Have someone interested in buying my MX-6 on eBay. They are in Vermont. I'm usually a cash in hand guy. After going through hell with CL buyers expecting a show condition car for $2k, I'm a little hesitant to sell sight unseen and someone filing a claim and getting PayPal refund.
Should I say no and only sell locally? Any other forms of payment I should ask for?
I hate my phone. It deleted the "on eBay" from my title.
Paypal will be unlikely to give a refund on a 25 year old car unless in the extreme case that the buyer wants to return the car to you on his dime.
If your ad says something about "as is, no warranty stated or implied, blah blah blah" there's really not much way it can go wrong.
Do you have anything about a non-refundable deposit on there?
Postal Money order or Internet Transfer?
Neither are reversible.
How about cash in hand within 5 business days? They have to come get the car at some point. However you do it, just don't let it go until you have the funds. You can do a bank wire if he's sending a proxy to get the car.
He wants to ship it.
No ship, fly and drive is the only way
I've sold three cars on eBay now, and a motorcycle. I always put "car is sold as is with no guarantees, $500 non-refundable deposit due within 24 hours of auction end, remaining balance due via certified cashier's check or cash within 7 days of auction end. Title will be transferred when check clears or cash is received." One out of the three times, the buyer just called me after winning the auction and said "Can I just come to you on xx day and pay cash for the whole thing?" He showed up and paid. The second time, a guy insisted on paying PayPal for the whole car. I spoke to him on the phone, did my best to see he was legit, etc. I was nervous after his shipping company eventually came and got the car, and nothing happened, my money was safe, etc. The third time, a guy actually paid the deposit right away, then sent up a cashier's check via tracked UPS; after my bank said it was good, I sent him the signed title via UPS, his Uship driver got the car a few days later, everyone was happy.
The bike? Guy "accidentally" did "buy it now" and didn't have the money. eBay wouldn't even let me give him bad feedback. Had to relist it.
It's not a bad idea to snap a handful of pics while the car is leaving too. Get a thumbs-up with the new owner, take pics of the car being loaded, etc. It gives you an excuse to be sentimental while getting photos that could be helpful if something fishy was actually going on.
Get a money wire, confirm with your bank that it went through and you're all good.
In reply to docwyte:
There is actually a LOT of wire transfer fraud out there, that is not a safe way to go unless the buyer is trusted 100%...
They want to ship a $2k car? From where to where? Sounds kinda odd.
In reply to SlickDizzy:
Hmm, that's interesting. Most of the financial advice radio hosts like Clark Howard basically say the opposite - wire transfers are still considered safe, whereas cashiers checks aren't as there are way too many fake ones out there. Got any more info re the wire transfer fraud?
For in person transactions involving cashiers checks, I insist on meeting the buyer at their bank and watch the cashier cut the check. I also offer the same courtesy to sellers if I pay by cashiers check.
I've sold several cars on Ebay that got shipped, I've never had a problem. First, I'm pretty clear in the ad that the car will not leave my possession until I have the money in hand (and I then confirm it's non-reversable). Also, honestly, one of the best things you can do is try to have a phone conversation with the potential buyer. Most scammers or slimeballs won't want to talk to you via phone. You'll get a pretty good feel for the person within 5 minutes on the phone. Then from there, yes, you have to take a bit of a leap of faith. But for me, the combination of making sure I have money in hand and a healthy phone conversation with the buyer has never steered me wrong.
I've been on the other side of this too...bought a car and shipped it in. I was more nervous on that end of things, but have had pretty good luck there too.
Harvey wrote: They want to ship a $2k car? From where to where? Sounds kinda odd.
Someone on here shipped a very similar car from CA to IL, so.... 
$2k car, Vermont to PA. I'm seeing one way flights for $300, surely it'll cost more to ship than fly and drive (assuming car is driveable), unless the buyer has a buddy with a trailer.
Cash on the barrel head, period.
Unless you mail the car, Paypal will refund him. Btdt.
Wire transfers are pretty solid nowadays. I've never had an issue with one, I'd much rather take one vs a cashiers check.
docwyte wrote: Wire transfers are pretty solid nowadays. I've never had an issue with one, I'd much rather take one vs a cashiers check.
I seemed to recall there being some red flag about wire transfers...I looked up the CL warning, and apparently it is a bad idea to SEND them, not so much take them.
Craigslist FAQ said: How to recognize a vehicle scam attempt on CL: •Payment by Western Union or a money wire is requested Never use Western Union or wire transfer to pay for goods - only a scammer will ask for this, and any funds sent will be lost
I will usually accept wire transfers since they're pretty safe. Make sure you adequately described it so there are no disappointments when he gets it.
If its paypal, I tell them I have to withdraw the money and once it shows up in the bank I will release the car. I also have them sign and fax a "no take-backs, all sales final" paper so that if they dispute it you have a piece of paper that proves they said they wouldn't quibble.
There are so many though that are scams that I have to feel pretty darn warm and fuzzy about it. They pretty much have to send me a blood test before I accept anything but cash. Even cashier's checks I wait until the bank clears it.
Swank Force One wrote:Harvey wrote: They want to ship a $2k car? From where to where? Sounds kinda odd.Someone on here shipped a very similar car from CA to IL, so....
Well, I'm just that stupid. 
curtis73 wrote: There are so many though that are scams that I have to feel pretty darn warm and fuzzy about it. They pretty much have to send me a blood test before I accept anything but cash. Even cashier's checks I wait until the bank clears it.
Unfortunately that's not good enough in most cases, they'll clear and then six weeks later come back to you and tell you it was a forgery.
I had an interesting text conversation with a fellow that wanted to buy my car via PayPal that made me a bit suspicious. Ended up selling it locally instead. I'll see if I can screenshot the convo.
http://i.imgur.com/oOrvldq.jpg
Not inlining it, because it is a long image.
Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to Harvey: That one was a scam for sure. You can tell by the phrasing.
Ya think? 
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