eBay local classifieds-should I be leery?-small update 1st post

[Kitzka]

Dh and I are selling his 13 year old car. It has some normal wear and tear and a few issues (ac doesn't work and moon roof doesn't open). Because of that we priced the car reasonably on eBay local classifieds yesterday.

Well, about 24 hours later we have a cash offer for about $200 less than we put in the ad.

I checked out his feedback and it's all positive. The seller seems to have sold and purchased a few cars over the last fewe months. Perhaps he is a car flipper?

Anyway, I thought this would take about 2-4 weeks even though the car was reasonably priced.

DH is going to call the potential seller tomorrow but is this too good to be true? The seller lives a few towns away.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance

L

Update 7/27:
DH called the seller and he is willing to buy the car sight unseen. Apparently, he works in the automotive industry and he purchases cars with some 'issues'. Fixes them up and then turns around and sells them.

I'm still a little leery but at least it doesn't seem to be a scam (at this point).

Lara

 

[Mickey527]

BE CAREFUL!!!!!

If you are willing to take the price cut then go for it, if not make a counter offer, like $100 less.
When you do sell it make sure you meet at someplace with lots of people around like a mall parking lot, not away from the building, as close as possible to it where people will be.
Make sure someone else is with you so you will be safe with the cash. Preferably someone that looks big and tough.
TAKE ONLY CASH preferably small bills, although there have been a rash of counterfit $20 bills going around lately.
Make a copy of the title and have the person sign the copy and keep it for your records when you give them the original.
Get their address and phone number just in case you need to have this information in the future.

Now to my poor neighbors story. My poor neighbor is 21 years old, going to college and needed a better car to make the 45 min drive every day. She sold her car on Craig's list and met the person in the mall parking lot. Kept all the information luckily.
4 days later FBI are all over my neighborhood asking about this family and the girl in particular. They were not at home.
She had sold her car to the guy who tried to bomb NYC in May. Luckily she kept the copy of the title along with the guys address and phone number. He never registered the car and the FBI traced the VIN number back to her. She was only questioned by the FBI and was not a suspect but we had newspeople all over our neighborhood for a week after, blocking our cars from entering our street with their personal cars and those big vans full of equipment. We had every station from CT, NY and NJ here, it was a terrible week for us but worse for that poor family.

 

[Madison'smommy]

If he comes with cash, then I would do it. Maybe you just lucked out! Definatly, dont take anything other than cash!

eta:lol, after reading the response above... I assumed your dh would be doing the transaction... so I would feel safe meeting wherever etc.... small bills etc, I didnt really think about that.

Anyways, good luck! I hope it works out!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Several years ago I sold a car on eBay for a little over $3,000. The buyer had three $,1000 bank money orders plus cash.

We went to my bank to one of the officers. The officer looked up the issuing bank's information on her computer and she called the issuing bank and they verified that the money orders were legitimate and issued to the buyer. I then deposited the money orders (and cash). The key thing was my bank used banking channels to verify the legitimacy of the money orders before I accepted them.

So it can be safe to accept bank instruments if the person buying knows in adfvance that you will be confiorming. And my bank officer did not want any nameds or phone numbers from the buyer, she did all the research based on the bank codes, etc.

 

[CarlisleMom]

From a buyers side: My DH and I bought a car off of craigslist. I would take cash only (our buyer took a check because of work connections) and transfer the title before letting them take the car. We did this at AAA - in PA they immediately give you a plate and registration cards.

Make sure you have the title in hand. Our purchase was delayed by 3 weeks because the seller had to wait for the title.

 

[Kitzka]

Thanks for the advice everyone. DH works in our state and will be the 'point' person on the transaction and contact with the potential buyer.

We have the title in hand and there are no leins etc on it.

I will also look into transfering the title.

thanks again. I do feel better but was just a bit surprised that it only took a day!

Lara

 

[Kitzka]

shamlessly bumping to see if any of the afternoon folks have thoughts.