My first Facebook Market Place scare

[schoolboy]

Hey all!

Just had a crazy experience, that was also kind of funny a few days ago. Wanted to share it with you guys and gals.

I've been using craigslist to buy/sell college textbooks (a few years ago), cars, and car parts for about 10 years now.

Recently craigslist doesn't get as much activity as Facebook Market Place, so I have used both as of late.

My friends always have made fun of me and told me that hopefully I don't get mugged or beat up in some dark alley because of meeting random strangers for deals.

I have always laughed it off and ignored them, because so far I had only met polite people.

A few days ago, I see a car for sale on Facebook Market Place.

I message the guy ask him how it runs and he says "runs good bro."

We decide to meet up and he sends me his address.

I get there, the car looks okay, the engine looks very very well kept, and very clean, like show car clean.

He tells me he's spent tons of money on the car and it's time to tackle other projects.

I ask him if we can take it for a spin.

He says "jump in the passenger seat."

I jump in.

He proceeds to push the car out of the garage, which I thought was weird.

He starts the car in neutral (car is a manual 5 speed), then turns it off and says "hold on, I need to start it in first gear."

Which I did not understand.

He starts the car in first gear without using the clutch, and we are off to a drive.

He then shifts the car without using the clutch, kind of just pulling the car out of first gear forcibly, then ramming the transmission into second gear and so forth.

I ask "why are you shifting like that? Why don't you use the clutch?"

"Oh, the clutch isn't working right now, I am having a hard time bleeding the clutch."

Then, I kid you not, as we approach a stop sign, I see him slowly pulling up on the emergency brake of the car.

"Why are you using the emergency brake to stop the car?"

"Oh, the brakes also aren't working bro."

I just kind of nodded but could not believe this situation.

He drives us back home, gets off the car and says "make me an offer bro!"

Not knowing what to say, I said "You know what man, I am going to ask my brother to come see the car with me. I don't know much about cars, and would like a second opinion, I will get back to you."

He did not like that one bit.

He said "so if your brother needs to see it why are you wasting my f***ing time?"

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I don't understand why you're here wasting my f***ing time if you need your brothers approval."

"Oh, I apologize, I didn't mean to waste your time" (me still being super polite)

"I don't know what it is with people like you, I could be using this f***ing time to make money and instead here I am wasting my f***ing time"

I then reply "well, just so you can see MY perspective, you told me that the car runs good, and the clutch and brakes both aren't working."

He replies, very angryly, "Yeah, I know they aren't but other than that, the cars runs good!"

I said "do you need me to help you push the car back into the garage?"

"Nah bro, the car runs and drives"

Then I left

But! My GOODNESS!!!!!!



What the heck ? !

I had never been in a situation when a guy was literally cursing at me and just in general being so aggresive.

And to top it off, it wasn't even my fault!

hahahaha

[GB-man]

The earth is full of characters. I would have probably kept it 100 after the test drive and said listen...The car is not worth your ask as the condition is poor. Thanks for your time.
Adios

[donas]

After reading the story, I had to scroll back up to see where you are from.....the U.S., yup - the new norm! See what happens when everyone gets a trophy their whole life, whether they win or not!

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by GB-man

The earth is full of characters. I would have probably kept it 100 after the test drive and said listen...The car is not worth your ask as the condition is poor. Thanks for your time.
Adios

That’s what my brother my told me.

Maybe I messed up for trying to be nice.

I was just completely disinterested after seeing him jam the car into gear and stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by donas

After reading the story, I had to scroll back up to see where you are from.....the U.S., yup - the new norm! See what happens when everyone gets a trophy their whole life, whether they win or not!

Hahahaha

Yeah

I’m against participation awards, but they are still a thing haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Also, I forgot to mention for those that care, the car was a 1998 Civic Hatchback with a engine swap from an Acura Integra GSR.

As I mentioned, the engine was pristine, but the rest of the car, not so much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pw92676]

Jeez, this could have ended up with a scary outcome. Glad you came away unscathed, both physically and financially.

[Chewbacca]

Well, you’re safe and that’s what matters.

[Hard_Six]

That guy sounds like a nut job!

[snyde]

If anything he wasted your time. What a weirdo


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Moondoggy]

"runs good bro"

Ive been buying and selling cars for years, I usually know within the first minute of talking/texting if I want this car. "Runs good bro", I would have just hung up.

[sickened1]

Originally Posted by Pw92676

Glad you came away unscathed, both physically and financially.

Not so much emotionally.


But yes, glad you're ok bro.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Pw92676

Jeez, this could have ended up with a scary outcome. Glad you came away unscathed, both physically and financially.

Oh yeah, like I said, my first scary meet up in YEARS.

Thank you for the kind words


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Well, you’re safe and that’s what matters.

Thanks Chew!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Hard_Six

That guy sounds like a nut job!

Hahaha

He was very nice at first, I am not sure what happened. I feel like he just really really wanted to get rid of the car and was pissed when he realized it wasn’t a sale.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by snyde

If anything he wasted your time. What a weirdo


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I quickly became aware of that. I just didn’t have the guts to tell him




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

"runs good bro"

Ive been buying and selling cars for years, I usually know within the first minute of talking/texting if I want this car. "Runs good bro", I would have just hung up.

Hahaha

Now I know better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by sickened1

Not so much emotionally.


But yes, glad you're ok bro.

Agree haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sokoloka]

Originally Posted by GB-man

The earth is full of characters. I would have probably kept it 100 after the test drive and said listen...The car is not worth your ask as the condition is poor. Thanks for your time.
Adios

Yep. No need for the song, dance and story. Car was not in the condition as was described, nothing else needs to be said.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

"runs good bro"

Ive been buying and selling cars for years, I usually know within the first minute of talking/texting if I want this car. "Runs good bro", I would have just hung up.

Yes this - and that’s without the benefit of much experience car buying.

A certain level of professionalism should be expected even from a private sale.

[Psmith]

Was the ad was a little light on detail, given that this sounds to be a stalled (excuse the pun) project?

[m56]

Hahahaha... what baffles me is the guy's confidence even though the car is in a bad shape...
Well, I'm glad you're okay.

[RW16610]

Wow, well at least you made it out of that situation with a funny story to tell. Definitely a hard pass, some people are unbelievable.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by sokoloka

Yep. No need for the song, dance and story. Car was not in the condition as was described, nothing else needs to be said.

I need to learn that.

Sometimes I try to hard to be nice and end up in weird situations.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Was the ad was a little light on detail, given that this sounds to be a stalled (excuse the pun) project?

On the advertisement, the guy listed year, make and model, and some of the aftermarket parts on the car

That’s it

That’s why i asked him how it runs and stuff.

I guess my definition of “runs” is not the same as his.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by m56

Hahahaha... what baffles me is the guy's confidence even though the car is in a bad shape...
Well, I'm glad you're okay.

Yeah me too!

I left feeling very very confused

Thanks bud


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by RW16610

Wow, well at least you made it out of that situation with a funny story to tell. Definitely a hard pass, some people are unbelievable.

I know right??!

Unbelievable is the word that kept circulating around my brain during the “test drive.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AzPaul]

Can't believe I read this entire f***ing thread. Could have been using this f***ing time to make money and instead here I am wasting my f***ing time.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

Can't believe I read this entire f***ing thread. Could have been using this f***ing time to make money and instead here I am wasting my f***ing time.

Hahaha

Sorry


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk