buying a bronco from far away...

[amfw]

I'm used to my girlfriend and friends telling me I'm crazy when it comes to cars, but yesterday I was picking up some used parts off a dude who also may be described as kinda crazy about cars and HE said I was crazy for considering buying a car sight unseen from far away. However it seems like thats pretty common practice with these trucks.
Im planning on payment via Paypal/Escrow so I actually feel kinda pretty secure there. Its also been suggested that I call local businesses and see if anyone knows him or can vouch for him.
So I guess I have two questions... AM I crazy for considering buying from far away sight unseen, and if you have done this before, what did you do to secure your purchase/transaction?

 

[billh1289]

I bought one unseen from across the country. Asked for a lot of specific photos initially. Went through an escrow service. Only issue was trying to get a transporter lined up.

 

[Calibronc66]

Ask in the forum if there’s any one close to it that can maybe take a look at it. I recently helped a forum buddy out. He was looking at a bronco that was local to me and I stopped by and looked it over. With another bronco buddy. It was in terrible shape for what he was asking. Saved the guy a massive headache. The pics he sent just showed the outside nice bright red paint job. But underneath the floor and inner rockers had been patched with random squares of metal overlapping to hide the rust. Leaks everywhere, bubbled
paint and it was rough. Took pics and sent them to him he backed out of the sell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Slowleak]

I’ve done it before, but would not do it now. Last few purchases I got on a plane. A ticket costs a lot less than rust repair....... but now there is that COVID thing. Find a knowledgeable forum member to kick the tires...

if you have an account with a major bank, and there is a branch near the Bronco, they may handle the transaction for you. They will get you a proper notarized title/bill of sale and issue a cashiers check or transfer funds to the seller.

 

[56f100bbw]

When I lived in Nashville tenn back in the 70s I got on a plane went to Gasden Alabama not that long of a trip it was to buy a 67 Shelby GT 350 and it had rust but not bad I like the car and bought it . Like slowleak said somebody needs to look at it these days there’s too many flippers that only care about is money

 

[spap]

Just randomly send me a large sum of money, and you will never hear from me again.
If you like that feeling feel free haaa

It can be done, I have heard more bad Stories than good. Fiberglass patches newspaper to fill holes of rust etc.

Anything I’m going to spend a decent amount of money on, I’m going to check it out live, even brand new cars.
Good luck bro

 

[CowboyGrin]

You might look into WeGoLook. Cheaper than plane ticket and less time commitment for initial screening. Could then follow with own visit or from others. Ebay started offering WeGoLook’s services, but you can use them directly. I’ve met the founder who started it for distant real estate inspections and expanded to other things. She sold it to large corporation a few years back, so I can’t attest to their quality of service of late. There could be others too, but transactions like this are exactly what they were built around:

https://wegolook.com/products/instant-inspections

 

[amfw]

I’ve done it before, but would not do it now. Last few purchases I got on a plane. A ticket costs a lot less than rust repair....... but now there is that COVID thing. Find a knowledgeable forum member to kick the tires...

if you have an account with a major bank, and there is a branch near the Bronco, they may handle the transaction for you. They will get you a proper notarized title/bill of sale and issue a cashiers check or transfer funds to the seller.

Id never heard of the bank handling it, thats pretty slick. Im with BofA so should be easy enough. And yeah, sans covid, I would be on a plane no question.

 

[904Bronco]

Never buy anything sight unseen... Even pictures can be framed in such a manner that everything looks wonderful. There have been many stories on this site of people being taken and then pay out more cash to get things fixed.
Sans Covid, see if a local Classic member can be your eyes for you, as suggested.

I bought my 1st Bronco almost 20 years ago from Texas on EBay and had it shipped to CA. Pictures were great, a whole CD of them. Then it wouldn't drive off the carrier or onto my trailer. Pretty paint, but I had to redo the drivetrain and wiring... Learned a lot and emptied my wallet in the process. A word to the wise...

 

[msmith]

After kinda getting shafted, I would check it out in person or have a trusted someone to check it out for me.

On the other hand, I bought a used 3 point hitch backhoe from a mom and pop farm store in Canada. Even after paying an exuberant shipping cost and duty at the border, I got a great deal on an almost brand new hoe.

So it's a crap shoot. I wouldn't buy anything sight unseen again I don't believe.

 

[West Tn Dawg]

I bought three from "Bronco" people with no issues. They were exactly as described. I sold one to a guy in Washington State. Sent him hundreds of photos and told him he could check with some of the guys on this site to vouch for me. I also guaranteed him his money back if not satisfied. If he is a "known" "Bronco guy" I think it can be done safely.

 

[gnpenning]

Several years ago a EB showed up on the local CL sporting a new paint job looking very nice. I make the call asking questions about condition, rust, drivability etc, get good enough answers I make an appointment to go see. First thing I noticed was rusted out body sections freshly painted over. Every panel had decent size rust holes painted over that conveniently didn't show in the pictures or told about in the conversation over the phone. Whoever painted laid down some nice paint but was a terrible body man. The seller worked for the border patrol, aren't you supposed to trust law enforcement???? I can't imagine how someone would feel having that rig sent to them and finding they needed to fix or replace every body bit of sheet metal. Didn't even want to see if it really ran at that point. Knew I was talking to a lying scammer all ready.

If you can't look at it have someone else. More than likely someone here will be able to help.

 

[hyghlndr]

Most real sellers are not going to use any kind of escrow service. I have seen more scammers with escrow BS than anything else. Most good deals today are gone very quick.

The best thing is if you can get a forum member check it out in person. I have had some GREAT members here check on Broncos which has been a huge help. One super honest member here basically made me get another member check it out to give another person's opinion. I have returned the favor several times and saved a few a LOT of wasted money and effort for the potential buyer.

 

[Pops68]

Back in 2010 I bought mine sight unseen off of ebay using PayPal. Seller was a small mom-n-pop dealer in SE Oregon. Asked tons of questions, got tons of pictures in return and a walk around video with the motor running. Not a single surprise once I got it....VERY honest seller!!! Transaction took over a week with all the discussions/pics/etc.

ONLY bad part was the transporter, as stated in the first answer. I am in NE Ohio and used a company from Cincinnati - figured an in-state shipper would be fine. After I paid full amount, shipper fell off the face of the earth (kinda like a car salesman once you have paid for the car - don't give a sh*t any more).

Anyway finally got it after 2+ weeks and constantly hounding them for updates. The delivery driver was actually pretty cool. Company offered like a $100 refund, but I told the driver to keep it as he kept me in the loop along his route.
Shipping was under $800 (if I recall) back then.

Would NEVER do it now days due to the scammers out there.

 

[Eoth]

Basically speaking, I strongly suggest you do not buy it "sight-unseen". Sure some people have done it successfully but its a crap-shoot..This site is full of stories of people who feel that they were taken. Just not worth the risk.

 

[bronco loco]

Because I was looking for an FJ60 high roof for a long, long time, I end up buying one from Ecuador, South America. Granted, My brother in-law help me out by getting in touch with the owner who lives about 200 miles from Quito. The owner and I worked out a deal where he would bring the LC to Quito and if it was the way he described my brother-in-law will buy it form me, and if it wasn't we will give him $150 for the trouble of bring it to Quito. It was a 1986 high roof, 5 speed (H55F), carbed with 3F engine and round lights, power doors, windows and 3-seat rows with absolutely no rust because most of its life spend on a dry climate 2K meters above the sea level. It needed some body work and a decent paint job. This FJ62 combination was never released in the USA, so I bought it. Would I do it again? I don't think so.

 

[hucklburry rev2]

There was a guy recently scammed on bronco pics out of St. Louis (allegedly) - if he had contacted those of us around St Louis we could have saved him a lot of money - we didn't even need to go see it to tell him it was a scam.

Contact someone on here that is close to it, or FB has a bunch of local/state FB Bronco groups you could ask someone to check into it for you

 

[sprdv1]

I’ve done it before, but would not do it now. Last few purchases I got on a plane. A ticket costs a lot less than rust repair....... but now there is that COVID thing. Find a knowledgeable forum member to kick the tires...

if you have an account with a major bank, and there is a branch near the Bronco, they may handle the transaction for you. They will get you a proper notarized title/bill of sale and issue a cashiers check or transfer funds to the seller.

I'd be real hesitant as well.. specially if it was a high dollar rig

 

[Brnco302]

I bought mine sight unseen but I bought it from Toms Bronco In Medford Oregon. I had the person I was dealing with send me lots of pictures. He was also knowledgeable in Broncos. I was going to hire a mechanic in the area from Craigslist to go look at it but decided the person I was dealing with was being quit honest. Worked out well for me everything he said was spot on.
The shipper was another story. Took about a month to get it and I had to keep raising the price to get it shipped. All and all it worked out pretty well for me. Good luck

 

[amfw]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I was hoping it would make me more comfortable making a deal, but it does seem like my apprehension isn't just me.




Its in Louisiana, if anyone wants to go kick tires. I'd compensate.

https://youtu.be/e2CMuSxbIbY