'Private' seller on eBay has garage - query

Happy_bunny

Found a nice looking, low mileage car on eBay and made enquiries - The seller has a private (not business) ebay account but has several cars listed.

I've just phoned to go have a looky and the seller is a business, running from commercial premises and with a business name.

Should i be concerned? obviously I'll be taking the usual precautions buying a used car entails but am wondering if the fact they aren't registered with ebay as a business will cause me problems should i have any problems after the sale.

Any advice welcome, I am a little naive about buying cars but do understand how they work and what to look out for

pitkin2020

What protection do you think ebay is going to offer you?? In reality you will have no protection as you will go to the garage test drive it and pay cash or directly the garage. Your rights are going to be no different when buying from any other garage advertising on ebay or not.

(I am presuming it was a classified ad rather than an auction) Even at auction level though ebay still offers next to no protection as most sales will be done with cash direct to the garage.

Just noticed you are exeter based, which garage you buying?? I used a great garage on Marsh barton couldn't recommend them highly enough if you want a link, maybe they will have something you maybe interested in

silkyuk9

Whats the cncern? no money has changed hands yet? take a friend see the car if the car is a few grand get AA or RAC to check it out. I cant see any issues at this point

Happy_bunny

Cheers both - clarified what i thought really. Thought the eBay 'private' seller thing may have been something to be wary of.

Can go in the morning with a clearer mindset!

pitkin2020

Happy_bunny wrote: »

Cheers both - clarified what i thought really. Thought the eBay 'private' seller thing may have been something to be wary of.

Can go in the morning with a clearer mindset!

Like I said most dealers use the classified function on ebay, so the buyer has no more protection than buying from the free-ads, autotrader etc (obviously normal consumer protection applies) as they are merely using ebay as an introducer nothing more.

Even if the car goes through the auction process the protection ebay offers is very minimal, they don't even enforce paypal payments as must for car sales. (rightly so).

When buying any car due diligence goes much further and knowing when to walk away.

Best of luck!!

thenudeone

I would still report it to ebay though.

silkyuk9

thenudeone wrote: »

I would still report it to ebay though.

What actually has the seller done very wrong that he needs reporting, maybe this is his way of getting cars sold cheaper? If his rating is good and people are happy with the cars whats the issue? Let people live!

If however his cars are donkies and hes ripping people off there isnt any issues. Whats wrong with all these curtain twitchers reporting every person for minor issues. Sure if hes a gangster report him but leave the guy alone if hes selling good gear.

nickj_2

either he is a business and should sell his cars as such or he is a private seller
if he's a business the he will have to offer proper business criteria where as if you purchesed from a private seller it would be at your own risk

atrixblue.-MFR-.

a business portraying as a private seller is breach of ebay rules.

he's not broken any laws he is a buisiness and such would not accept a written reciept with sold as seen private sale on, i'd expect the transaction to go through the buisiness with the usuals.

pitkin2020

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

a business portraying as a private seller is breach of ebay rules.

he's not broken any laws he is a buisiness and such would not accept a written reciept with sold as seen private sale on, i'd expect the transaction to go through the buisiness with the usuals.

ebay rules are the only thing this seller has broken. The op has clearly stated he is trading from a business address so its very unlikely he would give a written sold as seen type receipt unless totally stupid.

Flyboy152

nickj wrote: »

either he is a business and should sell his cars as such or he is a private seller
if he's a business the he will have to offer proper business criteria where as if you purchesed from a private seller it would be at your own risk

He can say he is a "private" seller as much as he likes, it doesn't make it true though.