Buying/Selling escrow.com ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 456
Likes: 113
From: Hill Country TX
Buying/Selling escrow.com ?
Has anyone used the escrow.com service? Looking at 78 listed on autotrader. Already risky looking at internet ads and add into that the car is supposedly in Michigan and I'm in Texas. Even if I can get a first person inspection by someone or organization I trust and do a deal, how to complete it without being left out to dry with no money and no car? Sure I could drive there, not likely, or possibly fly but gave that up 9/11.
Any thoughts on the escrow idea? Maybe I just need to keep my looking closer to home in Texas or possibly Oklahoma, lol.
Any thoughts on the escrow idea? Maybe I just need to keep my looking closer to home in Texas or possibly Oklahoma, lol.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 367
From: PHOENIX AZ. WHAT A MAN WON"T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDE
Don't agree. Sometimes you just fall in love with the Corvette & overlook things because you like it. A third party has no dog in the fight & competent can give you a honest evaluation.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 456
Likes: 113
From: Hill Country TX
Thanks for the responses.
69L88: Good idea. I'll check with my credit union.
Mmench: Thanks, PM sent
CAM33 & kenba: Eyes on is always best, however sometimes you and the car are way far apart. Then it becomes a matter of risk,so "do you feel lucky?" becomes operative. A third party evaluation can help on the feel lucky part.
69L88: Good idea. I'll check with my credit union.
Mmench: Thanks, PM sent
CAM33 & kenba: Eyes on is always best, however sometimes you and the car are way far apart. Then it becomes a matter of risk,so "do you feel lucky?" becomes operative. A third party evaluation can help on the feel lucky part.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,701
Likes: 836
From: WI
Back in the old days I sent a small time dealer in San Jose, CA ...who had a lot of BBB complaints, $3500 for a vehicle. That was about double the money back then than it is today and things were tighter back then. The deal was the dealer-guy would send me the title when he received the $$. I held my breath ...but he did. A couple months later when I had a chance, I flew out, picked it up and drove it home. Turns out he was as afraid of being scammed as I was. That was a simpler time, before scammers seemed like they're everywhere.
No moral to the story.. other than I understand the unease of buying something remotely. I couldn't come up with a workable escrow idea at the time. It would have been nice to know about using a bank ...or another service. A bank seems like too simple an idea...I never even considered it. Thanks for the suggestion.
.
No moral to the story.. other than I understand the unease of buying something remotely. I couldn't come up with a workable escrow idea at the time. It would have been nice to know about using a bank ...or another service. A bank seems like too simple an idea...I never even considered it. Thanks for the suggestion.
.
Last edited by Mark G; Apr 4, 2025 at 01:16 AM.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 54,001
Likes: 6,214
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Thanks for the responses.
69L88: Good idea. I'll check with my credit union.
Mmench: Thanks, PM sent
CAM33 & kenba: Eyes on is always best, however sometimes you and the car are way far apart. Then it becomes a matter of risk,so "do you feel lucky?" becomes operative. A third party evaluation can help on the feel lucky part.
69L88: Good idea. I'll check with my credit union.
Mmench: Thanks, PM sent
CAM33 & kenba: Eyes on is always best, however sometimes you and the car are way far apart. Then it becomes a matter of risk,so "do you feel lucky?" becomes operative. A third party evaluation can help on the feel lucky part.
The rest of it is all a coin toss… maybe a terrorist will hijack a plane… maybe theres a car accident… maybe a paid inspector does a great job… maybe a paid inspector does a terrible job.
Personally, I would never ever consider buying a Corvette sight unseen, and ive bought 19 for myself and countless cars for other people. But, my acceptance of risk is different from yours, as is everyone’s. I fly anywhere in the world and dont think about it but wont buy sight unseen. You wont fly but sound willing to buy a car without seeing it. We are all different.
For the record, I know plenty of people who have bought cars sight unseen successfully. However, I have personally gotten on a plane and looked at cars I was prepared to buy, put my hands on it and decided against it… and I believe an inspector wouldnt have reported what I found. Its up to you. Best of luck.
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Cruising
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 4
From: Michigan
Thanks for the responses.
69L88: Good idea. I'll check with my credit union.
Mmench: Thanks, PM sent
CAM33 & kenba: Eyes on is always best, however sometimes you and the car are way far apart. Then it becomes a matter of risk,so "do you feel lucky?" becomes operative. A third party evaluation can help on the feel lucky part.
69L88: Good idea. I'll check with my credit union.
Mmench: Thanks, PM sent
CAM33 & kenba: Eyes on is always best, however sometimes you and the car are way far apart. Then it becomes a matter of risk,so "do you feel lucky?" becomes operative. A third party evaluation can help on the feel lucky part.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,839
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Sorry, but I'm joining the "DON'T EVER BUY A CAR WITHOUT SEEING IT IN PERSON" group !! I Have seen & heard more bad stories then good. You leave the perfect opportunity, not necessarily to be scammed, but also taken advantage of & disappointed !! One mans gold is another's garbage.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 456
Likes: 113
From: Hill Country TX
After further consideration I have to agree that putting one's own eyes on a potential car purchase is THE best way. So I will take that advice. The one exception might be if the seller is a long time member of this forum. I would anticipate greater honesty and straight forwardness from such a seller.
Drifting
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 703
From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, metro area
Weck,
I understand your concern and risks involved. I have pulled my trailer from Louisiana to New Jersey, to Tennessee, and to Michigan to evaluate cars to purchase. I enjoyed each trip. As I get older, I am less inclined to do so.
I would also feel comfortable sending a trusted local person a specific list of things to check and evaluate for me. I would not just ask a local person to just go see if the car is “good.”
If you do get an agent of some sort, send a list of very specific locations to view, photo, tap, feel, etc as if you were doing it. Then on a test drive, just FaceTime or speaker phone call the agent while driving the car to have a conversation about how it feels.
As long as you are not looking at a $30k+ rare mint purchase, I would feel comfortable getting a trusted agent.
I understand your concern and risks involved. I have pulled my trailer from Louisiana to New Jersey, to Tennessee, and to Michigan to evaluate cars to purchase. I enjoyed each trip. As I get older, I am less inclined to do so.
I would also feel comfortable sending a trusted local person a specific list of things to check and evaluate for me. I would not just ask a local person to just go see if the car is “good.”
If you do get an agent of some sort, send a list of very specific locations to view, photo, tap, feel, etc as if you were doing it. Then on a test drive, just FaceTime or speaker phone call the agent while driving the car to have a conversation about how it feels.
As long as you are not looking at a $30k+ rare mint purchase, I would feel comfortable getting a trusted agent.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 699
In regards to a local trusted person to do the inspection besides a basic walk around I would have them make arrangements with a auto shop and get it up on a lift to inspect the under side of the car.
The thing about this is these cars are 50 plus years old. The current owner my have no clue if there are issues from years past and other previous owners.
The other thing you see often it is a "southwest" car. No rust. But how has it been in the southwest? All it's life or the last 6 months?
The thing about this is these cars are 50 plus years old. The current owner my have no clue if there are issues from years past and other previous owners.
The other thing you see often it is a "southwest" car. No rust. But how has it been in the southwest? All it's life or the last 6 months?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,701
Likes: 836
From: WI
Pictures and communication with the seller go a long way. It's easier these days with cell phones than before. I recommend the ole' put some money down if you feel 'comfortable' enough about the car. Not so much that it will disturb you if you back out (a couple hondo). THEN go look...and pay the rest ..or back out.
My buddy bought a car sight-unseen a couple yrs ago with just a few fuzzy pictures taken from what looked like a cheap flip phone (Red Flag #1). The seller communication was bad and he said he wasn't very good at sending pictures ...(Red Flag #2). I suggest he check it out...due to the suspicious nature. Nope, he bought it (not a vette) ...and it ended up being quite a bit worse than his lowest expectations! Rust in the wrong places. By the time he got it so he felt he could safely sell it ..he lost ~$8k on the deal, including his transport costs.
You could always have the seller put it on a private sale on Ebay...and then pay...and go look at it. They have some buyer protection...from what I 'hear'.
My buddy bought a car sight-unseen a couple yrs ago with just a few fuzzy pictures taken from what looked like a cheap flip phone (Red Flag #1). The seller communication was bad and he said he wasn't very good at sending pictures ...(Red Flag #2). I suggest he check it out...due to the suspicious nature. Nope, he bought it (not a vette) ...and it ended up being quite a bit worse than his lowest expectations! Rust in the wrong places. By the time he got it so he felt he could safely sell it ..he lost ~$8k on the deal, including his transport costs.
You could always have the seller put it on a private sale on Ebay...and then pay...and go look at it. They have some buyer protection...from what I 'hear'.