Selling old car - 2 buyers backed out

I_Should_Be_So_Lucky

I was advised by friends that a good way to sell my old car would be on Ebay.

I've only sold a few items on Ebay before, and selling a car was a first for me (and probably last)

It's an old VW Golf. I took lots of photos and pointed out the odd bits of rust and a couple of stone chips. Listed it with starting price of £200 and buy it now of £500, cash on collection.

Within minutes someone had bought it at buy it now, then shortly afterwards said sorry the insurance is too high and he wanted to cancel.

I cancelled the order and think I have been charged £33 fees.

I relisted a couple of hours later and again within a few minutes someone bought it at buy it now. The second guy has now contacted me and said he wants to back out. Presumably I'll be charged fees again by Ebay.

Neither buyer actually saw the car.

I really can't afford to lose any more listing fees. I don't mind paying if the car actually sells but how can I make sure this doesn't happen again?

Any advice please?

Marktheshark

Dont cancel, start disputes, get your fees back.

Brooker_Dave

Advertise it on Gumtree, just as many idiots as there are on ebay, but at least it's free

purple321

Put it on ebay as a classified advert, it costs £15 but it stays on until you actually have sold it and they have collected it. I have just been looking into it because i'm selling mine soon and can't believe people would pay £10 to list a car as an auction/buy it now and have to deal with timewasters and pay a FVF when they can pay £15 up front with no FVF's for a classified ad!

I_Should_Be_So_Lucky

Marktheshark wrote: »

Dont cancel, start disputes, get your fees back.

I'm tempted to do this but the second guy offered to give me a tenner towards the fees, so I think maybe it's a bit mean to start a dispute. He has sold a few cars himself so I don't buy his excuse that "someone let us down on ours". I wouldn't chase him for then £10.

I'm torn between trying Gumtree and doing a £15 classified ad. I've never used Gumtree before. Wish I'd done the classified ad in the first place.

Sjames_2

If it's an older car try one of the specific classified sites like classiccarsforsale.co.uk which are free to advertise and more likely to get fewer time wasters.

Ting-Tang

I know everybody thinks of the internet these days but with something like this you might do better doing it the old fashioned way - cards in shop windows / supermarkets / in the car window.
I've sold a couple of cars this way with zero hassle....

badger555

I sell a few cars here and there,do not under any circumstances list a car on ebay unless its a classified advert.I could write a book about it

gumtree and parking the car on a busy road with a a4 sheet inside i find the best, also facebook has plenty of sections for cars or general rubbish

xHannahx

I found selling a car on eBay a time wasters heaven. Four times I sold my car until someone turned up and actually bought it. Wouldn't waste time on eBay in future.
Gumtree and Facebook seem to be full of timewasters but at least they're free

mrcol1000

If you only want a few hundred quid then try http://www.cartakeback.com/

They will give you a very good scrap value. You can compare prices and see who will collect it. They handle all the paperwork. You will probably get a bit more on Ebay but just put the reg in and see how much you are offered. No fees and no hassle.

My father in law sold his 20 year old clapped out Mondeo for £120. It wouldn't even start. They came and collected it for that price. When I told him it was £120, he thought I meant that is how much they wanted to take it away!

appleblossom

out of interest I just entered my details to cartakeback - they offered me £45 for a car I scrapped last week for £170 on local facebook selling site - think that site might be a bit hit and miss tbh.