Put my g/f Mazda up for sale on Craig's List. I am contacted by this guy who is interested in it. First Email Hello, I'm interested in finding more out about the car (Mazda 6). Has the vehicle ever been in an accident? What is the condition of the body and paint. Could additional photos be provided (interior as well). Are you the original owner and is the title clear? Thanks MF I replied with answers to his questions and more pictures. Second email Hi Kevin, I had a chance to check out the pics and the car looks great. It's just what I'm looking for. Could you provide me with the VIN? I'll get back to you once I've had a change to run a CARFAX report. Thanks Marc Sent him the vin. Third Email Hi Kevin, The car checked out fine. CARFAX shows that there have been three owners with the second reporting an accident with minor damage. I will get back to you by the end of the weekend to let you know if I am interest. I should let you know that I am from Winnipeg, Canada and should I decide to purchase the vehicle, I would be travelling down to Minneapolis (Burnsville) to acquire the car and returning with it to Winnipeg. My plan is to do this in the next week or two. Please let me know if you have any reservations about carrying out a sale such as this. Payment of the vehicle will be made in cash (I will bring over travelers checks, that I could then take to a local bank to cash). Should some form a deal be made, I will require you to fax or email me a copy of the vehicle title and a recall clearance letter of be sent to me, so that I could make advance arrangements with US/Canadian customs to import the vehicle into Canada. Please feel free to ask me any questions you have. Thanks Marc Sorry its long. Open to opinions.
If he can bring cashier check and get cash once he is here. I don't see how you can get scammed with cash. I also told him I need to be able to do this on a weekday when banks are open.
Other than the fact that the guy can't speak/spell english very well, seems legit. I'm sure he'll have to pay some taxes or something during importation. Would be easier obviously if he lived in the US. But meh, cash is cash.
I don't see anything really wierd as well. HOWEVER make sure it is straight cash. people can make fake travelers checks and he could come up with some story (bank closed, second form of i.d. e.c.t.....) then try and give u the travelers checks and then they would bounce and you have no moneys or car.
Thats why I am going to make it clear before he comes down that I want Cash period. Not a cashier check. Go to the bank and get cash. I think that should cover my ass.
For me, I dont care if my buyer came from Mars, whatever story he got on the way(that he cannot cash the check). If we both agreed cash in person then its cash in person. Money Talks, period. Doesn't matter if you're from next door or from another planet.
Yep. A cashier's check can take several weeks to clear from the issuing bank. They're not a whole lot safer than any other kind of check, esp. when dealing internationally.
Yeah, I don't know what Canada's importing laws/taxes are like, but I bet this is a great deal for this guy, give the current state of the conversion rate. Seems legit to me. I like your idea to stay with cash, though.
NEW EMAIL Kevin, I understand that this may come across as being a little out there, but this practice has become quite common over here in the last year or two. Since our currencies have reached parity and vehicles going are for 25-35% less than over there, there is quiet the savings. Just years ago, it cost us up to $1.60 to purchase one US dollar. I'm not too familiar with the rules as they apply to titles and liens over there, but I do believe that I cannot return (import) the vehicle until the title could be transfered and this cannot occur until the lean is removed. Somewhat of a problem. It is a bit of a drive, around 8 hrs. I usually make the trip every couple of years. Nothing unusual for someone living in Winnipeg (everywhere is far from us.) I have a friend that makes the trip regularly for work purposes and I'm hitching a ride. If we wish to pursue the sale, the lien issue will have to be settled. Would this not be the case if the sale was made to a US resident? Travelers checks are as good as money. Should the sale occur, I will bring the amount needed in checks and have them cashed at a local bank there. Yes, this would have to occur during bank hours. Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas on how this could happen. Thanks Marc
Does not sound like a scam payment wise, but I'm not sure its worth your time, since the guy seems not to know all the details of importing the car into Canada, so chances are that he's gonna find out some stuff sooner or later that will make him back out.
FWIW, a few guys on the Forester forum have done it and posted details. Here's a link over there that may help you get started: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2482
Yep, very common to buy US cars from Canada for low prices. Cash or a cashiers check drawn on a local bank. Why local? because you go to the issueing bank and cash it right then and there before handing over the keys.
Man that makes me sick. I recall not so long ago going across the border into Emerson and Winnipeg to drink before I was 21 and getting premium drinks for $5 CAD which worked out to be something like $3.50 USD. The sale looks mostly legit and I've seen plenty of international sales for rally cars go through. I was hoping one of the driver/owners would post up on experiences dealing with sales to/from Canada. I looked at bringing a vehicle in from Puerto Rico (which was circumventing some DOT testing because PR is a US territory) but it isn't really the same thing. It'd be handy if the lien was at your local bank as you could go there and pay it off and get a receipt showing so. That's about as good as it gets. I'm guessing the title transfer for them works about the same as for us, but I wonder how they cross the border with US plates and a Canadian ID. I guess that's his problem.
In trhe bill of sale, I'd suggest noting something along the lines of importing to canda and compliance with canadian regs is thier problem.
The onus for getting it imported is on him. If you're a good seller you'll make sure he is well educated on what exactly he is getting in to before he drives down and gets his car stuck at the border. The onus for clearing the lien is on you. If that means he comes and inspects the car, agrees to the sale, and you both go to the bank where he hands you the money and you hand the money to the cashier to pay off your lien, then you need to do that. You may then need to make your way to your local DMV and have a new, clear title issued so you can hand it over to him.
