Selling My Vehicle - Need Advice
Discussion
I seemed puzzled by this situation, let me explain...
Advertised my 2024 Land Rover Defender on Autotrader...
1) Got an email of a buyer asking for my mobile number, so I send my number over.
2) The buyer then watsapp's me asking general question on the vehicle, why Im selling etc...
3) The buyer is from germany, and is a female Taiwanese who want to set up business in UK. She apprantly has loads of business interest all around the world
4) The buyer want to come have a look and buy the vehicle but not take staright away as she needs a week or so to settle in the UK as she is looking for a new premises for a business?
My mind is now working overtime and making me question the transaction?
If you are so well to do why would you not go direct to Land Rover?
Any thoughts from the pistonhead community?
Advertised my 2024 Land Rover Defender on Autotrader...
1) Got an email of a buyer asking for my mobile number, so I send my number over.
2) The buyer then watsapp's me asking general question on the vehicle, why Im selling etc...
3) The buyer is from germany, and is a female Taiwanese who want to set up business in UK. She apprantly has loads of business interest all around the world
4) The buyer want to come have a look and buy the vehicle but not take staright away as she needs a week or so to settle in the UK as she is looking for a new premises for a business?
My mind is now working overtime and making me question the transaction?
If you are so well to do why would you not go direct to Land Rover?
Any thoughts from the pistonhead community?
Edited by pistonuser on Monday 2nd September 13:13
Edited by pistonuser on Monday 2nd September 13:14
I’m having a nightmare trying to sell my GR Yaris at the moment privately, having never found it tough in the past. I’ve had one half interested genuine enquiry and probably 15 ridiculous scammers, all with a similar line of questioning, before asking me to purchase some ridiculous vehicle report from a link they send me.
It’s only been 3 years since I sold a car (also via PH), but things certainly seem to have changed since then. I’m close to just getting motorway to find me a trade buyer instead. I know the market is quiet but the volume of messages from scammers has been unexpected!
This one is far too dodgy a story to be messing about with I’m afraid.
It’s only been 3 years since I sold a car (also via PH), but things certainly seem to have changed since then. I’m close to just getting motorway to find me a trade buyer instead. I know the market is quiet but the volume of messages from scammers has been unexpected!
This one is far too dodgy a story to be messing about with I’m afraid.
limpsfield said:
It could be genuine but it does smell a bit whiffy. I suppose if she pays you still have the car for a bit in case of problems?
What about insurance and tax if the car is left in your care ? It just sounds a bit complicated for a car worth that much. If she viewed the car, made a bank transfer that you could validate, and then took the car away, it could work out. I just think there's too much risk and losing 5% to Motorway mitigates that risk completely.I’m having the same thing with my Ferrari for sale; one scammer who wanted me to do a vehicle check but had to use their special link and now a professional from Europe who wants to set up in the U.K. Keeps asking a load of stupid questions that could all be answered by the advert - ‘oh I don’t have the advert in front of my but my assistant will send me the link after my meeting you are a very kind car owner’. I’m not sure what their plan is but haven’t asked for any private details or banking etc.
Why do people panic with these things? Take away the “Taiwanese” and Germany, it’ll be a normal sale of a car. Make sure you have your wits about you. Sight a Passport, ID, meet the individual - not a gang of people, and follow the process until it is evidently weird. Until then just go along with it. It might just be the only opportunity you get to sell it.
maz8062 said:
Why do people panic with these things? Take away the “Taiwanese” and Germany, it’ll be a normal sale of a car. Make sure you have your wits about you. Sight a Passport, ID, meet the individual - not a gang of people, and follow the process until it is evidently weird. Until then just go along with it. It might just be the only opportunity you get to sell it.
Not sure there is any panic just highlighting the strangeness of selling a car sometimes…I wouldn’t class the behaviour as ‘normal’. Buyer apparently not got advert in front of them but their assistant does (but messaging on WhatsApp so they have internet). Buyer is EU based and my car (and I’d guess OP’s) is RHD. No questions asked about the car that they couldn’t already read on the advert (ie how long have I owned it and date of last service all in the advert). I’m waiting for their next questions and will see how the conversation goes.
Why do people panic with these things? Take away the “Taiwanese” and Germany, it’ll be a normal sale of a car. Make sure you have your wits about you. Sight a Passport, ID, meet the individual - not a gang of people, and follow the process until it is evidently weird. Until then just go along with it. It might just be the only opportunity you get to sell it.
I don't mind a few emails/messages but an actual talking phone call has to follow before I get in anyway prepared for a potential real sale?
I suspect here there has still been no such interaction? Any buyer these days if genuinely in these circumstances should be well aware of your potential apprehension and therefore make efforts to prove they are genuine?
I suspect here there has still been no such interaction? Any buyer these days if genuinely in these circumstances should be well aware of your potential apprehension and therefore make efforts to prove they are genuine?
bencollins4 said:
I’m having a nightmare trying to sell my GR Yaris at the moment privately, having never found it tough in the past. I’ve had one half interested genuine enquiry and probably 15 ridiculous scammers, all with a similar line of questioning, before asking me to purchase some ridiculous vehicle report from a link they send me.
It’s only been 3 years since I sold a car (also via PH), but things certainly seem to have changed since then. I’m close to just getting motorway to find me a trade buyer instead. I know the market is quiet but the volume of messages from scammers has been unexpected!
This one is far too dodgy a story to be messing about with I’m afraid.
You do wonder if the likes of WBAC and Motorway encourage some of this scamming to encourage sellers to use them. Will someone please fetch my tinfoil hat?!It’s only been 3 years since I sold a car (also via PH), but things certainly seem to have changed since then. I’m close to just getting motorway to find me a trade buyer instead. I know the market is quiet but the volume of messages from scammers has been unexpected!
This one is far too dodgy a story to be messing about with I’m afraid.
As for selling, I would approach with extreme caution. Simply put you don't send them any money, and you don't handover the keys until you have the full amount transferred and confirmed into your bank account.
I was once convinced I was being scammed when I was selling my Z4 but went along with it. Guy from the other side of the country offered full price after minimal questions via email and said he would send someone to collect the car. He didn't even call me, all done via email. Anyway, three days before it was due to be collected he transferred the full amount into my bank account. Fast forward three days some other bloke comes to collect the car, I took photos as he collects, post the V5 and that was that. I was somewhat staggered in the trust of the buyer on the other end.
pistonuser said:
I seemed puzzled by this situation, let me explain...
Advertised my 2024 Land Rover Defender on Autotrader...
1) Got an email of a buyer asking for my mobile number, so I send my number over.
2) The buyer then watsapp's me asking general question on the vehicle, why Im selling etc...
3) The buyer is from germany, and is a female Taiwanese who want to set up business in UK. She apprantly has loads of business interest all around the world
4) The buyer want to come have a look and buy the vehicle but not take staright away as she needs a week or so to settle in the UK as she is looking for a new premises for a business?
My mind is now working overtime and making me question the transaction?
If you are so well to do why would you not go direct to Land Rover?
Any thoughts from the pistonhead community?
Did you get any further with this? My interested buyer, also from Germany went strangely quiet then asked to view then went quiet and then have said they can’t make it as they have a conference to attend on AI. Advertised my 2024 Land Rover Defender on Autotrader...
1) Got an email of a buyer asking for my mobile number, so I send my number over.
2) The buyer then watsapp's me asking general question on the vehicle, why Im selling etc...
3) The buyer is from germany, and is a female Taiwanese who want to set up business in UK. She apprantly has loads of business interest all around the world
4) The buyer want to come have a look and buy the vehicle but not take staright away as she needs a week or so to settle in the UK as she is looking for a new premises for a business?
My mind is now working overtime and making me question the transaction?
If you are so well to do why would you not go direct to Land Rover?
Any thoughts from the pistonhead community?
Edited by pistonuser on Monday 2nd September 13:13
Edited by pistonuser on Monday 2nd September 13:14
Is the person’s name by chance ‘Chan’ and number end 396?
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