Selling my StarCraft, a bit of a rant.

[Old Ironmaker]

I wet the bottom of my boat once this year and 3 times last year. Everyone I know has at least 1 boat. I don't need my own boat. I didn't list it on any sites, just word of mouth. I had one lad come by and knew what I was asking. I told him before he drove the 4 hour return trip the price, if he wants to dicker stay home. He looked at it for no less than an hour. Every nook and cranny jumped up and down on the casting platforms and floor. Pulled on the seats and prodded the deep corners I didn't know excisted. Without even asking to run the O/B's he declined. He had a list of nit pics, and that was exactly what they were nit pics. Worn carpet by the fill cap, dull carpet, a nick in the bow, some of the decals and pin stripping worn. I have it at a fair price, it is a 94' and always get comments how well I have kept it. He dared not make a lower offer, he wanted me to start negotiations, nope. I do not really want to sell it and do not want to deal with people coming to our place that is isolated in the country .If he wants a replacement that is brand new break out $70,000.00 and Bob's yer Uncle. I am not towing the boat to a Police Station or Walmart lot to show the boat to possible thieves or tire kickers that want a free boat ride. I have heard of entire families show up complete with cooler and water toys to test ride a boat. Imagine the audacity of some. A tragic murder less than 45 minutes from us 8 years ago. A young husband and Dad lists his Ram for sale on Kijiji, they murdered the young man for a freaking truck. And the murderer was well off, inherited a local airline from his father. He is now on trial for the 3rd murder, the young Father and Husband, a former girlfriend and now his fathers murder that was deemed a suicide initially, he couldn't wait for his inheritance.

It hit me like a ton of bricks the other day. I brought it to the Marine dealer I bought it from, they will broker a sale. Only 10% commission, well worth that to me. And the bonus was that they suggested a higher price. Win, win. It sells or it doesn't, either way I am happy.

Johnny D/rant over.

 

[briangcc]

Good luck with your sale, I completely understand. It's the main reason I traded in my Four Winns instead of selling it outright. A couple co-workers told me I was getting worked over by the low price the marina was offering on trade in. For the few $$$$ difference I have my sanity - well worth it to me. Too many horror stories of trying to sell on the usual places these days....like the one you mentioned.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

You think a lot like me briangcc. So much for that saying about the best 2 days of a boaters life. Bull I say, double Bull. It will be a sad day I sell my baby. But then again I will be shopping for another boat. Maybe a bit smaller so it will be easier to launch solo, or a big cruiser we can sit on and have boat drinks on. Summers on Erie, winters in Portugal. That I can take. My wife plans on retiring this Fall and she's all in. That is what I always fantasized about. But my future Brother in law (August wedding in Nova Scotia) has bought a 50 footer sitting in front of their new digs in St. Augustine FLA. We are always welcome to sit on it and pretend it's mine. He sold his twin engine plane and wants to get into fishing but can't tie a knot. I'll teach him. He bought a big arse Grady White, 25 footer I think, to slip at thier new place in Mahon Bay N.S. just across from Oak Island. Our, err I mean their guest house is 2000 ft.sq. I'll take him out and tie knots for him and Sis all day long. Win, win again. Bonus is he isn't one of those rich guys that reminds you how rich he is, really a good guy. I hope she keeps this one around for a few years. I told her if I miss the wedding I'll come to the next one. A hole is what she called me, the nerve of the woman.

 

[89retta]

@ironmaker I remember that story where the guy killed that man selling his truck. Sad world we live in now a days. What part of Canada you in ?

 

[roffey]

yup I remember that as well. Very strange case. I do some on Kijiji as well and my kids were scared thinking something would happen to me. Funny place we live in these days. speaking of strange how about Willie Pickton or our darling Carla...

 

[briangcc]

Humulga (sp?) I remember hearing that story all over the Canadian radio stations. **Just recalled...I'm thinking Lorena Bobbit (sp?)...I'm across the border in NY so I get the broadcasts out of Toronto.

Old Iron - yeah I was born a decade late I think. I got the tail end of watching trains with cabooses roll through my rinky dink town. The rail line is long gone (turned into a bike path now) and the ones that remain have no character to them with the FRED's on the end.

Dealing with tire kickers who want something for absolutely nothing and want to tell you how you're wrong - I have better things to do with my time.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

@ironmaker I remember that story where the guy killed that man selling his truck. Sad world we live in now a days. What part of Canada you in ?

Born, raised and worked in Hamilton ON then we moved to Selkirk ON after I took my pension. We are right on the shore of Lake Erie about 50 mins from Hamilton and a few hrs from Buffalo.

 

[dwco5051]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdQxYWiY4fM&t=43s

 

[H20Rat]

I had nearly an identical story when I sold a boat last spring. It was a 2001, it was in incredibly good shape for its age and I disclosed the couple minor things that would be normal wear and tear. First guy to show up nit picks every tiny thing, down to literally 3 droplet sized water spots on the hull. He then throws out a lowball offer roughly half of what I was asking. I didn't even bother negotiating, told him no thanks, but the price is firm.

Sold it the next day for asking price to someone else, buyer didn't even want a water trial he was so impressed with the condition.

The real kicker of the story... get a call a week later from the first guy, asking if I still had it. Apparently he had looked around and figured out what else was out there for 'used', and suddenly mine looked the best!

 

[Old Ironmaker]

The young fellow murdered was Tim Bosma from Hamilton Ontario, I won't type the name of the convicted murderers as it gives them what they wanted, infamy. The 2 pieces of feces also were convicted of murdering his ex Laura Babcock for ne reason whatsoever, thrill kills. He is on trial for murdering his own Father as he needed the inheritance to fund his Jet setter, playboy lifestyle. He is in solitary for his own protection. Someone should leave the cell unlocked.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

OK here's the latest. I'm talking to my closest friend in the world, met on day 1 Football practice in 10th grade, grade 10 here. He is my main fishing partner in the boat since I've had it. I tell him it's going to the Maine broker Monday. Why oh why he asks? Because we don't use it enough. He bought it and tells me to keep it on my property and maintain it. He got a deal. I still have the boat and more than 10K in my Levi's. Talk about a win, win. That reminds me, I worked for him minimum 50 hrs a week for 2 years for zero wages to help him and his family in a new business. He got off cheap. He's still up well over 100K but who's counting?

 

[Maclin]

Cool!

Very cool :thumb:

 

[oldrem]

Happy endings are always nice to hear

 

[444]

Sounds like a typical time wasting tire kicker. Lots of those. I live in a rural area so fortunately the drive to get to my place weeds out about half of them. I have learned not to by shy about telling someone to get the * off my property if they make a stupid offer or waste my time.

 

[MTboatguy]

I never meet people at my house to sell something, I always meet them at a local area away from my home, I live in a very rural area so most of them don't want to come to my house which is several miles of gravel county roads, the a couple of miles of unmaintained road, so like the poster above me, that weeds a lot of them out, if they want to meet and inspect what I am selling, then we meet.

In addition I manufacture controlled firearms parts, so really don't want anyone at my place, I am a licensed manufacturing FFL holder, so the less wondering eyes, the better it is. When I do meet them, I always have a pistol on, in a rural county like mine it is just due diligence to make sure you cover your bases.

That said, the majority of my transactions have went well and most of the time, if they are willing to meet and look things over I end up selling the item I have up for sale.

Glad things worked out the way it did for the sell who started this thread, sound like he got the best of both worlds on this one.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Thanks for congrats guys.

Here is a scary Kijiji (Canuck Craig's List). A guy I know that is on a 100 acre farm is a few miles away is selling off some of his farm equipment and lists it on Kijiji. Several come by to look at his stuff and he has plenty of stuff. A few weeks later his wife and he is away for a week and someone must know it. Someone was dog sitting but weren't there at the time, they must know that too. They pull up with a big float and a second truck with a big flatbed trailer. They put his Backhoe on the float and load the trailer with 2 new ATV's and a newer Harley. Broad daylight, they have the audacity to wave at the neighbours as they pull away. Never caught and the neighbour can't remember what they look like or I.D. the trucks. The worse witness is an eyewitness. I beg you all to be diligent when you have people at your homes, especially in a remote rural setting. Is the security of your family or yourselves worth the few bucks you can get flogging stuff? Not to me, I'll give it away before some stranger is invited to case our shack.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Being in the automotive business and selling a few cars I have to deal with this a lot. Its frazzling at times. I have a unique collector car for sale right now. Its not something exotic but its a car with a value to the right person. Ive had so many FREAKS offer me a lot less than its worth but kind of like you I have my price. Its funny because this is a parade car a weekend cruise car and a hey look at that almost pristine old car. Everything works on it and it could be driven for another decade or two for things like I mentioned. I have people that want to buy it and drive it 50 to 60 miles a day. Some I just tell them its the wrong car others I indulge but I run off more than I should. Mainly because there FREAKS and stupid people. Does that make me a bad person I dont care.

The used boat shopper is filled with people who are much like these even worse and book value on a boat has almost no application in the actual sale of a used boat more so for insurance value. You could have duplicate boats that lived completely different lives one might be worthless the other priceless. But youll have shoppers who havent even seen your boat offering a price.

As far as dealing with the risks of exposure to the public its pretty low but its still there. I dont advertise my cars for sale on Craigslist because its such a headache. 100 responses to one person showing up. Mind you my cars for sale are not used car lot cars most have had engine overhauls fully serviced and everything I can find wrong with them fixed. Having to weed out the shopper looking for the lowest price on the planet without looking at the actual value of a given item.

I hope the boat dealer your dealing with is a great thing for you. I have horror stories and success stories. You need to make sure you have a legal contract about payment time lines etc . One such story was a person who consigned a custom Toyota Truck of moderate value. The truck sold he did not get his money for quite some time it may have been over a year. He had to threaten a law suit but the dealer knew how to delay this to the end. Its funny because hes still in business and ive heard stories from others who have had similar things done. So make sure you have a legal time line from the time it sells to when you et your money and any fees you might get hit with are fully disclosed. A lot of dealers like consignments they have little to no money out of pocket unlike boats or cars the have bought or pay flooring charges on so there are a lot of legit consignment dealers especially in the boat world. Good luck .

 

[82rude]

So neighbor knows their away yet allows somebody to load up and take off with all those goodies??Me I would of at least taken pics of said goings on with my camera which the thieves wouldn't even of known about.Sorry im suspicious and more diligent than most people particuarlly if I know the neighbors are away.Damn good chance I would of called the cops too.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Yea neighbours 82rude. I had my car broken into and they stole brand new hi end stereo, twice with 2 weeks. So much for my guard dog eh? The 2nd time I go out to find the car trashed and the 2nd stereo gone, this time they pryed speakers out from both doors. The neighbour across the street comes over to tell me she heard something and watched 2 boys steal my stereo. Why didn't you call the Police madam? Oh I don't want to get involved with the Police. Her husband comes over and tells her to tell me what she saw. Their next door neighbours teen took it. I called the Cops and they took the kid in. He finally confessed to both robberies. Nice upper middle class neighbourhood.

Lowlysubaruguy, I wouldn't get ripped by the dealer, I know where they all live. In the Marine business for over 75 years, the son who is in his 60's is running it with his brother and with the grandson of the patriarch. I have dealt with them for 12 years now. But I hear you, I've heard too many people getting scammed by "reputable" dealers. A local GM dealer lost their dealership because of exactly that. The newer General Mgr. was doing exactly what they shouldn't be doing. Billing shop hours to customers for work never done and parts never changed and was in cahoots with the Accountant. So it can happen. Besides I sold it yesterday to my fishing partner, his turn to pay for everything. I love it.

 

[444]

I never meet people at my house to sell something, I always meet them at a local area away from my home, I live in a very rural area so most of them don't want to come to my house which is several miles of gravel county roads, the a couple of miles of unmaintained road, so like the poster above me, that weeds a lot of them out, if they want to meet and inspect what I am selling, then we meet.

I've tried that as well, problem is nobody ever shows up on time when they say they will. After a few wasted trips I quit with that. I agree with you about the selling firearm stuff, I wouldn't give out my address either and in those cases my shipping address is a Box number. I have lots of stuff, junk, etc but I have built enough to keep it all indoors and my yard looks very plain and spartan from the road and driveway. Someone comes over and the item is dragged outside and setup with the garage doors already closed and locked. Can't stop everything but can try. Last guy I went to buy a trailer from I rolled up on his yard, both garages open had his quads, sleds, tools and outdoor stuff in full view. Don't know what he was thinking.