Has anyone advertised on Apollo Duck?

[seanfoster]

I've recently advertised on apollo duck (after receiving helpful advice earlier on this forum) and in 2 days I've had 2 enquiries from people in Eastern Europe wanting to tow the boat all the way back from England.

It's ringing a few alarm bells, has anyone had any similar experiences like this?

 

[Ariadne]

Its spam!
The boaty equivalent to the 'I'm a Nigerian banker who needs you to .................' You'll get a few of these, often asking you for your bank details so they part pay you the asking price.

Stick with it, I sold my boat there in 2 months (after 4 months with Dickies!!), and I only 1K less than I asked so I was quite chuffed.

Best of luck, pitch the price right and it will sell quickly.

 

[Neil]

I sold two boats through ApolloDuck - no problems whatsoever, and they went quickly enough.

 

[seanfoster]

Thanks for that, if it was just one enquiry I probably wouldn't have thought too much about it (although I would never give my bank details to anyone over the internet!)

 

[V1701]

Yes...

 

[Coaster]

We sold our last boat in Autumn 2008, to a buyer who saw the Apollo Duck website. I found it the best of the several websites we used.

Just be sensible when dealing with strangers.

If something seems too good to be true it probably is.

Most genuine buyers will be UK based (unless your boat is worth more than say £20,000 - £30,000), will want to speak to you by phone, and will be keen to see the boat if they are serious.

 

[SAWDOC]

definitely spam

Hi sean

Definitely not serious buyers .....beware!!! nothing to do with AD of course. Have to say my advert did not attract any such inquiries but that is probably just the luck of the draw. As you have confimed yourself in NO circumstance give your account details.

 

[machurley22]

I wouldn't be quite so quick to write off these two enquiries. A friend sold his 25' boat in 2008 to a gentleman from Gdansk. He wanted to sail it home and my friend agreed to crew on the trip.

My initial reaction to the proposed deal was similar to those earlier in this thread especially when I heard about sailing the boat to Poland. 'Twas all above board however and the deal was completed with secured funds before the delivery trip.

As a side benefit I suppose the new owner gained some comfort from the fact that my friend was happy to set out on a 1000 mile trip in his old boat.

 

[Ubergeekian]

I've recently advertised on apollo duck (after receiving helpful advice earlier on this forum) and in 2 days I've had 2 enquiries from people in Eastern Europe wanting to tow the boat all the way back from England.

It's ringing a few alarm bells, has anyone had any similar experiences like this?

I've got two boats on there at the moment (Hunter 490 and Westerly Jouster - don't all rush, folks). The Hunter keeps getting odd enquiries from Ireland. I suspect this is because there is another one for sale there at twice the price and a few wide boys who know nothing about boats think they can make a quick profit.

I had one clearly dodgy query from Eastern Europe, followed within hours by a message from Apollo Duck saying they thought it was a scam. They then removed it.

 

[gasdave]

I've recently advertised on apollo duck (after receiving helpful advice earlier on this forum) and in 2 days I've had 2 enquiries from people in Eastern Europe wanting to tow the boat all the way back from England.

It's ringing a few alarm bells, has anyone had any similar experiences like this?

I'd be cautious and sensible about divulging personal details as I'm sure you are aware.

However i wouldn't rule out the possibility of buyers from Eastern Europe. Different but similar (!) - I sold my old Nissan Patrol a while ago (on ebay for a surpisingly good price ) to a buyer from Ukraine who's plan was to drive it all the way back there even though he had to "flatbed" it away from me! We had several preliminary phone calls, he turned up with a trailer and a big wad of legit cash and left happy. I had no problem follow-up.

As far as ApolloDuck is concerned - my single experience of selling was excellent. Easy site to use, reasonably quick response and I got a good and fair price for my RIB last year.

 

[cimo]

............Most genuine buyers will be UK based (unless your boat is worth more than say £20,000 - £30,000), will want to speak to you by phone, and will be keen to see the boat if they are serious.

Do expect interest from non uk residents if your boat is geuine and priced to sell. the uk has alot of boats and better value in the 2nd hand market can be had as a consequence. Very attractive to non-uk residents. Spain is similar for british built boats. I would however be wary of anyone willing to buy without having come to view first.

"Ubergeekian Quote:
I've got two boats on there at the moment (Hunter 490 and Westerly Jouster - don't all rush, folks). The Hunter keeps getting odd enquiries from Ireland. I suspect this is because there is another one for sale there at twice the price and a few wide boys who know nothing about boats think they can make a quick profit."

Or they could be interested in buying your boat! I have tried to buy boats in Ireland. I have also looked at boats in the UK. Youre right about the price differences. But can't see anyone getting rich quick importing used uk boats to ireland. Its too a slow market.

I think you need to be a bit more open minded. Definetly meet the person/people and trust your instincts. A good sale is a good sale once its in writing and funds have cleared. Buying a used boat is a big commitment. Prospective buyers wil have a make/model in mind & want the best boat for the best price they can get. Buying outside you own country is always a possibility.

 

[jimduncan1]

Apollo Duck

I've also found Apollo Duck to be quite useful in selling my boat, had a number of enquiries and sold it after 3 months on their website.

As regards potential Irish buyers, I would not write them off as I have purchased two boats in the UK even though I live in Dublin. Two key reasons - generally better & verifiable service records and currently a very favourable exchange rate to the euro.

Good luck but as others have said be aware & use common sense.

 

[ianj99]

I've recently advertised on apollo duck (after receiving helpful advice earlier on this forum) and in 2 days I've had 2 enquiries from people in Eastern Europe wanting to tow the boat all the way back from England.

It's ringing a few alarm bells, has anyone had any similar experiences like this?

Never ever give out your bank details. Money laundering scams are widespread.
You know how it works... dirty money arrives in your account then the 'buyer' changes their mind and asks for it back, possibly letting you keep some as 'compensation'.
Then weeks or months later your bank is obliged to debit your account the original sum once its 'proceeds of crime' origins have been discovered by the authorities. The 'buyer' has your clean money, the authorities seize the dirty money and you are out of pocket with no redress.

 

[alt]

I'm in Ireland and have bought 3 boats from the UK - Every time I made an enquiry I was accused of being a scammer of some sort! Especially when I wouldn't pay with cash (who the hack is going to carry that much cash on them?), the only way i'd pay was bank draft. It honestly took a lot of convincing before they believed me.

Having said that, once they rang the bank and confirmed that the draft was real, and in the sellers name attitudes soon changed

 

[Ubergeekian]

I'm in Ireland and have bought 3 boats from the UK - Every time I made an enquiry I was accused of being a scammer of some sort! Especially when I wouldn't pay with cash (who the hack is going to carry that much cash on them?), the only way i'd pay was bank draft. It honestly took a lot of convincing before they believed me.

I've had a couple of quite genuine sounding enquries about the Hunter 490 (£1850 or offer, folks) from Ireland. Not surprising, really, since I live an hour from Stranraer and Cairnryan ferry terminals. I've also received a couple of very odd enquiries - one wanted to know if it was ready to sail to Dublin and if th boom came down for bridges. Would you, gentle reader, even think about sailing a 16' boat from the Solway to Dublin in January?

Mr Dye, keep quiet, I'm talking to the sane people.

 

[seanfoster]

Please note my original thread was about enquires from Eastern Europe, I would welcome enquires from Eire! (My family is from Monaghan!)

 

[Heckler]

I've had a couple of quite genuine sounding enquries about the Hunter 490 (£1850 or offer, folks) from Ireland. Not surprising, really, since I live an hour from Stranraer and Cairnryan ferry terminals. I've also received a couple of very odd enquiries - one wanted to know if it was ready to sail to Dublin and if th boom came down for bridges. Would you, gentle reader, even think about sailing a 16' boat from the Solway to Dublin in January?

Mr Dye, keep quiet, I'm talking to the sane people.

Hey, there was an Irishman pitched up at Pwllheli last year early on, had bought a Snapdragon with no gear, no foul weather gear, just the clothes he stood up in, went and bought a beach toy as a dinghy, and then started to sail it back to Ireland "along the edges" he was rescued 3 times and I think the boat was finally left in Holyhead!!
Stu