Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 21:56:01 -0700
Reply-To: Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA>
Organization: University of British Columbia
Subject: Re: Something about a squirrel and a nut or advice for doing a
third party purchase
In-Reply-To: <989ea5a20705132054u117c1b59nf5f97d28fa4fd9e2@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hm , I would be a bit suspicious,
let me tell you a story about what email response I got when I tried to
sell my 1980 aircooled vanagon (BTW still not sold, as I am way too busy
to take care):
This is the first email:
"
Hello Seller .
Good day to you and how is everything in general with your business at
large, well I am Knowles Nicolas, i found your ads posted that i am
having the interested in buying your vehicle. i would like youto provide
me with the last asking price condition and the . Please do help me by
answering the questions below for my clearifications,it will also enable
me to prepare for payment arrangement. Do you have any loan to pay off
on the car? The title how ready is it, as in is the title with you or
with some financial institution? Does the car come with any warranty?
or do you want to sell it "as is"?. Is the engine in what condition
presently?. How often do you service the car?. How many miles has the
car presently?.Are you the real owner of the car?,if yes for how long
have you used the car?. Has the car ever been invoved in an auto
accident before?. What about(if any)mechanical defulties on the car?.
Kindly get back to me with the relevant informations,while we do a
carfax check on the car with the VIN.
Thanks for your understanding
"
No name after that nothing. Well i responded and with all information i
could provide, and got following:
"
Good day, thanks for the mail and the content is well noted, i m really
impressed about the way you have noted every point of it, and yes i'm
really interested, I have forwarded your vehicle information to my
client and after evaluation and due to time constraint on the fact that
we are runningshort of time, I'm delighted to tell you that my client
has recommended your vehicle, with full interest and he has instructed
me to carry on with this transaction.
He also instructed to inform you that payment will get to you in a
Cashiers Check amount of $5,000 which will cover the cost of the vehicle
and also the cost of shipment.So you are required to deduct the cost of
your (vehicle) $1,300 When payment gets to you and refund balance $3,700
the Agent (The shiper ) for him to be able to ofset shipping & tax
charges and other cosmetic repair costs.
Now we really need your Truth & Honesty with definite assurance that the
balance will be honestly be send to the shipper when payment get to you,
as we have make alternative arrangement not to stress you in shipment.
After payment has reached you and balance sent to shipper, the shipper's
agent will come for inspection, pick up of vehicle & signing of title
papers, make some cosmetic touches to a prepaid shipper to be ship to my
customer.
To further more, Please confirm these and provide the following for the
payment to be made out and send to you.
FULL NAMES:.........
ADDRESS:..........
CITY..................
STATE...............
POSTAL CODE...............
COUNTRY...............
TELL/CELLPHONE:..........
THANKS AND GOD BLESS
Knowles Nicolas
"
So I thought I won't do it, as what if this cheque is not waterproof,
the bank won't find it out right away? Then I don't have the van, don't
have any money and thats it.
I wrote back,
"
Sorry but all it counts is cash. Give the money to the shipper and he
can pay me cash, than the van is yours.
"
I never got a reply.
I know its a bit different compared to your story, as you were asked in
person, but an old man, looking trustable ... it just reminded me
....... and I think it's worth to be suspicious. Even if you get the
money from the bank, be sure that the cheque is covered. Sometimes they
can come back three weeks later and have still the right to ask their
money back from you (Up to 20K ... hm ). To be save ask for cash, or
other save trustable money transfers.
Thomas
TJ Hemrick wrote:
> OK, unbelievably, some old guy walks up to my van and after speaking
> a few
> moments, he wants me to get him one. Now he's rich, and I stand to make
> some good cash off this deal if I can swing it. I have to find him
> the van
> of his choice, get him to outlay the cash, and take my cut off the
> top. At
> first I was like, "I don't need to ask the list. I'll just have him
> cut a
> check, I'll cash it, get the van and keep the difference". Then it
> occurred
> to me, the old guy ain't going to just give me a check for over 10k
> and let
> me walk away with a promise to return with the van and the title (Even
> though I am). So how do I get pops to fork up the price I set, get
> the van,
> pay the dealer/owner without tipping him that he's paying me a
> substantial
> finders fee, inspection fee, travel time and gas money (so that he
> doesn't
> call the old guy, under cut me and keep the (wretched) excess for
> him). Any
> thoughts on how to swing the deal? One more time from the top: Pops
> wants
> a van. I find the van. The goal is to get Pops to pay the extra for my
> services, pay for the van and deliver, and I make some much needed and
> fat
> wad of ben franklins all while the seller and buyer are happy and
> unknowing. Oh, vanagon content. The old guy wants me to find him a
> Vanagon
> Westphalia and his price range is: No more than 20K. Now you
> know... And
> the squirrel comment probably makes sense to most of you now.
>
> Thanks,
> TJ
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