buying cars from ebay?

[retired_member32]

has anybody any experience in buying cars from ebay,now my success rate in buying a decent car from ebay is non existent,i went to fetch a corsa the other day and the guy turned up about two hours late whilst i was waiting with the missus and the two kids getting ratty,i started the engine and the camshaft was knackered and the the front bumper was being held on by glue and little grommet screws,i told the guy who could barely speak any english that the car was knackered and before i got home i had negative feedback,you can't win.

 

[DaveH]

I would simply avoid buying a car from ebay. The risk is too high for the small chance of grabbing a bargain. Just my opinion of course and I'm sure many people have had good experiences.

 

[mat]

I often find my cars on Ebay.

Basicly I see them on Ebay and then in advance go to look at them then offer the cash and have them cancel the auction. Not going to risk my feedback with actualy purchasing on there.

My latest car (BMW E46) I saw on Ebay, drove down that day and bought it off him. He was a car dealer anyway at a proper location with warrenty etc. Also always do a HPI check before you even think about going to look at one.

The car is still going strong nearly a year down the line with NO problems atall. Same with my last BMW which I also found on Ebay that time from a private seller.

Its the same with anything, be a good judge of character and do some research on both the seller and car in advance. Alot of cars will be on Ebay for a reason and often have something to hide, others will be genuine and its a good way to advertise your car for a quick sale.

 

[Codythebest]

At least get there and check the car by yourself before to pay...

 

[nnh]

I once sold a van!! good van £100...I once bought a boat, shit boat, one wheel on trailer (that side wasnt on pic), grounded it on a speed hump, that was a bad day lol...

Dont buy cars on ebay

 

[GreyWing]

If it's an expensive car, then don't take the cash with you on the first vist. Some very nasty incidents of muggings on cars over £2k, your on their turf at a time that suits them.

Get the to bring the car to you.

Just sold one of mine, Derby funnily enough Mark. I was very upfront with everyone about it's problems and the guy got a good deal. Sold in less than 2 hours, the guy was an MR2 Fanatic the more problems I told him the car had, the more he loved to fix it.

Itr had been sat on the drive for nearly a year all taxed and tested but I hated to drive it and gave the guy a guarantee that he could bring it back.

As Mat says, go to view with the option of buying their and then, that gets the best results and I have bought a few like that.

But their are some great bargains out their if you drop on, try doing a search for "quick sale" "need to sell" those might get you a good bargain.

All the best
GW

 

[Jeewhizz]

I bought one last week on ebay - 04 plate laguna - from a dealer advertising on ebay. I'm very happy with it.

I was going to get one from a private seller, but after the HPI check, it appears he was trying to shift his insurance writeoff cheap! It had a small amount of panel damage on one door, but nothing else obvious - who knows what was wrong under the hood!

 

[retired_member32]

i saw this car by chance and there was only 3 mins left so viewing was out of the question,ebay are just not bothered about the faults or the feedback,i have another story to tell but i am going to the court over it so i shall keep you updated.

so what percentage do you think fail,because in the last few months i have bought between ten and fifteen cars on ebay and i have left most of them with the seller because they are falsely described,or just plain dangerous.

 

[HZC]

i bought my car off ebay £450 for a 1997 fiesta and it was in exactly the shape it was described andi was happy using ebay to buy it and would use ebat again.

 

[jimm]

Ive bought a car trailer. Does that count?

Friends have sold cars on it. sometimes minters, sometimes rougher than sandpaper!
Id not buy a car i wanted to use from ebay. Bits and shells id occasionally buy, with caution...

 

[retired_member32]

update on my issue with buying dodgy cars from ebay.the guy who sold me a car with oil passing the plug(valve stem seal),and he then removed feedback from my account that he sent me(damaging for him),it went to the dispute console and ebay supposed to acted on it,the guy has just listed another car on ebay and it was on his drive when i bought my dodgy car from him and he told me it needed a new engine because the engine was knackered,and yes you have guessed it no mention of this in the ad.

absolutely amazes me.

 

[rob]

update on my issue with buying dodgy cars from ebay.the guy who sold me a car with oil passing the plug(valve stem seal),and he then removed feedback from my account that he sent me(damaging for him),it went to the dispute console and ebay supposed to acted on it,the guy has just listed another car on ebay and it was on his drive when i bought my dodgy car from him and he told me it needed a new engine because the engine was knackered,and yes you have guessed it no mention of this in the ad.

absolutely amazes me.

What would happen if you bought the car, and then found it not as described

 

[retired_member32]

is this reference to my "1976 consumer credit act" thread,honestly i thought it was for traders only but my missus who lectures on economics and law says differently,i had a big barny with her over it but on research she was right,and we used it afterwards(well threatened someone with it),what goes on with ebay "nothing",like normal i didn't know this guy was selling anything else because his feedback is 50/60% and a guy was going to buy the car in question emailed me to ask why i gave him neg feedback.

mark

 

[philiporchard]

Sold Polo

Sold my Polo (P reg) about two years ago on Ebay.

Starting price of 99p with 140k miles on the clock!

Sold for £600 LOL

 

[accelerator]

I would never buy a second hand car without being able to inspect it beforehand. There are so many things that could be wrong with a car, my view is you need to look at it first and if there is anything that doesn't feel quite right, just walk away - after all, there are hundreds of thousands of second hand cars out there. Although I am no expert, I think with an in person inspection you very quickly get a feeling both about the seller and the car.

Rgds

 

[retired_member32]

i can see where you're coming from but i don't know about you but i buy a lot of things off ebay on impulse,the car i bought had two minutes left so viewing was out of the question but you are certainly right you should always view first,i would love to know how many car transactions fail on ebay?,it is a close guarded secret and no answers on the internet.

mark

 

[GreyWing]

Mark,

I would bet it's only around 15-20% that actually go through. I would imagine it's pretty low and getting lower as the good sellers take their business back to autotrader.

What's left on ebay is usually stuff that wouldn't sell on autotrader, it didn't used to be that way though.

All the best
GW

 

[retired_member32]

in the last twelve months i have bought approximately 10-12 cars off ebay and i took home three and one of them the guy hid the fault so i am happy with two,so that's pretty impressive for ebay

mark

 

[retired_member32]

you are not going to believe my luck,i have been looking for a range cooker because my kitchen has just had a refit,seen a nice ex display one on ebay buy it now or make an offer,so i made an offer and it was accepted,then i rang the guy(barely spoke english),and i told him that i would collect via courier this wednesday,anyway paid the courier and everthing was going nicely,then i said could he pop it on a pallet,he didn't know what a pallet was?,finally he understood(only took six emails and four phone calls)anyway i said to the guy you better place it on it's side because the feet will go through the rungs of the pallet,he emailed me saying it didn't have any feet :twisted:,he said i forgot to mention that it doesn't come with the feet,(no mention of this on the listing),and then it said most of the knobs are missing,anyway cutting it short i have had to pay the courier £20 cancellation fee)and still no cooker.

mark