I've reached a point where the seller has answered most questions, and I've seen most of the pictures I need to see to feel comfortable about making a deal. The car is 1,100 miles from where I am and I've got a vehicle transportation service ready to pick it up. The problem is that the seller won't agree to ship unless I pay in full first, through Venmo. I asked whether I could put down a $500 deposit to show my commitment and have the seller mail the signed title to me. Then send the rest once the car was loaded on the truck.
I don't feel comfortable sending full payment with nothing to show for it on my end, any advice from people who have successfully negotiated?
Basically, i'm hoping to complete the deal without either party feeling like they are giving too much to make that happen...
One option you might want to consider is using an escrow service. They act as a middleman, holding onto your payment until both parties are satisfied. This way, you can make sure the money is released only once the car is loaded onto the truck. Oh, and don't forget to factor in the auto transport costs when negotiating the final price.