Sold my car to a guy I'd never met via bank transfer ...
Discussion
...and it all went swimmingly well!
Just thought I'd add a bit of balance to the sob stories that appear on here about scammers and ebay chancers.
In fact, the buyer (a fellow PHer) even paid me 2 days in advance of collection based purely upon pictures and email discussions. And sent me a nice email the next day to say how happy he was with it.
The only downside of the transaction was that I don't own a 911 anymore
Anyone else had dealings with trustworthy, pleasant buyers and had happy selling experiences? Indeed, has anyone ever sold their car to a real oceanographer?
Just thought I'd add a bit of balance to the sob stories that appear on here about scammers and ebay chancers.
In fact, the buyer (a fellow PHer) even paid me 2 days in advance of collection based purely upon pictures and email discussions. And sent me a nice email the next day to say how happy he was with it.
The only downside of the transaction was that I don't own a 911 anymore
Anyone else had dealings with trustworthy, pleasant buyers and had happy selling experiences? Indeed, has anyone ever sold their car to a real oceanographer?
I've only ever had pleasant experiences when actually selling privately.
Sure, I've had time-wasters on the phone and jokers asking stupid questions.
However, everyone who has actually turned up has been perfectly pleasant to deal with.
Of the 5 cars I've sold privately in 15 years, 2 haven't even taken a test drive, 2 have paid in cash on the day and 2 have gone to the bank with me to transfer cash there and then.
In fact, that makes it only 1 who hasn't driven the car away there and then. And he came back a couple of days later, on time, having left a generous deposit and transferred the money when he said he would.
I think the majority of people are OK and just want to make a good purchase. It's the nutter few who make up the minority.
Sure, I've had time-wasters on the phone and jokers asking stupid questions.
However, everyone who has actually turned up has been perfectly pleasant to deal with.
Of the 5 cars I've sold privately in 15 years, 2 haven't even taken a test drive, 2 have paid in cash on the day and 2 have gone to the bank with me to transfer cash there and then.
In fact, that makes it only 1 who hasn't driven the car away there and then. And he came back a couple of days later, on time, having left a generous deposit and transferred the money when he said he would.
I think the majority of people are OK and just want to make a good purchase. It's the nutter few who make up the minority.
Sold my Exige to a guy from Pau in the South of France, deposit by bank transfer and balance in carrier bags full of cash, based on pictures and emails.
My house was remote and if he and his 6'+ mate had decided to leave with the car and the cash they probably could have.
Sold our Clio Cup race car to a Romanian who viewed it at night with another huge, shaven headed mate and his girlfriend (I think, could have been a prostitute though for all I knew, none of them spoke much English), drove it up the road (in Leeds, where it was stored) with no lights and on slicks with me in the space where the passenger seat would go if it had one, hanging on to the cage. When we got back he just said "I want, pay by bank, come back next week". Money was transferred the next day, he turns up a week later with a Shogun and trailer he's also bought on his UK trip and off he went. It's still being road rallied in Romania to this day.
My house was remote and if he and his 6'+ mate had decided to leave with the car and the cash they probably could have.
Sold our Clio Cup race car to a Romanian who viewed it at night with another huge, shaven headed mate and his girlfriend (I think, could have been a prostitute though for all I knew, none of them spoke much English), drove it up the road (in Leeds, where it was stored) with no lights and on slicks with me in the space where the passenger seat would go if it had one, hanging on to the cage. When we got back he just said "I want, pay by bank, come back next week". Money was transferred the next day, he turns up a week later with a Shogun and trailer he's also bought on his UK trip and off he went. It's still being road rallied in Romania to this day.
Sold my Renault 5 Turbo 2 to a Spanish guy who turned up as agreed at Luton airport. He had a quick look around and the deal was done there and then in the short-stay car-park. He handed over a carrier bag full of Euros, which we converted at the Bureau de Change (yes I got a special rate!), popped on his trade plates and drove off back to Madrid in it.
Sold my 22B to a man from Luxemburg. He was originally going to view and take it away the same day, but an error on the V5 meant he had to return again a month later. He wasn't best pleased at the extra travel costs, but did so nonetheless.
Likewise I hope to think I am a responsible buyer. In fact I have only failed to buy 2 of the approx. 15 cars I have ever seriously looked at.
Sold my 22B to a man from Luxemburg. He was originally going to view and take it away the same day, but an error on the V5 meant he had to return again a month later. He wasn't best pleased at the extra travel costs, but did so nonetheless.
Likewise I hope to think I am a responsible buyer. In fact I have only failed to buy 2 of the approx. 15 cars I have ever seriously looked at.
Last two BMW's have both sold privately within a week, and both purchasers arrived at the train station, where I met them and a deal was done. One had cash, and went on his way after taking me home, the other went through all the documentation (including calling my local dealer), and went home and transferred the funds, picking the car up two days later. All very painless.
In fact, the only issue was that they did sell so quickly, the last one left me car-less for two months whilst I found my replacement...
In fact, the only issue was that they did sell so quickly, the last one left me car-less for two months whilst I found my replacement...
Only sold my Corsa privately but it couldn't have been easier. Took about a week I think and the first guy that turned up bought it, no haggling or anything.
It was a nice example really, I spent countless hours cleaning/polishing/waxing it, painted lots of bits (grille, wheels etc.) and had a new Piper exhaust on it, so it appealed to the "younger generation".
Lad turned up, took one look at it and handed me a healthy deposit. Didn't even want a test drive or run out in it as he said it was such a clean example compared to the other tat he'd seen (understandable with Corsas). Turned up the next day after work with the other wedge of cash and off he went.
I still see him driving it about every so often and it's still exactly as I had it and still in lovely condition. It's nice to see the next owner take as much care as I took of it after spending so much effort and time on it.
It was a nice example really, I spent countless hours cleaning/polishing/waxing it, painted lots of bits (grille, wheels etc.) and had a new Piper exhaust on it, so it appealed to the "younger generation".
Lad turned up, took one look at it and handed me a healthy deposit. Didn't even want a test drive or run out in it as he said it was such a clean example compared to the other tat he'd seen (understandable with Corsas). Turned up the next day after work with the other wedge of cash and off he went.
I still see him driving it about every so often and it's still exactly as I had it and still in lovely condition. It's nice to see the next owner take as much care as I took of it after spending so much effort and time on it.
I let the guy taking my campervan have it even though the money hadn't hit my account.
Because it was more than £10k it didn't go through as an instant transfer. My bank could see it coming, and said it couldn't be recalled, and I checked his ID very thoroughly. He was driving it to Yorkshire to take his kids away for the weekend.
Because it was more than £10k it didn't go through as an instant transfer. My bank could see it coming, and said it couldn't be recalled, and I checked his ID very thoroughly. He was driving it to Yorkshire to take his kids away for the weekend.
Sold my Ferrari 328 a couple of years ago to a guy in Australia who never saw the car. Transferred deposit to hold the car while garage inspected it,then transferred the full balance on trust that I would take it to the docks at Grangemouth for export. There is trust left in the world.
mikeyr said:
Anyone else had dealings with trustworthy, pleasant buyers and had happy selling experiences? Indeed, has anyone ever sold their car to a real oceanographer?
Yup. Just bought an original In Vogue Rangie from a traditional Yorkshire gent. We spent most of the time talking about grouse shooting. I wired him the funds and booked a Portuguese chap via Shipley, to collect it and deliver it to a farm in the Cotswolds.
All worked out beautifully and I only went to see the car a week or so ago.
Maybe it worked because both parties own a collection of firearms or maybe it worked because in reality most people are still good eggs and civilised.
When I sold my evo (after the inevitable t
ts ringing) a nice man from germany flew over. He was polite and pleasant. Looked over the car whilst on the phone to his boss, asked me to take him for a drive and 10 minutes in said 'ok we go back'.
He had a quick scan of the paperwork, then produced a big bag of money.
The wife counted, I took a sample off to get checked for authenticity.
Off he drove.
Pleasant and painless.
Although I did feel a bit guilty for letting an FQ 369 leave the country as there aren't that many genuine ones about.
ts ringing) a nice man from germany flew over. He was polite and pleasant. Looked over the car whilst on the phone to his boss, asked me to take him for a drive and 10 minutes in said 'ok we go back'.He had a quick scan of the paperwork, then produced a big bag of money.
The wife counted, I took a sample off to get checked for authenticity.
Off he drove.
Pleasant and painless.
Although I did feel a bit guilty for letting an FQ 369 leave the country as there aren't that many genuine ones about.
Just about a year ago, I sold my morgan via PH to a chap in australia, we had a skype chat and he transferred the cash within a couple of days - All I needed to do was get it valeted for import and wait for the lowloader to arrive a couple of week later.
As was mentioned earlier, the only downside was no longer had a beautiful car!
As was mentioned earlier, the only downside was no longer had a beautiful car!
Sold my s2000 to a lad exporting it to Cyprus. He could only transfer 10k a day so his mate with him told him it was unreasonable to expect me to give him the keys so waited till the next day for the rest.No issues at all, I took him out for a 5 mins drive. Didn't even want tax as he was exporting so that was another 360 for me- not sure he realised it was that much!
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