Buying off eBay

KierNet

Afternoon MSE'ers!

Has anyone ever bought a car from eBay? I'm looking (well, bidded already!) on one. Only problem is its 80 miles away, so not really possible to look at it before I've won.

I seem to remember its slightly different with cars, were I don't have to go though with it if something is wrong. Is this correct? I've done my research into the car (BMW 5 Series 528i), and also asked the seller a few questions, he has 100% feedback with 600+ sales, so believe that he can be trusted. The car looks in great condition, and lots of paperwork is included.

They've asked for a £50 deposit via paypal, and cash on collection, which I don't mind doing at all. Going up with my step dad, so won't be alone.

Any advice would be great. I've got a few things of eBay before, but never a car!

poppasmurf_bewdley

I've bought one car on eBay but it was local to me so was able to go and see it before bidding. I would keep to cars within 10-15 miles of where you are.

cyclonebri1

KierNet wrote: »

Afternoon MSE'ers!

Has anyone ever bought a car from eBay? I'm looking (well, bidded already!) on one. Only problem is its 80 miles away, so not really possible to look at it before I've won.

I seem to remember its slightly different with cars, were I don't have to go though with it if something is wrong. Is this correct? I've done my research into the car (BMW 5 Series 528i), and also asked the seller a few questions, he has 100% feedback with 600+ sales, so believe that he can be trusted. The car looks in great condition, and lots of paperwork is included.

They've asked for a £50 deposit via paypal, and cash on collection, which I don't mind doing at all. Going up with my step dad, so won't be alone.

Any advice would be great. I've got a few things of eBay before, but never a car!

If you are really interested/serious 80 miles is a 4 gallon round trip, step up or butt out is my taking,

You can easily negotiate that from the eventual sale.

Look, ebay think they have everything tied down pretty tight, they don't, so many ways out and around.

Eg guy says the sale fell through.no ebay pay for him, negotiate, he has no sale fee, no final figure fee, no paypal fee, you cash in.

Ethical?
I'm out,
done all the time?
of course it is, and bet your bottom dollar the ebay fees take this into account.

s_b

i think bidding for a car unseen on the internet is a lazy mans way
i certainly wouldnt offer a car in an auction type sale when i could sell it properly with an autotrader advert
too many nutters who think they know all but no nowt would want to moan and grown at what is basically a washing machine on wheels

OP you are mad to buy this way keep to buying postal bits and bats

custardy

bought many cars on eBay
a few from Carlisle weirdly
Everytime I have looked and bought it has been cheaper to travel,buy and drive back,than pay local Edinburgh prices
never bought a bad one yet
however I know a bit about cars and would happily walk away if I wasnt happy
I have bid on plenty asking about deposits,however I have never and would never pay that
As soon as I win I contact ot confirm their availability and then organise travel/collection details
my last Ebay buy was a C5 from Carlisle,still going some 4 years later.

AlexisV

Remember, just because you've won it on ebay it doesn't mean you can't walk away if needs be.

mikey72

Same experience as Custardy.

They've all been as I expected, a couple were local, so I saw them first, others weren't, but lived up to the description.

I want a test drive when I get there, if it's ok, or with only the faults listed, I'll pay what I bid, and drive it away. (Or trailer it, if it's a non runner).
I won't pay deposits though.

rev_henry

My current car I bought off ebay without seeing beforehand and its fine. Its no different with cars as you say, the simple rule is that if its not as described you can walk away, as you can with anything, just you're more likely to do this with a car rather than a 99p phone case or whatever.

As said, the paypal deposit thing is often stated but often never actually asked for - as long as you make contact about collection soon enough after the end of the auction and sound like a reasonable fellow I think you usually just pay cash on collection.

KierNet

s_b wrote: »

i think bidding for a car unseen on the internet is a lazy mans way
i certainly wouldnt offer a car in an auction type sale when i could sell it properly with an autotrader advert
too many nutters who think they know all but no nowt would want to moan and grown at what is basically a washing machine on wheels

OP you are mad to buy this way keep to buying postal bits and bats

Why am I mad? I've looked on AutoTrader, and there isn't any similar cars for sale that are within 100 miles or so. The ones that are don't look as nice.

AlexisV wrote: »

Remember, just because you've won it on ebay it doesn't mean you can't walk away if needs be.

Thats what I was thinking, would have only wasted time.

rev_henry wrote: »

My current car I bought off ebay without seeing beforehand and its fine. Its no different with cars as you say, the simple rule is that if its not as described you can walk away, as you can with anything, just you're more likely to do this with a car rather than a 99p phone case or whatever.

As said, the paypal deposit thing is often stated but often never actually asked for - as long as you make contact about collection soon enough after the end of the auction and sound like a reasonable fellow I think you usually just pay cash on collection.

Auction ends on Saturday, going to ask to collect it on Sunday.

CrazyRatLady_2

We've bought several cars off ebay - 2 sight unseen (both classic mini's - first was stolen 3 years after we bought it and we got the replacement on ebay) as they were fairly far away. One we found was ending in an hour, going really cheap and wasn't too far away so we decided to go look - got to the guys house with 5 minutes left on the auction and it was pitch black out, had a very quick look over, bid on it, won and drove it home. All cars have been excellent.
As said - if you win a car on ebay and it doesn't turn out to be what you expected then you can reject it and not hand over any money.

jase1

AlexisV wrote: »

Remember, just because you've won it on ebay it doesn't mean you can't walk away if needs be.

What about the poor sod who has to pay up the £50-100, and a week wasted putting it online, you've just wasted on him?

This is the reason I'll never sell a car worth more than a couple of hundred quid on ebay. It's completely unacceptable to waste people's time like this and people who do it are worse than the stuff I pick up on the base of my shoe.

If you can't view before bidding, don't bloody bid. It really is that simple.