I am going to put a project collector car for sale on e-bay and it appears that most of the really interested buyers for this car are in Europe; as it would be a bargain in the Euro to Dollar exchange.
Okay; how do you get paid from a buyer in Italy or Denmark without getting burned? What do I tell buyers to do?


Okay; before asking "what kind of car??" I'll reluctantly answer, the car is a rusted 1960 Alfa Giulietta Spider; but the question is about the transaction and not the car. (Every time say what kind of car this is, I get a mailbox full of lowball offers; thus my reluctance).

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

I'm assuming this is the 6-year-waiting-on-payment car? I'd go with paypal - despite the fees/headaches sometimes found with using the service.

I hope it works out better this time for you.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

If by "safe", you mean "safe for you", then I would not use PayPal. It's very convenient for both parties, but for many international transactions, protection for the seller is sorely lacking.

That said, I've accepted PayPal a number of times for international transactions without yet getting burned - but I knew the risks involved, and in many cases, had good reason to believe that the buyers were on the up-and-up. If I had concerns, especially about a high-dollar item, then I'd see if the buyer were willing to use a wire transfer. I've never used an escrow service, but that might be an option, too.

Go to the discussion boards on eBay. Don't just believe everything you read there, but there are folks who know all about this sort of thing. Find them.

Pay-pal percentage fees are so high...... and even more if they use a credit card.
What information do i need to give for a wire transfer?
My checking account # and bank routing number? This is what makes me very, very nervous.

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

If you don’t want to go with PayPal, then go to your bank.
Tell them you want to get a wire transfer from an overseas account.
Tell them that you are not comfortable with providing the sender with your personal account information. (It’s a one time sale deal, etc. They'll understand.)
They can set up their own account for the incoming transfer.
They will need the dollar amount and information from the sending bank (but not his account number).
You will provide him with your banks information.
The transfer is made.
Your bank transfers the money to your account.
Your bank closes their receiving account.
Transaction done.
Send him the car.

We do this sort of thing quite often. Works fine. Banks like receiving money. No fees (at our banks anyway).

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

THANK YOU!
After doing a forum search on E-Bay; & calling my bank; the bank transfer is the best and safest way.
Apparently this quite common in Europe and is safe to use your own checking account numbers as this is a "bank to bank" transaction.
(Except Romanian and Nigerian banks)

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

Cool.
Like I said. We do it quite often.
I always have the bank set up the receiving account.
I just don’t want to tell some guy I don’t know: “Here’s my account number…” and give him one of my active accounts.
(not like everyone can’t see your checks though)

We do it with pretty large transfers to “other than checking” accounts, too.
I don’t want someone having any info that they could possibly build on with at a later date via a simple phone call or two. Some ID thieves are pretty good, ya know?!

Maybe just take $100 and open a savings account at your bank if they wont do it for you. Receive the wire. Transfer the funds in house. And then close the account. We’ve gone that route as well. (because BofA sucks)

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !