Escrow.com for buying

[Yanros]

I'm looking at buying a rib. The seller wants to use escrow for the transaction. I've researched escrow and it seems to be legit. I think what happens is I pay the purchase price to escrow and they hold the money until I am satisfied with the rib before paying the seller. Sounds safe but is it ??? Any advice or views would be appreciated

[Davie]

So your going to see this in person. Tow it home then pay later?

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Yanros

I'm looking at buying a rib. The seller wants to use escrow for the transaction. I've researched escrow and it seems to be legit. I think what happens is I pay the purchase price to escrow and they hold the money until I am satisfied with the rib before paying the seller. Sounds safe but is it ??? Any advice or views would be appreciated

If this is from a private individual / small add Its probably a scam. Give us more details & someone will confirm either way.

[Steve509926]

It all sounds good until I ask myself why?
Why, as a seller would I want to use Escrow? What advantage does the seller get out of it? As far as I can make out the seller gains nothing so why is he suggesting using Escrow.. I would be very, very cautious.

[mhill]

Sounds and smells fishy!

[kevinsc]

It sounds like a scam a seller would want the cash or bank transfer. I was selling a 25hp outboard and the buyer wanted to use PayPal and send his brother to collect it, next thing I got an email from PayPal@hotmail.com saying i need to send £500 to open a business account to get the funds. They will try everything to get your money.
Cheers Kevin

[spartacus]

Sounds like a scam. In most instances of buying large ticket items such as a boat, then cash transfer only.

Genuine sellers will supply paperwork on the boat, it's history, and answer any questions you have. Unless they have this or their communication is particularly poor, walk-away. Suggesting Escrow for payment transfer sounds left-field to me.

[treerat]

From a sellers perspective, Escrow is designed to give buyers a level of protection that a simple bank transfer to a personal or business account doesn't do.

Funds aren't (supposed) to be released until the buyer is happy with the items purchased.

The thing I'd be looking at would be that it is actually a company such as https://www.riverside-escrow.com/what-is-escrow/

and not just a scam site.

[Yanros]

Thank you all for your comments and yes you were right, a complete scam. I got a long mail with details of head injuries which was why she had to use escrow. Even sent a picture of her in a hospital bed bandages, drips tubes the lot! Wouldn't agree to me coming to Croydon and buying it. No i had to send 50% of the price via escrow first. Then I saw on market place the same boat from a woman in sheffield!!! Mind you a 3 year old Brig Navigator with A suzi df90 and roller trailer for 6 grand?? Yeah right. Thanks again guys.

[Pikey Dave]

If it sounds too good to be true……

[Fenlander]

The other thing is legit Escrow charges are high and no genuine buyers/sellers have a need to incur that cost when bank transfer at the face to face post inspection/trial point is so easy.