So I have listed my Forester for sale and I am getting blown up with calls/texts from North Carolina from people saying they purchase cars for dealerships.

Call me paranoid, or old school or whatever, but this sounds sketchy. I listed the car at a price that makes sense for an individual to buy it, but I'm not seeing a profit for a dealer who'd pay for the car, the cost of some dude to come to WV to look at it, etc. So I immediately think it's some kind of scam.

Anyone ever hear of this??

I've heard of it. It is the opening gambit in a scam.

Stay away.

^^^ Yes, it's a scam.

Where have you listed it for sale? Craigslist is a magnet for scam artists. Yes, it's possible to sell a car there, which I have done.
However, I have received better offers by listing cars on AutoTrader, with fewer BS fake 'buyers'.

Even if they feel they can negotiate it down to a reasonable cost for them, doing business this way 1 private car at a time wouldn't even be logistically feasible in terms of time and resources. They get cars brought to them in trade or wholesale at auction.

I'll buy it though, if it checks out I'll pick it up and Shady's Ford in Yurdum, ID will send you a money order!

An ex-coworker got burned in this,consigned and lost his truck and was still on the hook to the lender. Big lot on the main street through town, late model cars and trucks.
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbor...mits_to_federal.html

SCAM.

But if you have the time - this is the type of scenario where you can have some real fun with these dirtbags.

I just sold my outback had on Facebook and Craigslist. 4 out 5 on criagslist we're scams but final guy was legit. Gotta deal with bullshit to get the one real person.

Asking you if they could pay with three-dollar bills should have sent up a red flag.

Yeah, I listed on FB and Craigslist. Pulled the CL ad, not worth the nuisance. But, totally forgot about Autotrader. LOL Especially funny as that's where I got my Jeep just a few months ago!

From time to time I'll sell a relatively pricy (for CL) instrument on CL. Screening thoroughly is part of the game. Most potential buyers do not make it past the identity-verification phase.

I *believe* a new chapter in this game is getting an old phone number and then taking the persona of the person to whom the number previously belonged. Name, address. They usually cannot get an errant email address which may come up on google associated with the bona-fide person.

When something stinks, I back out. Most of these "buyers" are kids with wanna-be aspirations as big-time traders. The usual patter on valuation, diminished value due to a particular model year's issues, a model shunned because of a particular feature or lack there-of.

A few years back a friend was contemplating the sale of an unloved Subaru Impreza. She lived in a desert area. If I handled the sale I would have listed it in Flagstaff, two hours north, where the demand would be higher. Advertised with 24 images, sold the *sizzle*, and priced for a quick sale.

I've sold several vehicles on CL, usually after I've worn them down to a nub. The price has always been, "just get them out of here" low. Motivated buyers have a way of popping out of the woodwork when the price is right.

A mint guitar, on the other hand, I have no problem relisting that for 18 months, until a potential buyer makes the criteria to inspect the instrument.

When an unknown contractor listed a CL request for a job permit, I typed back a long list of requirements for me to secure his permit. His own licensing, particular insurance requirements, fees, contract, and my involvement. Two months later, he agreed. Now 28 months later, he has three trucks, a hefty advertising budget, and he calls me in for the most lucrative jobs.

So CL works sometimes. It is the 10% solution.