An EBAY first!!!

[socalfandabodys]

Well I have a issue that im sure no one else has experienced with ebay but if you have any advice let me know. I sold a 64 chevelle ss convertible project car on ebay last month for $4,000. I was in contact with the buyer every day setting up payment and shipping arrangements for about two weeks. I recieved a check from him which I deposited and cleared with my bank. I then mailed him the title. He called me on about March 15th saying he had a shipper and would let me know the date he was coming. I never heard from him again. I even called and left him a message on his phone. I need to move the car out of my apartment complex by the 23rd of this month because I will be away for about 2 months. Should I go to the police and ask them what my options are. What do you think happened?

[John510]

The guy might be in jail or something could have happened to him. I would try calling him again telling him you are going to leave it outside and since its already paid for he needs to come get it. If he still never shows up then its his loss right?

[NOT A TA]

I would call the police in his town and explain your situation to them and see if they can find him for you. Or send a certified letter to his address. I sent one of my cars out to get a rollcage installed and the guy disappeared. Police found him in a hospital 500 miles away recovering from surgery.

People leave items at my shop for repairs and put deposits on items and sometimes don't return for long periods or never. Injurys, death, financial probs,divorce, and many other things can upset the natural flow.

[gearheads78]

His wife found out he bought another project car on EBAY and kicked him out of the house.

[Restomod]

I bought a 93 5.0 Mustang Coupe from a local repair shop..a guy dropped it off for some work and has never been seen or heard from by the shop again!!! It happens..........I agree call the Police in his town and expain.

[CRCRFT78]

Find out what happened to him, if he turns up MIA, lien sale it and sell it again. Or you can give me the address and I'll be glad to pick it up.

[MrQuick]

hee hee I'll get the trailer ready....you can just claim a lost title if he doesn't claim it...but keep an eye on that check. Try to find some place to keep it and charge him storage fees.

[Smock67]

Give me the address and i'll come get it outta there.

[Larry Callahan]

I'm the closest. I'll come get it. LOL!!

I had something like that happen with a set of aluminum heads a while back. I sold somethng to a guy and he gave me a set of heads and asked me to help him sell them. He didn't know anyone that might need them and he was not very good on the internet. He seemed like a nice guy so I offerd to help. I sold them pretty quick for I think $800 and the guy drops off the face of the planet. It's been years and the only contact I had for him was a phone number that is dead and has been for years. If he ever shows up I have his cash but I tried for about a year to reach him. Oh well.

[backtobasics]

Do you have the ability to keep the car where you are moving? I would start the "apply for lost title" now, and take it with you.

Certified letter stating "pickup in x numbers of months" or forfeit.

Find out what the rules are IN YOUR STATE, for forfeiture. If he rolls back around, 3 months later, then you have the answer in hand, that he forfeited the car after X months according to state law, and you have a fresh title in hand.

Last option: Make a deal with a buddy if storage is an issue. "Keep it at your place, for x amount of time" "If he doesn't come back, you will sell it to him for a bargain, or give it to him for storage?

[Munster]

Contact the police in the area where you have his contact information. Ask them to do a wellness check on this person and give them your story. Keep all this documented. Names and times. See if they find if he is an actual person and just missing or if his info is bogus. Either way if you can't get a hold of him apply for the lost title, while still in the area that holds the title info, then as said wait the alotted time in your local for abandonment. If you have to store it that money can be recouped after the wait period and it is resold. Don't sell it before because if he is real and just out of commission for some reason it will be a battle probably not worth the $4000 you got for it.

Also waiting for a while will help with avoiding the problems of the new scams of bad checks and funds coming back to haunt you when down the road your bank comes back and says the check they got was drawn on a corperate account and not autherized and they would like there money back. (ask them what a good wait time is for this new scam type is)

[toxicz28]

Abandoned property is usually 30 days. After 30 days you could
a. push it out into the street.
b. call a junkyard to remove an abandoned vehicle.
c. get a new title, and sell it again. Just keep $4000 in a shoebox, in case he shows up again.

Untill then, you're stuck with it. So sit tight.

[gordonquixote]

Put a mechanics lien on it for storage fees. After 30-60 days you can probably claim it back.

I know it feels kinda slimy but I don't think it is fair to burden you with the car, regardless of him paying for it.

[socalfandabodys]

Well I sent him a letter so hopefully that will pan out. Im in the military and will be very busy going to a couple different schools starting the 23 of this month. Thats why I was trying to resolve it before then. Thanks

[shizzy]

like with any transaction, DOCUMENTATION is the key. send everything registered and keep a journal of everything you do. if need be take a few pics of the car sitting in your driveway.
More then once I have "pulled the teeth" out of a landlord that was trying to keep my deposit or claim damage or unpaid amounts till I reminded them that I had pictures of when i moved in and moved out and about the fact that I had always sent any kind of correspondence certified. Once the person realizes you have all the documentation to back up your side they almost always back down. Plus if it comes down to having to explain to a Judge having a handfull of paper is a good thing.