CatBird Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 An individual has a car in Arizona. I am in Georgia. If I pay him how can I be sure to get the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 (edited) Bill, are you arranging for the transportation yourself, and paying for it? Since you have bought quite a few noteworthy cars, is this situation something different from what you have done before? You must feel that something is suspicious, or you wouldn't be asking us the question. Edited December 8, 2022 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 You’re only a few weeks away from the Scottsdale car auctions. I would send a deposit and go inspect it in person. You could attend the auctions. Also, it’ll be very easy to ship the car back east from that location during the week of the Auctions any other time it’s hard to get cars out of that area. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 You could put the money in escrow. There is a lawyer that advertises in the AACA magazine, and he could handle the escrow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdillinger Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Escrow, and remember you are buying the seller at least as much as you are buying the car. If you have concerns about the seller I wouldn't complete the deal. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Bill My brother is an appraiser, and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Like me, he grew up in the hobby. He could help you with the transaction. 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTR Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 If you have such concerns with the transaction and/or seller, it’s probably best to just walk away. World is full of cars, easier/safer transactions and sellers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted December 8, 2022 Author Share Posted December 8, 2022 I am reaching out to a friend in Phoenix about this. A little leery about the seller. I asked for additional pictures. Like take a pic inside the trunk and interior, but he said he has all the pictures in his ad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 8 minutes ago, CatBird said: I am reaching out to a friend in Phoenix about this. A little leery about the seller. I asked for additional pictures. Like take a pic inside the trunk and interior, but he said he has all the pictures in his ad. I would bet that when you start asking about sending an agent all you will hear back is crickets. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erichill Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 I think asking for a specific photo so you know he/she has the car is a very reasonable request. If I got push back on that I would definitely forget it. This day and age any reasonable person would understand a potential buyer being leery. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 (edited) 14 minutes ago, erichill said: I think asking for a specific photo so you know he/she has the car is a very reasonable request. If I got push back on that I would definitely forget it. This day and age any reasonable person would understand a potential buyer being leery. If the seller cannot post a new/requested photo of what you want to see, do not walk away from the deal....RUN! Everyone except me has a cell phone and can take a photo instantly. Edited December 8, 2022 by keiser31 (see edit history) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1935Packard Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 49 minutes ago, CatBird said: I am reaching out to a friend in Phoenix about this. A little leery about the seller. I asked for additional pictures. Like take a pic inside the trunk and interior, but he said he has all the pictures in his ad. I would be a whole lotta leery at this point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 (edited) 33 minutes ago, keiser31 said: ..RUN! Everyone except me has a cell phone and can take a photo instantly. Keiser, you’re not alone my older brother in San Diego not only doesn’t have a cell phone, he doesn’t have a camera. I think his home phone still has a rotary dial on it. dave s Edited December 8, 2022 by SC38dls (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 2 hours ago, CatBird said: I am reaching out to a friend in Phoenix about this. A little leery about the seller. I asked for additional pictures. Like take a pic inside the trunk and interior, but he said he has all the pictures in his ad. That sounds bothersome, not a Model A Ford is it................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 If you ask for a pix also ask that the latest edition of the local paper be IN the pix not seperate.............Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 2 hours ago, Bhigdog said: If you ask for a pix also ask that the latest edition of the local paper be IN the pix not seperate.............Bob Some places don't get the local paper anymore. I wish we still did! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 There are so many cars for sale from honest straight forward people available, so if this guy is being a bit shady, or the price sounds too good to pass up, skip it. Scammers are all around the internet and more show up everyday. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Jump on a plane and go out and see the car. If you buy it, take possession of it and put in a storage unit until you can arrange to transport it home. Then there will be no "surprises" when it arrives to you house. The fool proof way to buy a vehicle. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Sounds like a good idea to have your local friend take a look, if not get ahold of West, thats a generous offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 (edited) 20 hours ago, CatBird said: I am reaching out to a friend in Phoenix about this. A little leery about the seller. I asked for additional pictures. Like take a pic inside the trunk and interior, but he said he has all the pictures in his ad. Without a doubt, the seller is hiding something. He is NOT honest. You may be asking for confirmation of your skepticism, and this is total confirmation. You will be greatly disappointed at best, and cheated at worst. Enjoy the hobby safely, Bill, by avoiding this seller! Edited December 9, 2022 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Look in your various car club directories and find a person near the same Zip code. I have had many cars checked out that way. Buick forum contributor and former western New Yorker, JohnD1956 checked out a project Escalade for me a little over a year ago. A friend of mine once found a car in the Good Guys classified ads and asked me to check it out. I found a Cadillac Club member near the car. When I contacted him he said the car belonged to his friend and he might be biased. He had fabricated the exhaust system. Worked out fine and the person also arranged very reasonable transportation. My friend still owns the car and I did about $350 worth on fine tuning when he got it. Always remember one important thing. Cars carry the karma of their previous owner. If this guy gives you a hard time with the purchase that car will bring a piece of him with it. Personally I just walk away from those difficult and cantankerous people. Last year I sold a car I had owned for ten years. The previous owner was the arch-typical sleazy car salesman of legend. Every time I drove the car I felt like washing or showering. If you have bad vibes head them. There are lots of cars. There are personalities I refuse to buy from. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 I think extreme caution should be used, but dont condemn the seller too fast. He may be legit, up and up and so on. Might be tired of tire kickers and flakes answering his ad. This is not meant as an insult to Catbird, although I have never met him, I know he has a great reputation on this forum. My experience comes from my wife selling stuff on CL and about half of the responses she gets are scams and flakes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 (edited) On 12/8/2022 at 2:53 PM, West Peterson said: Bill My brother is an appraiser, and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Like me, he grew up in the hobby. He could help you with the transaction. West, I called your brother, Webster, he lives in Phoenix. He went over the car. Except it may need a cleanup on the paint. After all it is 30 years old and has 38,000 miles. Mechanically sound and the seller seems to be very solid. I am buying it. Not a fine car, but fun to play with. Being in real estate and I need to check out tenants in depth. Software used by serious background check. Seller looks very strong personally and his businesses. Let's see what happens. I thank AACA, my friends and the powerful network available right here. Edited December 10, 2022 by CatBird (see edit history) 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 What a great use of the Internet and our forum, in the old days we trusted people, but I agree with current caution… 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 What car did you buy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 It has to be special to bother with a seller you don't feel right about. Google usually reveals all and if it doesn't be concerned. I think a visit is almost always a good idea. The last two cars I flew in to see I tried to run away from and yet they followed me home anyways. So maybe I should send somebody else next time. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 I'm glad it worked out for you. It sounds like the seller was probably tired of tire kickers, etc... But, you can't be too careful buying a car sight unseen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 22 minutes ago, alsancle said: It has to be special to bother with a seller you don't feel right about. Google usually reveals all and if it doesn't be concerned. I think a visit is almost always a good idea. The last two cars I flew in to see I tried to run away from and yet they followed me home anyways. So maybe I should send somebody else next time. I think I have a better average buying cars for you than you do. 🤔 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 16 minutes ago, edinmass said: I think I have a better average buying cars for you than you do. 🤔 Personally, I never have trouble spending someone else's money! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 EmTee- at least the ones I helped him on actually run and drive. He seems to specialize in stationary garage art. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Just now, EmTee said: Personally, I never have trouble spending someone else's money! It’s easy when you try. Want real pressure? Act as a buying agent for a mid seven figure car……….eight figures will just blow you away. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 On 12/8/2022 at 2:52 PM, keiser31 said: Everyone except me has a cell phone Keiser, I thought i was the only person, left on the planet, that doesn`t have a cell phone. Never have, never will. Congrats, now i know there is 2 of us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, marcapra said: What car did you buy? Well done, but, a replica. I was happy for Webster Petersen check it out. Just wanted a fun car, PS, PB, AC, Power windows, 350 Chev Crate V8, auto trans. If it breaks, I can get most anything at a local parts store. Edited December 10, 2022 by CatBird add pictures (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Bill, that’s fine to start with. Eventually we will work you into the Real McCoy. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 1 hour ago, alsancle said: Eventually we will work you into the Real McCoy. That's when you wish you had the repop back. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted December 19, 2022 Author Share Posted December 19, 2022 End results. I contacted a transport agent. She connected me up with Uber.Haul. They picked up my car in Phoenix, two days after I paid for it and brought it to me in four days later. Perfect condition. Driver carefully showed me how to circumvent the "anti-theft device," and had me rolling. The car is exactly as Webster well documented. All around a great transaction. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted December 19, 2022 Share Posted December 19, 2022 Don't you just love a happy ending? Especially if it's a car or a massage! 😎 2 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted December 19, 2022 Share Posted December 19, 2022 Congratulations on the beautiful new car and a successful transaction, CatBird. I hope that you can get at least a few good "convertible days" where you live this winter. 😉 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted December 19, 2022 Author Share Posted December 19, 2022 1 hour ago, JamesR said: Congratulations on the beautiful new car and a successful transaction, CatBird. I hope that you can get at least a few good "convertible days" where you live this winter. 😉 Fortunately we live in the South, near Atlanta. We have almost no snow. Temp today was in the high fifties. However my "new" car has a good heater! A very good convertible top. Power windows. I think we will be ok. My father grew up in New England. Hated snow. He put all his possessions in a very big truck, strapped a snow shovel to the radiator and headed South. He kept going until someone asked and said, "What the Hell is that thing?" 1 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, CatBird said: Fortunately we live in the South, near Atlanta. We have almost no snow. Temp today was in the high fifties. However my "new" car has a good heater! A very good convertible top. Power windows. I think we will be ok. My father grew up in New England. Hated snow. He put all his possessions in a very big truck, strapped a snow shovel to the radiator and headed South. He kept going until someone asked and said, "What the Hell is that thing?" Congratulations on a beautiful car- hope it is as much fun as you can stand ! I've used a very similar anecdote, describing my choice to depart New Jersey and become a New Orleans, Louisiana fixture- Snowshovel strapped to the roof of my '60 Valiant - (CatBird, your father made a great move, but may not have travelled far enough south, at least in my estimation 😎) Edited December 20, 2022 by Marty Roth (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now