I briefly mentioned in another thread about a Cuda that a friend of mine sold to another "friend". Seller friend bought a bunch of cars a couple years ago when prices were going up. He now has too many and some need to go. I offered to help him and asked for a couple bucks if I hooked him up with buyers and he was able to make a profit. He agreed that it would be fair. I've been friends with Seller for about 5 years and he has helped me out several times.
The car is a 73 H code Cuda, was triple black, now yellow with a crate 360, auto, almost zero rust, Cragars, etc. I'd value it between $13-15K. Sand & buff the paint, fix a few electrical gremlins, wrong brackets, a little interior work and it's an $18-20K car.
Buyer friend is looking for a Cuda. I've known him for about 5 years also. He's never done me any favors and is leeching off Disability despite wrenching on cars. I tell him about Seller friend, we discuss my finder's fee and I take Buyer over there. Due to previous conversation with Seller, I did not feel the need to coach him on prices. I assumed he'd pad the price enough so that we'd BOTH make a couple bucks. (He is a novice with muscle cars, but an expert on high end imports. It's not his first rodeo.)
Long story short, Buyer tells me that Seller is going to sell him the Cuda for $11k, EXACTLY what Seller paid for it. I fell that I cannot ask Seller for any money since he's breaking even. Buyer takes 8 months to come up with the money. Finally buys the car and drives it home after calling me 10 times asking technical advice and whether the car is worth the asking price. (I tell him if he doesn't get off his ass, I'M buying the car. BTW, had I known it was only $11K, I would have bought it, arrrrghhhh). Mind you, this car has only been driven about 50 miles in the last 2 years,the gas is that old as well and this looney drove it over 100 miles on a bogus license plate to-boot!
Buyer calls after he gets home, crying about the car needing this and that, the brakes acted funny, blah, blah and can I help him with some parts? I say "sure, after I get my birddog for finding the car". He tells me he's broke and has to sell one of his other cars before he can give me any money and if he finds a car near him, he'll be sure to tell me.