Best way to accept payment for RV from stranger?

[Ray364]

Someone from a state next door agreed to purchase my Jayco for $9,000. She is coming here Friday to pick it up.

What is the best/safest method of payment?

Cashier's check?
Cash?
Other?

I'd hate to be burned on this sale through a deceptive person.

[Snake Plissken]

I would think a cashier's check. If somebody shows up with $9k in cash I would be suspicious.

[Threebutchers]

Look into PayPal.....not sure if they charge a fee or not.

[Jagiven]

How about calling your bank and asking them for what they recommend.

[jwstewar]

Be very skeptical of cashier's checks. They can be easily forged. I think I would insist on cash, that is how we sold our old Scotty. Of course, it was also only $2700 when we sold it. I then took $3000 and put down on our current Jayco.

[lx22f/c]

Cash only and do the transaction at a bank so they can check to make sure the bills are not counterfeit.

[Denise]

We met with the guy who bought our ol' Casita at the local AAA office (did the DMV paperwork there, and they helped us verify the $100 bills were good). Not long ago when selling a second vehicle, we met with the person at a local bank where the transaction happened. Definitely don't take a personal check

[Meathead]

I just paid for my used trailer from a private party with cash. Included was the withdrawal receipt from the bank, the $100 bills were still banded and in a bank envelope. I can't imagine anything safer than that unless you're doing business in a bad part of town and have a fear of getting robbed.

Before transfering the cash between parties, I would be certain to do the preliminary paperwork including the release of liabilty for the title. Both parties should have positive identification of the other before the money actually changes hands.

[Threebutchers]

Been awhile....but I've purchased and sold cars with PayPal....I checked and they do not charge a fee

https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/make-online-payments

[Lady Ann]

Please do not use PayPal. PayPal always takes the buyers side in disputes. All that person has to do is tell PayPal that the item they bought [your RV] is not what they wanted and PayPal will refund their money to them without needing proof that they returned the item to you.

[Bob Landry]

If they can make it to a bank to get a cashier's check, they can get cash. Do the transaction at the DMV. You want to get it out of your name as soon as possible.

[Shorty Cox]

When I sold mine, I held the camper until the check cleared. I really didn't expect a problem, the camper was going to a oil drilling company. But it is always better to be safe.

[norty1]

A cashiers check is what I would want. Make sure they know that before they make the trip.

[clubhouse]

The only way I would take a cashiers check is if I was at the bank and watched it issued. Way to many fake cashiers checks out there and there is almost no recourse if you get a bad check and the RV is gone.

At my house cash is king. And those who say they would be suspicious of a guy with $9k cash, well a couple days ago I sold a '64 Impala for $21.5 cash. If you tell the buyer it a cash deal then why be suspicious if they show up with cash.

Lastly you have to keep your wits when selling. Make sure things look right, the buyer is asking genuine questions and not just looking to take your valuable item and give you a worthless cashiers check or fake cash.

[Iraqvet05]

You can buy a special marker at office supply stores to check for counterfeit bill....the same markers the banks use.

[3'senough]

A certified check is the best check form to accept if you need to. These checks are guaranteed by the holding bank since the funds are isolated for the exact amount of the check. Many times it is a personal check that is printed over by the issued bank. The local branch contact information which certified it should be listed for verification purposes. There is a fee to do this, but it is guaranteed payment. Also you should draft a basic sales document which states the words "sold as is with no warranty". If you are in a title state then that will also need to be signed over upon funds being transferred.

Another option is to have the funds wired into your account. Depending on the sales price I might even split it with the buyer just on good faith and meeting my criteria to cover both of us. There also would possibly be a notary on hand should you want anything officiated in document form like the sales agreement. Weekends might be tough in a bank if the workforce is lite.

Cash is always great, but agree with the statements above with confirming. You can buy a currency verification pen in most office supply stores.

[Doug]

I meet at my bank.
I have the bank verify cash or cashiers check. No personal checks.
Once the funds are verified by my bank or theirs, we notarize the title at the bank into their name.'
Once notarized into their name, you are off the title.

That's just the way I do business. Never had a problem.

JMHO,
Doug

[Power247]

Originally Posted by dougtoms01

I meet at my bank.
I have the bank verify cash or cashiers check. No personal checks.
Once the funds are verified by my bank or theirs, we notarize the title at the bank into their name.'
Once notarized into their name, you are off the title.

That's just the way I do business. Never had a problem.

JMHO,
Doug

We did the same thing when we sold our popup. Takes much of the risk off of you and wanting to meet at the bank to sign over the title will usually weed out any scammers. Its a bit more to coordinate but well worth it IMHO.

Best of luck!!
Greg

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by Threebutchers

Been awhile....but I've purchased and sold cars with PayPal....I checked and they do not charge a fee

https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/make-online-payments

From your own link:

When you make a payment, no matter how you choose to pay, we don't charge you a transaction fee. It’s that simple. The recipient pays a small fee to securely handle your payment.

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by Snake Plissken

The recipient pays a small fee to securely handle your payment.

Thanks for pointing that out....the large print is deceptive