Buying from auction BCA

tankie

Hi, having never been to an auction for vehicles I was wondering if there are genuine people that can help at an auction?
I am looking for a vw transporter t5 in oct / nov this year is there any forums or places I should look for more advice or even getting someone to bid on my behalf ( heard that somewhere) any advice appreciated.
:beer:

Hammyman

Don't bother. The buyers premium and VAT you'll pay will take it up to the price that you can buy it from dealers due to the sheer number of brainless halfwits who forget the hammer price isn't the full price and bid over the odds.

And you don't get a warranty or protection under SOGA - it is truly bought as seen.

andygb

Hammyman wrote: »

Don't bother. The buyers premium and VAT you'll pay will take it up to the price that you can buy it from dealers due to the sheer number of brainless halfwits who forget the hammer price isn't the full price and bid over the odds.

And you don't get a warranty or protection under SOGA - it is truly bought as seen.

This may be the first time I have disagreed with you Hammyman, but I have saved £1000s through auction purchases, as have mates who have become addicted.
You do have to have a bit of luck, but I am still driving an auction purchase from nearly seven years ago.
Advice:

Have a set price in mind - do not exceed that price.

Have a particular vehicle/spec in mind and do not deviate.

Do take an experienced person along to look at and listen to the car.

marlot

tankie wrote: »

...or even getting someone to bid on my behalf ...
:beer:

Google Joe Dowd - he's a reputable auction buyer

s_b

marlot wrote: »

Google Joe Dowd - he's a reputable auction buyer

he only did cars as far as im aware

Hammyman

andygb wrote: »

This may be the first time I have disagreed with you Hammyman, but I have saved £1000s through auction purchases, as have mates who have become addicted.
You do have to have a bit of luck, but I am still driving an auction purchase from nearly seven years ago.
Advice:

Have a set price in mind - do not exceed that price.

Have a particular vehicle/spec in mind and do not deviate.

Do take an experienced person along to look at and listen to the car.

There is no disagreement at all. If you know what you are doing and follow the golden rules you posted, you are perfectly correct. However it may be that you've not been to one in the last couple of years, especially the big BCA ones which not only attract first time dreamers but have horrific buyers premiums which are possibly the most expensive in the UK.

I have two auctions I buy laptops from. One they sell for a reasonable price, the commission is 10% with VAT on the commission only. At the second one I now no longer go to, it is full of morons and dreamers who bid silly money and then there is 15% commission and VAT on the full amount - 34% more than the hammer price so in many cases you can walk into Currys or PC World and buy a new one cheaper. The first auction is like my local car auction. The second is what BCA and other popular advertised auctions have turned into.

auroan

Cars Auctions != Laptops Auctions

tankie

Thanks for the joes details I have contacted him, what has laptops got to do with van buying??? But thanks for replys.

rodenal

I've bought cars from auction too and got myself a good deal but it is definately a good idea to scope out the specific auction house you are looking to go to first and be well aware of what the added fees are.

There are about 4 locally and only 1 I would (and have) ever buy a car from. Even then I doubt i'd go for any german car, they tend to go far too close to or even higher than what a private sale would be. The others are either full of right dodgy looking motors, right dodgy looking people or a combo of all the above.

Best thing to buy at auction is a relatively unpopular japanese or korean motor

Wig

tankie wrote: »

Hi, having never been to an auction for vehicles I was wondering if there are genuine people that can help at an auction?
I am looking for a vw transporter t5 in oct / nov this year is there any forums or places I should look for more advice or even getting someone to bid on my behalf ( heard that somewhere) any advice appreciated.
:beer:

First of all you need facts,

Which auction will you be attending...
What is your ball park expected bid amount

Ask the auction house what their fees will be charged on a hammer price of your expected bid amount.

Ask if VAT will be added on top and what it will be added to i.e the hammer price (tell them you are buying a van) and or the fees.

Now you need to attend an auction and see what they sell for, work out the final sale price that you would have paid and see if you could have gotten the same van cheaper or for the same money somewhere less risky, like autotrader for example.

Now ask yourself is the saving (if any) worth it, given that you have no aftersale comeback and only 5 mins to hear the engine running, and 2 mins to look at the engine bay, 2 mins inside the vehicle on top of a mere outside visual only inspection of the vehicle.

blacksta

I dont like auctions. too high risk for me - but you might be lucky