Re: Buying and shipping cars from craigslist

Posted by ScottG On 2014/4/23 13:31:45

Have you looked into what protections eBay motors affords the buyer? I know that regular eBay transactions heavily favor the buyer in cases of non-delivery, misleading item descriptions and fraud. It's really gotten to the point where all the buyer has to do is file a complaint with eBay and they're almost 100% guaranteed a refund.

As for completing the deal through Craigslist...good luck. I really can't see a scenario where a buyer would release the car on only 50% payment. Then again, I can see why you wouldn't want to pay in full for a car you might never receive. These deals are always much easier when transacted in person.

Like others have said, call the seller and see how eager he is to deal. If you plan to pay with a bank check or wire transfer, I'd also talk to your bank about your options for protecting yourself and your money. They might even offer some type of third-party escrow service that could facilitate the purchase.

Of course, if nothing else seems to work, I might just consider it an omen and move on.