Anybody from Macomb Michigan? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 01-09-2008, 11:48 PM

I have a fellow up there who lives at 56655 Hastings Dr. who wants me to deliver a bmw to him and pay about 2/3 of the money cash upon delivery. Is that a safe neighborhood for a 59 year old man to travel in alone?

I have received an amount from him by paypal which will cover my expenses for the trip, more or less, so theoretically I can just come home with the car if the deal goes south.

I am now wondering if this is a good idea.

Tom W

Larry Delor · #2 01-10-2008, 12:04 AM

When I lived near there, it was considered the sticks. Most of what you will see there, was farmland 20 years ago. I would consider it safer than the I-94 that you will most likely be driving on to get there.

btw, Romeo Plank Rd, was called that, because it was at one time actually made out of planks.

jcyuhn · #3 01-10-2008, 11:27 AM

My younger brother lives near 26 Mile & Dequindre, not too far away. Overall it's a reasonably nice area. Generally white collar, nicer homes. Lots of new construction, it is near the edge of the metro Detroit area.

A quick look at Google maps satellite view shows that address in a neighborhood of homes on multi-acre lots, widely spaced and low density.

You're likely OK making the transaction at his home. If you're not comfortable, why not make the transaction at a secure public location. How about the lobby of a bank? If you bank at a big national bank, you could find the nearest branch and deposit the cash before leaving the lobby. Or, meet at his bank and have him buy you a money order or cashiers check. Converting the cash to a non-bearer instrument before heading home should increase your feeling of security. Or, have Howitzer provide physical security; he has more munitions than the local armory

- JimY

suginami · #4 01-10-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

Or, have Howitzer provide physical security; he has more munitions than the local armory

- JimY

There you go.

dynalow · #5 01-10-2008, 01:05 PM

Tom,

Here's a little info on the place.
http://www.zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=48044

t walgamuth · #6 01-10-2008, 01:22 PM

I went over and discussed it with my favorite machinist. We came up with the plan to meet him near ann arbor so I can make it up and back in a day and don't have to drive my rig through the heart of murder city.

Thanks everybody for your input.

If he cannot agree to that (I will reduce the delivery charge) I will simply send his money back.

Tom W

Monomer · #7 01-10-2008, 06:36 PM

I've been in macomb or the past 16 years.

never had any problems.

Medmech · #8 01-10-2008, 07:09 PM

Macomb is a nice area but you can never be too safe its best to take someone with you I don't think meeting at an alternate location would be much help because if you are going to get robbed I don't think a robber is picky about location.

pastmaster · #9 01-10-2008, 11:21 PM

Hi Tom,

When did you get the BMW? As you know I lived in Ann Arbor, for over 50 years, born and raised, had a business there. PM me with some of the details of where you are going to meet in ANN ARBOR. There are some places there that you don't want to be at during certain times.

You may want to meet at the Zal-Gaz Grotto Club, on W. Stadium Blvd. A Masonic club, that I am still a member and there are plenty Police Bros. and next door, my ex-neighbor, owns Naylor Motors, the Chrysler-Jeep Dealer, and could give you some help, and some of my old friends, if you needed it. Just an idea for you.

Paul

t walgamuth · #10 01-10-2008, 11:27 PM

I googled the young man and found his my space website. He seems like a pretty normal 25 year old hot on his beemer and looking for hot ladies.

I talked to him on the phone this morning and my biggest concern now is that he is planning to meet me driving a jeep that he says has a bad water pump. I am thinking I will get there and he will be broken down in the heart of detroit and want me to bring the car to him.

So I advised him to borrow a truck with a good water pump. I will call early tomorrow and if he does not have reliable wheels lined up I will put off the delivery until he does.

Thanks for all the input, guys.

Tom W

cscmc1 · #11 01-11-2008, 11:49 AM

Tom -- Did you triple check that PayPal payment to ensure that it's still good, and transfer the funds out of your PayPal account and into your bank? If he paid via credit card he can always file a chargeback, and if he also indicated a "ship to" address with his payment, you need to cover your butt in case he files an "item not received" with PayPal. Send him a letter thanking him for his purchase and have it sent signature required, if nothing else, just so you have some proof of delivery that's trackable online should PayPal ask for it.

I hate to sound paranoid, but folks are getting pretty good at the ins and outs of abusing PayPal. If nothing else, call PayPal (and wait on hold for 30-40 minutes) and ask what they'd recommend.

Off topic -- I know you had second thoughts about finding a Fiero to autocross, but here's an interesting one near StL: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/533960457.html

Chris

t walgamuth · #12 01-12-2008, 08:40 PM

I delivered the car to him today at his place of business. Everything seems to be on the up and up. I met his mom and sister too. Got the rest of the money in cash. He seems like a very nice young man.

The area was not at all scary. The drive took me on 696 which is across to the north of the worst areas of Detroit.

It was an uneventful drive....very nice today as the sun came out in the morning and stayed out pretty much all day.

The big dodge towing the little bimmer on my 18' utility trailer about half at 65 and half at 75 knocked down about 17 mpg. ON the trip home without the car I spent most of the day driving about 75 and the rest driving 68 and it looked like I must have gotten 19 on that leg. I think at 85K miles the cummins is finally getting broken in! I got over 23 recently on a trip with no trailer and driving around 65.

Thanks for all your input and ideas. I am pretty sure everyting here is going to be fine.

Tom W

nate300d · #13 01-12-2008, 09:04 PM

This past October I was in the Dearborn/Detroit area for a week. My safety concern was the condition of the streets tearing my 1981 300D.

Medmech · #14 01-12-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate300d

This past October I was in the Dearborn/Detroit area for a week. My safety concern was the condition of the streets tearing my 1981 300D.

The reason its the big 3 capital is because foreign cars disappear in the potholes.

Detroit is not that bad near the highways or downtown, since the new stadiums downtown is nice I don't have any fear of the area. It would be a good drive for Tom many of the old auto mansions near downtown have been restored its an architectural treat.

jcyuhn · #15 01-12-2008, 11:04 PM

Which auto mansions are those? I grew up in Grosse Pointe, and during my childhood many of the auto baron mansions were torn down and entire subdivisions built on the lot - e.g. Rose Terrace, the Dodge brothers estate.

The Edsel & Eleanor Ford house is open as a museum. It's amazing how that family lived. For example, the furniture was Louis XIV - not the style, it was the actual pieces prevously owned by the king of France! Worth a tour for any auto buff. The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn has a very nice car collection, among other stuff.

- JimY