Purchases made out of the country

J

Jibit

Registered
I'm curious if anyone has made purchases out of the country from a private party? I'm concerned because its a large purchase (motorcycle) and the seller wants half now and half on delivery. Its a great buy but I'm not sure if its worth the chance of losing the money. Someone was telling me that some places will deliver and collect (in full per the seller's request) if the buyer is satisfied but the shipping cost would be a lot more. Any suggestions?

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

You need to find some way do do "escrow" on the purchase. That is where a 3rd party collects the money and holds it until the product is received by the buyer. That way, the seller knows the money is guaranteed, and likewise, the buyer knows he won't be out if the product isn't delivered.

Over at the TCCoA website, Sir William, (TCCoA president), has it set up so that people over there can escrow through him. I'm not sure if you can find an independent agent, but maybe you can work something out with your bank, etc.

John
[link:mark8.org/lodnca|NorCal Chapter Website]
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

Well said. You are risking your deposit if you start a transaction and if fails along the way without a "broker" or "delivery agent".

"Stuff" - especially used stuff - gets tied up all the time for inspection, taxes, fees and all kinds of reasons. You want to share those problems - not take them on yourself.

Remember in a lot of cases you share a transport container with other shipments - stuff the inspectors may not like - or need to look over. So even if your crate is "simple" - it might be stuck in a container next to a shipment of medical supplies or bananas or used military parts.

Once the agent confims that delivery was made - or at least the bike is released at our border - they pay the bill. It works every time.
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

Where are you at, and what country are you dealing with? There may be someone from the board here that is close to the sellers location that can assist you.
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

Well, I'm just outside of Chicago and the seller is in Italy. Things are sounding a little fishy to me becasue the ad has a contact number near Chicago but the seller emailed me and told me to send the money to Italy. He says that he moved to Italy and left the bike behind. I'm going to call the contact number to see if the bike is local and if I can take a look at it.

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

Here's what the seller told me:

"Dear sir it is like this:
1) I will go at the ups with your full name and adress,your email adress and your phone number.
2) Ups will contact you after that and they will send you an invoice.
3) You need to go after that at the nearest western union and do the paymant.
4) After the paymant is done you will come home and you will complet the invoice that ups will send you,and you will send the
info to them.
5) Ups will recive the info and after that they will check the paymant.
6) Ups will shipp the package to you.
7) After the package it is with you,ups will contact me and will give me the paymant info so i can have the money.
Easy and safe.
Please give me your full name and adress"

What do you guys think?

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

Dave buddy - I would avoid it totally.

It just doesnt sound kosher. SInce when has ups started shipping motorcycles? Further - Why is UPS necessary if the Bike is still in Chicago? WHy cant whoever is gonna ship it here in Chicago just let you pick it up and give them cash? Too many unanswered questions.

If you do choose to try it - check with UPS first...I didnt know they offered any kind of escrow. But they do have COD. At least you can see its a bike before you pay. Either that, or at least go through a third party escrow service. But to me, the whole thing is fishy.
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

OK, the bike is in Italy, its a 2002 YZF-R1, for $3200, 2600 miles. Its hard to understand the guy because of his broken english. Sound to good to be true, with my luck I would get a bike, in pieces!

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

I have bought many bikes..some in country, some out. (I live in Canada). Avoid the R1. It's a common scam. I know of one person who got burned on one of these out of the country scams. Send half the money, then you don't get the right bike back, the bike is stolen, bike has no pistons, frame is slightly bent. The deal is too good to be true. It sounds like the usual scam. Avoid it. ~Ron
 
RE: Purchases made out of the country

It sounds fishy to me also but try this... ask him where he is in Italy and if you can send someone to inspect the bike. I have a lot of friends and family in italy (North) so if it is near Milano or Como I may be able to get someone to take a look at it to be sure it even exists.

By the way, UPS (and FedEx for that matter) do have freight services so it is possible for them to ship it. Airborne is cheapest however but their service is spotty.
 
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