My friend ripped me off. Should I be mad?

Question

This might be more of a complaint than a question. I guess I'm asking you all what you would do in my position.

I had a nice Jeep Wrangler that I could have sold for $4000. Instead, I sold it to a friend. They gave me $1500 cash, and gave me their old jeep ("worth" $2000) for a "total" of $3500 payment. I can't sell their old jeep because it doesn't have seats, axles, wheels or a top! I was mostly trying to help them out because they said they needed another vehicle. They are expecting a baby and I felt badly. I was just posting the old jeep on craigslist, and I saw that they were selling MY Jeep for $5500!! I guess I don't blame them because if they can get money for it then good for them, but it makes me feel like they used me, while I was just trying to help. Now I feel burdened by the old Jeep, and I feel like no one will want it, or even by it for close to $2000. I just graduated from college, so I don't have a lot of $$. How can I financially bounce back? Would you be mad?

Answer 1

If you watch the show "The Office", Dwight did the same thing to Andy, his co-worker.

And to answer your question yes, I would be pissed.  They are basically stealing money from you.

You should consistently pretend you are other people interested in it and make appointment after appointment to look at it and never show up. At least you would get some satisfaction of wasting their time.

Answer 2

You did a good thing. Put it in a bubble and let it go. Looks as though that your "friend' really was not a friend at all. Better to have found out now. Why not go back to the friend and give the jeep back or just try to sell it for 500 on craigs list. Its of no use to you is it? The 500 is better than nothing and then just move on with your life. It will make a good story years down the road

Answer 3

You have a kind heart! Try not to look at it as being ripped off. You were doing a kind thing and that is how you should keep it in your head and heart. I think it is awful your friend is selling the vehicle like that but maybe the $5500 will get them out of a bind you don't know about or maybe they don't see it as a bad thing. We are not all the same inside. You are truly a jewel in my book and have left me with a nice feeling inside.

Don't let this experience jade you but make sure who your friends truly are.Try confronting your friend if you think it will make you feel better. At least they will know that you have got their number and maybe won't take advantage again.

Answer 4

This is a valuable lesson learned. While you may remain friends with these people, do not ever do business with them again. Getting mad will never get what you feel you are owed. The only person who will be unhappy over all this is you, soooo accept the fact that possibly they used you, decide for yourself--- friend or acquaintance and move forward from there.

Answer 5

What kind of a Jeep did they have? I hope it's some desirable model that you can sell for $5,000 because your "friends" were too ignorant to know how to properly sell it.

Oh, and your "friends" are a******s.

Answer 6

There are always risks involved when selling and trading, unfortunately, you got the short end of the stick.

BTW, If you got lucky and sold the trade in jeep for $4400 because someone wanted that particular car, would you have told the last owners and given them a share back?

Dont dwell on it. Your heart was in the right place, and at the end of the day, you must have been happy with the deal or you wouldnt have gone ahead with it.

Answer 7

you have every right to be pissed that they are reselling the vehicle that they said they needed.  i would be, but there's nothing you can do about it now.  you made the choice to go through with the agreement and unfortunately you'll have to live with the results.  sucks, but that's life.  my advice for how to bounce back financially, i suppose is just to save your money.  you might be able to part out the old jeep, selling engine or other internal parts.  a junk yard would buy it from you as well, but their max payout isn't more than $100 or so.  in the future, i wouldn't accept anything less than cash upfront for a vehicle you are selling; no trades, no "here's half now, i'll give you the other half later" type of deals.  you'll only get screwed.  and think twice before selling to a friend.  usually things like this ruin friendships.  good luck.