Forum Discussion
- stargirl96ExplorerWhen we sold our car on Craigslist, we met the buyer at our bank. A bank official oversaw the transaction and notarized the papers. It was a cash transaction.
- braindead0Explorer
MobileBasset wrote:
Take if for what's it's worth.. If you have time and can handle a bunch of crazy, I'd suggest a visit to the cl-flag help forum. This will give you a lot of insight into what kinds of ads get flagged off and some possible reasons (and a lot of trolls, so be warned ;-)
Braindead0,
Thanks for taking the time to provide your detailed advice, it seems like very good info. - MobileBassetExplorerBraindead0,
Thanks for taking the time to provide your detailed advice, it seems like very good info. - braindead0ExplorerCashiers checks are not reliable, best option IMO is to go to their bank with them. Get a cashiers check at that point, bank should have a notary to notarize the title as well.
If that is not an option I'd take it on a case by case basis, and not deliver a signed title until payment has fully cleared and of course get as much information about the buyer as possible. If they appear sketchy take a personal check, give them a bill of sale only with the stipulation that title and vehicle are theirs when the check clears not sooner.
If you advertise on CL I can share a few pointers (I've been a volunteer for CL for years):
* Make sure to include main facts about your RV. Holding tanks sizes, equipment, often lazy people just say "fully equipped ready to go" which doesn't cut it. How many stove burners, oven and size, size of fridge, fuel sources, the more facts you can provide in your own words the more legitimate the ad looks.
* do NOT copy and past long lists of standard features from brochures, we think that lowers the flag threshold for ads almost certainly in the automotive areas.
* do NOT parrot claims made by the manufacturer "1/2 ton towable", "top of the line"..etc..
* Use the CL remailer for email contact. I would recommend using that only until you have established that a person seems legit, then give them phone/other contact information if you wish.
* Take pictures yourself, do not use images from manufacturer. Make sure to include pictures of any damage/areas of concern and take the pictures on your street, while out camping or the like. Make sure they don't look like taken at a dealers lot. Tons of dealers post ads in 'by owner', it'll draw flags if your ad looks anything like dealer ad.
* No hype, see above about looking like a dealer.
* Limit the backstory, don't wax on poetic for 3 paragraphs about how much you'll miss it. A single sentence about why your selling is enough.
* Describe the condition in your own words, note any problems you know about.
* Price it right. Do not look to other ads on CL for pricing, those are asking prices and very often terrible inflated.
The above is just my opinion, from helping people for years with flagged off ads.. and looking for RV's myself (and flagging ads ;-) - BordercollieExplorerWe often have people knock and ask if we want to sell our 2004 Tioga 26Q parked in the driveway. I sold our '79 Delta with just a for sale sign in the window.Include your phone number on for sale sign. Give a fair market value price over the phone and politely reject "low ball" offers. Accept only cash, no sob stories. Be aware of potential dangers and send in ownership change info to DMV immediately.
I always dread the process of selling vehicles. - klutchdustExplorer II
MobileBasset wrote:
This is an issue that concerns me also. Two parts of the Craiglist type sale are concerning.
1. Feeling unsafe during the process of examination and test driving of my for-sale RV.
2. Confirming the validity of payment when checks of any kind cannot be verified by the bank right away. It takes days for checks to clear.
I had a cashiers check from my bank in Ca, took it to Minnesota and the sellers bank was concerned. They told me it could be fake. We finally got it straightened out.
Craigslist: NEVER put your phone number or e mail on the ad. let buyers contact you through
craigslist. - MobileBassetExplorerThis is an issue that concerns me also. Two parts of the Craiglist type sale are concerning.
1. Feeling unsafe during the process of examination and test driving of my for-sale RV.
2. Confirming the validity of payment when checks of any kind cannot be verified by the bank right away. It takes days for checks to clear. - CrabbypattyExplorerI listed and sold my Travel trailer on Craigslist. Yes there are scammers but I post other items as well and also sold a band saw. In the bottom of my listings I require that they only contact me with email address and phone number. I use the craiglist reply and do not use my email address or phone number in the ads. I will not reply no matter how inviting unless they do this. I put in just enough but not to much info which requires them after initial contact to come look at it. So far this has eliminated the thugs. Keep your guard up!
- DrewEExplorer III bought my RV from an ad on Craigslist, so that would be my recommendation.
While I can fully understand and appreciate the desire to avoid scams, I would not have felt at all good about paying a five-figure sum with cash, not to mention the inconvenience of doing so. I would have been perfectly happy to bring my bank check to the seller's bank or otherwise gone to appropriate lengths to show that it's valid. Cash only makes a lot more sense IMHO for things that aren't nearly so expensive as (some) RVs.
Another option to avoid hassles at the cost of possibly having a lower selling price is consignment through a dealer (PPL is one big one). - PartyOf_FiveExplorerRvt.com and rvtrader.com also
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