Exactly...

I have, and thanks for all the replys, I'm now ready to go screw somebody good!

Just kidding

charger70 said:

Sometimes we just need to vent. :fight:
And then move on.:fishin:

Click to expand...

100% True
ld_school: