A LURKING 240Z THIEF!!!

[acf321]

Wanted to share this.. I think it's important.

 

Last weekend I changed the ad on the Brown Hornet to 'Under Offer'. Within minutes I received a SMS from a person (not identified) saying;

'I am in Sydney today for one day only and I want to buy a car'. I thought, righto!!

 

I wrote; "if you want to buy my 240Z, call me please". I then received a call from a complete grub of a man called 'James' saying things to the effect of 'are you selling?, where is the car?. He told me he was in Sydney to 'see three 240Z's for sale' at which time my BS meter went to HIGH! He said in another SMS, "I can come and see your car tomorrow morning, please tell me the address".... again the BS meter started going off again!

 

When he called (and he was a rude pr!ck), I told him the car was sold, subject to an inspection and then he argued with me that it was not sold. I told him that if he wanted to buy the car, it was price as advertised, which he wanted to argue about.

 

I asked him if he was a collector, racer, or what, and he said; "I don't have to tell you why I am buying".

 

He then asked me again where the car was, and I responded by saying; "the car is at my mechanic's workshop - if you want to see it, you will need to call him"

 

He then suggested the car was not mine, but my mechanic's. I corrected him and then called James Flett to tell him that a very dodgy person might be in contact, whom he did not hear from. James Flett told me to send him over, he has 20 or so mechanic mates in the complex and they'd be keen to welcome my buyer!

 

Be aware guys and girls.... this was a brazen attempt. A thief called me and wanted to know where my Z was. I am certain he was a thief, and had I not as been as wise, the Hornet might be elsewhere today.

 

 

 

 

[gav240z]

This seems to be a problem as these cars go up in value.

As per my experience, I still feel something was not right about what happened to me recently.

 

See this thread.

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,15414.0.html

 

Who leaves a classic car like that unlocked in the street? Then tells me how cool he thinks the car is the next day...

 

 

 

[bryan3976]

maybe its time to  make the sale forum members only ?? and for every one to review there security clearly someone in sydeny is hunting a 240z becarefull

[luvemfast]

maybe its time to  make the sale forum members only ??

I've been calling for this for years.

 

But the for sale section is one of the most viewed pages on this site.

And what good is benching your best player?

 

Same thing could happen on Carsales, Gumtree or eBay etc.

Due diligence and caution should always be used. When that fails, BS meter!

[gav240z]

I've been calling for this for years.

 

But the for sale section is one of the most viewed pages on this site.

And what good is benching your best player?

 

Same thing could happen on Carsales, Gumtree or eBay etc.

Due diligence and caution should always be used. When that fails, BS meter!

 

haha best player, good analogy. Yes for sale needs to be open to public. However I have very much being considering a private forum section for verified members. However I'm not yet sure how to go about policing a verified member section.

 

Open to suggestions.

[G]

Verified members can be by one (or more) members vouching for the individual, or as a result of a minimum number of posts. Neither are foolproof, but at least it's a start.

[cracker]

I've seen various forms of feedback based screening systems work, but the best way would be to have some sort of identification verification - that way an actual person is linked to a transaction and can be followed up or reported, in a worst case scenario. Not sure how viable or economical that is (unless there is a system that already exists that works?).

[acf321]

My advise ... from experience with this grub ...

 

1) Be very vigilant.

2) do NOT EVER tell ANYBODY where your car is.

3) take details of the said GRUB... and record them.

4) If you need to show somebody your car, meet them outside the local Police station, and take a friend with your, OR tell a mate to meet you there.

 

I could sniff this idiiot right from the start;

1) I get an SMS saying "I am from out of town and in Sydney for ONE DAY ONLY to look at 3X 240Z's" - Umm yeah right!

2) second SMS; "can I come b4 lunch tomorrow to see your car" - ummm NO YOU CANNOT, even if you are genuine ... I work in the day

3) "I have cash and am ready to buy today" - and I'm the POPE!

4) he was very rude, very ignorant, and was basically somebody who I had no interest in helping from the start.

 

The second you pick up one these jerks, clam up and tell them nothing. I told him my car was at Dee Why at my my mechanic's shed (which in hindsight was perhaps too much to tell). He responded by telling me he had not heard of Dee Why (ignorant grub too!) and I then said, "well that's a problem then"

 

I then immediately called James and told him the story, so he was prepared if the Grub called.

 

Of course, nothing happened.

 

Be warned and be vigillant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KatoKid]

I never sell anything from home, especially motorcycles and cars. If they are genuine buyers and you explain why they will be fine...if they aren't then guess what.......

 

[CroS13]

yeah i have always in the past met up with the person at a local service station or McDonalds as a extra safety measure. You cant be too careful with these things. I also usually snap a pic of their license on my phone.

 

Story from a friend of a friend about 8 years back. Kid was selling his Honda Integra, guy comes to look. goes for a test drive in it (with the owner of course). The guy drives around the block where his friends are waiting, they pull the owner out of the car, smash him in the face with a baseball bat, knocking out most of his teeth, and steal the car leaving him on the curb.

 

They caught one of them, and he ratted out his mates to avoid any serious charges, i cant remember what the outcome of that one was, but i recall i was angry because they had no jail time. It made it on the news then too.

 

Great world we live in right?

 

Rudolf.

[260DET]

Isn't it really up to the seller to use his/her judgment and take reasonable precautions? If you don't know how to do that then learn now, it's important and useful throughout your whole life. An important advantage of the classified ads here is that they are open to the widest possible audience surely, restricting that advantage in any way is going way too far in my opinion.

[potter260]

Three months ago my uncle was selling his car in Sydney. He was driving him around and then he asked for a test drive. My uncle got out, the guy locked the doors, ran him over and drove off!!

[sydney mike]

I guess another way to sell a valuable sports or prestige car is perhaps use a consignment agent such as classic throttle shop?

Let them sort out the time wasters and you also don't have dodgy characters knowing where you live.

[dat2kman]

Recently, wasn't there adverse comments about sellers asking buyers to leave a "viewing" deposit?

If not on here it came up on another forum?

 

Tell them to bring their driver licence, no licence, no drive, and no passenger ride.

If they get narky about showing ID, just xplain, you know where I am, I wanna know where you are from, only fair!

 

If they bject, tell them, sorry, i'll wait for next genuine.

[gav240z]

Isn't it really up to the seller to use his/her judgment and take reasonable precautions? If you don't know how to do that then learn now, it's important and useful throughout your whole life. An important advantage of the classified ads here is that they are open to the widest possible audience surely, restricting that advantage in any way is going way too far in my opinion.

 

I didn't mean restrict classifieds. I meant create a new private discussion section for verified only members.

[Wayne G]

I sold my mum's Rav4 with broken engine recently via Gumtree. Brought all the grubby con artists out of the woodwork; my phone almost melted from SMS messages with crazy low ball offers like "how much fuel in the tank? Give you a goat and a smile!"  The grub that bought it tried to extort me for the balance of the rego and threatened me after the exchange was finalised, demanding a warranty!  Part of me hopes he comes back, but after my last conversation with him I doubt he will.  I "communicate with influence" due to various life experiences Considering all the hassle, Gumtree worked well for me as the vehicle was gone three days after I listed it. Caveat emptor; caveat venditor!

[Yo-Yo]

I've sold all my previous cars privately,

- I've always used a different prepaid mobile# for my ad contacts and email as well, never my personal ones

- I've NEVER let someone come inspect at my house, always agreed to meet at a servo or maccas, anywhere there are people and surveilance cameras

- Only test ride with the buyer in the passenger seat and only let them in the car after seeing their driver's license.

 

If they can't accept my very reasonable conditions they are more than welcome to buy elsewhere

it's protected me & my sales have always gone smoothly & with genuine buyers

 

[reverendzed]

I agree with being careful and using some smarts but I refuse to live in fear of some idiot who thinks he can spin me.  I've sold probably 30 cars in the last 5 years, some of them Zeds and have had a few smartasses but honestly it was all easy.  Let's just all be realistic that this world is full of great people unfortunately peppered with a few morons, for them, I'll reserve the special Rev sermon where I beat the HELL out of them!

[acf321]

Here Ye Rev, Here Ye.....

 

 

[gilltech]

Well Rev I think you're being overly generous -

Let's just all be realistic that this world is full of great people unfortunately peppered with a few morons

I'd prefer to say ".................liberally peppered with more than just a few morons".

[MaygZ]

We could bring back the kharma button 

[perrin_07]

are we able to have a "For sale" for people with posts over x amount but also a public "for sale".

The person then has the option of selling to members first then to everyone else, or both if they so choose.