Buyers wanting to pay cash only for cheapish car

[MrCarrot]

I'm selling my old car, a C-Class Mercedes.

I've had a few time wasters, people generally scoping the car out, people asking for a discount, etc, but I've had what seem like two much more serious enquiries. I've spoken to the people on the phone, exchanged messages (which are not in "txt spk"), answered queries, etc. However, in my advert I mentioned "bank transfer only" and in both cases they have asked if I will accept cash.

The car is sub £4k so not a fortune by today's standards. In fairness bank transfer can be fraught with problems if you get unlucky (delayed payments, etc). My brother sold a drone recently and the buyer complained it was faulty or he didn't receive it, and my brother's bank (not the buyer's bank) took the money off him and froze it. He complained and eventually got the money back but it's not really what you want.

I cannot do the old trick of accepting the cash and paying it straight into my bank with the buyer there, as there isn't a bank branch for miles around.

Am I being unreasonable by insisting bank transfer only? Assuming it isn't a scam I'm guessing these people perhaps have a bunch of undeclared cash under their mattress. If accepting cash, I can and would check every note but that would obviously take a bit of time.

Thanks,

Edited by MrCarrot on Wednesday 7th January 15:08

[MrCarrot]

Thanks for all the replies. In the end I said I would accept cash but would want to pay it into my account at the Post Office with the buyer present, which he said was fine.

I sold the car today. Chap came with his friend who gave him a lift and second opnion on the car. I think to be honest they were both as nervous buying from a random stranger as I was selling to one.

After they inspected the car and we did a test drive I invited them in, we went through the paper work and I counted and checked the money. It was all new, clean notes so easy enough to do. I didn't bother with the Post Office in the end and just paid it into my bank later on that day.

Ownership transfer was completed with what looked like legitimate name and address details. I can only speculate why he wanted to pay in cash, but that's his business rather than mine.

Thanks all.