I found a used Jaguar on e-bay. The seller is in Chicago. I have sent him a money order for deposit. He is asking that I bring the balance in cash to make it easier. I don't want to travel with that much cash on me. Are money orders or cashier's checks difficult to cash? I have always bought cars locally and paid with a personal check. I have never done anything like this before. Thanks for any advice.
I've paid cash........up to 50 grand in cash...........with some computer savvy people now a days, even cashiers checks can be faked. Put a suitcase of cash in your trunk. fill the car and don't stop until you get there.
I think you can send the money to yourself on western union, and pick it up together after the sale....Request that ID be prsented, and only you can pick it up. I think you can get a travelers check too, which has safety precautions. Sounds safe to me.
see if your bank has a branch there, money orders and cashiers checks are easy to cash, if he is worried about it being fake get a card or an 800 # from your bank so he can call while your there to make sure it is real. john
Will he accept a wire transfer? I would consider a meeting at his bank so you can get a notarized bill of sale, clear title, and make sure wire instructions are carried out correctly. If he is a scamer I doubt he would want to meet at his bank. If he is honest, I can't think of a better place for him.
Sure, that's why the seller might just call ahead to verify funds, or just have you got to the bank with him while it's cashed. Using cash only, with no record, is not safe.
One other thing, what's keeping you from getting poked full of holes, from a stranger who wants your money but doesn't want to give up his goods?
He is not going to be available until 10:00 PM so meeting at a bank is out. I was trying to get up there this weekend in the day time but our schedules conflicted. I am trying to find someone to go with me but at such short notice its going to be tough. He is telling me he wants cash since that is easier. The terms of the ebay auction called for money order or check only. I'm going to try to use that to get him to not require cash.
He wants you to meet him late at night with a suitcase full of CASH ONLY! Oh man, this is classic. And I suppose he wants you to come alone because crowds make him nervous. ABORT THIS DEAL! Consider yourself lucky if you ever get your deposit back. Late night "cash only" deals with total strangers usually end up one of two ways: 1.The buyer standing naked in the desert as the "sellers" take off with your cash and clothes, or 2. The "buyer" is never heard from again! (But dental records usually help identify the remains when they are finally discovered 5 or 10 years later.)
Now I am glad he wanted a smaller amount up front. He had wanted me to pay him through his attorney. The name he gave me turns out to be his next door neighbor and from what I can tell he isn't an attorney. I updated my thread in the Chicago section. I don't know what I'm going to do. I found the car on e-bay item number 2491010175 while it is not a lot of money i dont feel comfortable carrying with me.
WHILE i dont like the terms of this situation (at night ect) , when i have a car(s) for sale i wont take a check. dont like it ? dont buy the car. period. i have to take off from work to go to the bank , to make sure the check ect is good, and i am supposed to let you leave with the car???? not going to happen. my terms.... paid in cash in person or i hold the car and title until funds clear my bank. i did this with my 308 THIS WEEK, i just sent off the title to the new owner and the car is getting picked up by his transport company this week. ( sale took place previously). as a seller i wont " take a check" and then let you have the car, firearm, guitar ect ect. there are too many con artists out there. i pay cash when i buy a car and i am armed to the teeth when i do it. cash in hand ALWAYS gets you a better price. wire transfers are great too, but there a has been a rash of those bieng fake also. CASH IS KING BABY!
Cash-only is not really a huge red flag - look at all the threads about the eBay scam of "I'll send you a MO for more than that amount, you western union the balance back to me". The MO is fake and you get screwed. MO's can be faked easily. He probably wants to avoid that - at 10pm, he can't go to the bank and ensure its real. I would suggest you either wire the money, or Western Union it. He can probably pick up a WU transfer 24 hours at an airport.
Thanks for all of the advice. I moved the meet up a day so we could do it during day light. He will now take a cashier's check so I feel much better about everything not haveing to carry around a pile of money. Thanks again.
Ike, What kind of person selling a car isn't available until 10PM? You are taking a big risk trusting this low feedback Ebayer. There is NO WAY I would enter into this arrangement. I think they setup police scenarios about similar situations. Good luck & be careful because something doesn't seem right. Read what people are telling you. One question for you. What would you tell your daughter (if you have one) if she told you she was doing this deal?
I feel better about it, not completely great but better. He has class on Monday and Thursday until 9:30. That is why he is able to meet me tomorrow evening. Apparently he works for a drug company and travels almost every day of the week. I have friends that do that and I know they have some crazy schedules. He is also a single parent. After talking on the phone with him for about 30 minutes I had a better feeling about the deal which is why I decided to go through with it.
Chris, That may have made you feel better. But, if you were really being setup, you still would have been at a disadvantage. It's a good idea to have the advantages on your side to begin with. Ike, I'm glad it's working out. I think you have made some wise changes. Any reason you can't meet at a financial institution? Where they manage money, have security cameras, and have notaries? ... just a thought.
We are meeting about 7:00 PM. While it still isn't the best time it is better than 10 and hopefully will have some daylight left. I have found out everything I can about the guy and certain people have it in case I don't come back.
To clarify: It wasn't that I was worried about a setup, it was where the purchase was taking place. In this situation you may be right.
Why not ask if there are any F-chatters in the Chicago area that would go with you to pick up your new car. If I were there I'd be more than happy to help out. Hey you may even get a ride from the airport!! Worth a shot anyway!!
