Online auction - Not as described

Jamesb8420

I purchased a vehicle from an online auction site CoPart. The vehicle was described as a Manual which runs and drives.  I won the vehicle, paid for it and got the vehicle collected. When the vehicle was delivered to me the first thing i noticed was the fact it was an automatic and not a manual and secondly the vehicle didn't start and drive. I emailed the company twice within 2 days of having the vehicle with no reply. This morning i paid a company to drop the vehicle back off at there compound which i hoped would result in a refund. I was told by the manager that no refund could be issued because when they initially received the vehicle it started and drove. I cant really argue with that but all i know is it doesn't start and drive now. With regards to the automatic/manual situation he said that it was described as automatic on the auction site because that was the information that was issued to them.

soolin

They have shocking reviews

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/copart.co.uk

How did you pay? 

forgotmyname

I have bought a car from them years back, but went on the day and trailered it away.  No idea on the customer service aspect but some of the
reviews are a joke.  Asked to pay for a car they did not bid on, maybe their cat? 

Items missing from the vehicle. These are insurance writeoffs some owners will remove stuff thinking its going to get scrapped and
not realising its being resold and maybe back on the road. Staff removing parts who knows. Years back the lads at scrapyards
would sell you stuff cheap if the boss was not around.

£60 membership, guess mines expired then.  £5 or £10 i think?   25% fees. Is that all fees or VAT etc?  Had a quick look and its
fairly expensive but the fees didnt add upto 25% when i just looked. Local auction not car related charge upto 45% inc the VAT.
You know the price beforehand and have the choice. Mentally I add 50% onto my bid as the till price. I think a lot are people
that expected to get a new car for pennies and spend £50 fixing it and shocked to find it needs major/costly repairs.

One review said the prices for low volume buyers was OTT and there are cheaper undamaged cars on ebay etc.
Totally agree with that but there are silly priced cars on ebay also. My last few cars have been from dealers.



Sorry OP. But some of those reviews were just silly. Not to say the company didnt deserve low stars but maybe the
wrong reasons?

Anyway your question.
Bought a manual but its an auto, what about the pictures?   I wouldn't buy a car unseen.  Started and ran yes but it may have sounded
like the engine was smashing itself to bits but it did run for the 5 seconds they tested it?

You really need to see the vehicle on the day.

soolin

I don't know much about car auctions but am very familiar with other auctions. For goods at most of the auction houses I use they have a disclaimer that if you want to check the accuracy of a description you need to phone beforehand and confirm as catalogue is not necessarily exact. So unless something ends up materially different, ie my purchase order states I have bought a vase and they hand over a radiator then I'm stuck with it. So for instance I might buy something that states it is a blue vase with Chinese character to the base- and when I pick it up it is green and the Characters are actually placed there by a modern high street shop and it's actually an M and S vase- then I've bought it and it's mine. 

Not sure how that affects the manual/automatic issue though. As for running was it guaranteed as running ?

forgotmyname

Copart usually have a load of pictures, i have used their pictures on here to show what a CAT C/D car can look like and
that it may not just be minor damage when someone thinks they are getting a bargain car that had minor damage.

Pictures would have shown its a manual, no used them for a fair few years but the membership had something about
being a trader. Had to supply a photo and sign in. So the OP maybe classed as a business and should have
checked before buying.

Another thread on here shows why you need to check. They are handing a car back and want to take the spare
wheel before they collect it.... You need to check before bidding.

They have a members pledge but its not a lot. Vehicle's general appearance differs from the photo. Seems they rely on
the photo over the description. If its a Bentley and you end up with a KA then you get a refund.

Guess the OP will not be posting again?  So no answer to what gearbox the photo's showed.