would you buy or walk away?

[rossyl]

well i've decided to go and have a look at it. He seems pretty genuine. The car was on private plates, the previous seller wanted to take them off so delayed giving the current owner the log book. By the time he got the log book he'd decided that he wanted to get an E class, due to the 4 doors and would just sell on without registering.

 

[SilverSaloon]

He made a deal with ebay and is now prepared to screw them... and they're big. really big and can go after people that screw them. So what do you think he is prepared to do to you. Might be legit, but the guy is showing little class and poor integrity.


Would you buy a used car from this man?

ha, ebay wont do anything!!!

it may be fine and contacting the person who the car is registered to will reveal all, but otherwise walk away!

 

[Colin_b]

well i've decided to go and have a look at it. He seems pretty genuine. The car was on private plates, the previous seller wanted to take them off so delayed giving the current owner the log book. By the time he got the log book he'd decided that he wanted to get an E class, due to the 4 doors and would just sell on without registering.

Do an HPI check, but make sure you have the V5 details when you do it. If it comes back clean (including the PP change), then it is probably ok, but trust your instinct as well - if it feels dodgy, walk away.

 

[neilrr]

rossyl,

You've repeatedly been asked to post the ebay link. Why won't you do that?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Given that you've asked the forum for guidance suggests to me that you're not entirely comfortable with it all. That would be enough for me to walk.

There's a good chance it's all legit, but there's a good chance it's not. In the absence of a link or further information, I suspect there's not much more that we can add.

Fingers crossed.

 

[pos.k]

ha, ebay wont do anything!!!

That is specifically not the point. The point is that he is prepared to not honour the arrangement that he made. He was quite happy to use ebays marketing capability, but doesn't want to pay them.
Put this with the seemingly unsatisfactory explanation of the cars status, what more do you want?
Walk away and find another car - of which there will be many. Better than becoming embroiled in who knows what! (IMHO)

 

[neilrr]

pos.k,

You're worrying about things that don't need to be worried about.

If it's a classified ad there is no final value fee. You pay an insertion fee of £12.99 & that's it.

If it's an auction, it's quite common for cars to be advertised in more than one place & quite common for ebay auction listings to say this & for the vendor to state they reserve the right to end the auction early. It's up to ebay to police their site if they are unhappy with the wording on an auction listing.

Since the OP refuses to post a link we don't know.

 

[pos.k]

pos.k,

If it's a classified ad there is no final value fee. You pay an insertion fee of £12.99 & that's it.

If it's an auction, it's quite common for cars to be advertised in more than one place & quite common for ebay auction listings to say this & for the vendor to state they reserve the right to end the auction early. It's up to ebay to police their site if they are unhappy with the wording on an auction listing.

Since the OP refuses to post a link we don't know.

OK I didn't know that regarding the fees, so why do it outside of ebay?
Is it because that just makes it buying a car from a guy you were introduced to on the internet.
So it looks like this:-
You saw a car on ebay, weren't entirely convinced about it or the seller, but even after asking your 'mates' (also guys you chat with on the internet) you decided to buy the car and all went well* / got screwed* (delete if not applicable).


Caveat emptor (as with so many things in life)

 

[SilverSaloon]

if the seller is prepared to sell outside ebay there is 0 ebay can do about it. the selller can sell the car to whoever they want, even if the auction is running and just end the auction. whatever ebay says, this is a sellers right - ebay cant force him on what to do with the car or whom to sell it to!!

and it certainly isnt the buyer's look out. as far as the buyer is concerned, they are buying a car privately - bugger all to do with ebay. i suspect the car is advertised in all the other usual places aswell anyway

its the same with their bids are binding guff - how are you supposed to force a seller to sell an item to a buyer or force a buyer to buy an item? it would never hold up in court m'lud!

 

[pos.k]

if the seller is prepared to sell outside ebay there is 0 ebay can do about it. the selller can sell the car to whoever they want, even if the auction is running and just end the auction. whatever ebay says, this is a sellers right - ebay cant force him on what to do with the car or whom to sell it to!!

and it certainly isnt the buyer's look out. as far as the buyer is concerned, they are buying a car privately - bugger all to do with ebay. i suspect the car is advertised in all the other usual places aswell anyway

Sorry, what I mean is that the ebay aspect is one thing, and yes he can sell it to anybody on ebay - or via the corresponding ad in any other place.

It seems that there is no 'fee implication' from selling it through ebay, so why so keen to exclude them. They have a process, and possibly some redress?

I have never bought or sold a car via ebay, but it seems a rigmarole for him to be so keen to do the deal with no other parties involved. This guy also does not appear entirely squeaky clean - although this could be coincidental and he may be perfectly legit.

The buyer beware issue is whenever buying any car with any promise that all will be resolved after you have parted with the cash.

I am merely trying to offer some sage advice to the OP. There is always another car. If it doesn't smell right for any one of a number of reasons then you should probably walk away - doesn't mean that you will of course!

 

[SilverSaloon]

yes i agree if its a classified ad at the price that the buyer is to pay, then the buyer is best to click the "buy now" link and buy it via ebay as you may aswell to get their cover etc - how good that is in the real world in an event of a problem is anyone's guess - my guess is ebay will be has helpful as they always are

if the advert is an auction or a normal buy it now then the seller will be keen to avoid final value fees - something i have done with 3 vehicles i have tried to sell on ebay - they have always been ended early and the buyer who comes to view as the auction is running simply buys it there and then after agreeing a price. you may be able to encourage the seller to put a new buy price on it at the agreed price and pay his fees or something if it really concerned you.

 

[elpeterol]

I agree with POS.K if in any doubt don't why take a risk when there are plenty of legit cars at the moment?

 

[rossyl]

so then an update.

firstly sorry for the silence. i was away for my mum's birthday. the car was located nearby so i went to go and see it. girlfriend loved it and i ended up buying. seemed perfectly legit. had all receipts includingpurchase.

i guess i'll find out when i attempt to register it. fingers crossed.

there however a few bodywork issues. mostly the driver's door window.

just hope everything is ok. if not i'll have o put it down to experience and learn from it.

one thing i may not do is take the girlfriend next time!

will post link if still up.