Efficient way to earn points buying a used car?
Nov 14, 2012, 8:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 342
Efficient way to earn points buying a used car?
Person-to-person transaction, no dealership.
Things that occurred to me were Square, prepaid cards, etc.
I think the person would like a traditional check; is there any way I can do a vanilla bean kind of deal to charge and cash out/deposit the price and then write a check from my account?
Any suggestions? TYIA
Things that occurred to me were Square, prepaid cards, etc.
I think the person would like a traditional check; is there any way I can do a vanilla bean kind of deal to charge and cash out/deposit the price and then write a check from my account?
Any suggestions? TYIA
Nov 14, 2012, 8:54 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Person-to-person transaction, no dealership.
Things that occurred to me were Square, prepaid cards, etc.
I think the person would like a traditional check; is there any way I can do a vanilla bean kind of deal to charge and cash out/deposit the price and then write a check from my account?
Any suggestions? TYIA
Things that occurred to me were Square, prepaid cards, etc.
I think the person would like a traditional check; is there any way I can do a vanilla bean kind of deal to charge and cash out/deposit the price and then write a check from my account?
Any suggestions? TYIA
Nov 14, 2012, 10:49 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 342
Does the standard upload limit per day apply, and what's the status/ease of being able to load BB right now? I haven't paged through every page of the main Bluebird thread.
If anyone can give me a quick step-by-step for this method, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
If anyone can give me a quick step-by-step for this method, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
Nov 14, 2012, 11:49 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
I've never accepted a check for a used car, and I've never heard of anyone other than a dealer who does.
If you want a step by step for loading cards, there's a clear explanation at Million Mile Secrets, but in my experience as a car owner for way too many decades...don't expect a private individual to accept check for a used car. Maybe it's a regional thing but there's no way I'd take a piece of scribbled on paper in exchange for a car. If the guy has check, hey, I have the car, we can go to the bank right there and he can pull out the cash. You know? It's too much money to risk being scammed. Maybe if you're buying the car from a relative, this would work, but otherwise...I'm not seeing it.
If you want a step by step for loading cards, there's a clear explanation at Million Mile Secrets, but in my experience as a car owner for way too many decades...don't expect a private individual to accept check for a used car. Maybe it's a regional thing but there's no way I'd take a piece of scribbled on paper in exchange for a car. If the guy has check, hey, I have the car, we can go to the bank right there and he can pull out the cash. You know? It's too much money to risk being scammed. Maybe if you're buying the car from a relative, this would work, but otherwise...I'm not seeing it.
Nov 14, 2012, 12:02 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 342
I've never accepted a check for a used car, and I've never heard of anyone other than a dealer who does.
If you want a step by step for loading cards, there's a clear explanation at Million Mile Secrets, but in my experience as a car owner for way too many decades...don't expect a private individual to accept check for a used car. Maybe it's a regional thing but there's no way I'd take a piece of scribbled on paper in exchange for a car. If the guy has check, hey, I have the car, we can go to the bank right there and he can pull out the cash. You know? It's too much money to risk being scammed. Maybe if you're buying the car from a relative, this would work, but otherwise...I'm not seeing it.
If you want a step by step for loading cards, there's a clear explanation at Million Mile Secrets, but in my experience as a car owner for way too many decades...don't expect a private individual to accept check for a used car. Maybe it's a regional thing but there's no way I'd take a piece of scribbled on paper in exchange for a car. If the guy has check, hey, I have the car, we can go to the bank right there and he can pull out the cash. You know? It's too much money to risk being scammed. Maybe if you're buying the car from a relative, this would work, but otherwise...I'm not seeing it.
It's a family member, so we can stop speculating.
Nov 14, 2012, 4:34 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,935
In general:
Used car sellers almost always want something like a cashier's check (the kind you can only get from a bank teller, in person, and which costs a few bucks) or cash, meaning something that can't possibly bounce.
(You should have explained that form the beginning!)
Oh, in that case, maybe Paypal or one of the equivalent services? There might be a more straightforward way to use a miles/points earning credit card with an online money transfer than with a physical check.
Used car sellers almost always want something like a cashier's check (the kind you can only get from a bank teller, in person, and which costs a few bucks) or cash, meaning something that can't possibly bounce.
(You should have explained that form the beginning!)
Oh, in that case, maybe Paypal or one of the equivalent services? There might be a more straightforward way to use a miles/points earning credit card with an online money transfer than with a physical check.
Last edited by sdsearch; Nov 14, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Nov 15, 2012, 7:33 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
Well, our poster is WRITING the check, but yeah, as a general rule, Of COURSE "those are the worst." I no longer take checks from friends and family members for a very simple reason. There are no consequences when they bounce the check, so it's inevitable that some of them do bounce the check. What, you're going to call the sheriff on a friend/family member? No, you just end up being ripped off.
It also just doesn't make any sense. It's a friend or family member. They know where you are, and you know where they are. If they had the cash, they can go to the bank at any time at their convenience and then get the cash to you. You can even meet for lunch and do it. If they only had the cash. But they don't! That's why they're trying to give you a scribbled on piece of paper in the first place.
I personally wouldn't write a check to a friend or family member. I give them cash if they sell me an item. To me, no amount of miles is worth making someone close to me "wonder" what the hustle is. Besides, the friend or family member is probably already giving me a crazy discount or the full background behind what I'm buying. I need to screw around with gift cards and games too? Don't think so.
It also just doesn't make any sense. It's a friend or family member. They know where you are, and you know where they are. If they had the cash, they can go to the bank at any time at their convenience and then get the cash to you. You can even meet for lunch and do it. If they only had the cash. But they don't! That's why they're trying to give you a scribbled on piece of paper in the first place.
I personally wouldn't write a check to a friend or family member. I give them cash if they sell me an item. To me, no amount of miles is worth making someone close to me "wonder" what the hustle is. Besides, the friend or family member is probably already giving me a crazy discount or the full background behind what I'm buying. I need to screw around with gift cards and games too? Don't think so.
Nov 15, 2012, 7:39 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
There has been considerable cashier's check fraud over the past decade so, no, I never advise this and haven't accepted these for years. It's a friend/family member. If you have the cash, go to the bank with the friend/family member. Get the cash. They must be going to meet at the DMV anyway to change the titles and plates on the car. Forget trying to hit up the family member for miles as well as for the car, which you are probably already getting cheaper than the random off the street buyer...
In general:
Used car sellers almost always want something like a cashier's check (the kind you can only get from a bank teller, in person, and which costs a few bucks) or cash, meaning something that can't possibly bounce.
(You should have explained that form the beginning!)
Oh, in that case, maybe Paypal or one of the equivalent services? There might be a more straightforward way to use a miles/points earning credit card with an online money transfer than with a physical check.
Used car sellers almost always want something like a cashier's check (the kind you can only get from a bank teller, in person, and which costs a few bucks) or cash, meaning something that can't possibly bounce.
(You should have explained that form the beginning!)
Oh, in that case, maybe Paypal or one of the equivalent services? There might be a more straightforward way to use a miles/points earning credit card with an online money transfer than with a physical check.