eBay and the deluded!

[DSM10000]

Slightly against my better judgement I agreed to help sell a an unwanted car for someone on eBay.

Within 10 minutes of the listing being live I had 5 messages (plus more that followed) asking for my "best price", an offer close to the asking price, made by a member with zero feedback who, surprisingly, then withdrew their offer and someone who is clearly a scammer.

The message from the latter was:

"Do you have pay pal as I will be paying you with that, as it is a secured way to pay online If you are fine with that, you can send me your details so I can pay with it .I have also got a transporting firm that will handle the conveyance after I have paid the money successfully to your pay pal and the transaction is completed"

What could go wrong?

 

[ChipChop]

If the car is of low value Autotrader offer free ads for cars with an asking price of £1000 or less. Buyers have to physically ring sellers on AT so that 'should' cut out most of the scammers. GLWTS

 

[DSM10000]

Checking my inbox I find more examples of idiots and time wasters with some more interesting email offers for the car on eBay!

No 1

Can I come and see it now and buy it?

I answered :

You can but you may not as it is 7pm and you tell me that you live in Newcastle.

No 2

I cannot afford the petrol to drive to you. Will you please bring the car to me I live in Birmingham so I can look at it.

My reply

My deepest commiserations on your locale.

Haven't time to drive it to you. Let me check if DHL can deliver.

Number 3

You are to (!) expensive. You are a cheat car dealer. I think I only pay £150.

When can I collect the car?

My reply.

Thank you for your gracious offer It will be ready, full of petrol and pointing toward Mecca but you must compensate me if I accept your offer with 6 goats, your best camel and your eldest daughter.

 

[MrGreedy]

The correct attitude if they are obviously having a joke with you

I think the Autotrader route sounds like it might be worth it.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

And then there's the nonsense that is FB Marketplace.

Dodgy motors, and even dodgier photos of young ladies "apparently" selling clothing, possibly with "extras."

Caveat emptor.

 

[SpikyMikey]

And then there's the nonsense that is FB Marketplace.

Dodgy motors, and even dodgier photos of young ladies "apparently" selling clothing, possibly with "extras."

Caveat emptor.

I have often wondered if I'm missing out not being on Farcebook.........

 

[oldguy57]

And then there's the nonsense that is FB Marketplace.

Dodgy motors, and even dodgier photos of young ladies "apparently" selling clothing, possibly with "extras."

Caveat emptor.

Lots of bargains apparently available on FB Marketplace also being sold by young females who have a lengthy inventory of car stock. Mint E Type for £15k Mint 911 £3.5k. Many similar available at 20% of market value. Absolute bargains - snap em up while you can

 

[Petrol Pete]

Ahhhh , so thats what that was . I did think it odd that the sexy Lingerie I paid £400 on FBMP for my wife was delivered by a young (ish) woman who was actually wearing it .

That Pizza I paid $350 for in the USA the other month was pretty carp . The young lady who delivered it was very pretty though. Maybe I should have invited her to my hotel room to share it with me ? , I think I am missing something here .

Oh well......

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Ahhhh , so thats what that was . I did think it odd that the sexy Lingerie I paid £400 on FBMP for my wife was delivered by a young (ish) woman who was actually wearing it .

That Pizza I paid $350 for in the USA the other month was pretty carp . The young lady who delivered it was very pretty though. Maybe I should have invited her to my hotel room to share it with me ? , I think I am missing something here .

Oh well......

Wife found the receipts, huh?

 

[Smiley]

I have just been through the same thing - twice. Both cheap cars owned by family members and no longer required. I found that gumtree worked better than ebay which surprised me. Hardly anyone phones any more - most enquires are conducted via messaging.
I have my own set of rules - include an honest description and set the price at a sensible level to sell reasonably quickly, then ignore any messages which are any of the following 1. sent within a couple of hours of listing (ime these are small time traders constantly watching the ads trying to buy "bargains"); 2. ask what is best / last price 3. include the word mate, 4. are unnecessarily rude/abrupt. Eventually a genuine one will come through and then I respond to that one. Sold both cars to the first enquiry meeting the rules; both people living within 10 miles. Very happy buyers.

 

[SpikyMikey]

I have just been through the same thing - twice. Both cheap cars owned by family members and no longer required. I found that gumtree worked better than ebay which surprised me. Hardly anyone phones any more - most enquires are conducted via messaging.
I have my own set of rules - include an honest description and set the price at a sensible level to sell reasonably quickly, then ignore any messages which are any of the following 1. sent within a couple of hours of listing (ime these are small time traders constantly watching the ads trying to buy "bargains"); 2. ask what is best / last price 3. include the word mate, 4. are unnecessarily rude/abrupt. Eventually a genuine one will come through and then I respond to that one. Sold both cars to the first enquiry meeting the rules; both people living within 10 miles. Very happy buyers.

The "mate" thing irritates me too; yes, I'm an old fart, but my idea of a "mate" is someone you have at the very least a passing acquaintance with and not a complete stranger on the end of the phone....

 

[rich1068]

eBay is indeed an odd place. All of life is here as my mother says. I've bought and sold many cars and for all the nut cases and scammers I find it's still the best place to advertise at the sub-£5k price point I circle. Just have to keep your wits about you.

 

[Gollom]

Lots of bargains apparently available on FB Marketplace also being sold by young females who have a lengthy inventory of car stock. Mint E Type for £15k Mint 911 £3.5k. Many similar available at 20% of market value. Absolute bargains - snap em up while you can

What about the cars?

 

[philnewmerc]

The interesting thing about FB marketplace is the huge amount of stolen items on there right under everyone's nose but the descriptions in the title are usually extremely vague. If you want to buy a very expensive bike for example, you won't find it under its manufacturer's name, ***because the previous unlucky owner who had it nicked will be searching for that name***, it will simply say "bike for sale, £1000"!

 

[DanE350cdi]

I have often wondered if I'm missing out not being on Farcebook.........

Trust me no, I too am anti - facebitch

 

[DSM10000]

I had a call about the car this morning.

Sensible sounding mature male. I went through the good and the bad points.

He said that this wasn't a problem as he just needed a car for few months

When I mentioned that the car was on a SORN and was not insured he again told me this was no problem as he had Trade plates.

He called back later to arrange a time and asked how to pay because if we wanted cash he would have to go to his Bank.

I thought that odd as no price had been.
negotiated.

Unsurprisingly he has not shown up at16:00 as arranged and has not responded to any messages

 

[DanE350cdi]

I have had these silly messages over the years when I used to use Ebay. My favourite when they used to offer silly low ball offers was, give me an hour and I will remove the steering wheel for you and you can have that!

 

[DanE350cdi]

I had a call about the car this morning.

Sensible sounding mature male. I went through the good and the bad points.

He said that this wasn't a problem as he just needed a car for few months

When I mentioned that the car was on a SORN and was not insured he again told me this was no problem as he had Trade plates.

He called back later to arrange a time and asked how to pay because if we wanted cash he would have to go to his Bank.

I thought that odd as no price had been.
negotiated.

Unsurprisingly he has not shown up at16:00 as arranged and has not responded to any messages

Its so bloody annoying, shame really as it seems to be getting worse with plonkers these days.

 

[DSM10000]

I have often wondered if I'm missing out not being on Farcebook.........

The quick answer is "No"

I /we have never engaged with social media be it Faceache, Twatter, Instantgran or Looked up

 

[Darrell]

The quick answer is "No"

I /we have never engaged with social media be it Faceache, Twatter, Instantgran or Looked up

I use Facebook and like with all social media it’s fine as you use it for what it is and in small doses.

I love it when people large it up saying they never use any forms of social media and they post it on a car forum