Hi Folks, I've been trying to buy an International Metro van from a guy in Rumsey, CA, about 30 min north of Vacaville. I've sent this guy a deposit via check and a then the balance via money order. I've been busy with work and called to let the guy know that I was going to send a transporter to pick up the van. Hence sending the balance of the agreed upon price via money order. He then left me a weird message saying that he had trouble depositing the money order and is sending it back to me and wants to cancel the deal. I haven't seen the money order yet or my original deposit either. So if anyone see a late 50's Metro for for sale in the 530 area code, please let me know if you see it for sale. I've made full payment on the van and now I can't get him to return my calls. Yes, I shouldn't have been so trusting and I got burnt as a result. Since I have proof that he's received payment and there's no title on the van (just a bill of sale transaction) I'm tempted to just go pick it up from the dirt lot its sitting in. But I'd like to do this deal right if its possible. Thanks, Chris
i will be in that area this week, let me know if you need me to take a peek and see if it is still there.
"I'm tempted to just go pick it up from the dirt lot its sitting in" dude canceled the sale and has not (I assume) cashed the money order. what you need to do now is see if you can get your deposit back. if you take it now it is stealing plain and simple.
Did your check clear ? Have you ever met this guy face to face or simply via phone, email, etc ? I think there is a way to track a money order to see if it has been cashed, you might want to contact the issuing company and inquire. Me, I would be driving to his town immediately with proof you paid, and my first stop would be at the Sheriff's Dept to tell them the story. If you have any supportive emails, texts , etc take them too. This isn't 1950 anymore, the ONLY way to buy a car these days is you hand them cash, they give you the title, and you immediately take the car away. This one has all the earmarkings of a problem for you. Don
that area may be in the middle of nowhere but there is alot of old hod rodders and clubs in that area, hopefully some one on the board knows him and can help you resolve it,
So far he has the deposit from my check that he cashed and the money that he returned has been endorsed (he signed the back and put his acct # on it), so its locked to him. He is the only person that can cash or deposit it now. Without his cooperation, I'm still out half of selling price. I agree and if I didn't live 2 1/2 hours away I would have done it already, but I haven't had a chance to spend an entire day chasing this down. If he returned my calls, I'd at least have some information to work with, but he's blowing me off so far. So far its mail and phone messages and yes he did cash my check. Calling the sheriff AND the postal authorities to inquire about a mail fraud complaint is what most people are telling me to do. I know I blew it buy not wrapping up the deal as soon as humanly possible, but I trusted this guy and got burnt for it.
Impala, I just PM'd with the location and my cell number. Let me know if you can make it out there. Thanks! Chris
I got it and its home! I blew a tire on the trailer (on the highway AT SPEED) and lucked out by having it happen literally in front of a trailer dealership and supply place. Its sitting next to the Metro cabover truck right now. I'm thinking about bring them all together to facilitate working on them. The body is rougher than I remembered, but its an SM-122 with a 7ft body and the secondary inner panels are fully intact! Turns out its a 3/4 ton which means it might have a bigger engine and decent gearing in back. It has a low build number, so I think it might be the first year for the S series, '56(?). Its the most complete one I own so far, down to the badges on the passenger side AND BOTH the Int'l and Metropolitan Body Co. build plates inside. I'm pretty excited about this acquisition. Chris
The "money order/send a carrier to pick up the vehicle" is a very common and known scam, made popular by the Nigerians. No wonder the guy was suspicious.
Hey James, Geez, you're totally right, it never occurred to me that I was setting up the deal that way. I just figured that it was the easiest way to pay him. Luckily its all sorted out and my bank let me deposit the original money order so I have my second payment back as well. Now I just have to finish cleaning out my workshop so I can fit it in to work on it... Chris
It's the one on the right in my avatar and profile photo, but you're right I do need to post more. Here's a link to my Picasa site in the mean time... https://picasaweb.google.com/113942204097433338851/1957RM122IntLMetroShorty Chris
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