Opinions Needed: Selling a Car, Who Should Pay for History Report?

[SeanRitchie]

I posted my 2016 Buick Verano commuter car on Craigslist last night. I had 6 messages by the time I woke up this morning, with a total of 11 different messages a I write this.

It's priced to sell at $5000, about $1000 below private party blue book value. It's a great car, it's been very reliable to me, with a clean title. I purchased it with 68,000 miles in August 2020 from the Buick dealership, it now has 161,000. It's a super clean car, and would be great for anyone needing a reliable commuter that gets 33 MPG on the highway.

There seem to be 6 interested parties, all are asking, actually demanding, that I provide the car history report. I listed the VIN number on the craigslist ad, and have told all of them if they want to pay to get the history before they purchase, that is on them. I am a private seller, and this is an "As Is" sale. All of them have responded saying that I, the seller, am responsible for providing that report.

It seems the reports are about $30-$40 online, which is no big deal for me to pay. But now I'm digging in my heels for the sole fact that I don't really care if these people are not going to buy it. I know this car will sell this weekend to anyone that comes and looks at it. My opinion is that if someone is really interested in this car, they should have no problem paying the $40 to get the history report before they come look at it to verify its clean. I am giving the buyer a $1000 discount after all. This is not some $40,000 sale, it's $5k, bring cash and drive it home.

What say the RDP brain trust? (if that even really exists)

Who pays for the history report? Buyer or seller.

 

[USCFAN]

It's a scam run.

 

[Gelcoater]

Opinions may vary but I’d say the buyer.
What’s $40 to ensure the car you want hasn’t been a complete pain in someone’s ass?

 

[Ziggy]

That is one of the newer(scam) trends and often is accompanied with a link for vin check from the senders.
Edit: the fact you have 6 asking for the same thing is a.

 

[badgas]

I posted my 2016 Buick Verano commuter car on Craigslist last night. I had 6 messages by the time I woke up this morning, with a total of 11 different messages a I write this.

It's priced to sell at $5000, about $1000 below private party blue book value. It's a great car, it's been very reliable to me, with a clean title. I purchased it with 68,000 miles in August 2020 from the Buick dealership, it now has 161,000. It's a super clean car, and would be great for anyone needing a reliable commuter that gets 33 MPG on the highway.

There seem to be 6 interested parties, all are asking, actually demanding, that I provide the car history report. I listed the VIN number on the craigslist ad, and have told all of them if they want to pay to get the history before they purchase, that is on them. I am a private seller, and this is an "As Is" sale. All of them have responded saying that I, the seller, am responsible for providing that report.

It seems the reports are about $30-$40 online, which is no big deal for me to pay. But now I'm digging in my heels for the sole fact that I don't really care if these people are not going to buy it. I know this car will sell this weekend to anyone that comes and looks at it. My opinion is that if someone is really interested in this car, they should have no problem paying the $40 to get the history report before they come look at it to verify its clean. I am giving the buyer a $1000 discount after all. This is not some $40,000 sale, it's $5k, bring cash and drive it home.

What say the RDP brain trust? (if that even really exists)

Who pays for the history report? Buyer or seller.

Up to you

Whenever I sell a car get a carfax report and smog check done just to make things easy and a quick sale. I have been in sales my entire life so I am all about a smooth transaction. Bake in the $40 bucks and avoid the friction.

For what it's worth, I also run my own carfax on a car I'm buying because I don't trust anyone.

 

[evantwheeler]

I posted my 2016 Buick Verano commuter car on Craigslist last night. I had 6 messages by the time I woke up this morning, with a total of 11 different messages a I write this.

It's priced to sell at $5000, about $1000 below private party blue book value. It's a great car, it's been very reliable to me, with a clean title. I purchased it with 68,000 miles in August 2020 from the Buick dealership, it now has 161,000. It's a super clean car, and would be great for anyone needing a reliable commuter that gets 33 MPG on the highway.

There seem to be 6 interested parties, all are asking, actually demanding, that I provide the car history report. I listed the VIN number on the craigslist ad, and have told all of them if they want to pay to get the history before they purchase, that is on them. I am a private seller, and this is an "As Is" sale. All of them have responded saying that I, the seller, am responsible for providing that report.

It seems the reports are about $30-$40 online, which is no big deal for me to pay. But now I'm digging in my heels for the sole fact that I don't really care if these people are not going to buy it. I know this car will sell this weekend to anyone that comes and looks at it. My opinion is that if someone is really interested in this car, they should have no problem paying the $40 to get the history report before they come look at it to verify its clean. I am giving the buyer a $1000 discount after all. This is not some $40,000 sale, it's $5k, bring cash and drive it home.

What say the RDP brain trust? (if that even really exists)

Who pays for the history report? Buyer or seller.

If you are under market value, tell anyone who wants to play games to kick rocks . If you are trying to get top dollar, sure, you need to separate yourself from the competition and prove the value is there, but this isn't the case here.

 

[TimeBandit]

Those are all scammers.

A real buyer has a few questions and then wants your address.

Scammers want you to pay for an inspection report and they have provided a nice link for you.

It is up to the buyer to get their own Carfax in any case.

 

[oldman]

If they send a link to use it's a scam, I went through this with a 2000 4 runner, I agreed but that I would use my own, and the guy would not except it, swore I had to use his.

 

[Tooms22]

If it's a scam, I usually mess with them.

"Ok, I did it and paid for it. It said it was sent to you."

Then watch them have a meltdown.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Scam…

 

[Todd Mohr]

Good scam, I bet they do well.

 

[SeanRitchie]

I assumed almost all of these were scams as well. All seemed too good to be true. Pretty crazy how they actually communicate with you though, I can see how sellers would be tempted to just say "Eff it, I'll pay the money for the stupid report if it makes you buy it!"

I've told everyone one of them the first person to show with cash drives away with it. We'll see who shows up Saturday morning.

 

[JAA_CBA]

I assumed almost all of these were scams as well. All seemed too good to be true. Pretty crazy how they actually communicate with you though, I can see how sellers would be tempted to just say "Eff it, I'll pay the money for the stupid report if it makes you buy it!"

I've told everyone one of them the first person to show with cash drives away with it. We'll see who shows up Saturday morning.

Yep, I'm selling my car and listed on FB too......so far I've had two legitimate buyers and the rest are scammers asking for history report..............

 

[Motor Boater]

Scam. I have them call me all the time on my boat. They are very pushy and want me to use a certain service to get the report. They get a kick back on every idiot that buys a $100 boat report. They are typically out of New York. Google their numbers and it always says scammer.

 

[steamin rice]

I just bought a used car for one of my kids this summer. When looking at cars listed at dealers, there was usually a link to the carfax which was appreciated and I trusted. There were a few private party cars that I got close to buying, and a friend pulled the carfax reports for me which was very helpful. In one case, there was a private party listing with screenshots of the carfax posted, but the actual carfax didn't match up with what was posted by the seller.

In short, if I am the buyer I will get my own carfax

I have never paid for a carfax report when selling my own vehicle to a private party

 

[callbob]

If they send a link to use it's a scam, I went through this with a 2000 4 runner, I agreed but that I would use my own, and the guy would not except it, swore I had to use his.

This

 

[77charger]

Buyer wants one have them pay for it. I wouldn’t do it as a seller as it’s not
My problem. Pay for it now buyer will want to try and get it for less backs out cause you won’t lower price and now stuck with the added fee for report.

 

[SPYLIFE]

Its such a shame that everything we try to do these days the scammers come out of the woodwork. Have a buddy who listed a Harley for sale on Monday. Within 30 minutes he had like 10-12 messages from all over the country and Canada who were going to pay him the asking, wanted his Venmo and would arrange to have the bike picked up. As others have stated they all wanted some report they sent a link to. So ridiculous.

Getting ready to move on my end, I'm taking my one of the cars over to Carmax, and take whatever they want to give me, it's just not worth the hassle of the scammers, low ballers, tire kickers with dumb questions, and all the people that are "on their way with cash" who never show. Have a GEM Car and enclosed trainer I'm going to blowout price on a few local boards to get rid of them, and not deal with all the shenanigans.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

This is 2FF level of how to spam the lounge! Post a pic or 2!

 

[Paradox]

Just a heads up, there is another one (in Corona) on Craigslist with 114,000 miles for $4,990.

I know someone looking for a car so I took a look at your ad. It is well done.

 

[Bajastu]

I sell off all of my used company vehicles once they have reached an odometer milestone or useable life. I always have some person asking is I have a car fax. I simply reply no, but if you provide your own Carfax, I’ll knock off the $40 off the sale price if they don’t beat down the price and buy it. Usually, the vehicle is priced to sell and there isn’t much negotiation room. We’re not looking to get rich on some old clapped-out F150 that has 150k + miles on it, so the price dictates the condition. Everything sells within a week. I learned to just build in the padding to cover the cost. Most of the time, a used car dealer comes and buys it, and they always have their own reports.

I just bought a used 2018 Toyota Tacoma for my son and the Toyota dealer already had a report ready for review. It’s a great selling tool. It seems that dealers know that these reports instill confidence in selling used vehicles.

 

[Outdrive1]

I had someone try to get me to go to some website for history on a boat. He was so mad that I wouldn’t do it. It was 2FF old Hallett and I had 14 years of receipts. The guy kept insisting that he would buy it if I just went to some site and got a history report. I figured it was a scam. He even offered to pay me back after doing the report. It was a really weird conversation.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I posted my 2016 Buick Verano commuter car on Craigslist last night. I had 6 messages by the time I woke up this morning, with a total of 11 different messages a I write this.

It's priced to sell at $5000, about $1000 below private party blue book value. It's a great car, it's been very reliable to me, with a clean title. I purchased it with 68,000 miles in August 2020 from the Buick dealership, it now has 161,000. It's a super clean car, and would be great for anyone needing a reliable commuter that gets 33 MPG on the highway.

There seem to be 6 interested parties, all are asking, actually demanding, that I provide the car history report. I listed the VIN number on the craigslist ad, and have told all of them if they want to pay to get the history before they purchase, that is on them. I am a private seller, and this is an "As Is" sale. All of them have responded saying that I, the seller, am responsible for providing that report.

It seems the reports are about $30-$40 online, which is no big deal for me to pay. But now I'm digging in my heels for the sole fact that I don't really care if these people are not going to buy it. I know this car will sell this weekend to anyone that comes and looks at it. My opinion is that if someone is really interested in this car, they should have no problem paying the $40 to get the history report before they come look at it to verify its clean. I am giving the buyer a $1000 discount after all. This is not some $40,000 sale, it's $5k, bring cash and drive it home.

What say the RDP brain trust? (if that even really exists)

Who pays for the history report? Buyer or seller.

Nobody is responsible for that report. If they want one, they can get one. If it's a deal breaker and you want to pay for it to close the deal, then get one.

It's not a requirement to sell a car.

 

[Deckin Around]

I post a pic of the vin# in the add pics and tell people to do all the research they want.

 

[Good Stuff]

Scam. I have them call me all the time on my boat. They are very pushy and want me to use a certain service to get the report. They get a kick back on every idiot that buys a $100 boat report. They are typically out of New York. Google their numbers and it always says scammer.

I think they are actually getting all your credit card information off their fake website.

 

[DirtyWhiteDog]

I can run the report for you, send $35. To [email protected]

 

[pronstar]

If they asked nicely, sure I’ll pull a Carfax. And the price just went up by the cost of the Carfax.

If they’re demanding it, I would just block them and move on with my life.

 

[SeanRitchie]

Since posting this yesterday, the scamming is quite obvious. Sent out quite a few "kick rocks" reply's this morning. Virtual fist bumps for all of the responses to this thread, thank you everyone.

I had one lady actually call and ask me questions about it. We'll see if she shows Saturday morning.

 

[mbrown2]

Just get a car fax and post a pic of it on the add....never click on a website provided by someone you do not know....information stealers...

 

[rivermobster]

Its such a shame that everything we try to do these days the scammers come out of the woodwork. Have a buddy who listed a Harley for sale on Monday. Within 30 minutes he had like 10-12 messages from all over the country and Canada who were going to pay him the asking, wanted his Venmo and would arrange to have the bike picked up. As others have stated they all wanted some report they sent a link to. So ridiculous.

Getting ready to move on my end, I'm taking my one of the cars over to Carmax, and take whatever they want to give me, it's just not worth the hassle of the scammers, low ballers, tire kickers with dumb questions, and all the people that are "on their way with cash" who never show. Have a GEM Car and enclosed trainer I'm going to blowout price on a few local boards to get rid of them, and not deal with all the shenanigans.

This is what I did. One and done. Bye car!