Multiple Buyers. Who gets the RV?

You have nothing till the money is in your account. First one with the money has it.

Have heard the "I'll get back to you" line so many times. Don't pay it any attention anymore.

patbrown24 wrote:
We had a potential buyer of our RV call yesterday and then look at/drive the rig today. He indicated he was interested but had to discuss with wife. They live less than an hour away.

We have another buyer who contacted us over a week ago when we were out of town. We told him when we get back we'll contact him and he plans on coming tomorrow. He lives about 4 hours away.

Both individuals know we have someone else interested.

If the local buyer should call and make an offer after the buyer who is 4 hours away has left to come to us, how should we handle the situation? First one to make an offer? First one where we have deposit in hand? Should we have a bidding war?

As OP stated, he told 4 hour away guy he would contact him when they return and the guy 4 hours away plans on coming tomorrow (which is today).

If local guy makes an offer, I believe OP still owes 4 hour guy a shot, especially since the scenario he paints is 4 hour guy is on his way. He promised him a chance to look at it, so he should honor his promise.

If local buyer makes an offer for full price, I would explain the situation to local buyer, and show him Im an honest guy, and if the roles were reversed, I would treat him in the same manner. Most people would appreciate that.

If local buyer makes offer anything less than full price, I'd tell him another guy is on the way, and I owe him the look.

Once 4 hour guy gets there, I would tell him I have an offer, and whether it was full price or less (not what the actual offer is if less). At that point, whoever negotiates the best deal gets it, in my opinion.

That way, local guy gets a shot. 4 hour guy gets a shot. And if it ends up a bidding war, so be it.

I still disagree that first one with cash gets it, at least in this scenario. OP made a promise to 4 hour guy. That should be honored in my opinion (and in the opinion of some others here).

ScottieMom - I remember your posting about your situation. I think you handled yours as best as it could be handled, albeit it was a royal PITA.

Will be interesting to see how this ends up and how OP handles it.

Mike

The way to handle a distant buyer is to tell him on the front end that the first one there with money gets it. If it is not sold when he gets there, fine, but you won't hold it for him if money arrives first. Then, it is up to him to get there first.

LadyRVer wrote:
To be fair, I agree with Crowe.

Absolutely , first call gets first shot , If second call really wants it tell him he is second in line if the first bails , it's his . Whats to lose ,and it's the honest way .

I've done outside technical sales for 15+ years.

First sales mistake. To agree with any potential buyer terms without the buyer physically present. Initially, the fact that they are present means EVERYTHING. The words to use in the ad or on the phone/online are, "The vehicle will be sold "as is, on a first come first served basis." IME, this wording often (not always) discourages Lookie Lous, scammers, trolls, etc., who just want to waste your time and complicate your life.

Describe the vehicle, where it is, when it can be seen, how much you want for it, and your terms of payment. Then shut up. The ball is now in the buyers court. You haven't lied, you haven't promised potential buyers ANYTHING other than the current availability/condition of the vehicle. See what happens next.

Chum lee

I agree the guy 4 hrs away gets the first shot. If your not good on your word your not good for anything else. Besides, both people know that there is another person interested. If the guy 4 hours away doesn't want it you still got the other local guy who does.

mobeewan wrote:
I agree the guy 4 hrs away gets the first shot. If your not good on your word your not good for anything else. Besides, both people know that there is another person interested. If the guy 4 hours away doesn't want it you still got the other local guy who does.

Agree.

As long as you represented what you’re selling accurately, most people willing to drive 4 hours are serious buyers. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you like to drive 4 hours to have “cash talks” buy it out from under you?

Crowe wrote:
Disagree that money talks. You owe the first person you spoke to (the one 4 hours away) first shot as you made him a promise you'd let him see it when you got back. Let the 2nd guy take a look but with the understanding the other guy is going to look at it as well, assuming he can get there in a reasonable time frame. If the two of them looked at the same time I'd agree money talks. You made a promise and a man is only as good as his word.

Depends on specifically what the OP stated.

Unless the OP specifically stated he would hold the unit and give first dibs, there is no obligation to not take the first person that shows up with cash...in general.

Assuming it's a day or two in advance, I would call the POTENTIAL buyer and tell him someone else is coming to look at the unit. He can either move up his schedule to get there and see it sooner or transfer a non-refundable cash deposit to hold it...or he can show up and if it isn't sold, he can look at it and decide..but first one to show up with cash wins.

Now if it's 2hours from the agreed showing and you get an offer, the POTENTIAL buyer has put in time and money into seeing the unit based on your information, so telling a cash in hand buyer that you have someone coming in a couple hours would be the right thing to do.

When selling I take names and numbers in order. In this scenario the 4 hour guy should get the first shot because he was the first caller.
If first guys walks I call the second guy and so on.

Cash talks, tire kickers walk. Simple