Chicago, IL – March 29, 2012 – When looking to sell your vehicle you need to know how to get your car into the right hands. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois (BBB) recommends following a few key pointers to ensure that you avoid scams and make sure your sale goes smoothly.
“If the buyer asks you to wire money or avoids meeting you face-to-face, steer clear,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois. “Never give too much personal information to the potential buyer. In some scamming situations, the buyer will send a check for an amount greater than the asking price, and ask you to wire him back the difference. If the buyer’s check bounces, you’re out the money you wired.”
When working with a potential buyer, the BBB recommends considering the following:
Communicate with the potential buyer. Don’t rely solely on email conversations. Meet face-to-face and be open and honest about your car’s conditions. Many times buyers are good at vetting a car’s conditions and will turn down your offer if it’s not all you say it is. Keep all records of service so that the buyer can see proof that you have cared for the vehicle.
First impressions matter. Consider getting the car cleaned and tuned up. By investing in the time to let them test ride your car, you’ll know that the buyer is serious about making an offer.
Don’t overshare. Make notes for yourself that you can refer to while on the phone with a potential buyer. Keep them handy for when it comes time to talk about the car’s maintenance history. When meeting with the buyer, meet in a neutral, well lit location. Don’t give them your home address.
Seal the deal. Give the potential buyer ample time to ask questions. This will help avoid problems in the future. Once you feel confident that you shared all of the details about the car, it will be time to start talking money. Also, always be honest with the buyer on the car’s conditions.
For more consumer tips you can trust, visit www.bbb.org
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As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.