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Buyers Tips

The following tips are designed to promote smooth transactions, avoiding unnecessary wasted costs, confusion, and inconveniences for both buyers and sellers, and a "win-win" for all parties, where the buyer ends up with a good value and the seller sells for a fair price.

Do's:
  1. You want to do your research well, but if you are especially attracted to a vehicle, make an offer without delay or have the seller put a hold on it because they can sell quickly here ... just check our sold vehicle records and you'll see why we say this.


  2. Do all your research including test drives and diagnostics and negotiate over the phone before you get the seller down to the lot to complete the sale.


  3. Before investing in a diagnostic check, call the seller to agree on a price, or discuss price flexability if there are major problems. Make sure there are no other offers under consideration. If you can, have your seller call us and have them place it in a "sale-pending" status while you have it checked out. You want to avoid someone else buying it while you are spending hard-earned dollars at a garage.


  4. Find out what a fair price is for the vehicle when its in good condition. Shop for the cost to fix any major problems you find and subtract from the fair price and make your offer.


  5. When accepted, have the seller smog it while you get a cashier's check and make an appointment to meet at Buggy Bank where we'll assist you both with the DMV paperwork.



Don'ts:
  1. Avoid being discourteous or making derogatory characterizations about the vehicle especially as a means to get the price down (see #4., above). If you can't afford a fair price, just say that... and the seller may be willing to accommodate your need, or consider your offer at a later time. You certainly can reasonably discuss needed major repairs and ask if the seller would be open to allowing something.


  2. Do not call the seller with a "lowball" offer. If the price seems high check with our manager on duty first, if we can't explain it, we'll call the seller and perhaps have the reasons included on the sales sheet or have the seller consider lowering the price if there was some mistake in the initial pricing.


  3. Don't have the seller come to the lot until you have test driven and have determined that the vehicle is in an acceptable condition. Only then should you negotiate, agree on a selling price over the phone and arrange to meet the seller at the lot to complete the sale.


  4. Inappropriate conduct is not allowed at Buggy Bank as it can be hurtful, cause unnecessary inconvenience for the seller, and may result in removal of all buyer services for those not respecting common decency, other customers, or any of our staff members.