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Sept. 22, 2009 5:34 p.m. Mazdax605 Reader

Hey guys,

I have been trying to sell my 78 Datsun 510 coupe for a while now,and had it on eBay three times. It finally sold a few days ago,but to a buyer in the Dominican Republic with no feedback,and they are a new user. The first two time sI tried selling the car on eBay I had two different scammers use the buy it now,and then try the whole Nigerian scam on me.

I messaged the buyer this time through eBay,and asked if he was legit,and he assured me he was,and has family in Miami. I emailed him today,and told him that if he were for real to call me,and we could talk. He just called my house,but my wife was on an important call,and he will call me back in a little bit.

What would you guys suggest I do about this? Is PayPal a sfe way to accept payment on something like this? I understand they get their cut,and so does eBay,but at this point I am fine with that. I just don't want to get caught up in some scam I am unaware of that is similar to the Nigerian scam.

Any help would be appreciated.

Chris
Sept. 22, 2009 5:45 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

This smells fishy on so many levels, I wouldn't touch it.
Sept. 22, 2009 5:58 p.m. oldopelguy Dork

With Paypal as a seller you only have protection if you have an electronic tracking on the purchase, without it all the buyer has to do is claim he never got the item and Paypal will take the $ back from you and refund it to him. For something like a car where someone will have to pick it up in person, cash or bank to bank transfer are the only two ways to go, and I would only take the bank option if you went with him to the bank.
Sept. 22, 2009 7:49 p.m. Mazdax605 Reader

I just spoke with the buyer on the phone,and through his broken english I have figurd out that he has a cousin in New York that could come pay me in cash for the car. He also mentioned having the car picked up by a shipping company,and transfered to Elizabeth,NJ for shipment to the DR. I am still very on edge about this deal,but cash would make me much less so. What do you guys think?

Chris
Sept. 22, 2009 7:58 p.m. wayslow New Reader

A friend of mine sold a car, through eBay, to a guy in Botswana. The deal was done via Paypal and the buyer arranged transport. All of the correspondence was done through eBay so that there was a record of the deal. He was on edge through the whole process but it ended up being completely legit.
Sept. 22, 2009 7:59 p.m. Hocrest New Reader

His cousin gives you cash and then takes the car...
Sept. 22, 2009 8:23 p.m. Mazdax605 Reader

Hocrest wrote:

His cousin gives you cash and then takes the car...

I assume so,but I am not certain of that yet.
Sept. 22, 2009 8:35 p.m. toddgreene New Reader

You need to be cautious but not paranoid...

I have a friend who has sold cars overseas, one to South Africa and another to Brazil. Both were legitimate transctions and went very smoothly. I myself have sold one that ended up in Canada. It went smoothly as well. If it is a large amount, an idea is to open a new seperate bank account where the funds can be wired. As soon as the wire is recieved you can transfer into your own account. This meetehod, no one has your regular account information. The funds are good as soon as they are wired.

Todd
Sept. 22, 2009 8:35 p.m. friedgreencorrado Dork

Mazdax605 wrote:

Hocrest wrote:

His cousin gives you cash and then takes the car...

I assume so,but I am not certain of that yet.

Make certain. Otherwise, walk. If he suggests a money order (NO CHECKS!), tell him to make it out to himself and cash it.
Sept. 22, 2009 9:09 p.m. plance1 HalfDork

Get a deposit through pay pal, if he balks or says he doesnt know how tell him to go jump off a bridge. I tried selling my suburban on EBAY (still for sale by the way!!!) and I knew the "winning" bidder was a loser when he failed to make his deposit in the time I specified. In fact, he never made any deposit and I got contacted by another guy to whom this loser did the same thing. So Im weary of fishy ebay deals, if I don't see a deposit right away, I walk.
Sept. 23, 2009 5:42 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

Cash and carry. It's a 510, so we're not talking 10's of thousands of dollars. It's not unreasonable.

I've done it several times over the years, selling overseas just as you've run into.

And yes, it's a royal pain dealing with all the fake bidders. That and the fees and listing headaches are what stopped me from ebaying cars.
Sept. 23, 2009 5:46 a.m. BoxheadTim Reader

Another vote for cash - no money orders, checks, cashier checks, kauri shells, red beans or anything else that you won't be able to instantly turn into a burger down at the local diner.
Sept. 23, 2009 3:24 p.m. Mazdax605 Reader

I got an email from the buyer today stating he finally has a confirmation number from PayPal,and he will be paying the deposit with that ASAP. I THINK he plans on paying the rest via cash,but I am not sure yet. What do you guys think if he has a cousin pay me cash for the balance,and then has a company come pick it up after that? I am still nervous,but I don't want to be paranoid.

By the way the sale price is $4000,and the buyer never asked one question about the car before,or after the auction closing.

Chris
Sept. 23, 2009 3:55 p.m. BoxheadTim Reader

Get confirmation that the rest is being paid cash on pickup. Unless it's confirmed, I wouldn't accept the deal.
Sept. 23, 2009 4:04 p.m. Dr. Hess PowerDork

Yeah, cash on pickup. If you're still uncomfortable, I'd say full 4K in cash money, nice pictures of Ben Franklin, and you paypal the deposit back to him. But if the deposit is small and you've already transferred it out of your paypal account and his cousin has brought the balance in pictures of Mr. Franklin, then I'd go with that. Them Nigerians sure have screwed up a bunch of stuff.
Sept. 23, 2009 4:52 p.m. DILYSI Dave UltimaDork

As long as you're getting cash, I think you're pretty safe. I don't think I'd even bother with the paypal deposit - just get it all in cash.
Sept. 23, 2009 4:55 p.m. John Brown MegaDork

DILYSI Dave wrote:

As long as you're getting cash, I think you're pretty safe. I don't think I'd even bother with the paypal deposit - just get it all in cash.

There is a rash of counterfeited $20.00 bills rolling through town... I am scared of cash even!
Sept. 23, 2009 5:05 p.m. DILYSI Dave UltimaDork

John Brown wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

As long as you're getting cash, I think you're pretty safe. I don't think I'd even bother with the paypal deposit - just get it all in cash.

There is a rash of counterfeited $20.00 bills rolling through town... I am scared of cash even!

Really? I haven't heard of that down here in ATL.
Sept. 23, 2009 5:16 p.m. SVreX PowerDork

I lived in the DR for several years. It doesn't sound fishy at all to me.

Family in Miami, cousin in NY, broken English, erratic on the return phone calls, overpriced sale, shipping company in Elizabeth, NJ, every bit of it sounds perfectly normal.

There's lot's of cultural reasons why it is normal... but no one asked that.

I'd say you've got a good deal. Having said that, ONLY accept cash. Don't be afraid to say so- they expect you to say so, and they CAN do it. There is a good chance the cash is easier for them anyway.

BTW- the cousin's English will probably not be any better. That's OK. They've got the cash (they hoard US dollars, not Dominican Pesos).

Congratulations on your sale.
Sept. 23, 2009 7:40 p.m. wbjones Reader

John Brown wrote:

There is a rash of counterfeited $20.00 bills rolling through town... I am scared of cash even!

do the transaction at a bank (your bank ?) where you can sign the title... and have a senior teller check out the money...
Sept. 24, 2009 11:40 a.m. Mazdax605 Reader

I contacted the buyer,and asked him if we could do the whole thing in cash. He said no problem,but was worried that this was against eBay policy,and asked if I would report the transaction complete to eBay. Do you think if I go this route that I should meet the buyers cousin in a public place to do the transaction,and like was said before to go to my bank,and have the currency looked over by a trained teller?

Chris
Sept. 24, 2009 12:16 p.m. 93gsxturbo Reader

Tell him you are HAPPY to go outside of Ebay, Cash n Carry.

I sold a set of $1700 wheels to a guy in Canada, told him I would ship for free if he paid me Western Union instead of Paypal. He did, and I did. Worked out perfect.

Would I send $1700 via Western Union to anyone? Heck no. Would I offer to accept it? Heck yes.
Sept. 25, 2009 3:14 a.m. friedgreencorrado Dork

DILYSI Dave wrote:

John Brown wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

As long as you're getting cash, I think you're pretty safe. I don't think I'd even bother with the paypal deposit - just get it all in cash.

There is a rash of counterfeited $20.00 bills rolling through town... I am scared of cash even!

Really? I haven't heard of that down here in ATL.

I have, but I live in a "working class poor" neighborhood. I've seen the cashier at the dollar store & thrift store mark every $20 bill they see with a special ink pen to insure they're not counterfiet.

http://www.staples.com/MMF-Industries-Counterfeit-Money-Detector-Pen/product_450130
Sept. 25, 2009 10:24 a.m. Gearheadotaku New Reader

Meet the buyer/payer at HIS bank. Watch as he withdraws funds in cash. Take cash and hand over keys and title.
Sept. 25, 2009 2:10 p.m. DILYSI Dave UltimaDork

Just took $4K cash for Goliath. Cash is good.

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