Buying Vehicles from Out of State, Experiences, hints, suggestions, etc. Options

[sandman]

Recently purchased a car from 914club member and got burned. Purchased from out of state, took the word of the person and got shafted. Has this happened to you? What experiences and suggestions can anyone share in regards to protecting oneself from people who aren't honest? This topic just might save yourself oneday from getting f'ed. I would like to learn from other peoples experiences so that I will be better able next time to prevent something like this from happening again. Thanks..

[TravisNeff]

Sorry to hear that. Purchasing a car is tough, generally the sellers think their car is worth more than it is, or overlook things that detract on the price. You have to be lucky and be in the same mindset as the seller.

Best thing you can do is have PPI's done by other club members, or fly out yourself and take a peek.

I bought a car from Craig (camp914) the deal turned out great, the car was more than I expected. I had no PPI done, but some conversations and photos from Craig. I used a little 914 faith and Craig's reputation and went for it. He was very upfront on making sure that I was happy, as he values his reputation.

[GWN7]

I've bought a few cars from out of state. Very out of state. And the best way is to have someone you trust look over a car. Someone who has no interest in the car. If you ask there is probably someone who would be near by.

Ask for lots of pictures when buying. Hell hole, trunk, floors, longs.....all the places where there could be problems.

If you bought a car that had something major wrong with it, mabey the sellar didn't know. Or if it was mechanical, that can happen at any time.

Tell us what is wrong with it?

[CptTripps]

You need 3 things to buy a car sight-unseen.

#1 - A PPI from someone OTHER than the person selling it.

#2 - A PPI from someone OTHER than the person selling it.

#3 - A PPI from someone OTHER than the person selling it.


I've bought a few 914s in the past 6mos, and the only one I didn't SEE, or get a PPI on, I didn't expect to be more than a parts car. And even IT was worse than I expected. There were about 6 cars I PASSED on. That's the key.

I'd like to know who it was that sold you a bum car...did you try to work it out? Is this a member that has more than 5-6 posts like you?

[Aaron Cox]

I have a wheel deal currently -

guy is a regular on PP....doesnt take paypal though.
wants a certified check...

how can i ensure i get them delivered and not get shafted - (this is why i like paypal)

albeit its only 200 bucks...but its a bunch to me (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

[redshift]

See with own eyes.

Drive home with own gas.



M

[neo914-6]

Sorry to hear it. What are the details, and exactly what were you burned on? Did you ask thorough questions? Did you get alot of pics? Did the seller have any references? That is why feedback on an eBay sale can help determine a sellers reputation. As far as being a 914 club member, honesty is not a requirement when registering (maybe it's in the fine print), but you may be able to tell about a person by their posts.

I bought a car from another state via eBay and it was more than I expected and at a bargain. I bought another car and a parts car by personal inspection (which I did a poor job of) and lost time and money with them. The upside is I learned how to work and dismantle them.

You win some and lose some... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

[lapuwali]

Shoot, I've gotten taken by people even when I saw the car first. Sometimes, a personal inspection isn't enough unless you get VERY close and personal.

I've also had great deals from people I hardly knew.

There are no read hard-and-fast rules. It all comes down to judgement in individual cases. Gotta trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right, walk away. Educate yourself as much as possible about the car, and ask pointed questions. Getting a third party to do a PPI is an excellent bit of advice, if it's at all possible.

I'm going to hope the person you bought the car from wasn't "a regular", someone who posts here often. I agree with Felix, post all the details you're comfortable posting. We can also learn from you.

[john grier]

Yes I got one off the club site.
Within two hours of posting.
Excellent deal for me.
Pic's were provided, great comunication on the phone.
You get a feel real fast if someone is BS or telling it true.
No ppi shipping was high but I got a good deal.

[GWN7]

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Jun 7 2005, 03:03 PM)

I have a wheel deal currently - guy is a regular on PP....doesnt take paypal though. wants a certified check... how can i ensure i get them delivered and not get shafted - (this is why i like paypal) albeit its only 200 bucks...but its a bunch to me (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Pay him by Postal Money order (and not one of the fake ones either) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

Mail him the money order and spend the $0.45 to get tracking on it.

If he flakes on you, you can sic the Postal Police on him for mail fraud.

[CptTripps]

QUOTE (GWN7 @ Jun 7 2005, 07:27 PM)

Pay him by Postal Money order (and not one of the fake ones either) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) Mail him the money order and spend the $0.45 to get tracking on it. If he flakes on you, you can sic the Postal Police on him for mail fraud.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

I did that once, and the bum is in a FEDERAL prison right now...they don't mess around.

[jd74914]

QUOTE (CptTripps @ Jun 7 2005, 07:32 PM)

QUOTE (GWN7 @ Jun 7 2005, 07:27 PM) Pay him by Postal Money order (and not one of the fake ones either)  ;) Mail him the money order and spend the $0.45 to get tracking on it. If he flakes on you, you can sic the Postal Police on him for mail fraud. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) I did that once, and the bum is in a FEDERAL prison right now...they don't mess around.

What happened? Sounds like a good (well actually bad) story.

[CptTripps]

QUOTE (jd74914 @ Jun 7 2005, 07:54 PM)

QUOTE (CptTripps @ Jun 7 2005, 07:32 PM) QUOTE (GWN7 @ Jun 7 2005, 07:27 PM) Pay him by Postal Money order (and not one of the fake ones either)  ;) Mail him the money order and spend the $0.45 to get tracking on it. If he flakes on you, you can sic the Postal Police on him for mail fraud. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) I did that once, and the bum is in a FEDERAL prison right now...they don't mess around. What happened? Sounds like a good (well actually bad) story.

Pretty funny actually...not for him.

I was in the RC industry, and sold a bunch of batteries to a new dealer, or so I thought. He'd faked the business license, Tax-ID and banking info he faxed. I didn't double-check, and sent off the batteries. (about $2,000 worth) Turned out that he was just a dead-beat that wanted real good batteries. He f-ed himself by mailing me all the above info. He did it Priority Mail, and I had the tracking data and everything.

I'd sent the batteries by Priority Mail also, and he mailed me back 2K in Monopoly money and a piece of paper that said "F$%K You Maroon!" (Yeap...he mis-spelled Moron!) I called the post office and they started an investigation. They had the schmuck on video mailing the stuff, and his prints on the money.

It was over $501, AND he falsified federal documents. So he went to jail. The funniest was the Judge using the line "Go straight to jail, and do not collect $200...in Monopoly money."

I think he got 5yrs for that little stunt.

[jd74914]

LOL That is funny (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

The time serves him right. I'll have to remember to use a postal money order the next time I am not confident that I won't get burned.

[Gint]

QUOTE (GWN7 @ Jun 7 2005, 06:27 PM)

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Jun 7 2005, 03:03 PM) I have a wheel deal currently - guy is a regular on PP....doesnt take paypal though. wants a certified check... how can i ensure i get them delivered and not get shafted - (this is why i like paypal) albeit its only 200 bucks...but its a bunch to me (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) Pay him by Postal Money order (and not one of the fake ones either) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) Mail him the money order and spend the $0.45 to get tracking on it. If he flakes on you, you can sic the Postal Police on him for mail fraud.

One of these days I'll have to tell ya'll a little story about what happens when an over zealous, but stupid, assistant bank manager decides that your U.S.P.S. Money Orders that you paid cash for at the post office are conterfeit.

[boxstr]

One advantage to the 914club is that you can ask someone close to the car you are buying to posibbly take a look at it for you. I have done this on occasion and it has worked out that I passed on the cars.
I have bought cars off ebay and they are fine one was not. You live and learn.
This is a smalll community and I feel that you have to be able to trust the people you buy from here. We have seen it go a wrong here recently, with Kevin and Steve.

I sell cars and parts at CAMP 914. I try to be honest and fair with each transaction. I like to talk to a potential customer. I think it helps me to understand what a customer wants. I have told people not to buy a car becasue it wasn't right for them and what they wanted. I would rather have them mad at me for not selling them a car than selling them one they would later regret. I think it is important to keep the lines of communication open to all discussions. If the buyer is not happy what do I have to do to make them happy.

It appears that you have listed the car you purchased in the classifieds. Sorry it had to happen.
Craig C. Laughlin

[Gint]

Uh-oh (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif)

[pete-stevers]

My crazy brother Greg (pete-greggers) took my car for a drive and decided it would be a better buy than a beetle, so I started looking,
I emailed or phoned the prospective sellers
asking for pics of front trunk, rear trunk, hell hole, rear suspension mounts, and inner longs, as well as outside pics
some replied, some didn't,
some sent pics, some didn't
finally found a car on the bird board
he replied, and sent all the requested pics
he had dropped his price substantially from his original post, so I offered him 250 more if he would hold it for a few days until greg could fly down....
Greg drove it clear from Santa Fe to BC can with nothing going really wrong with the car.....
we looked for three months until we found that deal....
If you don't want to wait or do the searching...call Craig first at camp 914

[drive-ability]

I am sorry to here this, I am now in the middle of a transaction like yours. I first saw an ad and got some pictures. I decided to spend an extra 175.00 and put the money in an escrow account. The terms are, if the car was correctly described and I am satisfied I will release the money. I have 14 days to except or reject the transaction. I surely wont get off free if something goes bad but the bulk of the money is protected (I hope). I know you will learn allot from this subject but the bottom line is some people are bad to the core. There are so many honest guys out there but now they are all put under the microscope because of this one loser. Where did the car come from?? If you have an address maybe someone can do something, or knows more about this guy and can apply lawful, legitimate pressure on him??
John, P.S. I saw a car, V8 914 on EBAY that had poor reviews on this site. I emailed the winning bidder and gave him a heads up. The seller freaked and rolled over and told the truth. The sale was canceled. Don't look now but its back on EBAY again. The seller only disclosed part of the problem so he's still up to no good. The car is a white V8 914 with a 916 kit and flairs.

[sandman]

Thanks for the input. I asked the appropiate questions. I've discovered that asking the right questions is only part of the deal. If the seller isn't going to be truthful then your truly going to be taken if you take the chance on believing what they tell you. This car was purchased from a well known club member on this site. I was referred to this member by another well known club member. I felt based on this, that I had a reliable and honest seller. I was reassured throughout the buying process by the seller that he was honest and that he stood behind the car. Seller paid for some repairs initially but has refused to reimburse for the major repairs regarding the camshaft, etc. Never disclosed to me upfront these problems as well as the numerous other things I'll wind up replacing.
What legal remedies exist when buying from someone out of state? I know ebay offers some protection, but what about a sale between private parties? Again thanks the replies, hope you don't have happen to you what has happened to me. Don't trust someone just because there well known and a frequent poster on this board.