Is it usually hard to buy from leboncion, Germany is easy though.

[garbaldy]

After 10 or so emails to different French sellers we have only had one that answered back, after a further email and a phone call he informed us that he had a viewing for the car and would let us know if it sold, first thing this morning true to his word he called to say that the car had sold.

Is it hard to buy from the french? Do they see that its a translated email and just ignore it?

[overrun]

They just dislike you, I'm afraid.

[warren t claim]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yjNbcKkNY

[dave21478]

^^^ That. Sadly.

 

Sure, there are plenty of people who are reasonable to deal with, but there are an awful lot who are real twats. Being forrin really, really doesnt help either.

If an ad has no price and both me and my French brother in law enquire, I will be told a higher price than him. EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.

 

Also, selling cars is a fucking chore for people here. Its often the case that when you go to view/buy you THEN find the car is still in daily use, full of shite, child seats and general junk and you cant take it away there and then because they havent got their new car yet. Or its buried at the back of a barn with literally tons of other shite blocking it in. Its the done thing to leave a deposit and come back later - often weeks later. Fuck that.  Probably 1 in 3 cars for sale on LeBonCoin will say "CT sera fait pour la vente" which means they will MOT it when it sells - ie thats another few days pissing about while it gets tested.

 

People dont change cars often here - In the three years I have been in this particular house I have gone through more cars than my retired neighbours have in their entire lives - the market just isnt the same so people are not used to selling, which when combined with the typically slow French bureaucracy means it can take ages to buy a car. 

 

Also, Internet is a relatively new thing for most people here - France is a country where many still see fax machines and CB radios as the pinnacle of communications technology. So people quite often dont check emails often, and I think many, especially older folk view anything "online" with suspicion, ie its either not entirely serious or a scam, so they dont put much effort into it.

[barrett]

99.9% of the time you should give them a ring (find a fluent French speaker) instead of emailing. Of the scores of cars I have chased on LBC only a tiny handful have ever responded to an email.

In fairness, if I was advertising a car and I got a google translate email from a frog I would instantly assume they were a time waster, or at least more hassle than it is worth.

Actually we got dicked about for weeks by a German trying to buy the Audi A8 (which is still 4 Sail w/ 12months test) before eventually telling him to FRO.

[AnthonyG]

Also, Internet is a relatively new thing for most people here - France is a country where many still see fax machines and CB radios as the pinnacle of communications technology. So people quite often dont check emails often, and I think many, especially older folk view anything "online" with suspicion, ie its either not entirely serious or a scam, so they dont put much effort into it.

Does the French Minitel system still exist? It was developed in the 1980s and was a sort of primitive Internet - You got a keyboard and monitor linked into the phoneline, looked a lot like Teletext to look at but had message boards, email etc.

 

I was told this was the reason the French were slow taking up the Net in the 1990s, as basically they thought they already had it.

[pshome]

99.9% of the time you should give them a ring (find a fluent French speaker) instead of emailing.

Agree, mails are rarely answered. Problem since some time: The phone number no longer pops up if your IP is not in France, you need somebody in France to get it for you. In 9 out  10 cases, when you finally reached the point you agree on a deal, seller will insist to be paid by "cheque" or "mandat postal" delivered by pigeon.

[barrett]

SOME numbers show up, some don't. I've never quite worked it out but I think you can choose whether or not this happens when you place your ad. But yeah, if you're buying a car from France it's good to have a French contact who can do the legwork

[Junkman]

I haven't used Leboncoin for buying a car yet, but I buy a lot of other stuff through it and I mean a lot.

Usually, I deal with people my age or younger, i.e. not the elderly yet, and I have to say, that they are very fair, honest and reliable, when it comes to business.

The moment je me demande si ils envoient en Angleterre, they often answer 'oh la la, les British, yes I do and we can continue in English, if you like'.

If I really encounter a language barrier, I ask one of my French collegues for help, who are happy to assist.

 

However, buying a car in France 'to drive away' was considered an unsurmountable task even by the Belgians who had tried that back in the days,

when I still lived in Belgium.

It didn't concern me back then, because I only ever bought cars that needed total restoration, however, Like Mike Brewer (oh shut up you lot), I only contacted sellers,

when I already was in France and told them so, and that I'd be there within whatever time was required to cover the distance.

Or I asked the mademoiselle at the reception of  the hotel garni I stayed at to do the call on my behalf, rustling with a 20 Franc note. Not one of them refused.

 

Apart from that, if you really want a car, you'll get it, no matter what. I'll prove my point as soon as I'm in the position to acquire the R16 which is suitable for import.

On the other hand, if there is a thing I've learned in all those decades I'm doing this shit, the right cars find you, and not you them.

 

Just be patient.

[Junkman]

Problem since some time: The phone number no longer pops up if your IP is not in France

 

For that, all you need is the Hola Unblocker. Also works wonders, if you want to watch Youtube videos from Germany, hint, hint...

 

In 9 out 10 cases, when you finally reached the point you agree on a deal, seller will insist to be paid by "cheque" or "mandat postal" delivered by pigeon.

 

A car is paid for in cash when you pick it up.

For everything else, the French have Paypal, like any other civilised people.

[Ghosty]

Does the French Minitel system still exist? It was developed in the 1980s and was a sort of primitive Internet - You got a keyboard and monitor linked into the phoneline, looked a lot like Teletext to look at but had message boards, email etc.

 

I was told this was the reason the French were slow taking up the Net in the 1990s, as basically they thought they already had it.

Minitel went offline a couple of years ago IIRC.

[dollywobbler]

All useful info for my plan to buy an Ami 6 this year and bring it home. A father-in-law who lives in France may also be a useful commodity. An Ami-loving friend with a French fiancée a further resource. Oh, and my half-forgotten GCSE French of course. "J'ai douze ans. J'habite a Birmingham."

[TagoraSX]

I can confirm that 9 out of 10 do not answer emails, my search for Tagora doors was a right pain.

 

Thankfully the one who did answer was a very helpful gent and an Autoshite champion. He has 2 Tagoras, a 180, Rancho, Horizon and a Simca 1100!

[Jim Bell]

It's hard enough buying a car on eBay from some Spod in the next city over.

I shudder to think how much your balls ache trying to arrange INTERINCONTINALENTIL SHITE PURCHASE.

[vulgalour]

So just like with eBay it's a combination of sheer bloody mindedness, gesticulating wildly and shouting to communicate and driving away with the purchase as quickly as possible.  Just with a few more miles and easier access to vin rouge.

[carlo]

^^^ That. Sadly.

 

Sure, there are plenty of people who are reasonable to deal with, but there are an awful lot who are real twats. Being forrin really, really doesnt help either.

If an ad has no price and both me and my French brother in law enquire, I will be told a higher price than him. EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.

 

Also, selling cars is a fucking chore for people here. Its often the case that when you go to view/buy you THEN find the car is still in daily use, full of shite, child seats and general junk and you cant take it away there and then because they havent got their new car yet. Or its buried at the back of a barn with literally tons of other shite blocking it in. Its the done thing to leave a deposit and come back later - often weeks later. Fuck that.  Probably 1 in 3 cars for sale on LeBonCoin will say "CT sera fait pour la vente" which means they will MOT it when it sells - ie thats another few days pissing about while it gets tested.

 

People dont change cars often here - In the three years I have been in this particular house I have gone through more cars than my retired neighbours have in their entire lives - the market just isnt the same so people are not used to selling, which when combined with the typically slow French bureaucracy means it can take ages to buy a car. 

 

Also, Internet is a relatively new thing for most people here - France is a country where many still see fax machines and CB radios as the pinnacle of communications technology. So people quite often dont check emails often, and I think many, especially older folk view anything "online" with suspicion, ie its either not entirely serious or a scam, so they dont put much effort into it.

 

I knew there must be a reason why I like the French so much

[jonny69]

You've got to put yourself in their shoes. I find it stressful enough selling cars and bikes over here with all the time wasters and potential scammers, especially on eBay and Gumtree. If I saw a badly translated email come through I'd probably ignore it too.

[dieselnutjob]

Years ago we had a French girl work in our office.

 

One day I asked her "Is it true that the French don't like us English?".

 

She said yes it's true, they don't like the English.

Then she said that:-

They don't like Germans, Belgians, Spanish or Italians.

They don't like Parisians.

They don't like people from the next town.

They don't like their neighbours.

 

So don't worry about it.

 

That said I went to church one Sunday in a small town with my three young children and they were all over us.  It seems that they do quite like children.

 

[Junkman]

If you think the French don't like Belgians, you haven't heard the Belgians going on about the French yet.

[nigel bickle]

If you REALLY want it , you'll find a way.

 

If you just fancy it, but are unsure about going to get it, it's probably not for you. Least ways, till it lands at Dover..

[garbaldy]

If you REALLY want it , you'll find a way.

 

If you just fancy it, but are unsure about going to get it, it's probably not for you. Least ways, till it lands at Dover..

 

Yes I really want one or more and have found a way,

have tow vehicle plus trailer distance from door to door was a little over 1200 miles which was why it would be better being trailered,

 

I was hoping to get a car on trailer plus two bikes in the back to make the trip worthwhile, I recon selling on a bike could cover the fuel costs to sweeten the purchase.

 

Thanks for the replies it looks like I need to learn French   

[Largactil]

I tried to buy a set of alloy wheels from leboncoin last August - emailed in English & in French (via google translate, admittedly).

 

I was actually passing the town near Metz, where the vendor lived and stated I'd come pick them up and pay cash at a time which suited them.

 

Not a dickie bird back - And I note they renewed the ad in January, so they're still for sale... 

 

I might have another go - Anyone recommend a courier company that would collect x4 13" alloys and deliver to the UK?

 

(I can find a UK -> France company that'll do it for £75, but not a France -> UK company...)

[Uncle Jimmy]

Very revealing, no wonder the French economy is such a malnourished thing compared to its mama. Entente cordial and all that crud.

The Dutch always seem like more reasonable twats, maybe give them ago?

[barrett]

As if by magic, it looks like I might have bought another car of LBC today, completely by mistake. We went from the 'have you seen this?' Stage to the vendor accepting our offer in around 12 minutes. Easiest purchase ever!*

 

*still not 100% confirmed, I reserve the right to retract this comment at any time

[Frogchod]

I must be the odd one out...... never had a problem with Leboncoin, emails always answered, pas de problem.

And my grasp of the French language is shite.

 

[pshome]

For everything else, the French have Paypal, like any other civilised people.

 

 

However, buying a car in France 'to drive away' was considered an unsurmountable task even by the Belgians who had tried that back in the days,

when I still lived in Belgium.

 

Let's strike a deal, i tell you the secrets of buying a car and drive it home (done twice) if you persuade each and every Tagora owner i want to buy parts from to open an evil paypal account or give out his IBAN, usually considered a national secret.

[Junkman]

I'd have no problem whatsoever to drive a car home from France if it had a valid CT. Unfortunately almost 100% of my objects of desire so far were sadly lacking it.

Not sure about Tagora owners, but all people I dealt with in France over the past decade or more, accepted either Paypal, Visa, IBAN/BIC, or all three.

[pshome]

I'd have no problem whatsoever to drive a car home from France if it had a valid CT. Unfortunately almost 100% of my objects of desire so far were sadly lacking it.

Not sure about Tagora owners, but all people I dealt with in France over the past decade or more, accepted either Paypal, Visa, IBAN/BIC, or all three.

Option A: present the car at the nearest control technique, costs about 50€. it fails? doesnt matter, you have 2 months to fx it and can drive during that time: drive home.

 

Option B: do nothing, drive home.  Worst case scenario is that the flics catch you, make you pay a 135€ fine and issue a "fiche de circulation provisoire", valid 7 days, so you can get your CT: drive home.

 

Drove the Simca Chambord home with a failed CT, gendarmerie stopped me at the first péage, checked the papers: bonne route!

 

By the way, it is illegal to sell a car to a private buyer without a fresh CT (max . 6 month old, it doesnt matter if it failed) but sellers ususally are not impressed by these laws.

[garbaldy]

A little update,  

 Still no answer from numerous  Emails so decided to search a little farther a field and first seller in Germany answered Email instantly with yes he speaks English,

Is it the same procedure buying from Germany as France then?

[messerschmitt owner]

A little update,  

 Still no answer from numerous  Emails so decided to search a little farther a field and first seller in Germany answered Email instantly with yes he speaks English,

Is it the same procedure buying from Germany as France then?

no, you have to eat sausages and sauerkraut instead of garlic and onions.