Advice needed. Who has bought a vehicle sight unseen?

[lil hoodlum]

Hello everyone! I need another truck like I need another hole in my head. However, I am considering purchasing another 1968 c10 that is running and in driveable condition. I have only seen pictures of it (via internet) and talked with the gentleman who is selling. I feel fairly confident that the seller is honest and has been truthful about the trucks condition.

I am considering sending the money via Western Union and then arranging for an auto transport to pick it up and ship to me. As I said, the truck is in drivable condition and the owner does have a title.

Anything else I should do short of renting a car and making the 500 mile trip one-way?

Hopefully those with cooler heads can give me something else to think about>

Thank you,

Keith

[Hottrucks]

see if theres another board memeber near by and have them take a peek...I have asked and if asked would always say yes!! BUT ...Me I would take a pick up drive out there and drive it home.....take a few tools hit oneof the Jiffy lubes have them check the fluids and add some fresh oil and DRIVE IT HOME!!! done it alot of times...worse case is you'll have a great story to tell when your done with it!! and it will be cheaper than having it transported..Oh and the pick up makes a great tow rig if needed!! and still cheaper!!

[MARKDTN]

Find someone nearby the truck and have them look it over. Don't care how many photos you see, it never looks exactly like it in real life. The rest depends on the price. If you are buying for scrap value, you can buy sight unseen with no worries. If you are paying top dollar, you better go yourself. In between, you have to use your judgement. My .02

[cdowns]

i'd do what HOTTRUCKS said 500 miles isnt that much of a road trip

[wild4wheels]

I think I know of which you speak, and if it is the same truck, I would be tempted too. I once bought a Toyota Pickup sight unseen, was dissappointed when I did get. Had the guy just taken "honest" pictures, i.e. taken 2 steps closer ...a lot of frustration could have been avoided. I'm actually looking at starting a business to deal with this exact problem. Good Luck.

[faribran]

Keith,
where is the truck located.... there might be a member very close.

[lil hoodlum]

The truck is in Hays, Kansas. The owner told me he drove it for an hour and a half straight just last week.

I know, I know, maybe it just spun a rod or the tranny went out during the last trip. It is a $1000 truck though. Yeah a grand is still alot of dough but I somehow I imagine the truck to be drivable and in "fair" condition. I would expect it to need some work.

HotTrucks, I would love to just drive up there and pick it up and drive home in it. I think it would be fun and a great way to see a part of middle America.
I am also considering renting a U-Haul with trailer and just driving it up and trailoring it back. I've never towed anything before so I'm a little nervous about that.

Keith

[lil hoodlum]

a few pictures.

Keith

[wild4wheels]

Quote
"I am also considering renting a U-Haul with trailer and just driving it up and trailoring it back. I've never towed anything before so I'm a little nervous about that."

Hey man, I did it, did a local rental and a car trailer, (unlimited mileage of course) Penske or Ryder, ..NOT Uhaul..drove from Cedar Rapids, Ia to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to pick up a wrecked 5 series Bimmer. That is through Chicago, during rush hour..broken passenger mirror on the truck...NO PRIOR TOWING EXPERIENCE..I think evrybody lived..not sure about those folks in the mini van.. but my point is, You can do it! I think $300-$400 bucks and I was back home that night. (BTW, Get the insurance)

[wild4wheels]

LOVE THE TRUCK! (not the same one I was thinking) I'd like to find something like that here in AZ for that kind of dough..That would be $2995 here on Phoenix Craigslist

[68chevyLQ4]

I have bought roughly 10 cars/trucks sight unseen on ebay (just pics). There is ALWAYS surprises. some not so bad..some would have been deal breakers had I known.

Go get it yourself if at all possible. Only advice I can give.. Or like others have said try to find a member here to check it out for you..

goodluck

[lil hoodlum]

Quotes for transport vary from $340 to $600. Time frame from 1 to 2 weeks pickup and delivery to priority 1 to 10 days pickup to delivery.

I guess my biggest concern is if I act impatiently and rush through with this I might regret it later on.

Oh well, it's only money right? Good thing I planted a money tree out back recently.

Keith

[72freak]

I have probably bought over 20 vehicles sight unseen. Including the JUNKERS , the owners descriptions were WAY off on all of them. As long as you go into it with its price way lower than its worth and know its not going to be as described you will be fine! With my commercial trucks I have started having a truck shop look at them ahead of time. Go to USHIP.com for transport and oplan on $600

[Hottrucks]

hell a 4 speed and a radio I'm in it!! what can go wrong start it stick it in high gear and let it roll!! you can baby most anything 500 miles

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by wild4wheels

Quote
"I am also considering renting a U-Haul with trailer and just driving it up and trailoring it back. I've never towed anything before so I'm a little nervous about that."

Hey man, I did it, did a local rental and a car trailer, (unlimited mileage of course) Penske or Ryder, ..NOT Uhaul..drove from Cedar Rapids, Ia to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to pick up a wrecked 5 series Bimmer. That is through Chicago, during rush hour..broken passenger mirror on the truck...NO PRIOR TOWING EXPERIENCE..I think evrybody lived..not sure about those folks in the mini van.. but my point is, You can do it! I think $300-$400 bucks and I was back home that night. (BTW, Get the insurance)

That is a one heck of a story.

I really appreciate the advise. I am considering.

Keith

[Steve Hafner]

I sold a classic car 10 years ago for "A LOT OF MONEY" and the guy who bought it only had seen pictures on the internet ( they did show details though ) The money was in my account BEFORE he sent his driver 1000 miles to pick it up in an inclosed trailer. ( see picture below ) He called to tell me he was pleased with it when it arrived at his home . . . and I haven't heard from him SINCE - It can work !!! GOOD LUCK !!!

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

hell a 4 speed and a radio I'm in it!! what can go wrong start it stick it in high gear and let it roll!! you can baby most anything 500 miles

Hottrucks, if I can't baby it for 500 miles, I guess I would have one hell of an adventure to share with you guys with lots of pics.

Keith

[kcsa75]

I used to live in Hays, Kansas. For the most part, they are fine, upstanding and honest folks there. Having said that, don't wire the money via Western Union. If something should go wrong, you have no other recourse than to hunt the guy down. I would use PayPal.

Also, I would request a fax or email a copy of the title along with a photo of the VIN so that you can be sure they match and that the vehicle isn't stolen.

I knew a guy here in KC that bought a truck on eBay from a guy "supposedly in Texas". He met the guy somewhere in Oklahoma, gave him $18K cash and got the truck. Turns out, when he went to register the truck it was stolen. So he was out his $18K and the police took the truck!

[68chevyLQ4]

yeah western union is a big no no....

[BB72CHEVKT]

If you live in Denton I would just find a local truck. There should be plently in the area.

[Longhorn Man]

500 miles? I've done worse!

Ship a cooler full of tools and any parts you know it needs (HEI converson maybe) and have the UPS or whomever on the other end hold the package till you get there (or a friend/board member close to the area) and drive.
A laptop with free wi-fi at a hotel or Mc D's will get you info you may need, a AAA card and cell phone will get you to the next town if needed, and a 5 gallon can of gas in the bed will get you to the next station if you discover the guage isn't any good. (a junk yard spare is a good idea if there's nothing in the bed)

[Longhorn Man]

Almost forgot, take your camera, and enjoy the trip. You'll remember it forever. (I've done something like this 3 times now)

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by lil hoodlum

Hottrucks, if I can't baby it for 500 miles, I guess I would have one hell of an adventure to share with you guys with lots of pics.

Keith

Hey Kieth If I had time I could tell you some stories about trips but never any really bad ones about getting vechicals..mostly after I had "FIXED" them..

Now I would like the guys contact info because I think I want that car behind your new truck?? Maybe on your road trip you could check that out for me???

Jeff

[big_al_71]

I have always traveled to go see aything I am buying in person. never sight unseen except the corvair siode ramp truck I had a member in texas go look at it for us then we had it picked up by the transporter...

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

I sold a classic car 10 years ago for "A LOT OF MONEY" and the guy who bought it only had seen pictures on the internet ( they did show details though ) The money was in my account BEFORE he sent his driver 1000 miles to pick it up in an inclosed trailer. ( see picture below ) He called to tell me he was pleased with it when it arrived at his home . . . and I haven't heard from him SINCE - It can work !!! GOOD LUCK !!!

Wow, that's crazy! My neighbor wired a guy $13k for a car he purchased in FL. The seller provided good communication during the sale and sent him an email when the car was supposedly picked up by the transport company. That was the last he heard from him. The car never arrived and he never got the money back.

I agreed to purchase my current truck based on photos in Craigslist. It was located 500+ miles away in Abilene. I told the seller I'd pay another $400 if he trailered it to Austin. When it arrived it was exactly as described