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Convenient but expect haggling
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I was shopping around the get the best offer for a high-mileage Lexus SUV which runs roughly but has brand new battery and brakes with excellent body condition that I simply did not want anymore. When I contacted webuycars.com via online chat, they made me an offer that was hundreds less than what I wanted. I declined. I informed them Junk Car Zone had offered me way more and I would be accepting that offer instead. I had given them my contact information before declining. Oof!
Four minutes later, Ernie texted me and offered me "up to" a little more than the amount offered by Junk Car Zone. I agreed to let We buy Cars come out to inspect because at that time they had made the best offer. Enter Nicholas Ballestesos. He was punctual, friendly, very informative and thorough. Unfortunately, Nicholas' contact person handling the sale from the office (henceforth referred to as "The Voice") had the nerve to offer LESS THAN HALF of their original "up to" offer, claiming the front end of my Lexus RX300 had been rebuilt. It had never been rebuilt: have you ANY idea how hard it is to find Lexus parts to rebuild anything? Nice try. I declined. Fortunately, I am organized and whipped out my vehicle history report proving him wrong. Nicholas sent it in then called The Voice back. The Voice went up a couple hundred more but was still way below their initial offer. Again, I declined. I showed Nicholas the written offer I had received from not only Junk Car Zone but also the text from Ernie at We Buy Cars. Nicholas sent those to The Voice who then replied the other company would never have paid that much. The Voice said they would have performed an inspection then also offered less. ~~I dispute that. Whereas We Buy Cars asked preliminary questions about the vehicle then sent out their own tech, Junk Car Zone went into great detail about the interior, lights, etc and sent a contracted tow company to collect the vehicle, check in hand. Junk Car Zone was well informed of what they were buying. I just missed the pick up. Alas, I digress....~~
By that time, I am getting really annoyed because the game is clear: they say one thing to get their foot in the door but hope you are unprepared and desperate to accept anything. I was neither. That is why they offer you "up to" an amount because they have zero intent of actually paying that much and they avoid shady business tactics because they can truthfully say they did not agree to that particular amount. Just "up to" it. All through the process, Nicholas was instrumental to me not telling The Voice to stick his offer up his own rear! After haggling, we finally arrived at a price which was still lower than what they initially offered but I was glad to get rid of the vehicle and close the deal. I'm sure they counted on that though. The irony is Junk Car Zone actually called me restating their offer while I was closing but before completion. I considered accepting their offer but could not see going through such a process again if as The Voice claimed all these used car buying companies practice in this manner. After handing over they keys, I immediately ran my check to the bank for deposit. **Will update if it bounces** and released liability with DMV. If you want to get rid of a vehicle quickly, this company is great for that. Be under no illusion that you will get what they offer as that is only an "up to" offer. However, the concept of quickly selling in this manner is awesome. I sold my vehicle less than 24 hours from first contact. I could have done without the headache of haggling. What are we at a Bangladesh meat market? As a consumer, I am irritated for selling such a valuable vehicle so cheap. As a businessperson, I quite admire their tactics. That is how they make their bottom line. Despite my admiration for the old bait-and-switch, my final agreement was due to Nicholas who had worked to keep the deal alive as The Voice concentrated on low-balling me. Nicholas Ballestesos for MAYOR!
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