Selling big(ger) ticket items to strangers - what is the cash ceiling?

[VendorDude]

Last cash transaction I did was giving $2 to a non-English-speaking panhandler in the grocery store parking lot.

[JONOV]

Originally Posted by enTERPRising

Regarding transactions with strangers, where you are the seller: What is the max a buyer should expect to bring cash? Being that most of these take place in a public setting, I'm sure people start feeling antsy, carrying $x in cash on them.

Then, what is the next acceptable form of payment, to ensure you're not getting duped? Money order?

Thanks, All!

I've done car sales under 10K cash in my driveway, but I live in a neighborhood, in the open, and have my brother or dad with me. If its a cashiers check or money order I want to go with them.

When I have done larger (more than $1K) greenback transactions, I've always bought a forgery pen from Staples or Kinko's or the UPS Store and checked all the bills as I've counted them.

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

The last house I sold was $166,000 all cash. I sold another house $225,000 all cash a couple of years ago. I don't think there is a ceiling, but Uncle Sam will get himself involved at some point.

You mean a point beyond where the buyer takes actual folding money out of his pocket and hands it to you? The most I've received that way is about $2500, for a stack of redwood boards. I've sold stuff for a lot more, but usually get a check.

I don't think Uncle Sam gets involved over electronic transfers or checks. They get suspicious with massive amounts of folding money, the sterotypical briefcase full of cash.

I had that happen once when I worked in a car dealership. The customers walked in and paid for a $30K car with bills. They were immigrants, and owned a Nail Salon. That required a lot of documentation on our part. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up getting audited.

[CGab]

Cash only and meet at the bank! Cashier checks AND money orders can be fake!

[djohnslaw]

i bought a car for 7500 in cash
it was funny watching the woman counting the money super slow and counting it 4 or 5 times

[djohnslaw]

Originally Posted by JONOV

I've done car sales under 10K cash in my driveway, but I live in a neighborhood, in the open, and have my brother or dad with me. If its a cashiers check or money order I want to go with them.

When I have done larger (more than $1K) greenback transactions, I've always bought a forgery pen from Staples or Kinko's or the UPS Store and checked all the bills as I've counted them.


I don't think Uncle Sam gets involved over electronic transfers or checks. They get suspicious with massive amounts of folding money, the sterotypical briefcase full of cash.

I had that happen once when I worked in a car dealership. The customers walked in and paid for a $30K car with bills. They were immigrants, and owned a Nail Salon. That required a lot of documentation on our part. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up getting audited.

those pens are nearly useless

[Bumby88]

I've received $10-$15k many times (in strangers' homes, on the hood of my car, etc.) The most I've paid in cash was $25k to a woman for her late husband's guitar. I know of six figure cash deals done among strangers for guitars as well.

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

The last house I sold was $166,000 all cash. I sold another house $225,000 all cash a couple of years ago. I don't think there is a ceiling, but Uncle Sam will get himself involved at some point.

You mean a point beyond where the buyer takes actual folding money out of his pocket and hands it to you? The most I've received that way is about $2500, for a stack of redwood boards. I've sold stuff for a lot more, but usually get a check.

Did you actually think the OP meant anything other than folding money when asking about cash??

[doodlemagic]

It's really easy to fake cashiers checks and money orders these days so if you want to pay via that method maybe meet them at the bank and make them get it in front of you.