Ebay buyer dispute over a car in classified 'best offer' listing

supermoto

Hope someone can give me some advice in this -


I saw a classified ad on Ebay for new car (private seller) for £10000 with a “best offer” option. I called the guy, all seemed ok so I offered on Ebay £9600 which he accepted making it a legally binding by Ebay rules.


Info about the car – He ordered the car from a fiat dealer (2010 plate) for £11,000 got £2000 off on the scrapage scheme and registered it under his name to sell it at a profit.


I changed my mind at last hour due feeling uneasy about the seller and the car to which he flipped out and said he was going to sue me but I didn't hear any more.


Next day he re-listed the car on Ebay for £9600 (classified with best offer option), rejected a few offers from other buyer (he hide the totals) then dropped the price to £9200 and sold it within a few days.


He now wants to sue me for his loss of £400. Can he do this?


I didn't receive a letter from his solicitor or was given the option to buy the car to avoid being sued. I also don't think he put enough effort in getting a good price for the car. I ask a fiat dealer and he offered £9300 which I have in writing.


Help appriciated! Thanks

alfiesmum

I don't think he'll take this anywhere at all. He registered using the scrappage scheme, in order to sell his allowance on at a profit? He's not going near a court room. Forget about it. And don't buy any other cars over the phone or eBay unseen. xx

nomoneytoday

Technically he could sue you for the £400 as you broke the contract.
Whether he would go near a court room or not is down to the seller...

pug_in_a_bed

These kinds of sellers are my pet hate, there's another thread on here where a seller has threatened legal action for bad feedback!! Making ordinary people worry and panic for no reason.

He is just, in my opinion, giving ridiculous empty threats.

bezzza

And these are the kind of buyers that give all us others a bad rep - they agree a price and then change their mind at the last minute and expect no repercussions - you can't have it all ways

pinkshoes

I would question why he seemed so desparate to sell the car so quickly rather than hang on for the asking price.

It seems unfair you're no longer given the option to buy the car if he objected that much, particularly as he made no effort to get the price that you offered

Under the scrappage rules, he can sell it when he wants, so would have no fear of a court room:

Is there any limit on how long a motorist has to own the new car after they’ve traded their old one in?
No, there is no limit. However, you must be aware that DVLA vehicle systems do not allow a vehicle to be recorded as purchased and sold on the same date.
In these circumstances the date of sale will be recorded as the next calendar day following date of purchase.

supermoto

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I think if you have a gut feeling all is not right with the item I'd be silly to hand over that much money just because I don't want to break ebay rules and give buyers a bad name.

The guy is serious about taking me to court buy lets hope the judge sees my side.

I'll post an update on here.

Cheers.