This is why I hate to take referrals from friends.

In reply to Cooter :

You're a better man than I.

I'd have shown up at his door and asked him what he did to actually earn the money. And depending on my mood at the time, I'd either be posting bail after the fact, or the Sheriff's deputy would be trying to talk sense into him about giving a refund for not doing a job, before passing it onto the D.A. for prosecution. (Around here that's called theft by conversion)

My customers hold my feet to the fire when I actually deliver the goods (can't blame them, the name of the game is to hold onto money, not give it away). I can only imagine how little work I'd have if I showed up, charged them, and didn't do a damned thing.

In reply to Cooter :

Bummer about the bad apple referral.

Be sure to post details of the attempt to dig it out this weekend. I'll try to get over there to help. Do you still have my number?

Sounds like what small claims court was made for. He didn’t do the job he didn’t earn the money. I can respect you not going all ape E36 M3 about it but just rolling over and taking it is kind of bs too. 

If you need help digging it out I can make some time this weekend.

If the guy is really that much of an a hole, he needs the $300 more than you do. I know that doesn't make you feel better but it's true.

Well thats bullE36 M3, makes me wish i was close enough to you to help out in someway. That thing is cool and id spend some time digging it out for you. 

Indy-Guy said:

In reply to Cooter :

Bummer about the bad apple referral.

Be sure to post details of the attempt to dig it out this weekend. I'll try to get over there to help. Do you still have my number?

this, I'm in for epic van retrieval adventure photo thread dump things

Bump.

Are we going to retrieve this thing tomorrow?

Im super confused by this...

• Why prepay for a service like that - ever?  Maybe $50 to cover gas- everything else is paid when the van shows up.
• Why expect to get this rig drug out and delivered to you for only $200?  Anyone worth anything that isnt blood or damn near is $100/hr for work like that, plus fuel and other expenses.
• If its close enough to you that $200 for delivery is reasonable ($100/hr plus $2.50 loaded mile) I would have just gone and gotten it myself.  
• If its far enough that $200 was a screaming deal then I would have highly considered that I was getting exactly what I was paying for.

The delivery guy is wrong, but the OP was probably a bit too trustworthy.  

I disagree. The OP didn't just randomly pick a craigslist add and sent away the money to Mr unknown. He was recommended someone by a friend and quoted a price for the service in exchange for the needed information about the car: "It hasn't moved in ages, sunk into the grown, here are some pics."

Sometimes, you come across a-holes who steal your money or take advantage of you. That might make makes you feel gullible, but the truth is that it can and will/is happen (ing) to all of us. If you adjust your behavior by assuming everyone you do any kind of business with are A-holes, you are likely to become one yourself -> a terrible life, not worth the money saved.

Surely, in this community, we can write millions of stories about how we trusted strangers and they turned out to be honest and decent people. OP just had some bad luck.