Viotti.
Let me clear it up for you and for anyone whom might wonder in the future.
In all of my dealings, I represent the BUYER, and am thus paid for my services by the buyer. I do after all spend the time and effort to bring the buyer together with a potential seller. I have a simple formula. For cars under 100,000 the charge is $1500. For cars between 100,000 and 500,000 the charge is $2500. For cars over 500,000 it is negotiable.
I am presented with a "commission" from a buyer for a particular kind of automobile. If I am successful in finding what they wish, then I present both parties with an "Offer Contract" to sign. This stipulates the terms of the offer (Price, downpayment, timing, delivery, warrantees if any, spares etc), and an place for the seller to accept the offer, so that there are no surprizes for either party. It also has language that allows the buyer to cancel the transaction, should the documentation provided, or the car itself, not prove to be what was advertised, so long as this discovery and the resultant cancellation of offer take place before delivery of the vehicle to the new owner or his authorized representative. In such occurence, the seller must, by contract, return any deposits. If the sale proceeds, then I also make the arrangements for shipping the vehicle, although the cost for the actual shipping is borne by the new owner. For vehicles located overseas this includes arranging containerization, proper export clearances in the country of export, and required import documentation including DOT and EPA clearances for US bound vehicles as may be required.
Yes there are cars for sale on my site. In almost all cases these are not my cars !! I place the ads there for clients who wish to sell them.
In the case of the 850TC, this car was brought to my attention by one of my clients. The owner had placed the car for sale (that is why he had a flyer printed) and was made aware that I had a customer who was interested in purchasing it (In actuality I had 4 different parties that had expressed interest in the car, as it was coming from a VERY reputable collector/owner) and that an official offer was forthcoming. When that offer was delivered some days later (as the vehicle owner was out of town) he had decided not to sell the car, which is of course his ultimate right. He did not give a reason why, nor did I think it pertinent to ask why.
In another case I had a client interested in one of the cars on my site. He paid my expenses to go and view the car in question (and take some 300 photographs) to ascertain to his satisfaction that it was a car that was as advertised. I provided a multiple page report on my inspection for my client who duly paid for my services. In the end the two parties remained too far apart monetarily and the transaction was not concluded.
I look forward to being able to assist others, interested in finding that particular car they wish, in the future.
Kind regards,
Paul Vanderheijden
www.scuderiatopolino.com