Dealing with Vulnerability

[Bobson]

I put my car up for sale on craigslist a few days back, and a potential buyer contacted me with an offer he agreed to pay once he sees the car and verifies I gave truthful info regarding the condition, mileage, etc. He also wants to have a mechanic check the car, which I understand and would also do if our roles were reversed.

He's a student at ASU and doesn't have a car right now, so I need to take the car to him, which I don't have a problem doing.

The thing is, this will mean that he rides in the car with me to the mechanic, and then to the bank so we can get the car title notarized once it's signed over to him. A criminal justice professor (he's a retired Phoenix police officer) of mine told me to have it done this way so we (the buyer and I) are both covered legally.

Instantly, I regret selling my XD .40 several months back, because I had planned to replace it with a new handgun soon, but I've been putting it off, and now, I can't afford to buy one at the moment. My wife and I have our 2-year wedding anniversary in November, I just bought plane tickets to Washington to visit family for Thanksgiving, there's Christmas in December, and both my wife and my daughter's birthdays are in January... needless to say, money's tight, and I simply can't buy a gun right now.

I don't have a specific reason to be threatened by this guy, but I've never been one to pick up hitch-hikers, and I really don't know the buyer at all, obviously. My feeling vulnerable about riding in the car with him may or may not be justified - I think it might be mostly a reaction to having learned so much about self-defense mindset and general situational awareness from spending time here on The High Road. If I had a handgun, I'd absolutely bring it along just in case, but as things are, all I have to bring along is a general purpose folding pocketknife (which I will bring).

How would you guys recommend I handle this situation? Sorry for such a long post. Just hoping to get some solid advice from you guys who have more experience in this area than I do. The plan is to meet up with him this Friday at 2pm. I really appreciate the help.

 

[toivo]

Bring a friend. Seriously: someone sitting in the back seat for moral as well as tactical support. Even if you had a handgun, you'd have a hard time defending yourself from behind the wheel. In your position, I'd feel better knowing someone "had my back," so to speak.

 

[HDCamel]

Pepper spray...

 

[Dan Bear]

toivo said it right. Bring a friend and have your friend sit in the back seat. If your friend was armed it would be even better.

 

[Losov]

toivo said it right. Bring a friend and have your friend sit in the back seat. If your friend was armed it would be even better.

OK, so let's say you're the buyer. Maybe you have cash on you maybe not, but you have access to it and the seller know this. You show up and there are two guys you don't know. One's going to sit in the back. What's your vulnerability now? Your move.

I don't like the whole used car transaction thing from either side, but sometimes it's your only option. Just stay alert and be safe.

 

[heeler]

Yes bring a friend or borrow a pistol from a friend.
I was selling a motorcycle a few years ago and the guy who decided to buy it was truely sketchy and even lived in a motel that was known for drug transactions and prostitution.
I had a good friend at the house and my shotgun covered on a bench in the garage when he showed up with the cash.
Everything went fine but a week later the police contacted me and said they had my motorcycle impounded.
The guy was dealing coke over on OST street,another bad juju place in Houston, and tried running from the police until he wrecked my once pristine sixteen year old Kawasaki.
Oh well....
The moral of the story is you dont know who you are dealing with and once money enters the picture...

 

[MachIVshooter]

Buying/selling small, high-value items on CL is one thing. But a car? I wouldn't worry so much. It's not like they can just make off with it and disappear as they would an Iphone or somesuch.

However, when I am leery of a CL transaction, I always discreetly film it on my cell.

OK, so let's say you're the buyer. Maybe you have cash on you maybe not, but you have access to it and the seller know this. You show up and there are two guys you don't know. One's going to sit in the back. What's your vulnerability now? Your move.

This. The buyer has more reason to be nervous than you do, and I personally would be very put-off if I was supposed to get into a car with two strangers and then go to a bank and withdraw a sizeable sum of cash.

Perhaps have your friend follow you to give you a ride home after the transaction is completed and the buyer takes possession of the car. This way, the buyer knows he can't do anything nefarious without being made, but assuming he has no ill intentions, he is not intimidated because the arrangement makes perfect sense from a logistical standpoint.

 

[SleazyRider]

You're a good egg, Bobson, to be so accommodating. I wouldn't worry so much about security, but you're allowing the buyer to make his problems your own, which places you in a compromising condition in terms of negotiating the price.

Here's the bottom line: The buyer comes to your house with his mechanic and cash/certified funds. Since he's paying the mechanic, the mechanic can drive him; either way, his transportation is not your problem. After exchanging credentials, the buyer gets to take the car for a test ride with both his mechanic and you. If agreeable, funds are exchanged and the bill of sale filled out with the correct price and date listed. It's that simple.

BTW, I sooner let the guy steal my car than have gunplay involved, however justified it may be. I know this goes against the grain of many members here, but even a "good shoot" isn't a good financial strategy, assuming your life isn't threatened of course.

 

[Inebriated]

have your friend follow you to give you a ride home after the transaction is completed and the buyer takes possession of the car. This way, the buyer knows he can't do anything nefarious without being made, but assuming he has no ill intentions, he is not intimidated because the arrangement makes perfect sense from a logistical standpoint.

This is what I'd do. No one feels threatened or intimidated.

 

[Ledgehammer]

Everything went fine but a week later the police contacted me and said they had my motorcycle impounded.

Wouldnt it be his motorcycle if he bought it from you? Hey good deal for you getting paid and your bike back even if it was wrecked...

To the op. I like the idea of having someone follow you. Plus I never like having strangers over my house. Too many scammers on cl now days. I would rather meet him at his mechanics and go from there. I find it strange the he agreed to a price sight unseen. I guess he did say if it checks out. Try having him meet you at the mechanics and have a friend follow for a ride home. Good luck.

 

[heeler]

Ledgehammer,yes it would be his motorcycle but since he never bothered to go to the court house annex and register it in his name the records indicated by the license plate that the motorcycle was still in my name.
Happens all the time here in Texas.
On newer titles they now have a tear off slip that when you now sell a vehicle in which there is no lein you can fill out the tear off and send to the court house for a five dollar fee and this will prove to the DMV that it's no longer yours even if the person has not taken the time to register it in his name.

 

[Shadow 7D]

^^^^
OK, so YOU need a friend, how else are you getting home, I like to do my deal and or trades at places like Walmart (in the parking lot) and or gas stations, the places have good video systems, you have someone to give you a ride home (and so will he, after all, how is he getting there?)

as for the traveling from place to place???
if he is that concerned, he meets you with the money at his mechanics, mechanic, you and him do a test ride if that's required. Just check out the mechanic and make sure you aren't getting scammed. He should have the cash already in hand, and once the price is set, (which it should be before meeting) walk if you get lowballed.