Thursday 17 April 2014

Orphan Black series 2 starts in April 2014


One of the spookiest, scariest and enthralling series on TV is about to return. A tale of genetic clones, raised in different environments, who come together and figure out their destinies. Wired has a really good write up over here in case you missed the first series. Contains spoilers so watch the first series on DVD or iPlayer and other catch up services.


The star of the show is certainly the talented Tatiana Maslany who plays all the clones an yet manages to look quite different for each one. Triple thumbs up on this house Tivo.


Wednesday 9 April 2014

Sold a car, was I tag team fleeced ?

I sold my car last week. It was 2007 model BMW 325 Msport D in a fetching Le Mans blue with about 118,500 miles on the clock. I had it tagged as worth about £6500.  The whole process reminded me why I am in Tech and not in sales.  I liked taking the photos preparing a flyer and uploading the adverts to Autortrader.co.uk and PistonHeads. What I didn't like was the chancer who pitched up to see the car within an hour of the listing.  Yes, he had cash but I sensed that this was how he did business.

Here is the txt conversation that happened after an hour of showing him the car, doing a demo test drive etc.


George was not the real name of the other buyer but he seemed a more regular guy. Pitched up in a super flash Range rover and left a deposit before paying cash the next day.  We did the deal at £5800.

I have my suspicions but looking back I am not sure if I was fleeced by a tag team or a business model.  The tactic of the early buyer with a low ball offer is not new, and to be resisted. What if these two were a team ? The first one spends an hour bashing/normalizing a low price, the other comes in and offers just a couple of 100 above that price. Seller jumps at it thinking 1) that's a better offer, and 2) both buyers are pitching same level, maybe I over valued it, 3) I don't want it hanging around, lets get this deal done.  Guess I won't know, unless I happen to chance on the new owner some day.

Things I did do was
  • Check each of the cash £50 notes for feel and watermark,
  • Fill in a used car sales receipt to say sold as seen
  • Send the new owner details to vehicle  licensing
  • Over the years make sure the test certificates had the accumulating millage
  • Not worry that neither asked me if car had any prang/or had body repairs
  • Valet the car inside and out before showing to any sellers
  • Not admit a possible lower price before they had been to see the car

What both buyers were interested in
  • Service book stamped by BMW dealer
  • Testing the clutch - Just a flim flam I suspect
  • Next MOT test and tax date
  • Anything that could be used to lever the price down

What neither buyer was interested in
  • Full tank of diesel £80
  • iPod interface/Phone bluethooth/Nav Gadgets 
  • Sun Roof ( did not have one )
  • Windscreen chips/ Small Roof dents

That's all - glad I won't have to go though that process again for a while.