rturbo 930 Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 (edited) Hey guys, Currently eyeing a car located in middle-of-nowhere, CA. He wants a cash transaction, doesn't seem to be willing to ship (I haven't heard back since mentioning shipping). I obviously have no way of doing this in person from NJ. So I'm wondering if anyone here has bought a car from another state, using a third person to basically look at the car, 'buy' the car from the seller, take it home, and then ship it to the buyer? I would arrange shipping of course, and pay the person a bit for their time. And if I do this, what can I do to make sure I don't get screwed? Thanks. Edited May 18, 2013 by rturbo 930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 1st off, where's the car located? I consider myself a pretty stand up guy. I've never had someone act as a broker of sorts for me, but I've been the middle man of many other people's sales. The most important thing, as always, is to have very clearly written out expectations and have it SIGNED. It drives me nuts when someone is willing to put a deposit down for a car but never thought about writing up a simple contract.... As far as who to trust, I'd say find someone that has some connections to mutual friends/people you know. If there's at least some personal attachment the person is much more likely to go all the way to make sure you're happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 (edited) Yeah, I was thinking of finding someone on here that I recognized from the area, but the closest person that I know of is still an hour+ away, and I don't even know if they'd do it. I saw someone mention contacting a local Z car club too, but a ) there isn't one in the area that I can see and b ) I don't know/trust those people... as trustworthy as they may be, I can't be sure. And then of course, there's the issue of time, and other buyers... I'll PM you the ad. Edited May 18, 2013 by rturbo 930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 I had my uncle do that. Bought a car out in Phoenix, told the guy to meet my uncle. he looked it over (the seller had sent me numerous pictures and videos) and my uncle handed him the cash (I transferred the cash to my uncle through out bank). The car is still sitting at my uncles, god bless his patience. On another occasion when I sold my 260z, the guy had called me and said he was coming to get the car. Well a tow truck driver showed up and he had all the cash. Signed it over to him and it wasn't my problem anymore. As for not getting screwed, you can write up a contract for someone to carry the cash. or find someone you trust to make it easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 Yeah, I've got family in Seattle and Portland, but neither place is quite the rust-free-car Mecca that California is, and they're not car people anyway. I've never heard of the truck driver doing the transaction, but that would definitely make the process easier. I may look into that if I can strike a deal with this guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank280zx Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) Fly out look at it.. Make a short list of cars you want to see, rent a car, drive by them. Pay and either drive or ship back ( cfr in paramount deals with my cars or containers). And in the process enjoy the weather see some fellow hybrid z guys! Really its the best way and would at max 600 to the cost (flying out and some spending cash) Edited May 19, 2013 by frank280zx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 I have done this for a couple customers for cars near my shop. Had the cars brought in and put on my lift for an inspection. $250 and you get a lot of pictures and a written report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duragg Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 I have done this for a couple customers for cars near my shop. Had the cars brought in and put on my lift for an inspection. $250 and you get a lot of pictures and a written report./\That there is a great starting point! I've made a few purchases like this, knowing that if things weren't as I expected the blame was mine alone. GLWP, will await pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfreer85 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 It's in Bakersfield isn't it? It's always in Bakersfield.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) It's in Bakersfield isn't it? It's always in Bakersfield.... Yeah, close enough, haha. Edited May 19, 2013 by rturbo 930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 Fly out look at it.. Make a short list of cars you want to see, rent a car, drive by them. Pay and either drive or ship back ( cfr in paramount deals with my cars or containers). And in the process enjoy the weather see some fellow hybrid z guys! Really its the best way and would at max 600 to the cost (flying out and some spending cash) I'm not against flying out to drive it back, but I won't fly out to look at cars. Why? Because the car I was interested in is gone already. No way I could've gotten there before it sold. Not worth my time/money either to get there only to find out it's a POS, or that he's sold it between the time I left and when I got there. Yeah, I might consider it if there were tons of cars available, but there's really only one or two every other week that I'm interested in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi303 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Not done it myself, but theres a NZ owned LA based company that specialises in just that. They'll go and inspect and do a report on US cars for NZ buyers and if the prospective buyer agrees the buyer pays the company and they pay the seller, ship the car to their depot and prep it for export, ship it to NZ, deal with the import paperwork and deliver it to the buyer. They're a subsiduary company of one of NZ's bigger freight companies. www.kiwishipping.co.nz part of www.mainfreight.co.nz I am sure there must be some company that fills the same niche for interstate purchases. Try your google-fu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I've done it for people from time to time. I'm like the character "Red" in "The Shawshank Redemption"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Bump! Found two more cars in Socal, and I've got a quick question. Is there any reason I shouldn't use paypal to send a (refundable) deposit to have the seller hold the car for me? I can't think of any, but I'm also not an expert - actually pretty inexperienced in these matters, so is there any reason that would be a bad idea? At the same time, I can't think of a faster way to quickly send money to someone on the other side of the country. But I could be wrong. I've never had to buy a car that I couldn't drive to so I don't really know what I'm doing. Edited June 1, 2013 by rturbo 930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 Dude, I'm asking myself that exact same question right now. I got to make a payment to someone for goods and it has turned into a nightmare trying to find a DHL office to overnight a paper check... I'm overseas and don't have any access to my bank and transferring funds from one to another is just not easy to do in the USA with non-merchant accounts. I would LOVE to just PayPal the money because I can do it off my credit card, then pay the CC from the four different accountsI have the money segregated into in the USA! Unless you have boots on the ground, I'm always leery about deposits electronically... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 So, not recommended? My thinking was that if he decided to sell out from under me, I could go through paypal to get a refund. I've never had to do it, but apparently they're pretty good about that, or so I've heard. If anyone has any better ideas to send a deposit quickly, I'm all ears. It would make this whole process so much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I've had a check mailed to me as a deposit for a car. The guy came 2-3 weeks later and picked it up. You have to build a trust with the seller to be comfortable. Talk to the guy on the phone. If any part of you has doubts, don't do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) That's what I've done it in the past. But if I find a good car, I want to be able to do it much more quickly than that. And put an emphasis on 'refundable'. The deposit is mostly so that I can buy some time to actually check out the car which will probably involve getting a member here to do it. But I have time to figure it out. The two I had my eye on aren't turning out well. One sold (or something), the other car is a little odd. It's been stolen (but wasn't reported), the dash and door jamb VIN tags are missing (assuming when it was stolen), and although he has a clear title for it, it's titled as a 1971. Thing is, it's an early '70 car (019xx). And while those issues don't bother me too much, it has a bit more rust than I'd like. I can't tell if the pass. frame rail has rust on it, but it doesn't look like paint on it. See pics. Edited June 4, 2013 by rturbo 930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Any deposit I would accept for ANY car that is up for sale would be "non-refundable"--the purpose of putting the car up for sale is to sell it...holding off other buyers is a well known tactic in CA...give them a deposit, wait till they've run off all other suitors...then show up and lowball... If you wanted a refundable deposit, then it's not really a deposit is it? It's rental. If someone comes with a "refundable deposit" and someone else show cash-in-hand, you can't fault the guy for selling it and handing you back your money with a smile and a "sorry dude!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank280zx Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Again line up 3 to 4 cars in an area drive around, look, buy, drive! Edited June 4, 2013 by frank280zx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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