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Selling a car out of state???

NOSTRT980

NOSTRT980

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I am selling a car on another web site. I have a buyer that wants to send me a certified check for the car and extra for the movers. Here is where I am not sure if it is legit or not. He is wiling to wait for the check to clear before sending the mover to pick up the car. Even though he is willing to wait for the check to clear why should I be paying the movers? Shouldn't he be making all arrangements for pick up??? I am wondering if anyone has gotten scammed with this procedure? What should I do for this one?
 
The movers shouldn't be paid until he receives the car. If they require a deposit then he can leave that with them on his CC

If the cheque is certified then there won't be any issue for the car itself.
 
Certified checks have been known to be bad and come back to bite you a month or two later, bank draft directly into your account is much safer.
also the buyer should be 100% responsible for shipping.
 
#1. Has he paid you for the car and have the funds cleared?
#2. Having the car shipped is his responsibility, not yours. As such, he pays for the shipping company, not you.

Having a car shipped is a simple procedure that anyone can do. As you have written above, it sounds suspicious to me.
 
Normally the buyer pays for the shipping. This seems a little weird but if he is waiting for the check to clear that is another thing. I'm thinking I would ask the buyer to pay the transporter and ask why he wants you to pay. Maybe there is a reason. Good luck.
 
As 440=6 noted, there are a lot of scams out there that involve the use of phony cashiers checks. The check arrives, appears good, your bank puts the money in your account, and then a month or so later you get the bad news that the check was bogus.
 
Bank wire or cash only. He pays shipper directly.....if he balks...dump the deal...you'll sleep better in the long run
 
terzmo said:
Bank wire or cash only. He pays shipper directly.....if he balks...dump the deal...you'll sleep better in the long run
Click to expand...

X3 Here is part of an article on why you don't take a certified check.

"Printing technology has grown so advanced over recent years that it’s relatively easy for scammers to forge cashier’s checks in their own basements. As a result, even bank employees may find it difficult to detect a fake, and it can take weeks before a counterfeit cashier’s check is discovered. What’s more, if you spend the funds prematurely, you’ll be liable for the unpaid check (and the resulting fees) once the bank discovers it’s fraudulent."
 
how about paypal? I know they have pretty good policies about refunds when items aren't sent but I'm wondering about loop holes where the seller may ship their items after payment through PP and then the buyer claims non-receipt and gets a refund, leaving the buyer SOL. A guy contacted me from Alaska regarding a high end Canon camera I'm selling, but seemed suspicious after a few emails, even with payment to go through paypal.
 
I was selling a 96 Camaro last year and received two different "buyers" that responded with wanting to buy with cashiers checks from another state. Seemed fishy as they both stated the price seemed right(no haggling) and they would send a friend to get car after check cleared, one even wanted to give me 10% more "for my troubles". Both of these sellers were out of state on business so they didn't even try to come look at it or drive it. My neighbor is an Anchorage detective so I laid out these two deals to him, he told me to drop them like a rock. For the same reason as stated before with forged bank checks, I was told a lot of scams are being performed that way. I took his advice and told these two to have their local friend show up with cash or quit bugging me. Never heard another word from either one....I would suggest you do the same.
 
like said, buyer pays shipping.

I rather take a personal check, have bank send it off for direct collection..... NO cashier type checks period... would not even use paypal...... best thing to do , is set up new bank acct for this, have him wire it to that acct.

anyone that's wants to buy and sates your price for said " item " is o k, its always a scam....

have ya ever seem a car guy that did not want to "discuss" price!?????
 
I did ask for Postal money orders and he countered with a certified check. That's where I started to think this is/or could be a scam. Great conversation on this matter. I am sure there could be others doing the same thing on this web site selling cars to others not FBBO members.
 
If setting up a wire transfer scares you at all, a little peace of mind can be had by setting up a new account at your credit union or bank JUST for this transaction! He wires you the money to that new account, you get the money, withdraw all of it and close the account. A wire transfer is the easiest and safest way to go, IMO. DO NOT PAY THE SHIPPER!!! That is the BUYER'S responsibility, period, dot.

That whole "I'll send you a certified check for the amount plus the shipping!" is classic scam! Plus, a certified check really doesn't mean **** for safety of a transaction. There is no inherent value, safety, or advantage to a certified check.
 
Good advice here. when I sell a car out of state I follow these steps:

  • Get full payment via wire transfer ONLY. I maintain a separate account just for wires and transfer the money out as soon as it clears.
  • Send the title and all paperwork to the buyer once payment clears.
  • The buyer is always 100% responsible for shipping. I work with the shipper to get the car loaded and if its a car I care about I give the driver a tip to take extra care.

On a local sale I only accept a wire or cash at pickup. They never see my house, I meet them at my bank and we sign the papers inside, the money is immediately deposited.
 
I googled the phone number. turned up it's a number used in scams. and on watch lists. or have you been called by this number show up a lot. think I screwed up. gave my name and address.
 
I have had several out of state sales. What TxDon said is exactly right. Open a separate account with a minimum balance in a separate bank from the one you have your checking and savings account. Send the title and paperwork only after the funds have cleared and shipping is always the responsibility of the buyer. Never accept a Cashiers Check or PP.
 
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