Am I getting snookered?

Dan T in MO · Jun 24, 2013

I posted an ad yesterday on the local Craigslist for some tractor stuff for sale. Today I got a response from "Margaret Scott" texting from a South Carolina phone number. Anyway, she's willing to buy sight unseen at my asking price, but can only pay by check. I dunno, it sounds a little fishy to me that she can't find the stuff closer to home and cheaper (once shipping is figured in) or wait until the "family emergency" is over and pay cash. It's not like these parts are super rare.

Anyway, figured I'd ask for opinions here. Perhaps somebody knows her and can either vouch for her honesty or save me a bunch of hassle. Thanks in Advance.

Zachary Hoyt · Jun 24, 2013

I would tell her that you don't take checks and ask for a post office money order. They clear quite fast, and they are fairly relatively safe.
Zach

JRSutton · Jun 24, 2013

as long as she doesn't mind if you wait for her check to clear before shipping - shouldn't be a problem.

And anybody writing a check knows they can't really complain about that.

If she doesn't trust you - you'll have to work out a different form of payment.

ben there · Jun 24, 2013

seems like if she can write a check,she should have cash too unless she's using a credit line cash advance check...i've used those checks before and they're legit,but people think somethings up...being she's so far away i believe i'd pass.

old · Jun 24, 2013

Postal money order is the only way to go. A check if it does not clear can cost you $30 plus and causes a hassle in the long run.

sd pete · Jun 24, 2013

I would pass on that deal.

Billy Shafer · Jun 24, 2013

You take the check. She gets the parts. You get screwed. Don't take any checks unless you know who the person is

dej(Jed) · Jun 24, 2013

(quoted from post at 09:49:11 06/24/13) I posted an ad yesterday on the local Craigslist for some tractor stuff for sale. Today I got a response from "Margaret Scott" texting from a South Carolina phone number. Anyway, she's willing to buy sight unseen at my asking price, but can only pay by check. I dunno, it sounds a little fishy to me that she can't find the stuff closer to home and cheaper (once shipping is figured in) or wait until the "family emergency" is over and pay cash. It's not like these parts are super rare.

Anyway, figured I'd ask for opinions here. Perhaps somebody knows her and can either vouch for her honesty or save me a bunch of hassle. Thanks in Advance.

You can't be seriously thinking about doing the deal? Everytime I post on CL I get those bogus replies.

caseyc · Jun 24, 2013

Have you talked to her in person? That is always my deal breaker. If I'm selling something, e-mail and text is fine to start things off but before I commit to a sale, the buyer must call me and talk in person. I've had a lot that never called, but there have been a few I was suspicious about but a after a actual phone conversation they turned out to be real. I have yet to be scammed.

Casey in SD

Samuels68 · Jun 24, 2013

Recently listed a truck on CL. Similar response..guy wanted to send someone to pick up the truck and would send payment then. I replied that his pick up guy could meet me at my bank and once payment was deemed correct by my banker, he could take the truck and bank would process the title for release...He never responded...go figure!

Bob in SD · Jun 24, 2013

Wait for the payment to clear before shipping.

Never ever (ever) send back any cash. The common scheme is that they send you a little (or a lot) "extra", then cook up some reason you need to send them some cash back. Then when the check bounces or the money order turns out to be fake, you are out the cash (which is what they really wanted) and the item(s) (which they never even really cared about).

Be careful out there,

Bob

Dodgeit · Jun 24, 2013

(quoted from post at 13:22:32 06/24/13) Have you talked to her in person? That is always my deal breaker. If I'm selling something, e-mail and text is fine to start things off but before I commit to a sale, the buyer must call me and talk in person. I've had a lot that never called, but there have been a few I was suspicious about but a after a actual phone conversation they turned out to be real. I have yet to be scammed.

Casey in SD

I just ran an email scammer off. They used Craigslist email service. I googled the email address and it CAME BACK AS A KNOWN SCAMMER.

If they won't call it's a scam

rrlund · Jun 24, 2013

I mentioned having something on this site one time,actually a narrow front pedestal for about as common of a tractor as you'll ever find. Somebody from western Canada said they wanted it and might have a truck coming through here in the next week. Maybe it was on the up and up,but I just have a hard time thinking anybody from that far away has a truck "coming through" central lower Michigan. We're a peninsula for Heavens sakes. Once you get up here,there's only one way out unless you turn around and head back south. I just let it die on the vine.

John730D · Jun 24, 2013

>SCAM< >SCAM< >SCAM< I don't even answer them when they do it to me.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 24, 2013

Simple. Buyer wants item you are selling, buyer comes to you and looks at item, buyer and you agree on price, buyer gives you cash, you help buyer load item. Simple.

That is the only way to sell in my opinion.

Gambles · Jun 24, 2013

And WHEN the check bounces, who will pay for that fee? (Hint: it won't be the scammer and the bank WILL get their bounced-check fee)

MarkB_MI · Jun 24, 2013

At the bottom of every Craigslist ad is the following disclaimer:

"Avoid scams, deal locally! Do NOT wire funds (Western Union, Moneygram).
Beware cashier checks, money orders, shipping, non-local buyers/sellers."

In other words, long distance deals are risky, and don't expect any help from Craigslist if a deal goes sour. (Not that you'll get any help from them on a LOCAL deal, but at least you can deal with local law enforcement when you get burned.)

As for texters, they are by and large time-wasters. Don't even consider dealing with a texter until you've talked to them on the phone. By the way, if you get a call from a "deaf" person via a relay operator, assume that person to be a Nigerian scammer until proven otherwise.

Don-Wi · Jun 24, 2013

Hold the items for 2-3 weeks while the check clears (took 2 weeks for a bad check from the renters to bounce last year) and then let 'em go. Tell her your intentions, and if she balks then just say too bad, that's how it's gonna be.

Donovan from Wisconsin

1206SWMO · Jun 24, 2013

Scam...

Motorcraftman · Jun 24, 2013

I'd PASS on this One!.. it's Fake.. Larry

Drew · Jun 24, 2013

I got one of those calls from a relay operator after I put an ad up here on YT selling a JD 60. 1st hint the person was not here in the states....the call came at 3AM!!! I was not a happy camper

Pitch · Jun 25, 2013

Yep,trying to sell a bike on craigslist. Some oceanographer wants it sight unseen at my asking for her boyfriend. Wants to send me a company check and somebody will drop by and pick it up.
Told her that anyone dropping by with CASH can have it.

JEC · Jun 25, 2013

Maybe that"s why I can"t get people out of state to contact me back when I enquire on a tractor I"m looking for. Maybe they think I"m a spammer? lol
I"ve contacted a place off the web, Wilkes classic tractors in Wisconsin about a certain tractor they have on their website. Filled out a questionairre and then emailed them direct and they won"t even contact me back.

Am I getting snookered?

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