I need some advice on selling a vehicle online, and shipping it to a buyer please ---

[alwayscode390]

I am selling a vehicle on Ebay , and the ad states " must pick up in person , pay in person, and sign the paperwork in person ".

I found a potential buyer that cant fly out here , and is trying to get me to ship the vehicle. I understand its hard to justify the costs, the time away from work and pets, ect.

My biggest worry is getting paid, shipping the truck ... then the payment getting yanked back. I have heard some cashiers checks are so good when they are faked that the bank accepts them ... deposits the money ... then DAYS afterwords its caught and the money gets taken back.

Do you have any advice for me?

I am thinking :

Payment by bank transfer , sign title and send with adult signature and tracking by USPS , paypal the $500 deposit ... and have them pay all shipping and transfer fees. How do I get them to sign the little stub at the bottom of the title so I can give it to the DMV as proof of transfer and the bill of sale for a tax credit?

Can I fax a copy of the stub and paper, then have them notarize the fax and have it sent back to me even though it isn't the original copy of the stub ... or should I send that paperwork with the title and have it overnighted to them and back to me?

Once I get all the paperwork and the payment clears, then the vehicle goes?

Are money transfers DONE once completed, or is there a chance to get the money reversed somehow?

THANKS! ---

[gbrtng]

The safest way in my world is for him to overnight the cash to you. Else talk to your banker and noodle out the best foolproof process. Do not give him your bank wire transfer info. Scammers are everywhere.

[alwayscode390]

Good call, its better to be safe than sorry.

I will look further into the transferring of the money.

Thanks for the heads up! :) ---

[WVZR-1]

The safest way in my world is for him to overnight the cash to you. Else talk to your banker and noodle out the best foolproof process. Do not give him your bank wire transfer info. Scammers are everywhere.

The overnight of the cash certainly works! If you've a good relationship with your banker, that's what he's there for - it's certainly not the "interest rates" that keeps you around.

I'd think a good start to evaluating the buyer and the sale might be to put yourself in his position and location. Would you pay your ask for the car sight unseen and pay to have it shipped? I'm guessing this is maybe your Syclone? Is the buyer a current owner of one?

Have you made any attempts at a "local" sale? There's legitimate buyers for "collectibles" in most every area of the country. Those are often the least aggravating if you're actually looking to sell and you might be surprised how close to your ask some are willing to pay.

**** I see maybe it is your Syclone and I really like the "overnight" of the cash!

[mike100]

The safest way to accept checks is to meet the buyer in a bank branch of their institution and watch the check come from the tellers hands across the counter. Then you know it is real.

[efnfast]

I am selling a vehicle on Ebay , and the ad states " must pick up in person , pay in person, and sign the paperwork in person ".

I found a potential buyer that cant fly out here , and is trying to get me to ship the vehicle. I understand its hard to justify the costs, the time away from work and pets, ect.

My biggest worry is getting paid, shipping the truck ... then the payment getting yanked back. I have heard some cashiers checks are so good when they are faked that the bank accepts them ... deposits the money ... then DAYS afterwords its caught and the money gets taken back.

Do you have any advice for me?

I am thinking :

Payment by bank transfer , sign title and send with adult signature and tracking by USPS , paypal the $500 deposit ... and have them pay all shipping and transfer fees. How do I get them to sign the little stub at the bottom of the title so I can give it to the DMV as proof of transfer and the bill of sale for a tax credit?

Can I fax a copy of the stub and paper, then have them notarize the fax and have it sent back to me even though it isn't the original copy of the stub ... or should I send that paperwork with the title and have it overnighted to them and back to me?

Once I get all the paperwork and the payment clears, then the vehicle goes?

Are money transfers DONE once completed, or is there a chance to get the money reversed somehow?

THANKS! ---

This sounds like a tragady waiting to happen. To bad for him he's going to miss out on a nice truck.

[FU]

I'd accept a bank certified check with the VIN written on it. When you receive the check call the issuing bank and give them the certified check number to see if it's legit. Or just take the check to your bank and have them call the issuing bank to inquire about the check also documenting the bank representitive's name and the buyer's account etc.
Then if all is ok deposit the check and wait for it to clear. Then ship the vehicle .

[alwayscode390]

I am actually selling my Syclone and my Harley Truck right now.

I have them on craigslist , but just some tire kickers have shown up.

Thanks for the advice guys.

EFNFAST what do you mean "tragedy waiting to happen" ... am I being too specific with things? I'd rather be safe than sorry ---

[efnfast]

I am actually selling my Syclone and my Harley Truck right now.

I have them on craigslist , but just some tire kickers have shown up.

Thanks for the advice guys.

EFNFAST what do you mean "tragedy waiting to happen" ... am I being too specific with things? I'd rather be safe than sorry ---

I'm afraid you'll give your truck away, and good luck chasing the guy down. This just doesn't sound good to me. Every time I ask the girls at the bank how to safely get a bank check, they always tell me you can always stop payment on a check. That's not to say some of the above idea's are not sound.
You specifically said in person sales only, now this guy is willing to buy it sight unseen? -Steve

[icarus-54]

Nate,have them send you a bank money order,they have to buy it first.Before you release the truck have your bank verify it first.Thats what I did when I sold my other ty to some idiot in California.
Jack

[efnfast]

But that leaves the other guy with the same dilema. You've got his money, he ain't got no truck.

[icarus-54]

money first--truck second,thats how it works

[efnfast]

That's great for the seller, but if I was the buyer, I don thin so.

[WVZR-1]

That's great for the seller, but if I was the buyer, I don thin so.

In this case the "buyer" seems to have requested the transaction go in this order and he's pretty much declined the inspection etc. I believe that the "certified" that FU mentions is likely acceptable OR the "bank money order" - both have significant confirmations that can be invoked.

[alwayscode390]

I decided it would be money transfer only if I ship.

I would take a cashiers check in person, but only after verifying it with the banks.

I have taken "walk around" videos for these people ... so they can feel like they are getting to see the vehicles themselves. I also have taken specific pictures.

Nobody has pulled the trigger yet , and I am going to keep the auctions "in person only" ... but entertain offers of shipping if people request it.

They MUST agree the sales are AS-IS and that they declined seeing the vehicle in person themselves.

My ads are EXTREMELY detailed , LOL. I try to be as honest as possible. I don't want to deal with ANY after-sale issues for them or myself.

Thanks guys! ---

[John Boothby]

I was selling a Harley a few years back and it was suggested to me to have a third party handle the transaction. Kind of like an "Escrow". There are services out there that specialize in this.

[WARP TEN]

I am selling a vehicle on Ebay , and the ad states " must pick up in person , pay in person, and sign the paperwork in person ".

I found a potential buyer that cant fly out here , and is trying to get me to ship the vehicle. I understand its hard to justify the costs, the time away from work and pets, ect.

My biggest worry is getting paid, shipping the truck ... then the payment getting yanked back. I have heard some cashiers checks are so good when they are faked that the bank accepts them ... deposits the money ... then DAYS afterwords its caught and the money gets taken back.

Do you have any advice for me?

I am thinking :

Payment by bank transfer , sign title and send with adult signature and tracking by USPS , paypal the $500 deposit ... and have them pay all shipping and transfer fees. How do I get them to sign the little stub at the bottom of the title so I can give it to the DMV as proof of transfer and the bill of sale for a tax credit?

Can I fax a copy of the stub and paper, then have them notarize the fax and have it sent back to me even though it isn't the original copy of the stub ... or should I send that paperwork with the title and have it overnighted to them and back to me?

Once I get all the paperwork and the payment clears, then the vehicle goes?

Are money transfers DONE once completed, or is there a chance to get the money reversed somehow?

THANKS! ---

I don't know if I am too late on this but in my retirement I actually work at a car dealership selling BMWs and MINIs. As you might expect we run in to this all the time, especially with out of state deals. We always require a FED Wire Transfer, not an ACH wire. No exceptions. A Fed wire is good funds when it arrives; an ACH wire can sometimes be reversed. Your bank would understand all this. And we never accept cashier's checks from an out of state bank. To hard to chase if there is a problem. Once you get a Fed wire you should be OK, and at that point you sign and send the title. We also require that a buyer arrange his own shipping.
When I sell a car personally I have the other party sign a bill of sale with VIN and price and detailing that once I receive the funds via wire I will send the title. When I buy a car personally I write up a detailed description of what he has told me about the car and the terms of the deal and have him sign it in advance of my sending a wire. Still some risk but I did it with the 95 last year and it worked out fine. Hope that helps. -- Bob

[alwayscode390]

I was looking into the ESCROW thing, but I don't want to have to deal with getting the truck back after its been shipped and who knows how it was test drove or what was done to it until it gets shipped back. I don't want to deal with any of that ... seems like it could be a big mess. I would rather hold out for IN-PERSON in that situation.

BOB , that was PRICELESS information ... you may have saved me a lot of headache by sharing that. THANKS! :) ---

[WARP TEN]

I was looking into the ESCROW thing, but I don't want to have to deal with getting the truck back after its been shipped and who knows how it was test drove or what was done to it until it gets shipped back. I don't want to deal with any of that ... seems like it could be a big mess. I would rather hold out for IN-PERSON in that situation.

BOB , that was PRICELESS information ... you may have saved me a lot of headache by sharing that. THANKS! :) ---

Always glad to help if I can -- Bob