How do you go about buying a car on the other side of the country?
So here are some other thoughts on the matter. I'm going into a lot of detail in the hope that no unsuspecting member gets sucked into this ****-show.
A very new member selling a car who has few posts is something to consider. Not that new members have no value because we all started somewhere, but one all the sudden selling a car is a question mark that needs an answer. Red Flag. I've followed several cars for sale, where the OP never responds to email requests for more info. Hmmm, you're trying to sell your car, but you won't respond to a PM or to contact directly in your ad? Red Flag. Multiple requests for more info with no response. Red Flag. Pricing way out of line either high or low. Red Flag.
Here are some observations on a scam I was tempted to buy into last week. My next car will likely be a 65 Belvedere. I think they are just oh-so-cool. A big block with a 4-speed would have me spinning circles. I see this ad on eBay, it's a GORGEOUS car, currently listed at 11K with a day to go on the auction. I contact the seller for more photos, and receive more photos, but the response is odd, like they learned English at parochial school. The price is ridiculously low. This is clearly a rotisserie resto, and at 11K it's already passed the reserve. Really? This is a 35-40K car, selling for 25% of what it's worth? WTF? After a lot of get-a-grip-on-yourself conversations in my head, I decide not to bid. I haven't missed a moment's sleep over it - I think this was crap, and whoever won the bid at 13K will never see this car. Here are some photos of the car, and a copy of the email I got from the seller. Hell's Bells, just the engine and all the listed speed goodies are worth the bid price.
All my questions were answered - sort of - except for how can I send someone local by to look at the car. That got no response. Here's what I got from the (supposed) seller:
Hello ,
This car is a pristine ,Fully restored to the highest standards, super nice! Always garaged, Excellent condition ,Looks & drives great . Very clean interior and exterior, very Well maintained. The Car comes with 2 keys, owners manual, and a clean/clear title ready for transfer to new owner .Totally free rust car . I can help with shipping to Battle Ground, WA
For payment I accept Bank to Bank Wire Transfer
Thank you and let me know
Note the awkward linguistic response.
So, bottom line, even though I am majorly jonesing for this car, I sit it out. I just can't believe this is for real. The takeaway from this story is, don't be sucked into an attractive deal if the details don't add up. Ask many questions. Insist on good answers. A legit seller would have no issue with an in-person inspection. And don't ignore your spidey-sense!!!
A final thought. Maybe I'm being a horse's *** being suspicious. If the buyer really gets this car for 13K, well yay! I will be forever jealous, and apologize to the seller for being unkind. But I suspect, the buyer got had, and the seller is laughing his *** off in Bosnia, or wherever scam artists live.
So here are some other thoughts on the matter. I'm going into a lot of detail in the hope that no unsuspecting member gets sucked into this ****-show.
A very new member selling a car who has few posts is something to consider. Not that new members have no value because we all started somewhere, but one all the sudden selling a car is a question mark that needs an answer. Red Flag. I've followed several cars for sale, where the OP never responds to email requests for more info. Hmmm, you're trying to sell your car, but you won't respond to a PM or to contact directly in your ad? Red Flag. Multiple requests for more info with no response. Red Flag. Pricing way out of line either high or low. Red Flag.
Here are some observations on a scam I was tempted to buy into last week. My next car will likely be a 65 Belvedere. I think they are just oh-so-cool. A big block with a 4-speed would have me spinning circles. I see this ad on eBay, it's a GORGEOUS car, currently listed at 11K with a day to go on the auction. I contact the seller for more photos, and receive more photos, but the response is odd, like they learned English at parochial school. The price is ridiculously low. This is clearly a rotisserie resto, and at 11K it's already passed the reserve. Really? This is a 35-40K car, selling for 25% of what it's worth? WTF? After a lot of get-a-grip-on-yourself conversations in my head, I decide not to bid. I haven't missed a moment's sleep over it - I think this was crap, and whoever won the bid at 13K will never see this car. Here are some photos of the car, and a copy of the email I got from the seller. Hell's Bells, just the engine and all the listed speed goodies are worth the bid price.
All my questions were answered - sort of - except for how can I send someone local by to look at the car. That got no response. Here's what I got from the (supposed) seller:
Hello ,
This car is a pristine ,Fully restored to the highest standards, super nice! Always garaged, Excellent condition ,Looks & drives great . Very clean interior and exterior, very Well maintained. The Car comes with 2 keys, owners manual, and a clean/clear title ready for transfer to new owner .Totally free rust car . I can help with shipping to Battle Ground, WA
For payment I accept Bank to Bank Wire Transfer
Thank you and let me know
Note the awkward linguistic response.
So, bottom line, even though I am majorly jonesing for this car, I sit it out. I just can't believe this is for real. The takeaway from this story is, don't be sucked into an attractive deal if the details don't add up. Ask many questions. Insist on good answers. A legit seller would have no issue with an in-person inspection. And don't ignore your spidey-sense!!!
A final thought. Maybe I'm being a horse's *** being suspicious. If the buyer really gets this car for 13K, well yay! I will be forever jealous, and apologize to the seller for being unkind. But I suspect, the buyer got had, and the seller is laughing his *** off in Bosnia, or wherever scam artists live.
