(I put Canadian Automotive Registries in the header for search engines. They love it. SCAM!)
If you're going to sell your car privately and you place an ad on AutoTrader, watch out for scammers that will call you looking to sell you ad space on their websites.
This is how is works: they will call you saying that they provide financing to people interested in your particular car. For $150, they will sell your car to their client in 90 days or your money back. Sounds pretty good eh? I though so too. They told me that all I had to do was call them if my car was not sold after 90 days. (The alarm bells should have been going off.)Â I was so hyped thinking my car would be sold, I sent them payment, via PayPal. (Second mistake.)
Well, when I tried calling them back for information as to where my ad was posted, all I could reach was their voicemail. A default Telus message voicemail. I kept calling back until it must have been annoying as all hell for the guy on the other end of the phone, because he finally picked up.
Me: I'm calling because I haven't received my confirmation of payment and my ad details.Him: Who did you speak with?
Me: Ashley.
Him: We don't have an Ashley working here.
Me: Really? Well, I don't care who I spoke to, I just want my confirmation, your website address, and my ad details.
Him: Oh, okay. I can send it to you.
Me: Do you have my contact information?
Him: Yes, or I can just ask Ashley for it.
Me: I thought you didn't have an Ashley working there!?
Him: Oh, well, we're a large company, we have about 40 people working here.
Me: Wow, you must make Microsoft blush.
Him: Huh?
Me: Nevermind. Send me my information.
Him: Right away sir.
Click
It was at that moment I knew I scammed.
I did some searching since I was never sent their information. I found my ad, and I found their "Money Back" gaurantee. What a crock of shit:
Autoregistries.comâs policy allows you to claim a full refund if your vehicle has not sold after 90 days by mailing a notarized copy of this refund form along with a notarized photocopy of your vehicleâs registration form as well as your signed sales Receipt/Invoice:
This form must be postmarked within six (6) days after the 90 day guarantee date from the date your vehicle was posted to the aforementioned website.
Excuse my language but, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! They have a better chance of getting my left kidney!
The story gets better. So, this was the first time I posted my ad on AutoTrader. They had the gall to call me again, after I put up another ad on AutoTrader, asking the same questions. I didn't go through the whole spiel this time, I cut the woman off (Ashley) and asked if this was a private seller:
Me: Is this a company or a private seller?Her: We're a company that links..
Me: Suckers to your fictitious clients, I know. Don't you keep a database of people that you have called? Are you that FUCKING STUPID that you would call people that already have ads on your site?
Her: Ah...
Me: That's what I thought. Check out ehcanadian.ca in a few days and see what I post about your scam.
Her: Ah, we're not a sca...
Me: Have a nice day, "Ashley".
Click.
Now, the great part is that my ad is still on their website. I don't know for how long after this, but what do I care?
Not even 30 minutes later, I get a call from another company asking me if I could get $19,980 for my car, would it be worth $500 to me.
Me: Is this a company or a private seller?Him: We're a company that links...
Me: Suckers to your fictitious clients, I know. I've already been taken for $150 from your type of scam. Not by your company, but another.
Him: We know people are out there that do that scam sir, we're a real company.
Me: That wants $500. Do you know how much I think it is worth for me to post my ad on your website?
Him: No.
Me: $5. Will you do it for FIVE BUCKS?
Him: I can't sir.
Me: Good. Don't call me back. Check ehcanadian.ca.
Click.
Stay way from these scammers. They're evil and they know it.
Ripoff #1
Ripoff #2
So, I'm going to turn the tables on them. Watch this site.