Ive been trying to sell a car for my dad for the past month, and have finally got a buyer. Thing is, I am on the west coast and he is on the east. I have never sold a car like this before, ever. He is planning on having a friend fly out and drive it home. Thing is, I just don't know how to handle this. I have asked for a $500 deposit, and he is okay with that but I would like to write something up for him to sign and send with it, so we are on the same page about what the deposit is for, and how long it will hold the car for. Does anyone one know what the standard is? Any other tips to make this go smoothly? It is a OT car, but I think there are more cross country deals done on the HAMB then anywhere else. Thanks for your time Dustin
It's easy enough to type up a bill of sale showing ** down and ****X due at the time of pickup. Along with the above mentioned time line and statement that the deposit is nonrefundable. The only exemption to that clause would be misrepresentation on your part. That doesn't need to be put in the contract but should be understood by you and your dad. We see at least a thread a month on here from someone who traveled hundreds or thousands to buy a car and discovered that the car wasn't anything like it was advertised to be. That element of trust is and has to be a two way street.
Make it clear that the deposit is nonrefundable.reasonable time to pickup with cash in hand,no checks. Also make him send you the deposit in a U.S. Postal money order no lame checks or certified cashiers check.You set up the payment method you want.If the buyers insists on doing his way just keep looking for a buyer.
Maybe I am different, but I would not make the deposit non refundable. If I take a deposit, it is for a short time - usually just a couple days. The guy has to come within that time or we move on. I send a written description and it is very accurate and I have nothing to hide. If my description is not accurate and I misled the guy, why should he be out the cash because I am a dumb ***? I deserve to lose the sale if I lied. If he is just pulling my chain and decides the car is not for him for whatever reason, I make it a damn short meeting, give him his cash back and kick him out. If he gets an accurate decscription it should only take a few minutes for him to verify the description and buy the car. If not, he is a lookie-Lou and I am not going to waste my time. But why piss him off and keep his money? All I am out is 5 or 10 minutes of my time - a couple times they have come back and bought the car later because I was fair and gave them a deposit back If someone else calls in the mean time, I keep their name and number, tell them they are next on the list and to get their $$$ ready. The most they have to wait is a couple days.
YES! have him send you a paypal NON REFUNDABLE deposit for $500. RECORD THE TELEPHONE TRANSACTION USING SPEAKER-PHONE AND A HAND-HELD RECORDER. have him state in the paypal payment that this is a NON REFUNDABLE down payment on such and such car owned by who and who for the total price of $**,**X. this way that record will be on your paypal account.
This is so true. I just sold my Falcon Van to a guy in Philly, Pa and I`m in California. The sale went smooth with LOTS of communication via phone and e-mail. I sent him a photo of the ***le to show that it was legit. He then overnighted me the Postal Money order and once the cash cleared I overnighted the ***le and bill of sale. It was smooth simple and clean, but there was alot of trust on both ends for it to happen right. Good Luck Viva
Oddly enough, I also sold a Falcon van to long distance buyer. This was almost 10 years ago, but it went smoothly. I had a buyer in Detroit. He sent me a bank check, and I waited until it cleared. We talked openly on the phone and over email so there was no confusion. He sent a car carrier to get it and we had no problems loading it into the trailer. Everyone was happy because the communication was clear.
Hey guys, if you think it's a bit scary sending one across country, think about how hairy it is buying one from overseas. I'm just in the process of getting one sent to Australia, relying on peoples honesty(eg is the inspector I got to check out - the sellers buddy!!!! and pictures (is that rust rust i see in the ch***is rail!!!!) nerve racking I kid you not. Once I get it home I'll send a post with some pic's. RodL
6in a row is right do not keep another mans money keep the names who called after him. I have done a lot of deals like this only crooks and junk salesmen keep the money we have to have some trust between each other Ray
I live in Michigan and I sold my '34 coupe last year to a guy in Florida. I had him wire the money for the car to my checking account. They wire the money from his bank to mine. When it was in my account I sent him the ***le and he had a car hauler pick it up.
Thats the best way right there In My Opinion . Alot of times ill just have them send a cashiers check . I let it sit in the bank for a week which gives the bank ample time to clear the check and make sure it is on the level . Once it clears then i let them know they can schedule the shipper to pick it up.
The ONLY way I will buy a car that I am not personally picking up, is using Escrow.com. It is is the only safe way for a buyer to know the ***le is in good order and in third party hands before the seller gets the $$$. Too many crooks out there ! .....JIM
I'm with these guys. Another buyer will come along. I've got a buddy that was going to rent out one side of a duplex to a waitress at a local resturant and kept her deposit after she backed out. He just couldnt understand why his mail box and part of the fence got destroyed a few days later.
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