*Apologies to alistair for the slightly unoriginal thread content.
So, you want to buy a car on eBaY? Here's some tips I've found handy over the years, feel free to add your hints.
First of all I'd suggest clicking the drop down box in the 'cars' section and selecting 'newly listed. This because you've a fighting chance of being able to view the car first plus the benefit of being able to have a good think about it before you bid.
Check (and confirm if neccessary) the location. Think long and hard about how you're going to get it back and how much it's going to cost BEFORE you bid. Nothing more annoying as a seller than someone who hasn't checked location or didn't read the listing fully and thus didn't notice it was not taxed or is not running. Check insurance costs BEFORE you bid.
If you're going to drive it back make sure you're equipped to do so. Insurance/MOT/tax/fuel money/breakdown cover card etc.
Next up (and it sounds daft but it's easy to get 'auction fever' or want something so much you inadvertantly skim through the listing) read EVERYTHING in the advert, no matter how long it is.
Study each picture carefully for ages, and make sure you can see close up ups of the front, both sides, engine bay and interior.
Happy so far?
Is there anything you think the seller has left out? Maybe it was an over site, maybe they're trying to hide something? If there are only pictures of one side of the car ask yourself why.
Ask polite, pertinent questions and don't be afraid to request lots of details that weren't included in the script.
Next up ask the seller if you can view the car BEFORE the end of the listing. Ideally a couple of days at least is bet so you both have a chance of agreeing a day/time.
Missing paperwork? A (relatively) new scam is people getting loans out with companies that keep the V5 and the MOT certificate. They then sell you the car, tell you they've lost the paperwork but will forward it shortly. If a car based loan is against it they may default and once again you're snookered. (See HPi report comment further down).
Seller doesn't respond or says you can't view it? Again ask yourself why. A decent listing from an honest seller will include everything you need to know and a decent, honest seller will let you view first. Personally I'm always suspicious if they won't let me see it before listing ends.
Do an HPi check BEFORE you bid. If you're buying something that's pretty modern/expensive then get a proper HPi done as cheaper ones don't include finance checks. If you buy a car on finance and the previous owner doesn't keep up payments it could well get taken off you and there's nothing you can do.
Viewing before listing ends can also help further sometimes as the seller may give an indication of how much he wants for it. Don't hassle them about it though, it's supposed to be an auction type site after all.
Don't pay by Paypal. They will NOT refund if 'snad' (seriously not as described) and you'll be up the creek without a paddle if it goes wrong.
If you can't view before the listing ends (and you do really need to see it first) ask the seller for his/her 'phone number and get them to walk round the car describing every dink/dent/rust spot/scratch/mark etc. It's amazing how many 'immaculate' cars are actually anything but when you see them.
Don't trust anyone. If you don't know them you don't know how honest they are. Assume worse case scenario and if you get there and it's better than you though you should have a result.
O.k, you've won the listing, so what next? Polite e-mail request for contact details and include your own. Collect as soon as you can, don't mess the seller about and try and be reliable.
If you haven't viewed the car first give it a thorough inspection before parting with your money.
If you bid/win before you've asked any questions or, more importantly, before you've viewed the car then you'll really have to take some of the blame if it's not as described. Everyone's idea of 'good condition' or 'immaculate' differs from everyone else.
Obviously if it's a heap of junk and was described as 'excellent' then you should just walk away.
Price: you can NOT get ripped off on price. If you bid £1,000 on a car that you subsequently find is only worth £600 at most then I'm afraid it's your fault for not doing your homework.
Use an internet search engine if you don't know much about the car you want to buy. I've found fantastically useful information from 'free to view' owners forums etc about cars I fancied buying. Type something like 'Jeep Cherokee diesel common problems' into the internet seacrh and then flick through page after page. Not only do you get an idea of common faults but you can check to see if the seller has receipts for the fault/s being rectified but you can also look out for the faults when you view the car.
Suspicious bidding pattern? Something not seem quite right? Alarm bells ringing? Step away from the listing and look for another. Use sites such as 'Goofbay' which will show (better) the seller's bidder and seller history.
If viewing take someone with you. You don't both need to be an expert (though obviously if one of you is it helps). To prove this point my daughter was spotting things I'd missed when she was 6 years old so it's definately a case of two pairs of eyes being better than one.
Don't mess the seller about. Be punctual and reliable. Don't nit pick over silly things like a minor mark on the bottom of the sill.
Be realistic: if the car is old, dirt cheap or described as needing work you're unlikely to get a showroom condition daily runner for fifty quid.
These are just more reasons why viewing first is essential wherever possible.
If you spot something that's only got ten minutes left to and want to bid then as above read all the listing very carefully taking note of the above. Still want to bid? Sounds daft but I'd recommend going outside or stepping away from the computer for a minute or two to clear you head and have a considered think about your possible purchase. It's easy to get auction fever then regret it or not have read the listing properly. It's NOT the fault of the seller if you do this and you should always honour your bid.
In any genuine extreme case where you can't honour your winning bid you should NOT use the usual poor excuses of kids bidding/cat sat on your laptop/your mother in law fell on the keyboard. You should also at least do the honourable thing and offer to repay the listing fees if nothing else.
Hope this might help, eBaY should be an enjoyable place and the more serious buyers the better for everybody.
So, you want to buy a car on eBaY? Here's some tips I've found handy over the years, feel free to add your hints.
First of all I'd suggest clicking the drop down box in the 'cars' section and selecting 'newly listed. This because you've a fighting chance of being able to view the car first plus the benefit of being able to have a good think about it before you bid.
Check (and confirm if neccessary) the location. Think long and hard about how you're going to get it back and how much it's going to cost BEFORE you bid. Nothing more annoying as a seller than someone who hasn't checked location or didn't read the listing fully and thus didn't notice it was not taxed or is not running. Check insurance costs BEFORE you bid.
If you're going to drive it back make sure you're equipped to do so. Insurance/MOT/tax/fuel money/breakdown cover card etc.
Next up (and it sounds daft but it's easy to get 'auction fever' or want something so much you inadvertantly skim through the listing) read EVERYTHING in the advert, no matter how long it is.
Study each picture carefully for ages, and make sure you can see close up ups of the front, both sides, engine bay and interior.
Happy so far?
Is there anything you think the seller has left out? Maybe it was an over site, maybe they're trying to hide something? If there are only pictures of one side of the car ask yourself why.
Ask polite, pertinent questions and don't be afraid to request lots of details that weren't included in the script.
Next up ask the seller if you can view the car BEFORE the end of the listing. Ideally a couple of days at least is bet so you both have a chance of agreeing a day/time.
Missing paperwork? A (relatively) new scam is people getting loans out with companies that keep the V5 and the MOT certificate. They then sell you the car, tell you they've lost the paperwork but will forward it shortly. If a car based loan is against it they may default and once again you're snookered. (See HPi report comment further down).
Seller doesn't respond or says you can't view it? Again ask yourself why. A decent listing from an honest seller will include everything you need to know and a decent, honest seller will let you view first. Personally I'm always suspicious if they won't let me see it before listing ends.
Do an HPi check BEFORE you bid. If you're buying something that's pretty modern/expensive then get a proper HPi done as cheaper ones don't include finance checks. If you buy a car on finance and the previous owner doesn't keep up payments it could well get taken off you and there's nothing you can do.
Viewing before listing ends can also help further sometimes as the seller may give an indication of how much he wants for it. Don't hassle them about it though, it's supposed to be an auction type site after all.
Don't pay by Paypal. They will NOT refund if 'snad' (seriously not as described) and you'll be up the creek without a paddle if it goes wrong.
If you can't view before the listing ends (and you do really need to see it first) ask the seller for his/her 'phone number and get them to walk round the car describing every dink/dent/rust spot/scratch/mark etc. It's amazing how many 'immaculate' cars are actually anything but when you see them.
Don't trust anyone. If you don't know them you don't know how honest they are. Assume worse case scenario and if you get there and it's better than you though you should have a result.
O.k, you've won the listing, so what next? Polite e-mail request for contact details and include your own. Collect as soon as you can, don't mess the seller about and try and be reliable.
If you haven't viewed the car first give it a thorough inspection before parting with your money.
If you bid/win before you've asked any questions or, more importantly, before you've viewed the car then you'll really have to take some of the blame if it's not as described. Everyone's idea of 'good condition' or 'immaculate' differs from everyone else.
Obviously if it's a heap of junk and was described as 'excellent' then you should just walk away.
Price: you can NOT get ripped off on price. If you bid £1,000 on a car that you subsequently find is only worth £600 at most then I'm afraid it's your fault for not doing your homework.
Use an internet search engine if you don't know much about the car you want to buy. I've found fantastically useful information from 'free to view' owners forums etc about cars I fancied buying. Type something like 'Jeep Cherokee diesel common problems' into the internet seacrh and then flick through page after page. Not only do you get an idea of common faults but you can check to see if the seller has receipts for the fault/s being rectified but you can also look out for the faults when you view the car.
Suspicious bidding pattern? Something not seem quite right? Alarm bells ringing? Step away from the listing and look for another. Use sites such as 'Goofbay' which will show (better) the seller's bidder and seller history.
If viewing take someone with you. You don't both need to be an expert (though obviously if one of you is it helps). To prove this point my daughter was spotting things I'd missed when she was 6 years old so it's definately a case of two pairs of eyes being better than one.
Don't mess the seller about. Be punctual and reliable. Don't nit pick over silly things like a minor mark on the bottom of the sill.
Be realistic: if the car is old, dirt cheap or described as needing work you're unlikely to get a showroom condition daily runner for fifty quid.
These are just more reasons why viewing first is essential wherever possible.
If you spot something that's only got ten minutes left to and want to bid then as above read all the listing very carefully taking note of the above. Still want to bid? Sounds daft but I'd recommend going outside or stepping away from the computer for a minute or two to clear you head and have a considered think about your possible purchase. It's easy to get auction fever then regret it or not have read the listing properly. It's NOT the fault of the seller if you do this and you should always honour your bid.
In any genuine extreme case where you can't honour your winning bid you should NOT use the usual poor excuses of kids bidding/cat sat on your laptop/your mother in law fell on the keyboard. You should also at least do the honourable thing and offer to repay the listing fees if nothing else.
Hope this might help, eBaY should be an enjoyable place and the more serious buyers the better for everybody.
