As others have said, do a lien search. Check with the State of Alabama on his business being legit.

He has a right to be pissed not getting paid until you’re satisfied if that means he waits to get paid until you see the machine. It’s the buyers responsibility to inspect or have the equipment inspected. It might be worth the round trip ticket to go look at it and see their operation.

This is probably an expensive purchase, and if I were you I'd hop on a plane and go see in person.
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If this is not a major player:

1. Do a lien check.

2. Use a check that is satisfactory to the seller. Bank check, certified funds check, etc.
Tender the check and pick up the equipment at the same time.

If this is a major purchase for you, I would do it in person.

Why doesn't this type of Equipment have Titles ? Is it because they are "Off Road" ?

Where I'm at there is a lot of new home construction and lots of Equipment around. What prevents someone "hot wiring" and loading it on a trailer, to either use or sell ?

^^^ Nothing. It happens all the time. With a little luck and some decent investigative work the thieves get caught but if your holding the stollen equipment you quit possibly end up with nothing.

Most equipment use a common key unlike automobiles that have its own key.

quote:

Most equipment use a common key unlike automobiles that have its own key.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not anymore. Maybe on some of the older machines. Jethro just needs to remember to not leave the key in the igntion at the end of the day.

Thanks guys, lots of good info. This turned out to be a scam it appears. Not 100% sure about 85%. So pulled the plug. I could not afford to lose a lot of $ on a possible fraudulent deal.
Thanks A and N for offering some resources to help make a determination.

All you guys are the absolute best there is

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

Most equipment use a common key unlike automobiles that have its own key.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not anymore. Maybe on some of the older machines. Jethro just needs to remember to not leave the key in the igntion at the end of the day.

Believe what you want but you be wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by Mustang-PaPa:
^^^ Nothing. It happens all the time. With a little luck and some decent investigative work the thieves get caught but if your holding the stollen equipment you quit possibly end up with nothing.

Most equipment use a common key unlike automobiles that have its own key.

Yeah, back in the day equipment operators usually carried their own copy of a Caterpillar key, a Deere key, etc. for equipment they had experience operating. ISTR that different classes of equipment had different keys, but certainly not individual units. A standard part of an employment interview was to verify that the potential hire had his own key for the unit that they would be operating. I think I still have my old Deere loader/backhoe key around here somewhere, although that aspect of my life is far behind me.

Honesty and integrity were more common values back then, as you might imagine.

quote:

When I questioned him and told him I would not wire funds until I as satisfied he got pissed.

For me, that is a red flag.

This looks like it’s run its course but I’ll offer the following suggestion for any future transaction and, generally, for the good of the order. I’ve worked on a number of significant transactions like this and we very often use a lawyer local to seller to act as an escrow agent. Buyer wires the money to the lawyer’s trust account then seller delivers the goods. Buyer has time to inspect the goods (usually 7-14 days) at the end of which he must either accept or reject them. If he accepts, the money is released to seller. If he returns the goods the money is returned to buyer and everyone goes their merry way. This seems to work well and ferrets out the scammers.

I would definitely run a UCC search on any significant purchase of commercial equipment. It’s like running a title search on real estate.

The problem on this type of equipment is that the cost to move it may be significant. So move it and then inspect is problematic. Me personally I'd buy from a clearly established seller and have it inspected by a 3rd party if I couldn't do it my self. Or I'd pay the costs to go look at in person, do the transaction and arrange my own transportation.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

Most equipment use a common key unlike automobiles that have its own key.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not anymore. Maybe on some of the older machines. Jethro just needs to remember to not leave the key in the igntion at the end of the day.

You sure about that? They’ve changed the plastic handle end on Cat keys a few times, but the part that goes in the lock is the same. All Cat equipment I’ve ever seen (except the old stuff that just has the battery master switch “key” and the really old stuff that uses a gasoline powered pony motor that you start with a pull rope) uses the same key.

bobcat newer stuff has a key and numerical keycode to start the machine

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep. Thanks for posting.

If you don't feel comfortable don't do it plain and simple. If there are red flags another reason to pass and move on to something else. Better to pass on a legit deal then move forward on a bad deal and lose your money. There are other excavators out there available for sale if you really want one so be patient until the right deal comes your way.