Shipping to Europe

[fuel4soul]

I had made arrangements to take my Sunfire in to the dealership tomorrow and trade it in, Well I had forgot about my Auto Trader ad and I just got an email from somebody wanting to buy it and ship it to Europe? How would I go about this??

[Kari]

Gosh...that would be an expensive shipping bill. I know how business ship peoples' vehicles when they're being moved to another country...they give them a certain number of cargo..somethings...the word has left me...and whatever they can get in those is all they can take. And if they want to take a car they put the car in one of them, and pack the car full. But as for like...FedExing a vehicle...not sure.

[joatmon]

I know you really want to sell the sunfire, but overseas shipping of a car could get complicated. For your own sanity, it might be best to require the buyer to make all shipping arrangements, and then only release the car to the shipper when you have guarantted receipt of valid payment. You also would probably want to be very clear on who's insurance would cover the car while in transit, and also maybe even get the condition of the car well documented somehow to help resolve any disputes that may arise.

[fuel4soul]

That is very true, I was going to make sure of that.Something just seems not so serious, Maybe they aren't really interested. Never heard of someone in one email tell you they want the car without talking or asking questions? I know I would... Here's the email I recieved:*from; carlot01*i am interested in the purchase of your vehicle for shipment to Europe. make an offering and i we will makearrangement for the shipping to Europe Please confirm offer and get back to us as soon as possible Thax.

[joatmon]

That does sound odd. But there should be ok to tell them the price that you require, and clearly stating that the full payment in US funds must be received and cleared though the bank before the car will be released, that the car is sold in as is condition, all shipping cost to be paid by buyer, and seller's responsibility for the car in any way terminates when the shipper, acting as the buyers representative, takes possesion of the vehicle, and that the buyer is fully responsible for resolving any customs/export legal requirementsAt least that's my opinion, but the advice is given "as-is" with no warranty If nothing else, I guess courtesy would have you get back to them with some sort of reply, even if to say that you don;t want to be bothered with a Europe deal.If they still want to buy it, then cool. If not, you've only lost a KB in email.I got a kick out of the wording "make an offering" Sounds like old testament stuff.

[pwarren4]

I would run from this as fast as I could.I have heard on more than one occasion of people getting scammed in these types of arrangements. Some sorta money laundering / extortion scheme.Person in the US ends up cashing a bogus cashier's check for more than the agreed purchase price, bank ends up suing, person no longer has legal ownership of the car, legals fees abound, etc, etc

[joatmon]

Yeah, thinking about it I would say to run also. Too much to risk, sounds like a high stress transaction, could get legally intense.Why would they go to all that trouble for a Sunfire?

[fuel4soul]

"Why would they go to all that trouble for a Sunfire?" That's exactly what I was thinking. So they send you the money and you get scammed how?I was supposed to be trying to trade it in in a few hours!Here's another email:Hello We are please to hear from you as regards the car.Also your price is fine by us and we will be arranging shipping from our end so the issue of shipping has been solvedAs regards payment, we are willing to make payment via Wire Transfer. This is our policyIf this is okay, Please contact us so that we can go ahead with this transactionBest Regards

[Kari]

I really think I'd just tell them you're uncomfortable with the international sale. I'm not 100% familiar with all of the bases you'd need to cover to protect yourself, so unless someone who is VERY familiar with this comes along and can help you, I wouldn't go through with it. If the person is indeed a scam artist, then they are no doubt very experienced at making themselves sound legit and making you, as the seller, feel secure in the transaction. If you're feeling uncomfortable, then don't go through with it.

[joatmon]

I don't know how wire transfers work, what risks are involved, etc. Does a wire transfer give them some info about your bank account that can be exploited? If you want to go with carlot01, talk to your bank about hte safety and risk of the deal before comitting. Since you do not yet have even a verbal sales agreement with them, then you can still trade it in, especially if that is a key step to FINALLY GETTING A VIBE! You mean you might be a viber in a few hours? What are you doing here? Go trade that car! Especially given your troubles finding one, if you delay, will it be there next week if you decide to dump carlot01?Really though, it's your car and money involved. If carlot01 is willing to pay enough more that you'll get for the trade in deal, then you have a decision to make.But if you could be driving your vibe tonight?

[Kari]

Yeah if it's about driving a Vibe tonight or potentially getting scammed...go trade that Sunfire, go home in that Vibe, you'll be emotionally attached in less than 5.3 seconds.

[MrRich]

Ok guys hold on!I am pretty sure if he will trade his car in he will loose a few thousand.They want to buy a Sunfire that way,because,if they can find one in europe,they paying almost double price for it,than we do.I am from Hungary,so I know.Yes they will need all of your information.Name,addresse,Bank's name,account number.But they can't screew you,that's for sure.If something going wrong,you have to just opening another account.So I think just wait a few days!Maybe it will worth it!

[Kari]

But, if they have all of that information, can they not complete the wire transfer, then pretend to be you a few days later and either cancel it or take the money back? I would think it would also be very expensive to ship the car, even if the buyer is paying, is it still worth it? Maybe I'm just jaded, but the whole thing just sounds a little fishy to me. Too much "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted," perhaps..heh.

[MrRich]

quote:But, if they have all of that information, can they not complete the wire transfer, then pretend to be you a few days later and either cancel it or take the money back? I would think it would also be very expensive to ship the car, even if the buyer is paying, is it still worth it? Maybe I'm just jaded, but the whole thing just sounds a little fishy to me. Too much "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted," perhaps..heh.First of all,if they don't complete the transfer,he will not send the car.And if the money on the account,he has to just take the money out,and closing the account(just for 100%secure).The shipping somewhere 1-2K.And yes it is still worth it for them!

[Kari]

I'm not too familiar with wire transfers, but is there absolutely no way that he can place some sort of stop payment or file something against the money and the banks end up suing each other over it? Sorry, I don't know all the right terms for it. Not saying this person is for sure dishonest, but you have to be super careful when conducting private transactions online...these scammers are smart,experienced people and they're very good at making you feel like you're protected, even when you're not.

[MrRich]

quote:I'm not too familiar with wire transfers, but is there absolutely no way that he can place some sort of stop payment or file something against the money and the banks end up suing each other over it? Sorry, I don't know all the right terms for it. Not saying this person is for sure dishonest, but you have to be super careful when conducting private transactions online...these scammers are smart,experienced people and they're very good at making you feel like you're protected, even when you're not.But you see,that's the point!If something happening,he is just not sending the car.When the money in his hand(not in the bank).He can say,alright guys,I got my money so here is your car.

[Kari]

But can the guy not later, after sending the money and after the car has been shipped, do something at his bank to either cancel the wire transfer or try to go back on it? That's what I would be afraid of, but maybe that's just me. I've been burned a few times, so I guess I'm just overly cautious.

[MrRich]

I don't think you read my posts very carefully.If the money not in his hand-not in the bank,and not it's on way to the bank-He is just not sending the car.

[Kari]

I'm not asking if the guy can get it back out of the bank account...I'm asking if he can file anything with HIS bank that would cause his bank to try to default on the wire transfer, even if the seller has the cash in hand. I don't know if that can even occur, but that's the one thing I'd be cautious about. Like I said earlier, maybe too much Unsolved Mysteries and America's Most Wanted...but these scammers are smart cookies so you gotta be careful.

[joatmon]

So, what is the market like for a used Sunfire these days? Seems like he's been trying to sell it for a while. Is his really the best deal out there today? If he couldn't sell it because there's already a lot for sale, then why did they pick his to buy? Has it been on autotrader for a long time? One thing might be to open up a brand new bank account, when they send the money, transfer it to the real account and close the temporary one. That way, if they try to exploit account info or somehow pull the money back, the account won't exist any more and your real account will be insulated from whatever happens. I guess it depends on how acceptable of a deal can be made locally for a trade in. If it's ok, I'd trade the car, drive a vibe home and post pics tonight of it and me with a smile as big as the vibe grill, and never look back. If it falls thorugh and there's no time crunch, then I'd probably back away from the overseas deal and keep on trying.

[fuel4soul]

Never got another email back, So I guess they changed their minds. Sounds like it was for the better.

[ragingfish]

If this guy responds, and you choose to do it, you would be nuts to make this transaction without using escrow.Basically, you would turn the car over to a third party, and they would turn the money over to that same third party. When both money and merchandise are in the hands of the third party, they then hand over the money to you, and the car to them.But, I agree with the majority -- seems very shady. I'd avoid it at all costs.