A good old boy just came to look at an old tractor I had for sale. He started the engine, shut it off, pulled out his checkbook and asked who to make the check out to! Didn't dicker or anything. I told him I'd probably better have cash, he wasn't real happy cause he'd rented the trailer and couldn't get cash until next week when the banks were open. What do you suppose the odds were that the check was golden and I just missed out on selling a tractor for full asking price?
- Thread starter wilko
- Start date
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
So you didn't know he was coming? Sounds fishy to be driving around with a rented trailer to buy something you haven't even looked at.
Zachary Hoyt
Well-known Member
Most everybody today has a debit or ATM card, sounds fishy to me. There are some who don't use banks at all but they wouldn't have a check either.
Zach
Zach
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
If you are traveling far or just have time for one trip, why not???????? Hard to tell tho....
Depends on what the tractor was and what the guy collected. I drove 115 miles one way two weeks ago tomorrow. Took my brothers trailer behind the wifes truck. That tractor didn't even run but it was what I wanted and the price was right. I pulled out cash without dickering and didn't even ask for a reciept.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
RRLund, yes but the difference being cash and your own trailer. Maybe just me, but I sure wouldn't rent a trailer without takling to the seller first to make sure the tractor would even still be there when I get there.
I bought a bigger traqctor one late Februiuary, so by April I was getting kinda anxious to find a field cultivator to fit it.
Dealer had old 45 ICH for $1200, that was a little steep but was thinking I'd have to settle for that.
Ad in the paper, same field cultivator for $700, not too far away even.WQent looked at it, and said I'd take it, who do I make the check to?
The 2 fellas selling it looked real disappointed, and I wondered what was up. The ysaisd they guessed they'd let it go for $600 then.
I guess I took all the fun out of it, they liked to dicker on stuff and here I was offering full price. I almost didn't get it, they looked so disappointed!
Other times I go look at something, and offer about 10% less than the asking price, and sheez - I'm about run off at gun point, hostility, wghat they are asking is what they want & I'm really insulting them to offer any less....
As a buyer, it's kinda hard to get all these mysterious rules that sellers have. Seems to be like a cult, you have to be in the club or no one will sell to you.
I try to stick to auctions, these private sales are still a mystery to me, too many unspoken rules.
You probably did good asking for cash, but man it gets hard to be a buyer any more. Would you really want to drive up some rural driveway with a wad of several 1000 in your pocket to an unknown place? That's got all sorts of bad vibes in it too for us buyers.
--->Paul
Dealer had old 45 ICH for $1200, that was a little steep but was thinking I'd have to settle for that.
Ad in the paper, same field cultivator for $700, not too far away even.WQent looked at it, and said I'd take it, who do I make the check to?
The 2 fellas selling it looked real disappointed, and I wondered what was up. The ysaisd they guessed they'd let it go for $600 then.
I guess I took all the fun out of it, they liked to dicker on stuff and here I was offering full price. I almost didn't get it, they looked so disappointed!
Other times I go look at something, and offer about 10% less than the asking price, and sheez - I'm about run off at gun point, hostility, wghat they are asking is what they want & I'm really insulting them to offer any less....
As a buyer, it's kinda hard to get all these mysterious rules that sellers have. Seems to be like a cult, you have to be in the club or no one will sell to you.
I try to stick to auctions, these private sales are still a mystery to me, too many unspoken rules.
You probably did good asking for cash, but man it gets hard to be a buyer any more. Would you really want to drive up some rural driveway with a wad of several 1000 in your pocket to an unknown place? That's got all sorts of bad vibes in it too for us buyers.
--->Paul
If it was just what I wanted and a fair distance to travel to look at it,I would have. Guess his big mistake was not taking cash with him,but probably a trusting guy what had no reason to think the seller wouldn't trust him.
By the way,I pulled out ten $100 bills and layed in that guys hand just because it was what I wanted.
I think the seller most likely missed out on a good sale. Like a jockey told me one time when I sold him a combine,he said "I'd give you more if the check wasn't good".
By the way,I pulled out ten $100 bills and layed in that guys hand just because it was what I wanted.
I think the seller most likely missed out on a good sale. Like a jockey told me one time when I sold him a combine,he said "I'd give you more if the check wasn't good".
Dont feel bad about that one.
It is HIS fault for not bringing cash.
He is quite the dumbazz for even thinking that a total stranger would accept a personal check.
I worked for a place several years ago where the president of the company would slam his fist on the table and say "cash is king"
It is HIS fault for not bringing cash.
He is quite the dumbazz for even thinking that a total stranger would accept a personal check.
I worked for a place several years ago where the president of the company would slam his fist on the table and say "cash is king"
Paul, on occasion I"ll post something just to keep it from being scrapped. I price it at scrap price, and mention that I won"t dicker, and the scrap yard is only 3 miles up the road. These are usually little trinkets like steel wheels for decoration or an odd ball item.
I"m as serious as a heart attack when I post it, and it"s been fun a couple times to watch a mans face drop when he says "I"ll give you, ($5.00) less than your price" and I answer with "There ya go" and walk away telling him I published a NO HAGGLE clause and he blew it. All the while his wife"s just ripping him a new butt for screwing up. It"s fun.
I"m as serious as a heart attack when I post it, and it"s been fun a couple times to watch a mans face drop when he says "I"ll give you, ($5.00) less than your price" and I answer with "There ya go" and walk away telling him I published a NO HAGGLE clause and he blew it. All the while his wife"s just ripping him a new butt for screwing up. It"s fun.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
If he had a debit/credit card he could have at least got some of the payment in cash from an ATM. Nothing wrong with taking a cheque as long as it clears the bank before the buyer takes possession. How much money are you talking about? He should have talked to you first before showing up with the trailer.
It was just at $900.00, so it depends on his bank if he could have gone to an ATM. Gordo-he didn't have plates on his truck, he made the trip on a temp permit. Odds are he was okay, but you never know. Craigs List has really spawned a whole industry of rip-offs. Really it just caught me off guard and left cartoon question marks floating over my head.
TomH in PA
Well-known Member
Rented trailer isn't a big deal, but no license plate on the truck would bother me a lot. $900 isn't much to carry around, I think you made the right decision.
IndianaRed
Member
That's what I was thinkin. Rent a trailer and don't take cash? Bad move.
Its a hard call to make. Had a guy show up here to buy a Deere garden tractor for $4500 this spring. Perfect tractor he didn't dicker price and pulled out his checkbook. Was in a company vehicle from a local seed company and had I'd. Didn't know him but we knew several people in the area. Put myself in his place because it's just the way it is around here. I'd want to not be doubted either but it's a fine line when money involved. Didn't sleep well that night but the check was good and all was fine.
I deal with this on occasion selling parts or service. I have some that a check is no problem because they ask beforehand, during a phone conversation, email, or text. If they have the courtesy and forethought to ask then in my experience the check is good, if they make assumptions or do not verify that their expectations can be met before they strike out then I let them know when it will be convenient to stop back by. I used to stress about maybe turning them away but I got over that. You did the right thing, he made assumptions
Talk about not sleeping after taking a check. I sold some heifers to a guy I didn't know one time. He lived 120 miles away. Talked me in to paying the trucking,hadn't even given me a dime down. I hired a local trucker that I knew real well to haul them. Told him not to come back without a check for $15,000. Well,he did,but it was one of those checks with no name or address on it,drawn on a new account. Let me tell you,that'll give you heart burn til the bank tells you it's OK. I was kinda surprised that it was.
Talk about sleepless nights.
I sold the entire calf crop one year to a startup feedlot.Paid per lb over the scale on his feedlot at arrival,no shrink.
Calves got run off the truck over the scale and straight in the branding shute.
Guy paid on the spot with a check,...next day to the bank,...NSF :shock:
Took a week to get the money.
I sold the entire calf crop one year to a startup feedlot.Paid per lb over the scale on his feedlot at arrival,no shrink.
Calves got run off the truck over the scale and straight in the branding shute.
Guy paid on the spot with a check,...next day to the bank,...NSF :shock:
Took a week to get the money.
I've only gotten one bad check in my life,and that was a local guy who worked right here in town at the lumber yard. It was only $50,but that one wasn't just NSF,the whole account was closed. I knew the accountant at the lumber yard quite well,so I called her and told her I had a bad check from one of her employees. She asked if it was (so and so)? I said yup. She said don't worry about it,you'll have your money by the end of the day. She sent out cash. I assume she took it out of his pay.
Some people think a check is cash.I've had guys negociate a lower price for cash and then pull a checkbook out.I've had more than one leave cussing me.Some people think if you ask for cash that your trying to pull something like not pay your taxes or maybe you are doing something
dishonest.
dishonest.
In these days of ripoffs, hard to understand that a stranger would think you would take a check.
I used to tractor-jockey a bit, and never went to look at something without enough cash in my pocket to make the deal. I sort of enjoyed watching the relief on the seller's face when I start peeling 'em off- all his worries about payment arrangements just evaporated.
When I sold, I always left a little negotiating room- so was surprised one time when a guy made a full price offer, and handed me an envelope with my asking price, in hundreds, inside. He said he didn't try to dicker because he didn't have a way to haul it- would I throw that in? (about a 20 mile haul). Are you kidding? Tractor was in his yard the next afternoon.
I used to tractor-jockey a bit, and never went to look at something without enough cash in my pocket to make the deal. I sort of enjoyed watching the relief on the seller's face when I start peeling 'em off- all his worries about payment arrangements just evaporated.
When I sold, I always left a little negotiating room- so was surprised one time when a guy made a full price offer, and handed me an envelope with my asking price, in hundreds, inside. He said he didn't try to dicker because he didn't have a way to haul it- would I throw that in? (about a 20 mile haul). Are you kidding? Tractor was in his yard the next afternoon.
Went to look at a baler last year, it looked good and I made and offer that was accepted. Told the guy I would give him a check, BUT, I wouldn't pick up the baler until I was down this way again. Told him that way the check would have plenty of time to clear. No problem he said. A couple of weeks later I was in the area and stopped by hooked the baler and towed it home. I wouldn't have expected him to turn loose of the baler with my check in his hand. Other times, on smaller purchases, I have told the seller I've had this checking account for 40 years and never written a bad check, if it does bounce I'll pay them double. I show them my drivers license and any other form of ID so they know the name on the check matches. Never was a problem.
I would rather have a local check than cash.What do these guys do with all that cash? You still
have to put it in the bank to pay bills.If you deposit over 10000 you get reported to the IRS.
If you make regular cash deposits there still
supposed to report it.Your not going to get somone to show up with 20 grand in cash to buy a tractor.I suppose you could do a wire transfer.
Cash is ok for small deals,but most people want a cancelled check for proof of purchase and don't like to carry that much cash.Usually if you ask for cash they think your trying to pull something.
have to put it in the bank to pay bills.If you deposit over 10000 you get reported to the IRS.
If you make regular cash deposits there still
supposed to report it.Your not going to get somone to show up with 20 grand in cash to buy a tractor.I suppose you could do a wire transfer.
Cash is ok for small deals,but most people want a cancelled check for proof of purchase and don't like to carry that much cash.Usually if you ask for cash they think your trying to pull something.
State of Jefferson
Member
I agree. Bout 5 years ago I found a 25' GN flatbed on CL, 200 miles away(practically next door out west) Older gentleman. He was asking $4800. I offered $4400. He said "gosh, I'm not really sure what to say" I said 'well if you don't like it, make a counter offer" "well would you pay $4500?"... "sure thing" It was like he had never haggled in his life.
Sent a friend of mine with a stack of Benjamins to get it. Everyone ended up happy.
Ben
Sent a friend of mine with a stack of Benjamins to get it. Everyone ended up happy.
Ben
Cliff Nelson
Well-known Member
Dad had a new customer buy a couple springing heifers a few years ago. The check came back account closed. Called him and after playing phone tag for a few days learned that the bank had changed hands and issued new checks and account numbers to everyone. He still carried his old checkbook when he bought the heifers. Sent a good check right away and we sold him over a dozen heifers since then with no problems.
Four years ago i drove 3 hours to look at a Harley Davidson Ultra. After neg and talking for awhile we agreed on 13000.00. I told the guy i would take bike with me and when the check cleared he would mail me the title. Alittle trust on both sides. I also sold my line of machinery off a few years back.When people came and looked at pieces of machinery and ageed on price I just wrote up a purchase agreement both parties signed took check no problems lucky I guess
I don"t normally travel more than 100 miles to buy something. I like to pay with a check. Normally I will give the seller a choice of either taking my check for the agreed upon price or taking a hefty down payment of a third and me bringing cash for the balance when banks are open. I don"t think that the check has ever been turned down.
That being said,in this day $900 is not a major sum to scrape together,seems as though the buyer should have just brought cash.
That being said,in this day $900 is not a major sum to scrape together,seems as though the buyer should have just brought cash.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
My wife worked for a collection agency she says when it doubt about a check don't take it but if you do have the person hold the check in front of them and take their picture.Some states treat bad checks seriously some don't.
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy