I'm assuming this is a scam....

[Rianne]

It was not my intention to be the scammer, but some made me feel like it.
Early 80"s, I was in college. A college friend had this crazy idea he wanted an expensive high end camera. He was all into photography. The only way he could get the money for the camera was to sell his car.
Seriously, his car was:
1967 Volvo, no rust, leather seats, stick shift...the most beautiful car I'd ever seen.
$500. I bought it with my savings.

He made me feel guilty for months, trying to make me feel I scammed him. He set the price, he closed the deal. Followed me around wanting to renege the sale. I refused. Kept the car for years. Edit: the guys who changed the oil tried to buy it from me. I'll say a bit more than $500. Of course, I did not sell.

[Amethyst]

Yes. To some people who have never been in or around the military, and aren't too bright to begin with, this could actually sound convincing.

He might even be the same "master sergeant" who sent me a catfishing Facebook invite with a photo of a handsome, 40-ish U.S. Army warrant officer Sooner or later, some older lady with no self-esteem was bound to fall for his nonsense, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound The car was in another state, and being a master sergeant in the US Air Force, he would put it on a USAF cargo plane to send to me. Can anyone believe the above BS?

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliKid It's one of many reasons I sold my last car to Carmax. Soooooooo much easier and not significantly less money than I MIGHT have sold it for had I waited it out.

I've been thinking about doing that as well. Without being to nosy, can I ask do they even offer lowest blue book value or quite a bit less than that? I have three cars and now retired, it's time to cut back to just the one and looking for a hassle free way to deal with it.

[USGrant1962]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetiredAndLovingIt I've been thinking about doing that as well. Without being to nosy, can I ask do they even offer lowest blue book value or quite a bit less than that? I have three cars and now retired, it's time to cut back to just the one and looking for a hassle free way to deal with it.

CarMax routinely offers the high end of the blue book trade in value. So less than a private sale, but fair. And no hassle.

[TrvlBug]

Quote:

Originally Posted by USGrant1962 CarMax routinely offers the high end of the blue book trade in value. So less than a private sale, but fair. And no hassle.

This was our experience 2 years ago.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by USGrant1962 CarMax routinely offers the high end of the blue book trade in value. So less than a private sale, but fair. And no hassle.

And you are not committed to anything.
They tell you how much they will pay for the car on paper, and you have about 7 days to go and see if you can sell it for more if you like, or return and they buy it.

[CRLLS]

Agreed, the OP's buyer is a scam - big time!

My bank told me there is no absolute way to accept a large payment without the buyer reversing it later or in the event of counterfeit cash, the seller is on the hook for it. That goes for ANY method. Even bank transfers.

I did accept an out of country bank check for a restored car once. After a lot of checking. In my case, a Canadian buyer gave me his banker's name and telephone number. I checked that the number was in fact the bank's number. Then I called the banker and asked about the security devices on the check. Who was signing it, what amount it was for and, in this case, it was drawn on their affiliate bank in the USA, so dollars were in USD. There were some other protections we put into the deal for both his and my protection. Not to mention, I did google the buyer. He was a lawyer. I was very concerned about being scammed. It all worked out in the end.

[dixonge]

Sold two vehicles long-distance. Both *flew* in long-distance, gave a brief inspection, then paid on the spot. One was business that paid in cash, the other was I think a business check from a car dealership. I think I had listed them on eBay Motors, for some additional protection.

Actually I sold another one to someone about 3.5 hours away. We met in the middle at a branch of their bank, then they pulled out a plastic bag full of cash. We had the teller combine the cash with additional money from their account and give me a cashier's check.

[jazz4cash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset And you are not committed to anything. They tell you how much they will pay for the car on paper, and you have about 7 days to go and see if you can sell it for more if you like, or return and they buy it.

I had a car to dispose of and was going to CarMax but a business set up shop across the street from them with a huge sign “WE BEAT CARMAX” so I went there instead. I should’ve gone to CarMax 1st because they had a hundred CarMax offers pasted to a wall that they had beat

[freedomatlast]

My experience with CarMax......On one of the two cars I sold in October, I gave both CarMax and Carvana a shot at it. CarMax said $21,500 and it took hours for them to cough up the quote with lots of wasted time. Carvana gives you a quote on line in literally seconds. They offered $23,050. I sold it privately for $26,000. Carvana kept pesting me with phone calls and texts even after I told them several times I wouldn't accept their low offer. YMMV.

[rodi]

I sold my last car at Carmax... but it was newer and not 'specialized'... They offered high blue book.

Unfortunately, that won't work with this truck... It's so customized for off roading it's value is not reflected by kelly blue book. I based the price on other sources - including what the mechanics at the off road specialists said. The price is lower than what I see on autotrader and carguru for similar trucks.

But carmax is definitely easier!!!! And I've now had 3 versions of the scam mentioned in the OP of this thread.

[freedomatlast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRLLS My bank told me there is no absolute way to accept a large payment without the buyer reversing it later or in the event of counterfeit cash, the seller is on the hook for it. That goes for ANY method. Even bank transfers.

Would love to know how a wire transfer can go bad using the following method: A wire transfer is deposited into the seller's account opened specifically for the transaction. Then once the funds are deposited, the funds are transferred to the seller's other account and the first account is closed.

[CRLLS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomatlast Would love to know how a wire transfer can go bad using the following method: A wire transfer is deposited into the seller's account opened specifically for the transaction. Then once the funds are deposited, the funds are transferred to the seller's other account and the first account is closed.

I am not a banking expert so I cannot answer you. All I can do is say that is what my bank told me. I asked about a special account at the same bank (something like you mentioned) and they said even that was not 100% scam proof. There are ways to reverse a wire transfer. I guess it is easier if the receiving bank hasn't yet posted the receipt to your account yet.

[Hamster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by USGrant1962 CarMax routinely offers the high end of the blue book trade in value. So less than a private sale, but fair. And no hassle.

Had good experience with Carmax before so we went back to them again recently. Sold them a five year old Civic with low miles for $10K, which seemed low but not unreasonable. It showed up on their website the next day for $16,500.

I can't blame them for making a profit and no one forced us to take the offer, but we won't be using them again.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamster Had good experience with Carmax before so we went back to them again recently. Sold them a five year old Civic with low miles for $10K, which seemed low but not unreasonable. It showed up on their website the next day for $16,500. I can't blame them for making a profit and no one forced us to take the offer, but we won't be using them again.

Of course they may actually sell it for $14,000.
Basically they need to pay you less that what you could otherwise get for it, if you put in the work and risk of selling it yourself.

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset Of course they may actually sell it for $14,000. ...........

I thought Carmax had haggle free pricing.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover I thought Carmax had haggle free pricing.

Good point !

I totally forgot as it's been years since I was on their lot.

[Sunset]

Years ago, I took a car to Carmax.
They offered me $500 (it was pretty old).
I put it up for sale on my own for $1,200 , just after the fellow in Canada was murdered by 2 people wanting to buy his truck.

So some guy came around, bought the car from me for $1,100 cash and drove it away without plates.

He never registered it, as he put it up for sale, claiming it was a higher model and priced it as $3,600.

I had to phone the State and report all this, as they don't have a good way to track vehicles.

[jollystomper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover I thought Carmax had haggle free pricing.

They do... but if a car sits for a while and does not move they will lower the price until it does sell.

[rodi]

I successfully sold the truck yesterday. There were a total of 4 'distance' scam offers. And about 10 offers that were ridiculously low.

Now to figure out what we want to replace it with. 1 day with two cars and 3 drivers and we're already realizing we need a practical car. (Truck wasn't practical.)