I just got an email from a John Walter. His email is goodness4real2022@gmail.com.
He wanted the Cougar, buy with a certified check, unseen. It all sounded good until he said he would add money for me to pay the shipper.
That didn’t smell right. When I called him out, he never replied back.
So, just a heads up if you hear from this guy.
He also said he was in Miami.
It’s a crying shame you can’t make a transaction with ease anymore. As soon as someone says “certified check” they might as well be saying “useless paper”. I know there has to be a “legitimate” way to make these deals, but when I flew to MT from FL to make a purchase - I carried cash. Really? Is that what you have to do?
I recently purchased a 69 XR-7 convertible from out of state.
I proposed a tiered payment plan. I wired a deposit, payment #2 when car was on truck, and last after I confirmed delivery & contents.
Each bank wire was $30, Totally safe and took about 3 hours for the money to be avail to him.
I have a excellent shipping broker who was paid $150 & shipper was $1000 from Las Vegas to Golden, CO. Car left Vegas at 2 pam & was here at 10am next day enclosed transportation.
Wire transfer used to be the safest way to transfer funds. The crooks, though, have made even this risky. I’ve had several cases where scammers have infiltrated email accounts and sent bogus wire instructions impersonating the intended recipient. Never send a wire based on email instructions without first speaking directly to the intended recipient to confirm correct info. Once it’s wired, it is virtually impossible to claw back.
Wow, sounds pretty smooth. Guessing that the first “deposit” was made sight unseen, what would happen if it never made it to stage 2? That aside, it may be too late for me, but you never know, I’d love to know the transporter. I consigned with “Elite”, through a guy named “Joe Kelly” with a tentative pick-up date of 9/25. I reached out to him on 9/16 (when I was already in MT) to make sure we were still good for 9/25. Never heard from him. The 18th I made the decision to drive it home. Joe contacted me after I got home through email and asked if I still wanted transport (now past pick-up schedule), and I wrote back and explained as above. Next communication from him was “are you still interested in transport” - Sheesh.
A few details: Cat was posted here. I ask for pics, and got TONS! A few long calls later & we agreed. He gave me his address (looked it up, gated community), Took my time, asked for certain pics.
I use All Coast Transport. Kevin is prompt, thorough, and super nice! I’ve used him for years, multiple ships all directions. He is a broker. The company/ people he books have been great so far. Tell him I sent ya 270-570-5265 He arranged this all w/ in 2 days !!
Looks like a pretty sweet ride too. Thanks so much for all of that. I do believe I did my “due diligence”, and I’m content with the outcome - but the transport was definitely a weak link in the process. Upside, I did get to take it for a 3600 mile test drive!
That is SO COOL! I kinda wish I was brave enough to do that. I took a gamble not doing “eyes on” 1st. Deposit was small, less than trip costs.
OF NOTE : Kevin was really hard to convince. He asked about the transfer, how did I hear, Do I know them, and stern warning about scammers before he would take the job. Also all are insured, provide contracts!
You likely would have been more qualified to pull it off than I was. I have a “remote” history with these cars, which gave me a little insight - but I had to go to local pawn shops and pick up some necessary tools (I had flown in, without tools of course) and I needed to go to 1/2 dozen auto parts stores along the way to pick up the “essentials” (belts and hoses, thermostat). The car did remarkably well, but it wasn’t a “dream” ride. Made the trip in eight days, 7 driving - one day “off” on day four for necessary repairs.
Still totally amazing! Great story to retell to “kids” or anybody for that matter. Written in a story and shared here so we can enjoy your courage & drive vicariously with you.
I’ll work on that. I did journal daily, and we have video & pics on two cameras and a phone. I’m going to put them all on flash drive and send them to a friend who is a budding videographer for compilation. Maybe I’ll be able to post a link here for that once it’s complete. We kept in daily (multiple daily) contact with about eight close friends who said essentially the same thing: “we felt like we were making the trip with you”. Thanks.
Look forward to it!
