Junkyards in Florida have gotten a bad reputation and sometimes deservedly so. While there are some good ones, there are just as many if not more of the shady ones. Here are three things to watch out for when dealing with a junkyard. The Old Bait and Switch Many junkyards will quote a price over the phone only to change it once the vehicle has been towed in. They will say there is more damage to the car than they were told or they forgot to deduct for something else. The seller should be as transparent as possible when describing the condition of their car. They should list any mechanical defects as well as cosmetic issues like broken tail lights or dented fenders. Ideally, pictures should be taken to the junkyard beforehand to work out a deal. Then, when the junkyard’s tow truck comes, they will have the correct money in hand. Paid on Thursday The second thing they like to do is delay when they will pay for the vehicle. They may say they want to pick it up and inspect it or they only pay out on certain days. Once the junkyard has possession of the vehicle without paying for it, there are several different things they can do. They can change the amount they are willing to pay for the car or they will charge a towing fee if the owner wants the car returned. This is also why it is important to have the title signed over to the junkyard and make copies of it. Once payment has been made and the title signed over, there is nothing they can do. Not Worth Anything The favorite scam by some unscrupulous junkyards is to claim the car is not worth anything. They will claim it is too damaged to do anything with, but they will tow it away for free. A simple internet search should tell car owners how much their vehicle is worth simply as scrap metal. Beyond that there are numerous parts that can be stripped out and sold to repair shops or private citizens. Depending on the car, it could potentially be worth more stripped down and sold for parts than it was new. Don't be discouraged to visit junk yards in Florida, though. There are plenty of reputable yards that are easy to work with and can save you quite a bit of money on any item you're looking for.
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