Buy now, collect later?

[Skyedriver]

Well I've had a load of enquiries about my car, most from people 400 or more miles away, but I do live a bit remote.
Latest one is buying for his 15 year old son as he wants one when he passes 17 and his test, Guy has chipped away at my price and now wants to pay by bank transfer but not collect until Easter.
I smell a rat but can't work out what.
I'd rather get a buyer to turn up and view and agree a price and pay the money. Is the current guy going to turn up in three weeks time and start chipping again and ask for money back? Actually the price he's currently offering is lower than I'm really wanting anyway.

[georgeyboy12345]

Skyedriver said:

Well I've had a load of enquiries about my car, most from people 400 or more miles away, but I do live a bit remote.
Latest one is buying for his 15 year old son as he wants one when he passes 17 and his test, Guy has chipped away at my price and now wants to pay by bank transfer but not collect until Easter.
I smell a rat but can't work out what.
I'd rather get a buyer to turn up and view and agree a price and pay the money. Is the current guy going to turn up in three weeks time and start chipping again and ask for money back? Actually the price he's currently offering is lower than I'm really wanting anyway.

I agree, I think something doesn't seem right. Just stop responding to him. Best not to risk it.

[Davie]

As with all sales, it's hard to call specific cases as they guy night be straight up... or a complete idiot. If he'd called, had a discussion and agreed / paid then also agreed you were happy to hold it until he could get there, then maybe but this stringing it out garbage, it wouldn't be me. Yes it might go well but equally he might string it out and either not turn up or turn up and just be a nightmare. Frankly I'd ignore it and any other remote dreamers... only entertain committed buyers.

[davek_964]

Why would anybody buy a car over a year before they need it? I would have ignored him after he stated that.

[Skyedriver]

davek_964 said:

Why would anybody buy a car over a year before they need it? I would have ignored him after he stated that.

A year? No about 3 or 4 weeks to Easter.
He's seen the photos and my description of the car, it's a 1997 car, you don't see many on the road anymore but they were not uncommon in their day.

[Shuff4]

His son is 15, but wants to use when he’s 17, hence the poster stating over a year.

[Belle427]

I’d agree with taking payment when they are stood in front of you.
Too much potential fraud these days it’s not worth the hassle.

[Greenmantle]

scam
sorry what 15 year old wants to drive a car which is older than him!

[Monkeylegend]

Skyedriver said:

I'd rather get a buyer to turn up and view and agree a price and pay the money. Actually the price he's currently offering is lower than I'm really wanting anyway.

You have answered your own question.

[Axionknight]

Monkeylegend said:

Skyedriver said:

I'd rather get a buyer to turn up and view and agree a price and pay the money. Actually the price he's currently offering is lower than I'm really wanting anyway.

You have answered your own question.

Yep, case closed

[steveo3002]

alot of scams seem to have a story attached , long description of how and why they work on a off shore oil rig and all that , mention the young son maybe you will knock a few quid off

why would anyone need to explain why they want the car ? hello is said car still for sale? tell me about any issues ? turn up and pay !

dont need the sob story

[vikingaero]

steveo3002 said:

alot of scams seem to have a story attached , long description of how and why they work on a off shore oil rig and all that , mention the young son maybe you will knock a few quid off

why would anyone need to explain why they want the car ? hello is said car still for sale? tell me about any issues ? turn up and pay !

dont need the sob story

Agreed. Tell him if it's still for sale around Easter then he can buy it.

[Skyedriver]

Just come back to read updates having received another call from him today.
Very plausible guy in texts and emails, Son (15) wants a car to do up and sleep in it with surf board on top etc etc..
But would you arrange to buy a very tidy rust free but with minor faults Volvo 940 Estate, 545 miles away? They're not that rare.
He's ready to transfer the money today and collect in the Easter holidays. I'll have the cash so what would be the scam?

[ChocolateFrog]

Skyedriver said:

Well I've had a load of enquiries about my car, most from people 400 or more miles away, but I do live a bit remote.
Latest one is buying for his 15 year old son as he wants one when he passes 17 and his test, Guy has chipped away at my price and now wants to pay by bank transfer but not collect until Easter.
I smell a rat but can't work out what.
I'd rather get a buyer to turn up and view and agree a price and pay the money. Is the current guy going to turn up in three weeks time and start chipping again and ask for money back? Actually the price he's currently offering is lower than I'm really wanting anyway.

If you're not happy with the price don't sell, you'll regret it down the line.

I've done it several times and it still wrankles.

That is assuming it's not the only offer after having been on sale for months.

[ChocolateFrog]

Greenmantle said:

scam
sorry what 15 year old wants to drive a car which is older than him!

A 15 Yr old enthusiat?

[ChocolateFrog]

Skyedriver said:

Just come back to read updates having received another call from him today.
Very plausible guy in texts and emails, Son (15) wants a car to do up and sleep in it with surf board on top etc etc..
But would you arrange to buy a very tidy rust free but with minor faults Volvo 940 Estate, 545 miles away? They're not that rare.
He's ready to transfer the money today and collect in the Easter holidays. I'll have the cash so what would be the scam?

It might not be a scam, I'd make it clear that the price is the agreed price and there will be no more reductions on collection.

If you're not happy with the price might be worth saying you reserve the right to sell it at a higher price and give him his money back if someone comes along in the meantime.

[steveo3002]

whats the scam?

he transfers the money via some hacked /dodgy way , you sit there happy theres £xxxx in the bank , then later on a sob story the whole family has got bum cancer and can you refund it but to his other account /paypal whatever

you feel sorry and send £xxx back to alternate bank , then original bank freeze the funds as it was a scam

again why the story about surfboards and sleeping in it? can a young kid insure such a car? , dont need to know that , let me know when you're 10 mins away with cash

Edited by steveo3002 on Thursday 9th March 15:10

[Muzzer79]

Tell him that he's welcome to buy it and transfer you cash for it as a full deposit but if he wants you to hold it until Easter, it's £100 a week in storage, payable weekly otherwise the deal is off.

If he is genuine, he's using you as free storage. Storage has a cost.

[Evil.soup]

This is a curious one.

Looking at it from the potential buyers perspective, it's half term in a few weeks and he has a kid, its a hell of a drive and maybe he has holidays booked giving him time to collect.

Are there really that many of the same car around? I guess the Volvo you have, does have a niche following, and if it is a good example, someone could well go out of their way to come get it.

I guess you could suggest you will wait until Easter, 3 weeks, and hold the car for him if he turns up with the cash asking price, otherwise you won't hold it. That would mean a bit of good will from you but without having to hand over bank details etc.

Or, you could just say, come buy it if I still have it, depends on if you need it shifted really.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

Sell it to someone else who is prepared to meet at least your lowest expectation of its value and who is able to turn up with the cash in a timely manner.

Case closed.