Looking For a Car is a Pain in the Ass
You'd think buying a cheap car would be
easy. I find a car that sounds reasonable...I talk to the guy...turns out the
window's cracked...or the car overheats if you use the AC too long or whatever.
I'm going to have to watch my ass here, because people are fucking crooked.
I've been browsing Craigslist, and
wow...nothing could have prepared me for this. I saw an ad that read:
2000 Nissan Altima 1 Owner - $2500
Reply to: sale-158980678@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-05-09, 9:08AM CDT
Year: 2000
VIN: 1N4DL01A3YC158946
Transmission: Automatic
Interior Color: Tan
Make: Nissan
Engine: 4 - Cyl. 2.4 L
Body Style: 4 door sedan
Model: Altima
Mileage: 70,700
Title Status: Clear
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION & 2.4 LITER ENGINE
GIVES 21/28 MPG!!
AS NEW TAN LEATHER INTERIOR
ONE OWNER TOP- OF-THE-LINE GLE
POWER SEAT & CD STEREO
COMPLETELY SERVICED AND DETAILED
NEEDS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!
So I respond back to it in amazement that
someone will sell a 2000 Nissan for shit money. I soon found out why.
Here's the email I received:
From : R M < jackmoris1122@gmail.com
>
Sent : Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:14 AM
Subject : Re: Nissan for sale
Hi there,
Thank you for contacting me regarding my item.
First of all I want to tell you that the car
is in perfect condition,
and the price includes all the shipping costs
and insurance so you
will not have to pay any extra charges.The car
has a Clean Tittle
which will come along with it.I am a US
citizen, based in Milano.
I moved to Italy because I was sent here with
work.
The car is with me here and is in a perfect
condition.
It's a great car,
I am devastated that I have to sell it but
I have to pay too much money to register it
here,so I decided to sell it.
The car is still registered in the States.
Tell me if there is anything else you would
like to know about the car.
If u want to see more pictures of the car
please ask me that !
Thank you for the interest you have shown in
purchasing the car.
Please reply,
Regards,
Keep in mind that someone would only post
this if it has worked before. While I find it hard to believe that anyone would
get suckered into this, I then remind myself that there are people in this
country who STILL think Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld are doing a good job. So, I had to
respond:
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your response. I am definitely
interested in purchasing the aforementioned Nissan despite the vagueness of
your e-mail as if this were a form letter from a prince in Nigeria. However, my
gut is telling me that you are on the level and not out to ass-rape me like a
telemarketer promising a 90-year old deaf woman on disability a scooter if she
mails a check. It certainly sounds believable that a U.S. citizen living in
Italy would pay to have a car delivered to the United States for $2500.
So let's move forward with this. Before
purchasing the vehicle, I will need a few things from you. First, I'll need a
digital image of your driver's license or identification card (you ARE a US
citizen, right?) and one of your passport. I'll need a digital scan of the
title of the car as well as a picture of the VIN number on the car to make sure
it matches. Since it is registered in the United States, I'll need proof of
that as well. I'm sure this will be no problem, right?
Since I cannot test drive the car ahead of
time, I'll need you to post a video online of you test driving the vehicle (make
sure the sound is on so I can hear the engine). With the video camera, please
show the interior of the car and the engine, as I would check them if the car
was in my own country.
Once you do this, I will agree to pay $2500.
However, I will need to pay this money to a friend or relative of yours here in
the United States...preferably in Texas. You being a U.S. citizen, you HAVE to
know someone you can trust here, right? Oh, and make sure that person brings an
attorney as I will have one with me. Once a contract is written and signed by
your representative, I will give that person a cashier's check with your name
on it (that matches the ID and passport). I will then await the car to be
shipped to me.
Thanks.
No word back yet.