Message on my anwering machine yesterday:
“Hi Brian. This is Ray Blah-Blah-Blah. I like that roadster man. PLEASE call me right away, my # is 634-5789. Call me RIGHT AWAY!”.
So, I call, get the guys voice mail. “Hi, Brian McCool here, returning your call about the ’36. Just got your message, give me a call anytime, I’m happy to answer any questions about the car. Have a nice day.”
5 minutes later, phone rings: “Hi, this is Ray Blah-Blah-Blah. Are you calling about my car?”
Me, “Uh, no, I was returning your call about my ’36 Ford Speedster. Is there anything you have questions about?”
Ray Blah-Blah-Blah, “Well, I’m Ray Blah-Blah-Blah from Elkhart. You’ve prob’ly heard of me.”
Me, “No, should I have?” (I’d already read his eBay feedback, so I felt like I knew him a little…)
Ray, “Well, I’ve got 90 cars.”
Me, “Well, isn’t that nice.”
Ray, “What’s it take to buy that car today, cash money?”
Me, “Well, I expect cash money for whatever amount it sells for. What would you like to own it for? I’d like to let the auction run, but I’d listen to an offer. You’re not far, why don’t you come up and check it out, see what you think?”
Ray, “I wanna know what it takes right now, cash money. I got 90 cars, I got three for sale right now on “Racing Junk.com”. The problem with eBay is, half them guys’ll just bid up a car and then never pay. What’s it take to buy it, right now, cash money?”
Interesting that he should say that, half of his recent feedback said EXACTLY that. One followed up with, “Worst eBayer EVER, this guy is a crook.”
Me, “Well Ray, you can’t buy it right now over the phone, but it’s on the HAMB classifieds for ‘$27,500.”
Ray, “Oh, well, that means you prolly want around 25, huh? I don’t know, that don’t leave much for me.”
Me, “No, probably not.”
Ray, “Well, I did run yer bid up for ya. You got my number, gimme a call if ya decide ya REALLY want to sell it.”
Ray, that crackling sound you hear will be Hell freezing over, just before I pick up the phone.
Addendum: Thanks for all the comments. I knew when I listed it, I’d have to put up with calls like that, that’s how it goes. If you’ve never sold cars for a living (I did for a while), this example should give you a little insight as to why car salesmen (and saleswomen) might seem a little jaded, cynical, and insincere. It’s hard to put up with people like Old Ray from Elkhart all day and not lose a little faith in ones fellow man!
Cool McCool's Garage 
McCool, you put a smile on my face each time I read your blog–
In never ceases to amaze me the brazen idiocy of people. Every time I try to sell a car, its like a magnet for these fools. I have a truck for sale right now. 5 flakes right off the bat. Half don’t show up. The other half are like old “Ray from Elkhart”. My favorite so far is “Well, I’ll buy your truck when I sell mine.”
Good luck with selling your ’36. She is stunning to look at.
Dad always said, ” when you deal with the masses you deal with some asses”
Love it.
LMAO as I read the dialog here. I have had so many of those kinds of dialogs with eBayers. I could relay story after story. I don’t put my phone number in ads anymore.
Sounds like about half the guys that called me when I sold my ’51 on eBay, some even wanting to argue with me over how I built the car! Just know that odds are you may not like the guy that wins it.
I’d have told him, “well, it’s on the HAMB for $27,500, but seeing you have 90 cars, I’ll let you have it, right now, cash money, for $37,500!” Click, buzz……
Great story….well told. Just sold a ’49 Plymouth convertible on ebay a few weeks ago. Had some interesting calls…..none quite as entertaining as yours though.
Best wishes on the sale, Brian……….keep up the entertaining posts….love em’