"Testing the waters" the latest annoying trend in listings.

[1968_Satellite]

Have any of you folks noticed this annoying trend in car listings? The ad will start with the phrase "Testing the waters" usually followed by a long,hostile,off-putting rant by the seller saying that "hes not in a hurry to sell" "doesnt need to sell" "I know what I have" "in 10 years this will be worth XXXX at Barret Jackson" etc. These cars nearly always have utterly ridiculous prices and are not "barret jackson" material.
What is the point in this? Are they fishing for suckers with more money than brains? Hoping they might catch Jay Leno on a drunken buying spree?
These ads stay up forever. It doesnt make any sense to me. If youre not serious about selling the car why list it? The fact its listed implys you want to sell it or it wouldnt be there. If you know what you have,why are you comparing a base model 318 car with a 440 sport model car that sold at some prestigious car auction and is showroom quality when yours isnt?. You dont have the same car in the same condition.
Sorry for the rant,but after seeing these types of ads repeatedly for a couple years or so its just baffling. One sellers listing said you had to give him $50 upfront to see his car. Lol!.
"Testing the waters" seems to be the new overused meaningless catch phrase like "barn find". I remember that nearly every ad for decades now has said "barn find" in it when the cars were never found in a barn. Another stupid one is "survivor"...any car listed is by definition a "survivor",its still here and exists,its just another stupid buzzword people have latched onto.

 

[Strato58]

I agree its almost like if they the big bucks great but if not then there is the excuse that they didn't want to sell it anyway.

 

[Armyvet25]

People will always use buzz words hoping to attract more potential buyers whether it works or irritates lol. As far as the Hostility, even I'm guilty of it as I am SO TIRED of stupid and the endless barrage of tire kickers. Don't get me wrong, I understand just because someone inquires, even looks at it is only a potential buyer, but you can tell the TIME WASTERS a mile away, and it gets more than frustrating, and I also understand the hostility drives others away.

 

[Armyvet25]

yeah, the ones who think they have a winning lottery ticket are a pain, especially if it's something you're avidly searching for, I just extreme low ball them without and aggressive comments just to annoy

 

[DeltaV]

 

[fine69]

“Just testing the waters…”

I’ve bitched about this before.
No more water testing!!!

 

[slepr1]

That ' I'm testing the water' has been said forever now. Ignore it.

 

[w.Hudson]

I don’t read those type of ads.

Either you want to sell it or you don’t.

An ad like that is telling everyone that you don’t want to sell.

 

[1968_Satellite]

People will always use buzz words hoping to attract more potential buyers whether it works or irritates lol. As far as the Hostility, even I'm guilty of it as I am SO TIRED of stupid and the endless barrage of tire kickers. Don't get me wrong, I understand just because someone inquires, even looks at it is only a potential buyer, but you can tell the TIME WASTERS a mile away, and it gets more than frustrating, and I also understand the hostility drives others away.

Ive been throught that before a long time ago. A guy pestered me for weeks about a car I was selling. Spent two hours looking at it. "I'll have to ask my wife". I think some.f

“Just testing the waters…”

I’ve bitched about this before.
No more water testing!!!

Agreed! Jump in or stay out.

 

[1968_Satellite]

A long time ago when I sold a car I had that same thing happen. Guy spent an hour talking on the phone. Two hours looking at the car. Then "I have to ask my wife". I get that there are "buyers" who waste sellers time when they have no money or no intention to buy. I think some folks are lonley and this is a sort of social interaction for them. But when a seller starts his listing being hostile,demanding $50 for his time just to see the car thats just as bad and simply turns real buyers away. They think,well no point going to see it,the guy sounds like a jerk.

 

[1968_Satellite]

People will always use buzz words hoping to attract more potential buyers whether it works or irritates lol. As far as the Hostility, even I'm guilty of it as I am SO TIRED of stupid and the endless barrage of tire kickers. Don't get me wrong, I understand just because someone inquires, even looks at it is only a potential buyer, but you can tell the TIME WASTERS a mile away, and it gets more than frustrating, and I also understand the hostility drives others away.

I dont still dont understand that. Buzzwords dont attract me. I dont care if the car was a "barn find" or if it came from a police impound lot,I just care about the car and its condition and the price.
Putting "survivor" in the ad is also stupid..any car in any ad is a "survivor" just because its there. It just seems stupid to me,but you may be right. A lot of folks like "capsule slogans"..you see that idiocy in politics all the time.

 

[Armyvet25]

A long time ago when I sold a car I had that same thing happen. Guy spent an hour talking on the phone. Two hours looking at the car. Then "I have to ask my wife". I get that there are "buyers" who waste sellers time when they have no money or no intention to buy. I think some folks are lonley and this is a sort of social interaction for them. But when a seller starts his listing being hostile,demanding $50 for his time just to see the car thats just as bad and simply turns real buyers away. They think,well no point going to see it,the guy sounds like a jerk.

never thought of that, and having thought about some past interactions...you're probably right on the money.

 

[Hilljack68]

My Coronet is a survivor - except for:

-The white paint is now burgundy metallic
-The blue interior is now black
-The 318 is now a 340
-The low-back buckets are now high-back from a 70 B-body
-The 2:76 open diff is now a 3:55 SG
-I added a passenger's-side mirror
-It now has twin hood scoops
-I put a CD player in it
-It no longer has A/C
-Both bumpers have been replaced

 

[Hilljack68]

Oh, and here's my latest Barn Find:

 

[Armyvet25]

Oh, and here's my latest Barn Find:

View attachment 1968982

 

[Armyvet25]

I hate the...what all does it need, after having a decent ad explaining and for further info to call or text, I hate people who are afraid of the telephone boogieman'

 

[Kern Dog]

Have any of you folks noticed this annoying trend in car listings? The ad will start with the phrase "Testing the waters" usually followed by a long,hostile,off-putting rant by the seller saying that "hes not in a hurry to sell" "doesnt need to sell" "I know what I have" "in 10 years this will be worth XXXX at Barret Jackson" etc.
"Testing the waters" seems to be the new overused meaningless catch phrase like "barn find".

It is likely that there are a few reasons why people do this, here is one that you may not have considered:
Maybe the “seller” actually is a decent guy that is unsure of the value of the car because too many dudes refuse to tell others what get paid when they bought a similar car. If there is no guideline to follow, a seller has no clear idea on the value. He may set a high price because he simply does not know but thinks that the price can always be negotiated down but never UP.
I hate seeing an unrealistic high price just like you do. Starting way above actual value, as annoying as that is for buyers, may be what sellers are doing to keep from selling too cheap.
Time and time again I see some guy get online to announce some new acquisition, some posting pictures and getting all sorts of congratulatory comments as if they discovered the lost sea scrolls or something…. Yet the dude clams up when people ask what he paid for the car. It is my business what I paid. Dude, you are here announcing this car, taking in all sorts of atta-boy praise and then refuse to do something that might help another guy?

 

[dodgeboy440]

“Just testing the waters…”

I’ve bitched about this before.
No more water testing!!!

They’re just a primodonna who has an attitude & thinks they are better than the others…. “ I know what it’s worth “ crowd

It’s either 4 Sale OR it’s not ….

 

[Cranky]

It's the guys that don't read the dang ad and get pissed when they show up and it's not what they expected.....threatened one guy that if he didn't leave right now that he would meet my double barrel! Can't complain I guess since it only happened one time in all the years of advertising stuff.

 

[Don Frelier]

What baffles me is when people explain why they are selling the car.

Q. Isn't the whole idea that you would rather have the cash than the car???