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For Sail/Sale to Chile?

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JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/23/2011 : 10:51:50

My boat is advertised for sale on various websites, but I am really in no rush to sell it. If the right offer comes along I would seriously consider it.
So I receive an email from someone in Chile who wants to buy my boat. I am in California. Does this sound legit, or a scam? I know NOT to give out my bank account information, and to set up an escrow account if we indeed move forward with this. I also know that shipping to Chile carries no guarantees and is very expensive, so this person would have to carry all the risk and expense.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and what was the outcome?
My gut feeling is to ignore this but the person emailing me says they are serious and really want the boat.

Your thoughts, or experiences?

Thanks all - in advance - and Happy Holidays!!

John
"Enchanted Becuma"
C250 '04 WK #746

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4023 Posts

Response Posted - 12/24/2011 : 08:14:34

Make it a cash only deal and see if he is still interested. Tell him that with all the scams coming from foreign countries that this is the only way you would proceed on the sale.

Edited by - islander on 12/24/2011 08:47:58

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 12/24/2011 : 09:55:01

Some clues to a true scam: Buyer offers to sent a "bank check" for the full asking price plus a significant additional amount to cover shipping--sight unseen--with the understanding that you will wire back the overage.

You ship the boat, wire back a thousand dollars or so, and several months later you receive word from your bank that the original check was rejected by a bank somewhere in Africa, to which the Chilean account was somehow linked. Your boat is gone, and your money (including the $1000 refund) is gone--all have disappeared without a trace. And somebody potentially has wire-transfer access to your bank account. This is not a fairy tale.

I'm not saying this is the case here... I'm just sayin'... Be very careful out there...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/24/2011 14:44:23

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/24/2011 : 15:33:38

If I received a similar email, it would take me all of a second, or maybe less, to select "delete"!

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 12/25/2011 : 18:29:31

Scam...how many would even consider buying a boat sight unseen? I had this problem when I tried to sell my C 25, they even sent me a "bank draft" on a US bank. I called the bank to verify the funds. The first thing the bank lady said was, "You didn't sent them any money did you??" I said I had not, then she told me to send them the check and they'd call the FBI.

Edited by - on

jlannutti
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2012 : 06:47:01

I know I'm late responding to this thread but here goes.

I got numerous messages within hours of posting my boat on Craigs List. Obvious scams from other countries. Many referred to their "agent" coming to give me a check. Many were automated I think that responded to any big ticket item for sale. The often said that they were looking for the "exact product" I was selling. All had some involved excuse why they could not personally come to look at the boat. They were aboard a merchant ship, involved in an election in their country, at college overseas, or buying the vessel for a friend/relative in my area. They were all BS and will stop me from using Craigs List again. This is a case of "let the seller beware". Please be careful.
I also checked my spam folder and found dozens of xxx rated e mails for women or products that had been weeded out by my security settings. All of them were in response to that Craigs List posting. Its a sick world out there in cyberspace!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2012 : 08:09:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jlannutti
 Its a sick world out there in cyberspace!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Nah--it's just pure, unfettered capitalism.

(OK, OK... I know.

)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/17/2012 08:11:28

Sailor Vic
1st Mate

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56 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2012 : 14:00:19

I suggest that you not give up on Craigslist as I have used it successfully many times to sell many things and highly recommend it for selling your sailboat.

Example?

Three months ago I sold my Catalina 34MKII in a couple of weeks thanks to Craigslist.

I actually had a number of people who came and physically looked at my boat and three seriously wanted to buy it. All thanks to Craigslist.

Believe it or not before that I had it listed with one San Francisco Bay yacht broker for 5 months without any really serious offers. Talk about a time waster.

Then I had it listed it with the main and most successful San Fran Catalina dealer yacht broker in the Bay for 2 months. They initially told me that listing it at $92,000. (they'd take a 10% commission) it would sell VERY fast and were willing to only list it for 2 months instead their normal 6 months as it was "sure to sell."

They appeared to show my boat quite a bit and worked hard to sell it.

They did get me a few offers however those were significantly less than the listed price of $92,000. and so after the 2 month listing ran out I offered it myself on Craiglist at a "firm" $84,900. and immediately received honest to goodness and serious local buyers and I was able to sell it at my asking price (no commissions) and all within 2 weeks.

So I suggest that Craigslist does work.

Show nice pictures. If you know how to create a website create a nice webpage and have a link from your Craigslist ad to that website. If you don't know how to do that no worries....just show 4 nice pictures on Craigslist.

Price your boat at a realistic price. As I did pass some of the savings of not selling through a broker onto the buyer.

To me one of the "secrets" of Craigslist (to save yourself time/hassles) is to state in the ad that you won't be replying to any emails that are generated through Craigslist. They must email you directly and for them to make the subject line read something like "regarding buying your 2005 Catalina 250WK" or whatever. In other words make it clear in the ad that there are spammers and scammers out there and you want to avoid them and so you ought to give specific instructions on how those interested in your boat can contact you outside of using the email from Craigslist.

If a person can't read or ignores that note/comment and emails you through Craigslist anyway....most likely they're wasting your time anyway. Just ignore those emails.

Also I suggest that you list/show your email address such as:

email me at: Vic at Whatever dot com

rather than Vic@Whatever.com

You will be weeding out both spammers, some scammers and those that can't follow instructions.

Also I suggest that you show your phone number differently than "normal" such as

555 dash One2Three - 4 Five Six Seven rather than 555-123-4567

Yes it's a "sick" world in some sense as there have always been some who have no scruples however the majority of us are ethical and Craigslist can be a beautiful thing.

I mean you are able to reach thousands of potential buyers at no cost to you. Thanks to Craigslist.

Good luck and the best,

Vic

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2012 : 06:38:47

Concur with Vic, but also be mindful that the real buyers checking out craigs list are also leary of spammers.

Adding pics definitely helps.

Paul

Edited by - on

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