How to buy out of town cash only sale?

[mrtoni]

Really want to buy this vehicle in Pittsburgh but live 2200 miles away. It's cash only. He won't hold until I fly out or I'd PayPal a deposit. Any ideas? Broker maybe? Matt

[Tropical Snowstorm]

What kind of vehicle? As a seller on CL anyone from out of town is suspect to me, can't blame the guy for not wanting to risk it.

Depending on the price find someone local on message boards/Facebook groups or extended family and get to the vehicle. Or try to contact a car dealer in the area to purchase it and hold it for you? No matter what, if it's not you handing over cash and getting a clean, signed title there's a good bit of risk for both parties.

[special-K]

I can't understand why anyone wouldn't accept any out of town form of payment that would be free and clear before vehicle left their possession. They have it all and you have nothing, so why not?

[Gotenntitans]

If he really wanted to sell it, you would think he might agree to go to a bank where his bank could verify with your bank that your funds are good. Or maybe he's just in a bind and gotta sell today. Good luck. GTT

[Boog]

Better forget this one and keep looking. If a seller is specifying cash on the spot only, no hold or deposit he may be hiding something. And this may be a scam too. You just never know.
I always look for something within a reasonable mileage radius of me. I won't buy anything based on the seller's or someone else's word. I'll go see it for myself and determine if it's something I want and what it's worth to me. As far as form of payment, that's something I would work out with the seller before I made a trip to see it. Carrying a large sum of cash is dangerous but showing a stack of bills to a seller can be persuasive.

[fine69]

Pm sent. I may be able to help you out.

[68 CRACKERBOX]

I use walmart money gram all he has to do is go to any walmart and pick up his money and it is cheap send 700 the other day cost 5.00 to send it.

[In The Ten Ring]

I have never bought anything from CL but I might one day. I would want to buy in person and if the guy refused to hold onto it until I could get over there, I wouldn't deal with him.

It would suck to have him say "sure I'll hold it" and when you get there he has broken his word and sold it. To prevent upset I would have planned ahead and researched fun things to do while I was there.

Last March I drove down to GA and bought some parts off a guy for 3K and I paid cash. I did take along two friends, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson, and we met the guy in a parking lot of my choosing once I was there.

I've wondered how I'm going to manage bringing those two friends if I ever have to fly out and look at a vehicle---I don't know, checked luggage? There is a process for flying with firearms, but I'm not sure the jokers at TSA have a clue.

[mrtoni]

Thanks good advice. Unfortunately after saying "I'll hold it for you" hes decided to show it this weekend to 3 buyers. This is after begging to transfer money into his bank account. Here's a pic. Exactly what I've looked for for about 4 years. 30000 original miles

[In The Ten Ring]

Find another van. Once a person tells you one thing and then screws you over, it's not going to get any better.

At the very least, this guy is a jackass. At the very most, he's a crook.

"Never want something too much: you will pay too high a financial or emotional price." Raoul Felder.

*That's about the best I could get out of this book, Bare Knuckle Negotiation, but it seems to fit your case very well.

[68 CRACKERBOX]

get on a plane and fly out there you could be there tomorrow afternoon before he shows it to anyone eles.you should look it over coming from pa. it could have a lot of rust.

[mrtoni]

Yes purchase price was substantially less than asking. As with our trucks, original unaltered very hard to find. Thanks

[midniteblues]

Cool van i wouldnt mind having one WITHOUT the windows but who wouldnt.

I have a bud looking for about the same thing only a f@rg though.

Sorry im a little too far to be of any help too ya.

[Tiger Joe]

I'm probably less than 20 minutes away from that van.

bad news- I'm leaving for vacation tonight. If its still around when I get back I probably help you out.

[sawyerrm]

If you read the CL warnings, they tell you to do things in person and avoid money orders, cashiers checks and money transfers.

Last week I bought a truck and sold two cars, all were in-person transactions. I bought the truck from a respected forum member who was leaving on vacation for three weeks. I gave him a personal check and will pick up the truck when he returns. Even though I trust him completely, I got a bill of sale in exchange for my check just for the paper trail.

One of the buyers gave me $10k cash and a personal check for the balance. There is some risk there but I'm pretty comfortable due to the large amount of cash he gave me.

I met the other buyer at his bank, Chase, and observed the teller as she printed a certified check so I knew it was real.

I'm too conservative to buy a vehicle sight unseen.

Rob