Does this seem to have some "red flags" or am I just overly cautious ?
 

Been looking for a golf cart for widowed relative moving here. Only looking at those from individuals who bought them new, not reconditioned, one owner. Found one on another villages media page (not this one). One woman owner, only selling because she bought/or buying, a 4 seat model. Made the contact, told me where she lives, number, etc. Said I would call first thing when we got back to villages Monday. When we got home on Monday, the cart had sold. But, she said she has another one close to what I was looking for. I emailed back that I was not interested in that one (she sent me pictures), but thanked her. Now this week she emailed me and said she does have one more I might be interested in, and sent some pictures but it was older than I was looking for and a color our friend would not care for. Maybe I am just over thinking this, but it seemed out of the ordinary a single woman in a villa address would already own so many golf carts... and be selling "ONLY" she emphasized this, ONLY because I want to buy a 4 seat model. I'm probably reading too much into this, but wondering if it would even be possible for someone to be buying up carts and having a woman sell them as just their own personal cart they are selling at their home ? Ok, maybe I've let my suspicion get the best of me ! ! ? ?

She sounds like a golf cart dealer, not a private seller. I don't know much about golf carts, but a lot of car dealers operate that way.

I would walk away. Doesn't sound right.

I agree, walk away.

We came across a guy who did the same type of thing. He was selling reconditioned carts he got from Orlando, as HIS PERSONAL USE cart. Hmmmm. Hubby got him talking and that’s how we found out the truth. Running a business from his home in TV. Definitely against the rules. Do not buy from such a person, if they are dishonest in one thing, they’ll be dishonest in other things too.

A lot of people both sell and rent carts simultaneously. So that cart you’re buying may have been a rental.

It’s big bucks to rent golf carts in TV.

Move on.

Sounds like a scam.

Don't know about walk away.
I would run.
Red flags and sirens.
Sounds a bit like 'steal to order.'

Or they are stolen carts

Block her contact

I think your friend is lucky to have you helping her. I believe your years and experience here have helped you develop a "nose" for something scammy, and a newbie coming here and trying to buy a used cart herself would likely have fallen for this deception.

I bought a used cart from a friend who wanted to upgrade. I knew exactly what I was buying because I knew the cart and the friend. Then he bought a used cart from another friend for his wife. Again he knew the cart and the friend. Hopefully you can find someone trustworthy.
If I were facing any kind of a time crunch for getting a used cart I would ask around my circle of friends to see who might be moving up to a new cart, and also, some of them may have a trusted mechanic who deals carts. I have two buddies who have bought used carts from their trusted mechanic, and it has worked out well.

I think when you buy something like this out of someone's garage, unless you know that someone, you are buying a "pig in a. poke" to some degree.

Like I said, your friend is fortunate to have you looking out for her.

Call Senior Vs crime to see if they have anything on her - check BBB on like also! Be careful as there are many SCAMMERS here!

I'm sorry. What's the "crime". Anytime and from anyone, when you buy anything from an individual, there is a risk.

We've been looking for used golf carts on TOTV. Now I'm suspicious! I would definetly block that number.

You are correct to be suspicious!

Something is off there. Doesn't sound like her reason to sell the first one was honest. As an aside, we bought a reconditioned cart from an individual several years ago - it has been great.

From one golf cart to "sold but have another", and then "I also have another" made me suspicious too. Like others said, walk away.

I would buy new (which I did) or used from a trustable golf cart company.

Old Sales Tactic
 

Ah, the old "... only driven by a little old lady on Sunday to church..." car. The other classic is the Corvette with less than 10K on the odometer in which the old man died.

It was always fun to read the classified ads to find the "like new" cars which were rebuilt "totals" from insurance company auctions, before the states started stamping the titles as "SALVAGE".

When you buy from an “individual” you are buying something that someone else doesn’t want for a reason you will never know until it is too late and you will have no warranty or recourse. Individuals who buy & sell as a side hustle are even worse.

Finding a reputable dealer is difficult, one big enough to actually have a trained staff or small enough to not be a “factory mill”. After seven years here in TV and four golf carts I found that place . . . . Wholesale Golf Carts on 441. Chase is the owner and his staff & mechanics are each and all well trained and professional in their work. I have never heard anyone who bought from them say they regretted their decision.

Sounds like the same woman that tried that scam on me three years ago. She and partner had a business on north 27/441. Beware.

no
 

Read your post your gut is telling you not to trust her

We've talked to a lot of people since I posted this, and based on what they said, and all the replies on here that have explained how this works, getting a resident to represent themselves as the owner of a one owner cart, but actually a dealer/flipper pays the resident a portion of the price, then brings them another cart they put in their garage and represent as their own cart they are selling ! ! WOW, lots of sharks in Florida !

Wow, never even thought of stolen carts, just thought it a bit odd that one woman is selling "her" cart to buy new 4 seat one, and them comes up with another one when "hers" sold ..... and then one more ?

You sure are right on that. Who would think here in the "friendly" home town, a resident selling "their personal" cart would actually be accepting money to do that ! But I have certainly found out a LOT in just a week and a half ! I definitely am going to only go look if a friend, or friend or neighbor of a friends knows the cart, if we don't find one before she moves here this fall, going to suggest she at least consider a re manufactured one with actual list of what has been replaced with new part !

Yep, adult son almost fell for one of those. A whole new scam approach. Ad said: Military member being deployed ....... turned out it was not just the one our son was interested in. They finally uncovered an entire ring that bought cars from floods and hurricanes, and then paid enlisted personnel at the nearby base a "fee" to just deliver the car in person to the buyer ! Turns out there was actually nothing illegal for an enlisted person to accept a fee to drive a car over to someone if on personal time. But never thought of that kind of thing in our little community here ! If one female had not come up with so many carts... might have worked !

Agree. Red flag. Smells funny. Walk away. There are many opportunities to buy

We were looking for carts several years ago and balked at the individual sales locally as there were none at dealers, but lots of near perfect for sale by individuals. . . didn't seem logical, ended up buying out of state at a golf course rental agency

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then probably is a ….

contact Ron Hill a sales associate at The Villages Golf Cars store (ron.hill@thevillages.com) Very personable and knowledgeable as well about golf cars. he may be able to give you the advice you are seeking

The crime is misrepresentation, at least, which is indeed a crime.
33 U.S. Code SS 931 - Penalty for misrepresentation | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Dishonesty. And as another post has said, where someone is dishonest in one thing, it is likely they are dishonest in others. So where there is misrepresentation, there may well be larger crimes behind it.

If it is too good to be true it probably is