Meeting at gas station to buy a vehicle.. strange experience

[The motor guy]

So i go to look at a truck and drive about an hour away to meet the seller. He wants to meet at a gas station. All is well at this point its in a public place out in the open. Now here's where it gets weird. I show up, dont see the truck I want to buy, wait about 10 minutes, thinking he's still on his way. I finally ask how far away is he. He responds and wants me to come to his house down the street. I said we agreed to meet at the gas station. Either come to the gas station or i'm out of here. Knowing he doens't know what I drive, I went ahead and decided to see where the house was anyways. I still don't see the truck and see a guy sitting in a pickup truck at the end of his driveway waiting for me. (Still not the one I want to buy) I still don't see the truck I want to buy and this guys house must be on 10 acres because the driveway is like 1000ft long. My two thoughts on this were he wanted to rob me or he flips vehicles and doesn't want to be obligated to stay at home and have someone show up hours later when he wasn't there. (hence the reason for meeting at the gas station first) I just drove past the seller sitting in the truck (not even the one I wanted) waiting for me and I went back home. No way I was driving all the way up that driveway without seeing what's at the end from the road. Either that or he sells so many he had me confused thinking that was the truck i wanted idk, but my gut feeling said get out of there immediately hour drive or not.

 

[GSCJR]

You did the right thing.

 

[The motor guy]

It was iron rod fenced in at the front too. I'm like nah uh

 

[dishdude]

Man it seems like everyday you get yourself into some odd situation.

 

[wavinwayne]

People are strange.

 

[Leo99]

People are strange.

when you're a stranger

 

[The motor guy]

when you're a stranger

I think he just flips cars is all it was, but I still think it was sketchy. Plus I want to talk to the owner of the vehicle not some dude that just bought it and probably is going to title jump.

 

[Hootbro]

Just about nobody either buyer or seller deals fairly anymore. It is always just a bunch of games with people nowadays.

In my area, there is a bunch of Central American illegals running scams and time wasting to the point I have pretty much given up doing private party selling or buying vehicles

 

[The motor guy]

Just about nobody either buyer or seller deals fairly anymore. It is always just a bunch of games with people nowadays.

In my area, there is a bunch of Central American illegals running scams and time wasting to the point I have pretty much given up doing private party selling or buying vehicles

How would he scam me in this situation?

 

[Hootbro]

How would he scam me in this situation?

No telling but the fact he would not meet you nor was in the vehicle that was offered for sale when you drove by the house tells there was something afoot.

A lot of these folks are just plain shysters. They have no problem wasting other peoples time and then do a bait and switch or try to convince you to accept something less.

It took me close to 5 months to sell my last private party sale vehicle and it was not because it was not price correctly. Selling through Facebook Marketplace is a colossal waste of time for me and Craigslist has it's pitfalls also.

 

[The motor guy]

No telling but the fact he would not meet you nor was in the vehicle that was offered for sale when you drove by the house tells there was something afoot.

A lot of these folks are just plain shysters. They have no problem wasting other peoples time and then do a bait and switch or try to convince you to accept something less.

It took me close to 5 months to sell my last private party sale vehicle and it was not because it was not price correctly. Selling through Facebook Marketplace is a colossal waste of time for me and Craigslist has it's pitfalls also.

Well it was a long drive home, so don't think I didn't play his game back. I'm pretty sure I wasted a good hours worth of his time on the drive home

 

[Lubener]

I meet at the police station for my transactions. I will meet at their house to buy a vehicle. A lot of crimes occur at gas stations.

 

[paulo57509]

Always trust your instincts. Nothing is worth walking into danger.

 

[Dave Hess]

Always trust your instincts. Nothing is worth walking into danger.

Don’t meet strangers online.

 

[mikeduf]

Yeah meeting someplace to show a car is a good idea. But your address ultimately is on the title if you possess it. So a person that is really interested in buying it will never see your address until the deal is completed. And it is always good to have a bill of sale stating the car is sold as is and you are not a automotive broker or dealer.

I sold a toilet and pedestal sink on Craigslist for almost nothing and two weeks later I get a knock in my door with that person wanting to return the items because they didn't fit. I said sorry, "sold as is" you should have measured before you bought them.

 

[The motor guy]

Yeah meeting someplace to show a car is a good idea. But your address ultimately is on the title if you possess it. So a person that is really interested in buying it will never see your address until the deal is completed. Dinner is always good to have a bill of sale stating the car is sold as is and you are not a automotive broker or dealer.

I sold a toilet and pedestal sink on Craigslist for almost nothing and two weeks later I get a knock in my door with that person wanting to return the items because they didn't fit. I said sorry, sold as is you should have measured before you bought them.

Lmao

 

[SatinSilver]

There was a guy on YT flipping cars in Oklahoma. Similar set up where he met people at the end of this super long driveway. But he always met the buyers with the vehicle he was selling. So sounds like you definitely did the right thing.

 

[k1xv]

I bet the house was a vacant house, and he didn't live there.

Cars, trucks, and guns. I am always suspicious of "private sales".

 

[Dave Hess]

Yeah meeting someplace to show a car is a good idea. But your address ultimately is on the title if you possess it. So a person that is really interested in buying it will never see your address until the deal is completed. And it is always good to have a bill of sale stating the car is sold as is and you are not a automotive broker or dealer.

I sold a toilet and pedestal sink on Craigslist for almost nothing and two weeks later I get a knock in my door with that person wanting to return the items because they didn't fit. I said sorry, "sold as is" you should have measured before you bought them.

Sorry this is not to be rude…. but if the sink and toilet was of little value just toss in dumpster.

No way I want some stranger coming to my house and knocking on door to get his money back.

I toss lots of stuff in trash just to avoid strangers or people trying to scope out my property / home.

 

[mikeduf]

Sorry this is not to be rude…. but if the sink and toilet was of little value just toss in dumpster.

No way I want some stranger coming to my house and knocking on door to get his money back.

I toss lots of stuff in trash just to avoid strangers or people trying to scope out my property / home.

No both of them were top name brand and work perfectly and very good condition. I figured someone could use them on a budget. Craigslist is notorious for bean counters and haglers. I sold a mountain bike to this guy with a listing price of $40 and he kept trying to haggle me down! I finally said why don't I just give it to you for free he gave me a Blank Stare. At least this time I met the person at a Starbucks.