Would You Trust Him? (Online Car Sale Related)

So, in the middle of dealing with everything else, yesterday I get a FB message asking if my Suzuki Alto Works is "still for sale".    Now, I haven't actively listed it, but in the Suzuki Alto Works FB group (yes, there is one), I replied to one local guy who was looking for one back when I attempted the big sell off.   The guy never replied to me, but he did "like" my comment, and also my subsequent one a week or so later when I asked if he was actually interested in it.  Whatever he meant by that, I dunno.  Might have been semi-muted by FB, but regardless, the semi-local guy never got in contact with me.

But the new guy seems really interested, but my Spidey Sense is going off.   First, he doesn't live anywhere near me (He's in Albuquerque, I'm near Chicago)  Second, his FB profile is pretty much on lockdown, so I can't really vet him that way. Third, he really didn't ask much beyond if it was for sale, and how much I wanted. (Edit- oh, and if RS/R was AWD)   I told him my price, and added "but it spun #2 rod bearing".   He said it sounded like a good price, and really didn't have much for follow up questions.   I then asked how he was looking to pay for it, given the distance, and he said "I can send you a cashiers check, PayPal or through the Facebook messenger"  This is probably where the most warning bells went off.  I have a difficult time buying anything that I can't see in person.  Cold calling someone to buy something and then wanting to send money and a shipper is just odd to me, and is similar to most scams nowadays.


Now, during some of my stalking, I found his YouTube channel, and a couple of his videos lead me to believe he is a GRM kinda guy, so he has that going for him.  He also just sent me a number so I can call him, which makes me much less nervous.  Usually, I can very quickly get a bead on someone once I can talk to them a bit and hear their voice.


So, what say you?  Am I just off balance from all the current drama in my life?  What about payment?  I'd really rather not get burned here, but each payment platform has its own pitfalls nowadays.   Lastly, I don't have to sell it right now, but it would be one less project on my plate, and as my wife mentioned, she will be off work for two weeks coming up, and I might be able to talk this guy into paying me to bring the 'Zuki down to ABQ for him, thus at least partially covering a much-needed Road Trip for us to clear our heads. My wife had always wanted to see the SW, but had never been before she met me- she hates flying, and her ex isn't a Road Trip kinda guy. The money from the sale could go towards getting other projects moved closer to "completion"

Usually if I have a bad feeling I listen to it.

The distance can be nothing though, look at me, I'm flying to Kentucky to pick up a Rampage lol

For payment, you want something the buyer can't reverse. A wire transfer, in other words.

Too many home printed cashiers checks so I only take those if I meet the buyer at his/her bank  and see it printed. PayPal, no way the risk of payment reversal or it bein paid for with a stolen card is too high.

As to distance, well, this muppet here is flying back to Florida in a week or two to pick up an S2000.

I can't say I read all of your post, but I'd say PASS if your spidey sense says to pass. 

I don't sell anything without talking to a real person on the phone.

No.  I am considerably more trustworthy, how much do you want for it?

I bought a bus 1000 miles from home without ever laying eyes on it. 

There has to be some trust in these situations and there is no way to be 100% certain you won't get screwed. The buyer has to trust the that the seller is telling the truth. The seller has to trust that the buyer is good for his word. 

I paypaled the guy I bought the bus from $500 on faith that he wouldn't screw me. 

It worked out. It could have just as easily cost me $500 and a rental for zero return. 

If he's willing to talk to you, that's worth a fair amount.

Unless he has a Nigerian accent...

How about those 10-digit phone number thingies?  That seems like and old-school solution to me?

I'd be nervous, usually a car guy would have a billion questions for you on something like this. But is the price really low? Because maybe it's cheap enough for someone to just decide they want it, no matter what condition it's in. That's how I felt about the price you paid for it. And still if I wasn't sitting on six cars one of which is half disassembled I'd be interested. What is the asking price now if you don't mind?

I will send my mover with a check for more than the sale price.

You pay him his fee and keep the extra....

You mentioned in your original post that the potential buyer gave you his number.  I would suggest, to give him/her a call and then go from there.  as Toyman also suggested, get half the money prior and then if you and your wife decide to go south for the Vacay, get the rest then.  At least that way it does offest the cost before and during.  

If your gut is really saying, 'NO!" then tell the potential buyer that you reconsidered.  

Just my two cents.

Depends on if I trust the payment method--that is the one thing above all others that I care about. Very few payment methods I'll use for the general public. 

-Cash in hand. Usually with a fake-detecting marker. I think that my deal with FBC was the first time I've sold a car for cash, and NOT had a the marker with me. Hey FBC, I guess I trust you more than most (although with both of us having been on this board for probably 30-45 years combined, you don't count as "general public" for me)!

-Wire 

-Cashiers Check or Money Order that I was with the person at the bank while it was drafted.

The common themes of these payment methods? They're all un-doable. He can't cry wolf and make PayPal take the money back. 

HbIn reply to Cooter :

How is he going to pick it up?   Have him or the guy coming bring cash. 

You can also have him wire through Walmart or western union. (I think already mentioned). 

But consider him a scammer until proven otherwise. 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Payment by wire transfer only - get the info from your bank and give it to him if he is serious. Shipping is his responsibility, how long you give him to pick it up is up to you.  Title mailed via Fedex next day signature confirmation as soon as the trailer tail lights are at the end of your block.

Sounds shaky to me too.  Dealing on a car long distance is one thing, but I would expect the guy to either write or call to talk about the car beyond more than just a few initial questions.

I mean, if he sent a number just call him. Some peopel just aren't good at communicating. Especially some weird GRM-type car people lol. 

Maybe he doesn't have many questions because he read about your car before and since it's not exactly "easy to find" he's willing to buy regardless of the details?

As to payment methods, IDK. I would have him paypal a deposit to hold it for him, and make the rest cash-upon-pickup, or no pickup-until-cashier's-check clears or whatever. There are a million ways to do it. I wouldn't expect a scammer is going to this kind of trouble on a fairly unique vehicle. They usually go for something they can "get away with" like a Honda or something lol. 

Been a busy day, but I will do my best to answer most everything as best I can now, and the rest in the morning.   Great ideas, points, and suggestions.   I have always dealt in cash for every one of my car purchases/sales, and there have been lots of them over the years.  Of course I will call- but I wanted to see about different payment ideas, as I was drawing a blank.   Wire transfers had completely slipped my mind, even though I had a friend wire money to me in Portland when I bought the '78 Dodge Crew Cab.  I have done many fly/bus/train and drives over the years, but as I said, those are always cash, and I have never had a vehicle shipped to me, as I prefer the adventure of driving it home and bonding with it.   

I'll try to cover the rest of the bases tomorrow.

Just be upfront when you talk to him  

Tell him your concerns based on the number of scams online and and see what he’s willing to do to address those. 

If he’s legit and really wants the car he’ll be willing to work with you to find a way to make the deal work.  

Be creative, maybe PayPal for a deposit and cash when picked up?

That way his risk is low if he gets there and the isn’t what was described, but provides you some confidence that he will follow through.  By having the majority paid with cash at pickup your risk is limited to the deposit if he buys it and then does something shady on PayPal to get it refunded. 

Talked to the guy today.   Seemed like a GRm kinda guy to me. (Yes, I suggested he join up here)   He said he would give me $2K for the Alto.  Going to talk to my wife when she gets home to see if delivering it is feasible or not.  

If I missed something, let me know; I'm a bit scatterbrained lately.

Glad to hear he seems to be on the up and up. If it falls through for any reason, I know a guy up in Madison that would likely take the Suzuki off your hands