Dan B

Someone left a note on my car windscreen last night saying:

"hello! i am looking for a car like yours, I have cash waiting. If you are interested in selling please call this number....."

I thought that this was cool to start with; someone likes my car enough to put on note on it. But thinking about it why would someone do this? There are a few cars just like mine on autotrader at the moment. Now I'm a bit worried....

My thoughts on what to do are:

1. I could phone and have a chat with an potential enthusiast, be polite and let him/her know hat I'm not selling at the moment, but may be in the next few months. Could even give some advice about getting one.

2. I would have to hide my number so that if it is a bit dodgy they wouldn't have my phone number. e.g. to save any hassle in the future.

3. Be a bit rude and ignore it.

4. Ignore it as it may be potentially some kind of scam.


Any helpfull/relavent thoughts from you lot would be welcomed

SCOOBY TOWERS

iTrader: (7)

If your not interested in selling - No 4.

L19ESA

This happened to my old boss and genuinly(sp) the guy wanted to buy the car he offered a very good price so boss sold his car to him. Could be worth a try to phone and see but with hold your number to avoid future hassle.

RAF1

iTrader: (5)

Just ring it and see who is on the other line...
I bought my first scoob by stopping a guy in it near a set of traffic-lights... and the usual "sellin ur car mate?"
and he did as it happens (1 month later)

Raf.

BuRR

If you're not interested in selling it, rip it up and throw it away.

Dan B

Cheers guys.... The thing is, now I've got this note I am thinking about selling. I'm gonna have to sell it sooner or later, I'm leaving the country for a while next year, and they won't let me take the car with me.

I suppose the main question is: What is the likelihood of this being genuine?

BuRR

141 the phone number. Arrange to meet in a public well-populated place (go with a chaperone) and see what he/she wants.

Even consider not taking your car initially. Don't discuss things over the phone, either.

That's my advice, anyway.

Scratch

iTrader: (1)

You'll never know unless you call . . . .

But withholding you number or calling from work where caller ID may be switched off anyway would be a good precaution to take.

bits'n'pieces

On the first meet, turn up in another car and then take him/her to see your car, that way you can check if your being followed... make sure you have about ten friends with bats hidden in your garage in case of trouble....

Dan B

Indeed. I think I'll leave it this time.

At the end of the day it isn't much different to putting it in the trader anyway. Although this time the buyer gets a good look over the car beforehand. It just seems a bit dodgy....

and now for some lunch

SiPie

Good to see you are not easily swayed

Dan B

The cash waiting thing made me dribble. Sorry

Boro

iTrader: (1)

I reckon it sounds totally genuine (depending where you live i s'pose).

Round here i wouldnt think twice about ringing the number and seeing how much cash he has waiting

talizman

iTrader: (1)

I would have no qualms about phoning the guy and seeing what the script is, what harm can it do?

Its not as if you are going to be telling him your address or what security your car has!

He might make you an offer you can't resist!

If you don't want it, give me his phone number and he can buy mine! lol

jimr

Dan-B

Thats how I bough my first MKI Golf - I'd been looking for months and months and the ones I could find just weren't right, then I saw one I liked in a carpark. I left a note on the windscreen on a friday afternoon asking if the owner was interested in selling it, the guy who owned it called me from his work on the monday morning & I'd bought the car by the following friday.

If your serious about selling it then I'd given them a call (hide your phone number like everyone above mentions) have a chat and see if you think this person is genuine and away you go.

tweenierob

Dan, IMHO... I reckon this note may be very genuine mate...

I reckon one of your fellow ******** has seen your car parked in your car park and likes it. There is a good chance that due to the nature of your work the person who put the note on your car may have a large sum of money burning a hole..

Rob.

p.s. stars are there cause i aint sure you want people to know

Dan B

Shouldn't you be asleep?

Dan B

Keep the stars, it'll save explaining how I can afford one

Scoobydb

Give them a call or you'll never know. I reckon you'll get a reasonable idea how genuine it is when you speak to them on the phone. Just take all the precautions advised by the good people in this thread.

NotoriousREV

I had this happen with my old Lada 1600. Called the number and the next day a group of Lithuanian sailors turned up with a handful of cash and took my car away. The only time I ever made a profit on a car and the easiest sale ever

JockyTT

If it's a mobile number, ring it and get a landline number to call them back on, then make sure they answer.

Fuel Crusher

Also if you do ring only mention 'the note on my car' don't say what car/whereabouts etc. If they respond with 'which one' or 'what car was it' then think twice.
FC

davegtt

Ive considered leaving a note on cars b4 that Ive looked at. sometimes u can look on auto trader and they are dogs, a week later u see 1 parked up somewhere and Ivebeen so tempted to scribble a note out...

if ur thinking off selling ring see how much cash he has to give u, u neva know u mite get a good deal if hes struggling to find a car he likes he mite be willing to pay slightly ove rthe odds for it. some people do ya know

P1-day

dan,

maybe i miss-read, but did u say he left it on your windscreen last night, i.e. does that mean at your house. if thats the case, then if he was dodgy, unfortunately the motor probably would have already gone missing, no?? give him/her a call with all the precautions that everyone said to take.

Dan B

It was done in the car park outside my office. If it had been done at my house I would have been VERY worried.

I think I'll give 'em a number withheld call and see how much "cash waiting" there is, just to see what I could get....

tweenierob

£5

Rob

Dan B

Sold.

Dan B

Sold, to the man with the phallic facial attachment.

Carl2

If you do ring the number, ring it from a pay phone or something. I saw something ages ago about ringing a certain number from your mobile and them being able to do something with your mobile from the call. I can't remember if it was a simple case of cloning your mobile or something else.

tweenierob

LMFAO @ Dan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After your recent purchase mate... you should keep it.

Rob