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rusty12 · 01-04-2015, 06:42 PM

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I have bought a couple of cars sight unseen, including two from a frequent Ford Barn advertiser. I have been extremely satisfied with my purchases.
However, there are a few things that should be considered when buying a car sight unseen.
-You should have a lot of communication with the seller. You should feel "right" about the person when you talk with them on the phone. If you do not feel comfortable or your questions are not being answered, or the answers are vague and skirt the questions, or there are a lot of "I don't knows" or "its in great condition for the age" that is a red flag.
-You should ask for a lot of GOOD photos. Not just ten photos of the car parked in the owner's garage, but A LOT of photos. The one person I mentioned above sent about 70 clear, outside photos of each car. Top, bottom, inside, outside, different angles, each body panel, each trim part, etc etc etc.
-While dealers get a lot of bad flack, remember that good dealers are in business because they provide good products and a good transaction. There is more accountability from a dealer than an infrequent or one time private seller that doesn't care if negative publicity are spread about them because they won't be selling a car again or at least for awhile. Dealers need to sell cars to make a living, private sellers do not. Dealers are often able to assist with things like storing the car until you can receive it, taking payments, trade-ins, etc whereas private sellers usually do not.
-When possible, it is always good to go and see the car yourself. When in doubt, go see the car yourself or at least send a trusted inspector.
-Before sending payment in full, request a copy of the title. Some dealers request a deposit before sending a copy of the title, that is understandable since they may not know you. Things should jive up meaning that the VIN number should be appropriate to the particular vehicle, owner's name/address, etc. There is a lot to be said about searching someone's name on the internet to make sure they live where they say they live, etc.
-If a car or a seller does not feel right, don't do the deal and wait until another opportunity arises. While buying a car can certainly be an emotional experience, always use your logic before proceeding.

01-04-2015, 06:42 PM	#26
rusty12 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 89	Re: Buying a car site unseen. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have bought a couple of cars sight unseen, including two from a frequent Ford Barn advertiser. I have been extremely satisfied with my purchases. However, there are a few things that should be considered when buying a car sight unseen. -You should have a lot of communication with the seller. You should feel "right" about the person when you talk with them on the phone. If you do not feel comfortable or your questions are not being answered, or the answers are vague and skirt the questions, or there are a lot of "I don't knows" or "its in great condition for the age" that is a red flag. -You should ask for a lot of GOOD photos. Not just ten photos of the car parked in the owner's garage, but A LOT of photos. The one person I mentioned above sent about 70 clear, outside photos of each car. Top, bottom, inside, outside, different angles, each body panel, each trim part, etc etc etc. -While dealers get a lot of bad flack, remember that good dealers are in business because they provide good products and a good transaction. There is more accountability from a dealer than an infrequent or one time private seller that doesn't care if negative publicity are spread about them because they won't be selling a car again or at least for awhile. Dealers need to sell cars to make a living, private sellers do not. Dealers are often able to assist with things like storing the car until you can receive it, taking payments, trade-ins, etc whereas private sellers usually do not. -When possible, it is always good to go and see the car yourself. When in doubt, go see the car yourself or at least send a trusted inspector. -Before sending payment in full, request a copy of the title. Some dealers request a deposit before sending a copy of the title, that is understandable since they may not know you. Things should jive up meaning that the VIN number should be appropriate to the particular vehicle, owner's name/address, etc. There is a lot to be said about searching someone's name on the internet to make sure they live where they say they live, etc. -If a car or a seller does not feel right, don't do the deal and wait until another opportunity arises. While buying a car can certainly be an emotional experience, always use your logic before proceeding.