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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 3,522
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Buying a car on Ebay or long distance--tips?
Can someone direct me to information on the safe way to buy a car off Ebay or the internet long distance? How did you handle the $ transaction. Escrow account? Inspection? How did you word the offer? Follow the verbal with email? Contingent on inspection? I just need a safe procedure to protect myself and the seller. Thanks
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1980 911SC Targa 3.6L |
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05-27-2007, 06:25 AM
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,247
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My advice would be, ask a lot of questions, get a PPI , have someone local look at the car, if possible.
Talk with the owner and get a "gut feeling" about the car..good luck. |
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05-27-2007, 06:40 AM
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Who is John Galt?
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 638
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I've bought two this way, and both times I spoke to the seller on the phone prior to the sale and told them I would bring a cashier's check. One was private, one was a dealership, both were OK with me agreeing to buy the car on Ebay and coming with a check a few days later.
In both cases I took a look at the car, test drove and decided to buy. Had I found something I didn't like I would have walked. The worst they could do is give me a negative feedback, boo hoo.
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'79 911sc Targa '02 slk230 kompressor '84 Tamiya Falcon A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. |
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05-27-2007, 07:22 AM
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Slumlord
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,983
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What On-Ramp said.
I bought a car 800 miles away on eBay. The seller agreed to pull the car off eBay and I took a cashiers cheque with me. I had also had a local Pelican drive the car and take 100 pictures for me (I gave him a $100 Pelican coupon for his time). If you buy on eBay I would want to give a small ($250) deposit that would be non-refundable. Take the balance of the money less $1,000 by cashiers cheque, and the last $1,000 in cash. Then if you see flaws negotiate the price down and take it out of the $1,000 cash portion. Try to find an independant P-car shop that will do a PPI on short notice, or get the seller to take it there at your cost prior to buying it. Either way be prepared to eat the deposit or the PPI cost.
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84 Cab - sold! 89 Cab - not quite done 90C4 - winter beater |
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05-27-2007, 07:25 AM
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The Unsettler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lantanna TX
Posts: 23,885
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Quote:
Especially about the check amount.
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"I want my two dollars" "Goodbye and thanks for the fish" "Proud Member and Supporter of the YWL" "Brandon Won" |
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05-27-2007, 07:36 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 31,589
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A few things in addition to what has already been said:
- Buy a round trip ticket. I probably would pulled the trigger on a car not nearly as nice as the one I bought (for the same price) if I had not had the ability to get back on the plane. - Negotiate price before you get on the plane based on PPI, CARFAX, pictures, etc. - If possible, have a shop other than the one servicing the car do the PPI. - Make sure seller sends email agreeing to price. - If the car is not as advertised, walk. - Make sure your insurance can insure the car via phone. - Call your DMV in advance and find out what the license plate requirements are in advance. - I used a cashiers check without problems. - Use a local contact if possible to add a more critical eye to the process. Best of luck...I found the exact car I wanted long distance 
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1996 FJ80. |
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05-27-2007, 07:37 AM
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