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Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:05 am
by omacdon2
Thanks, I really appreciate it. I just sent them some questions and asked for some more pictures. I must say though that it's a bit out of my price range as I was hoping to spend maximum $10,000 for a running, driving bus even though I know I can probably negotiate it down. But we'll see what the owner says about the condition of it.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:37 am
by asiab3
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2249604

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcUcTVTaC3o

They've had it on Instagram for a few weeks at a slightly higher price, and I just saw the Samba ad yesterday.

I know a fellow in Southern California who does inspections…
Robbie

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:07 pm
by TrollFromDownBelow
Nice score Robbie! If it lives up to its billing, the OP could ship it back and still be within budget.

So ya' know a guy in So Cal that does inspections, eh? ;)

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:58 pm
by tommu
Worth finding out more about this one too: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/c ... 03259.html Sometimes a lack of a picture is a good thing..

Have you got craigslist alerts set for all the dry places in CA, AZ etc?

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 1:08 pm
by TrollFromDownBelow
tommu wrote:
Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:58 pm
Worth finding out more about this one too: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/c ... 03259.html Sometimes a lack of a picture is a good thing..
I'd find out if 'missing pop top' means no canvas (relatively easy fix..IIRC about $150-$200) or the whole fiberglass top + the canvas. To give you an idea of the cost to replace, I saw a non Westie pop top on the Samba for $600 plus shipping.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 6:36 pm
by omacdon2
Thanks guys but I'm kind of weary of about shipping a Cali bus because I was so close to buying one once and having it shipped, but I found out the person was a scammer. The owner of the Michigan bus didn't get back to me yet. I will keep my eyes peeled for other closer buses.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:56 pm
by tommu
Wise to be concerned - but you now have an audience who love nothing more than to peer review :)
Scammers succeed when they offer you a deal you MUST keep to yourself.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 2:58 pm
by TrollFromDownBelow
tommu wrote:
Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:56 pm
Wise to be concerned - but you now have an audience who love nothing more than to peer review :)
Scammers succeed when they offer you a deal you MUST keep to yourself.
What he said...You've got folks on this forum located on the rust free West Coast who would most likely go take a peek on your behalf.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 4:47 pm
by TrollFromDownBelow

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 7:56 pm
by tommu
This too: DELETED[/u] (ed-02/06)
Clearly needs work, but..

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:50 pm
by Amskeptic
TrollFromDownBelow wrote:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 4:47 pm
This could be interesting....
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/ ... 35825.html
I am in Pensacola . . .
Colin

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 1:02 pm
by omacdon2
I just messaged the seller of the Pensacola bus so we'll see what they say :)

I also just found this local bus https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/d ... 77478.html and messaged the seller too. OMG Update: I just did a reverse image search and found the pictures of it all over the internet from "buses" in different locations. Probably another scammer

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:43 pm
by TrollFromDownBelow
omacdon2 wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 1:02 pm
I just messaged the seller of the Pensacola bus so we'll see what they say :)

I also just found this local bus https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/d ... 77478.html and messaged the seller too. OMG Update: I just did a reverse image search and found the pictures of it all over the internet from "buses" in different locations. Probably another scammer
Tough call. It has the 'smell' of a potential scammer (low price, few pics), but they did provide a phone number. Although, it is an Automatic, which is less desirable, and they may just want to dump it...who knows? Did the other listings for this bus that you found have a different phone number, or where they all the same - if the same, more likely it is legit.

From this topic, it appears that your preference is email, IF that is the case, I would suggest changing tactics and sending a text at first, and then calling after your initial contact if you are serious. I have bought and sold close to 60 cars and motorcycles in nearly my 50 year life span - I would say that over the past 10-11 years, almost all initial contact is done via text first (regardless of my role buyer or seller :). When the seller only provides an email address, I always provide my cell in the response....this is also a very good indicator of scammers...if they are real, they will call or text me. Scammers continue to just email.

I have on a very, very few occasions (ok, twice ....once about 15 years ago when I was selling, and once about a year ago as an interested buyer) engaged with scammers (no, not swindled, but convinced enough on initial presentation that they were legit enough to reach out to). You will find out super quick if they are scammers...you never talk to them via phone, and typically their responses are all canned if in email. You've got nothin' to lose but a few seconds/minutes time by calling the number, or sending a text. :)

EDIT:
Thought I would share the last encounter I had with a scammer. They did provide a ph # which I texted, they then said they were a nephew/cousin/brother/ etc. and gave me an email address of the 'real' owner, that they were only filtering out scammers :) Didn't think too much of it, but after a couple of email exchanges (each one I gave my ph # which they never called) it became very obvious that it was a scam.

Moral of the story: if they provide a phone # and tell you to email...probably a scam.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:17 pm
by omacdon2
Thanks for the tip! Just got a reply from the Pensacola bus (Runs great. No rust. Texas bus. Needs just the canvas. It seems very reliable but it is a Volkswagen. It has a Texas title.).
I think this is the same situation as the Maine bus where the owner never registered it in his name so my state (MA) won't accept that. :/
As for the possible scammer bus, when I did the image search, the pictures showed a bus that sold on eBay for over $30,000 then another one in Maryland and somewhere else too.
TrollFromDownBelow wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:43 pm
omacdon2 wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 1:02 pm
I just messaged the seller of the Pensacola bus so we'll see what they say :)

I also just found this local bus https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/d ... 77478.html and messaged the seller too. OMG Update: I just did a reverse image search and found the pictures of it all over the internet from "buses" in different locations. Probably another scammer
Tough call. It has the 'smell' of a potential scammer (low price, few pics), but they did provide a phone number. Although, it is an Automatic, which is less desirable, and they may just want to dump it...who knows? Did the other listings for this bus that you found have a different phone number, or where they all the same - if the same, more likely it is legit.

From this topic, it appears that your preference is email, IF that is the case, I would suggest changing tactics and sending a text at first, and then calling after your initial contact if you are serious. I have bought and sold close to 60 cars and motorcycles in nearly my 50 year life span - I would say that over the past 10-11 years, almost all initial contact is done via text first (regardless of my role buyer or seller :). When the seller only provides an email address, I always provide my cell in the response....this is also a very good indicator of scammers...if they are real, they will call or text me. Scammers continue to just email.

I have on a very, very few occasions (ok, twice ....once about 15 years ago when I was selling, and once about a year ago as an interested buyer) engaged with scammers (no, not swindled, but convinced enough on initial presentation that they were legit enough to reach out to). You will find out super quick if they are scammers...you never talk to them via phone, and typically their responses are all canned if in email. You've got nothin' to lose but a few seconds/minutes time by calling the number, or sending a text. :)

EDIT:
Thought I would share the last encounter I had with a scammer. They did provide a ph # which I texted, they then said they were a nephew/cousin/brother/ etc. and gave me an email address of the 'real' owner, that they were only filtering out scammers :) Didn't think too much of it, but after a couple of email exchanges (each one I gave my ph # which they never called) it became very obvious that it was a scam.

Moral of the story: if they provide a phone # and tell you to email...probably a scam.

Re: VW Bus Buying Advice

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 9:23 pm
by TrollFromDownBelow
If you are saying the bus in FL is a texas bus( The MI bus was Texas also) then it will cost them about $400 or so to register it according to google. To be frank, that's on them, it should be part of the negotiation process that they've proven they have done it prior to any financial transaction. If they are not willing to do that, then walk away.