I may have lost a sale?
 

I had a response from this ad.
https://classics.autotrader.com/clas...el_t/101036457
and may have lost the sale.

I received this immediately - -

My name is Mike, an oceanographer from BP Exploration & Production.
It's my pleasure to contact you in regards to your Ad you posted for sale. Though, your selling price seem pretty fair enough, but I'd like to ensure it's in good condition, cos am new to buying online. I won't be able to take a proper inspection at it myself nor make calls due to my current location(offshore) & work schedule.

Here are few things I'd like to know before I proceed with the purchase.
(1) Are you the first owner?
(2) When have you been using it?
(3) Does it has any rust or has been repaired? & hope no mechanical issues?
(4) I'd like to know your reason for selling?
(5) Please confirm the selling price? I will appreciate more close up pics
(6) Lastly, can I be rest assured I won't be disappointed with the purchase?

Best Regards.
Michael A. McGrace

My response --

Michael,
I am a retired Police Detective Sgt. and must admit that I am a little concerned that a person answering my ad that contains 70+ photos and very good description for the car can't decide the quality of the car.

If you will furnish me the location and office where you are employed I would be happy to confirm your info then fully work with you.

Thank you,

Darn it, I haven't heard from him since. Very interesting.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

The first two questions aren't those that a serious buyer would be asking and the last one is a red flag.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Bottom line is this, people are weird and dealing with people on-line can be ever weirder.

If you have the time, I would mess with him a little. Have some fun with it.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

I always get the weird ones if I put an ad on craigslist for a car. I get the text message is this still for sale? I would like to buy it. Without asking to see it. I say yes show up here with cash and it’s yours, don’t hear back from 99% of them.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Wow, a sincere buyer who's not a Nigerian Prince:rolleyes:

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Due to robo responses I always add a note in my CL ads that I will not respond to "is this still for sale" or the like. In order to get a response I require them to mention something about the item offered for sale. Seems to help weed out some bad ones right away.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

You can almost always tell the scam by the language used. These jokers never give up because the do find a sucker every so often.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

I always specify that any response must contain a valid phone number by which I will call them. I do not put my phone number in the ad. Any reply without a phone number is ignored. The "is IT still for sale?" is the common scam.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

A dead giveaway.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

The first few lines show that it's most likely a scam

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Reads like a form letter or script.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

I use a Tracfone and activate it for 1-3 months depending how much stuff I selling. I picked my phone up on eBay for $7.00 shipped, but Tracfone has some free phones w/activation. After 3 months or so that number is gone and I don't have to worry about robo calls or anything else, this keeps my personal cell numbers out of the public eye.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Sooo well, "I can't get to the bank since I'm at sea now, but I would send my two month bank certified paycheck for $40,000. You can return the balance."

How bout that?

By the way, always admired your coupe. Better luck in the future. Super car.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

I agree that has all the sign of a scammer.

I had a similar situation, I had a vehicle for sale and received a suspicious sounding email with the opening line “99 percent sold”

I was about to delete it but I responded thinking it was a scammer and I was going to have a little fun with my response.

However after numerous emails back and forth it turns out it was a serious buyer from northern Quebec who spoke mostly French and very little English.

Anyways a deal was struck and he purchased my vehicle for price that I was very happy with.

I’m glad I did not delete that email right away


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Your buyer did respond back as a serious buyer would. Nothing from my responder as yet.

Fourdy

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

My phone number got picked by a scammer from an ad placed on the HAMB and they are now using it for Robo calls. I found this out as one day I got a call from myself identified on the caller ID. I can't disconnect the number because it's my business phone and it would be almost impossible to get a new number into all my ads etc. and the phone company tells me tough shit. While it's not a big deal it is costing me about an extra 25.00 a month for the spoof calls. In the future I think I will use a Tracfone for my ads. Guard your personal information!

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

I had an issue with a robo spoof call and the phone company said there was nothing they could do about it. BS! If technology allows the government to listen into the cell phone calls of politicians in Europe then there is no reason why we have to put up with all these type of calls.

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Just got a text with basicly the same questions. Asked for a ph. # and they supplied one. After google check for the # I answered back telling them I really wasn't interested in their Escort or Porn sight but maybe my State Attorney General would be. Hmm - no more response. Later told my wife that I was pretty sure my T would be way too small for an escort service. lol She said "well you know all the women love your car at the shows".

Fourdy

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

Its probably a scam. I posted our boat for sale recently, a 2016 Robalo in excellent low hours condition. The ad went on numerous Facebook For Sale groups, and Craigslist. Only 5 responses from Craigslist, 3 were obvious scams, the fourth, I went back and forth with on email a couple of times but they never answered questions like what is your phone number and where are you located. None of them mentioned the fact that it was a boat - always referred to as 'item' or 'it' - huge red flag. One that was legit was asking if I had a trailer (I don't) and other details about the boat. I got a response, with a normal thank you.

If you are going to sell something online, be prepared for the scammers and make sure they refer to what you are selling and watch for language and if on Craigslist, they may ask you to communicate outside of Craigslist (or ebay). Don't. Keep an eye open if they are sending 'representatives' or 'agents'. It's one thing to say to a seller, I am not local but I have a friend who is and can come by and look at the car. But when you hear, my representative will come by to pick up the item... If you get a phone number and actually speak with someone, beware of the language they use and the amounts they are willing to send you if it is more than the asking price.

and don't try to sell a boat in the fall in New England without a trailer. :)

Re: I may have lost a sale?
 

You can tell by the stilted use of the English language it's a scam.