Bidding for a car without seeing it first...

emmell

I am currently selling a classic Mini Cooper ( Rover, not the real Morris) on ebay and I can't believe people are actually bidding on it without even seeing it first. These old Mini's are notorious for rot so I wouldn't dream of buying one without inspecting it first, yet I've had offers to buy it (unseen). It currently has 80 watchers and 3 days to go, with someone possibly viewing tomorrow.
Has anyone sold a car on ebay without anyone looking first, 'cos I'm baffled.
ML.

hartcjhart

depends on price description etc,any link

Rolandtheroadie

1985 Rover sd1, 1992 Range Rover, 1993 CBR1000F, 1999 Hayabusa and a 1998 Ducati SP2. Every one bought from ebay without viewing (unless you count a picture).
Travelled overnight on Wednesday past to pick up a 1973 VW camper (not mine, just helping out) bought from ebay after looking at a picture. Had been off the road for 5 years but had been mot'd a couple of months ago. Drove it 470 miles home again.
Its all about building a picture. If you've good, high feedback (100% or an explainable neg and lots of feedback) and the answers you've given to questions on the listing or to a question I've asked and your description is informed/comes across like your an enthusiast or know what your talking about, I wouldnt bother viewing.

emmell

hartcjhart wrote: »

depends on price description etc,any link

If I posted a link it would look like I'm trying to drum up a sale, but I described it as best I could even down to saying that the car looked better on the photo's. I listed all the faults that are know to me and the fact that it has no MOT or tax and therefore sold as spares or repair. Although I have been as honest as i can I would still have preferred bidders to view it first.
ML.

anewman

I think buyers like honesty so listing all known faults is good. Also remember someone may be bidding who has a garage and a mig welder etc and isn't expecting a minter but a project.

mikey72

I wouldn't view either.
It's either as decribed or it isn't.
If it is, I'll pay what I bid, if it's not I'll walk away.

Not the 92 white one is it?

emmell

[QUOTE=mikey72;36136511

Not the 92 white one is it?

Yes.
ML.

mikey72

We looked for a mini off ebay.
I had no problem buying unseen, but the ones I put bids in for went for more than I wanted to pay.
All the bidding happened in the last few minutes, my bids were in the last 30 seconds, and I still lost.
As it turned out, the one we finished up with came from round the corner, so I ended up going to see it and making an offer there and then.

emmell

I actually bought this one from close by, it had been left on a drive unused and unloved. My brother spotted it when he dropped the lady of the house off (he's a taxi driver), he got talking to her and found out they didn't want it. He see's all sorts as he travelling about.
He dropped a woman off one day and someone with a low loader was loading a Mini Moke, when he asked her about it it had been her elderly fathers and when he died they didn't know what to do with it, so they rung a few no's of scrap car dealers and got £250 for it. It was all complete and been in the garage for years. Now I would have loved to have got my hands on that, they make a fortune restored.
ML.

only_mee

Paid £2700 for mine of ebay 2 1/2 years ago cracking car it is flies through the mots, reliable, 2001 y plate.
Bought it unseen was a last minute bid.

GabbaGabbaHey

Bought my 1999 Mazda MX-5 on eBay without seeing it first. Bought it based on photos, service history and emails exchanged with seller.

Sold my wife's Porsche 924 on eBay - again, the guy who bought it (he was a trader) didn't view beforehand.