Truck purchase question
 

Anybody ever dealt with Freightliner in Joplin Missouri??

I emailed them today inquiring about a used truck they had for $25K I got a reply back with the answers to my questions.

I emailed them back and told I would try to come down next week to look at it. It is 350 miles from me.

I got a reply back that I didn't need to come down, they would bring it to my house for me to look at.

Is this normal for them to bring a truck to your house? I might be able to understand their thinking if it was a new $125K truck or something but for a $25K truck and 350 miles away??

Is the truck sales so slow they are going to extremes to sell a truck or normal customer service?

Did me saying I would pay cash put up a flag?

I have bought new cars, boats and campers before and nobody ever offered to do anything out of the way to make a sale. So this has me a little leery if it is good customer service or if I bring it to him he can't refuse and take the cash and run?

Thanks

My take is that most people that say they will come down maybe next week and see it will never show up. Having him bring the truck to you I think is a good tactic on his part. It guarantees that you will look at it and also may make you feel an obligation to buy it.

I have known car salesmen who take new models out to previous customers because they know the customer is impulsive and buys a new Impala each time the body changes.

That's me! Thank God the Western Star dealer doesn't know where I live.

I don't recall hearing of a truck salesman taking a truck to a potential customer, especially several hundred miles. Wait a couple of months and there is no telling what they will offer. :P

Here is the email I got from him

Copy and Paste:

Scott,

This unit would be a great “starter “ truck. If I need to drive it to you this weekend I can. The year model and condition of this unit will sell it’s self so please take another look. I can assure you, you will not be disappointed.

Thanks,

Another note about paying cash. That actually means nothing at all. Doesn't matter if you pay by bank check or personal check, it's still the same as cash, they get their money.

A lot of times you can get a better deal by financing the vehicle through the dealer as they make even more money in the end.

Another thing I might add. I've bought a few high dollar items in the past and showed up with cash. One item was $22,000 and I waved $18,000 in front of him and that was that...SOLD....Sometimes a person sees cash on the spot, RIGHT NOW, or nothing.

Here is the link to the truck

What do you think?

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/d...18d36df337cde7

I wonder why this dealer did not list the mileage? Most be REALLY High..Good luck!

Scott,

WIll they make it contingent on getting an oil analysis (worthless if they put new oil in) and/or a dyno? I personally would not but a unit without one or preferably both tests being done.

Yeah defintely get a dyno,oil analysis and most important get a readout on the ECM to check the mileage,my guess is it's a million mile truck,looks clean though.

Look out old Prime truck and those are USED ABUSED hard. Heavy loads and sometimes the drivers skip maintance on them to stay ahead on FLEECE PAYMENTS.

Good call,I was trying to figure out where that truck might have come from.

Thanks All!!
I appreciate the input. You probably saved me some grief latter on down the road.

It had 865,000 miles so I am not interested

Who's old trucks are these?
http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/d...4D0DC27BE36C8A

Looks like KLLM's newer trucks. And it looks like you and me are looking at a lot of the same trucks... :lol:

Scott, Increase your odds of not getting screwed many times over. Pay an independent mechanic hard cold cash to go over the truck thoroughly before you buy ANY TRUCK. That, and look at the ecm and dyno like they're saying. If there is something there and you still want the truck, you can use that information to get a better price.

Do this even if it is at a dealer that says this or that about the condition of the truck. I believe that there may not be any better money that you can spend in your business.

Well if you find a good deal and not interested pass it on to me please lol

I am looking for my first truck and really confused on what I am doing. I have found a local company to lease on with who has a dedicated run each week. Leave on Monday and back on Friday and it pays good.

I will do that scott. We are kind of in the same boat, but I have a lot of help from family members that are O/O's.

Actually Sittion Motor lines out of Joplin. If you are looking for a old fleet truck to buy look for either a old Crete Shaffer Sunflower. Earl Henderson has nice ones also there newest ones also will not have the massive idle time on them with the APU's on them. KLLM would be good also since they also had APU's mounted. Stay away from PRIME CR ENGLAND AND Swift trucks used and abused hard. Now for KW look at CFI or Melton they treat theirs with kid gloves so I have heard.

Near me we have a mid sized company that buys old Star transport Pete 387's and is happy as can be big bunks and normally pull light cat loads.