Ok, I know that this isn't exactly about Spain, but I thought that there were enough computer savvy folks out there who might be able to answer my questions...

As some of you know, we are selling our car, a Peugeot 605 SRI. I put a post here as well as several other websites including Craigslist, Autoscout24 and EBay Spain and loquo.

Has anyone had any experience selling things via Craigslist? I have gotten dozens, if not more, responses from the ad in Craigslist but they all are suspicious to me (except for two responses).

I don't want to be gullible, especially when many of these responses come with an automated message from Craigslist warning about scams and cashiers cheques, etc. All but two of the offers I have had were for buying the car sight-unseen with promises of cashier's cheques or Western Union transfers and that they would arrange for shipment and delivery (most of these "buyers" are in the UK).

I don't want to be suckered into some set up, but at the same time I don't want to be overly paranoid.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

Chica,

I don't know if this is at all helpful-but I think craigslist is terrific-at least where it is established (I understand it is fairly new to Madrid). I sold EVERYTHING in New York-including some very expensive items (my tv) via craigslist with no issues. That being said, it is designed to be used and works best LOCALLY-ie: real people who are actually interested will be in your area and will meet you in person.

I would (as per craigslist advice) absolutely ignore and delete (or report) any emails coming from far away or offering to buy sight unseen or offering anything other than cash in hand. Otherwise they are all scams/a waste of time-there are whole sections of craigslists devoted to ferreting out these things. You are not being paranoid-there IS something wrong with these offers. But I am sure you will find real local buyers for your car. good luck! wendy

hey Chica.

i would not be surprised by the large amt. of responses from the ad on craigslist, the site is HUGE and is VERY well known.

as far as i can see, it is very easy to assure that you are not going to be ripped off. simply get the money CLEARED and in your account/hand first. o sea , if they want to pay via cashiers check, tell them fine but they will have to wait however long it takes for the check to clear and become CASHOLA in your account BEFORE you can release the car.

if it is western union, even better, cash in hand and then you release the car.

that simple.

saludos,
jer...

Beware. Some people are using the ebay style and loquo style sites to push stuff at a lower price just to see if they can get some quick cash or product out of you.

My friend saw an ad for a digital camera on loquo and wrote to this person supposedly in the UK who was selling it for under cost. This person selling agreed to an even lower price if my friend would put a rush on the money and send it Western Union.
My friend said, "Send me the camera first and after I have a look at it and test it out I will send you the money".
The seller said, "No problem I will send it out to you right away using DHL".
Then this person selling kept writing to ask if the money had been sent yet and where is the money, etc.

As it turns out, there was no camera. It was just a plot to see how many people they could trick into sending them money for this camera at this fake special price.

They wanted the victims to think that they were getting a better deal if they didn't wait and paid faster through Western Union and did not waste time waiting for the actual camera to arrive as promised.

Ultimately, when selling you should never send anything out until you have the cash in your hands and when buying you should never pay for anything that you are not prepared to take the risk of getting something less than you bargained for.

It usually works out okay, but buyer beware.

Again, this is why craigslist TELLS you that it is to be used LOCALLY and face to face only

first thing I would be concerned about would be this large demand a Left Handed Drive car is having in UK.

I have sold twice cars sight unseen, and both experiences were good. First time we did it via an escrow account, and this is probably the only way I would buy a car. The second time the person sent me the money via a wire, which really took a lot of trust from him...

As jer said wait for the cash to clear first.