Why can't sellers tell the truth?

[colin.c43]

I won this and went to collect it today: eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Messy ad, but I had sent seven (yes seven) emails asking clarification.
All MOT's? Yes = actually no, only two present
Full Mercedes history? Yes = er, no, duplicate book, first two years blank, 3 Mercedes stamps then 3 specialist stamps (all Service A)
Last service? Nov 2011 = er, no, last service March 2010
Number of keys? Two = surprise surprise, only 1
Any rust? A little on wheel arches = and on the front wings and the bonnet

+ other stuff he'd forgotten to mention: front nearside headlight full of water, boot very wet with visible water around battery and spare wheel, leather filthy with wet oil on back seat, drivers seat release catch broken.

And the four new tyres were cheap budget tyres, fine around town in the dry on a Peugeot 106, no good on a performance car, especially in the wet.

But apart from that it was fine! I didn't buy it and came home on the train.

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

A few years ago i phoned about a Fiat Uno , for my daughter. Despite being described as very good condition , every body panel was damaged, drivers door lock bust , and ignition had been hotwired. When I knocked on the door, a guy answered and said " its cash only mate, i dont want any more timewasters". I replied " the cash is not a problem , but can you show me the car we discussed on the phone please as it does not appear to be here". I got a mixed message regarding multiplication of the human race , and what i assumed was a no to my request for being reimbursed for wasting my time and petrol.

 

[martin_a]

Why haven't you given them negative feedback? Might be more help stopping other people being sucked in.

Similar story to the above with a VW Passat once - advertised as one owner and I called the chap because it was 30 miles away. 'Minor mark on one side' says he 'smart repair will sort it'.

So I went. There was a reason all the pics were straight on at the front or rear, both sides had been whacked on a gate post or something, deffo not a smart repair. Interior was filthy and opening the glovebox (lid fell off) showed why, preivously owned by Ogilvie so yes one owner with FSH but millions of drivers, looked like a pool car.

A check at the oil cap had a suspicious look of mayo about it and after 10 mins idling the temp needle hadn't moved a smegging inch so probably disconnected.

Chap kept telling me how many people wanted to come and look at it and I told him based on his advert I'm not surprised but I felt sorry for anyone who did. Still looked surprised when I refused a test drive!

m.

 

[markjay]

A few years ago i phoned about a Fiat Uno , for my daughter. Despite being described as very good condition , every body panel was damaged, drivers door lock bust , and ignition had been hotwired. When I knocked on the door, a guy answered and said " its cash only mate, i dont want any more timewasters". I replied " the cash is not a problem , but can you show me the car we discussed on the phone please as it does not appear to be here". I got a mixed message regarding multiplication of the human race , and what i assumed was a no to my request for being reimbursed for wasting my time and petrol.

That seller... I wonder.... naaa, it can't be

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/1467440-post24.html

 

[ianmc1200]

similar story for me - I won a car on ebay that the owner assured me had a scratch down one side that would 'polish out' I should have known better.

 

[colin.c43]

I left bad feedback. Seller has just left me feedback calling me a chancer and a timewaster after I spent 5 hours sitting in his house waiting for history + keys that never materialised.

 

[maggot]

I left bad feedback. Seller has just left me feedback calling me a chancer and a timewaster after I spent 5 hours sitting in his house waiting for history + keys that never materialised.

Bad feedback ? Seemed quite tame to me and via a neutral. His was even more
strange and via a positive

Don't know why anyone bothers bidding on the private listings there is no need for them.

 

[neilrr]

I left bad feedback. Seller has just left me feedback calling me a chancer and a timewaster after I spent 5 hours sitting in his house waiting for history + keys that never materialised.

You left Neutral feedback, which as far as ebay are concerned, will have zero effect on the seller's account. If you wanted to punish him for your wasted day you should have left him a red Negative.

Ebay will remove the feedback he left for you if you ask & slap his wrist. Seller's are not allowed to leave false positive feedback. Contact live help or customer support.

 

[markjay]

...A check at the oil cap had a suspicious look of mayo about it and after 10 mins idling the temp needle hadn't moved a smegging inch so probably disconnected...

Incidentally... 'mayo' on the dipstick is a major worry, but mayo under the oil filler cap is not always an issue. Some engines are prone to doing this, it is essentially the result of condensation in the upper part of the engine, and is symptomatic to engines that are used for short runs and do not reach working temperatures. It will usually clear itself after 20 minutes or so of motorway run. And it is an old trick used by traders to negotiate-down the part-exchange value of cars being traded-in...

 

[A210AMG]

Sorry but why would you not view before you bid?

No chance would a buy a car on e-bay without viewing?

Too late now, did you actually buy it in the end?

 

[davidjpowell]

Sorry but why would you not view before you bid?

No chance would a buy a car on e-bay without viewing?

Too late now, did you actually buy it in the end?

Bought the Volvo without viewing. A little scruffier and a lot dirtier than I expected I was ok with the result.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst and have an exit strategy in mind...

 

[martin_a]

Incidentally... 'mayo' on the dipstick is a major worry, but mayo under the oil filler cap is not always an issue. Some engines are prone to doing this, it is essentially the result of condensation in the upper part of the engine, and is symptomatic to engines that are used for short runs and do not reach working temperatures. It will usually clear itself after 20 minutes or so of motorway run. And it is an old trick used by traders to negotiate-down the part-exchange value of cars being traded-in...

Yep. Hence the starting her up. But combined with the lack of movement (and I mean non whatsoever in 10 mins of idling) I suspected the worst. Especially given how badly the car had been described.

And yes colin, your chap still has a 100% positive feedback record. eBay will scrub yours if you ask. He's not allowed to do that.

m.

 

[paul hayward]

i saw this and was a little tempted myself....the seller had just copied and pasted the add from a different ebay car...lazy ... that on its own was a no no for me.....

 

[A210AMG]

Maybe I'm dd but I would want to see, touch, hear, what I'm buying even more so with cars than most other things.

I've driven all over the UK to look and view cars, no where is that far away really?

Oh well hope yours is a good one in the end

 

[wemorgan]

Sorry but why would you not view before you bid?

No chance would a buy a car on e-bay without viewing?

Ebay should allow for anything to be bought without viewing. If a description is complete and honest then there should be no issues. In this example it would seem to be the fault of the seller, not the buyer.

I've driven all over the UK to look and view cars, no where is that far away really?

The OP would have to do two 8hr journeys (longer by train), one to view, one to buy. "no where is that far" I guess that's relative.

 

[neilrr]

Bids on cars on ebay motors are non-binding.

In effect this means after you have won it you can do an inspection when you go to collect it. If you don't like it, you leave it, the same as you would a car you traveled to look at after seeing it advertised in AutoTrader or anywhere else.

 

[petrnec]

Hello
I'm sorry to disturb this thread. I would like to contact member Maggot regarding his classified ad. But as a new-ish member I have no way how to reply to his "for sale" post. Only to hope that he will read this.
If you would be so kind and contact me on [email protected] I would much appreciate it.
Thank you
Peter

 

[colin.c43]

Ebay wiped his comments off my feedback.