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Oops, I did it again

I drive a Lexus RX-300. I had some buyers I was driving around and they had their kids with them. The kids were in the back seat and by the end of the day, they had pulled the inserts on the back of the seats away and broke the clips that hold them together.

The buyers felt really bad and offered to pay for the damages. I declined saying it was no big deal. Subsequently, I went to the Lexus dealership and asked about repairing them. They said that they could not replace the clips and each seat would need a whole new insert at $600 a piece. I did not elect to have this done.

What to do?

Epilogue - I took the car into CarMax for a warranty repair and asked about the seats. They put new clips in for $17.00.

Posted by Jim Hirschhorn, GRI, Real Living - Orlando on 11/15/2007 08:50 AM

Comments (11)

11 Comments on Oops, I did it again

NOV

2007

$17 bucks, I would eat it, but I would make sure they knew what the costs would be, but do not make them feel guilty. They may avoid you over it and buy a house through someone else.

Dave

Jim,

That`s tough one...

I think you did the right thing.

Well Dave,

The time frame was almost a year later to find out $17 fixed it! When it happened, I found out it would be $1200. The moral of the story is to always get a 2nd opinion..whether it is for a new Kidney or a Car repair.

Scott...the cost of doing business.

Jim, I think by declining their offer to pay for the damage you've shown good will, that will go a long ways with your clients.

Sandy

They are also the ones who promised to have me over for a barbecue and, well, um...

OK - I am going to share with you something that I found out on accident 15 years ago and now charge large dollars to agents as a super secret sales tip. Ready? Ask them if they would rather drive or navigate. 98% of the time they will want to drive. You take their care and you will not only benefit from the psychological sales advantages that come with them being in control of the driving, you will not only get damage, wear and tear or extra gas costs - but you will see an unadulterated view into how to negotiate and close them. For instance - If it is someone who drives an eco friendly car that is older but in good condition and clean - I will work with them very differently than the guy who has a large truck with fast food wrappers all over and who goes through 4 sets of brake pads a year...

Jim,

Hope they buy a house!!!

They bought one from me (out of guilt probably!) ha ha.

WOW, darn kids!!!! At least you got the second opinion though.

If it was me and I had to pay the full repair cost of 1200 bucks I would have waited until after closing then sued them!!! Just joking. I would have at the cost anyways.

I do allow clients in my car at times. I always ask if they want to follow though, most of the time they prefer to follow me though. Most people are more comfortable in their car. I do lose bonding time I guess, but I make that up else where.

Yeah, I'm with Chris. Drive with them. My car holds only one other person, anyway, so I generally drive with my buyers. It frees me to navigate and counsel. I can do two things at once fairly well, three is pushing it.

Two cars works but my personal preference is to have them with me. I can't control the showings with them in another car!

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