MK-2 Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Has anyone got any experience with cars on ebay? I know my GF and I have looked at a few (physically gone to inspect) and the people seemed legit, we just didn't like the cars in the end. But the GF has found a car she loves, at a REALLY low price (as in about 5k under normal prices). She emailed the seller who said a family emergency means they have to sell it quick. Downside is that it can't be viewed, and is delivered once payment is made. She's emailed ebay and they confirmed the seller is legit, and signed up to insurance stuff with them. I've done a check on the plate number, and came back as clear, not written off, imported, changed plates, etc. All other details match up with his ebay info. I'm just a little apprehensive about not being about to see it before you've actually bought it. The payment has to go thru MoneyGram too. Wotcha all think?
rush_tech Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Its the second biggest purchase your gonna make in your life, if you have the slightest doubt don't bother. I personally would want to see the car before I handed over any money.
openhgs Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 I bought a motorbike on ebay and scored an absolute bargain. You can usually go and view a vehicle advertised on ebay before the auction ends, it just depends on how far you want to travel. You may or may not get ripped off; that is one of the "joys" of ebay.
Ryan Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Personally, i wouldn't buy shoes online without being able to see, hold and try 'em on first, so i certainly wouldn't buy a car without being able to kick the tires, fiddle with the buttons, etc. As mentioned, you may indeed get yourself a bargain though. Have to weigh up the risk i suppose.
Hightower Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 It all sounds a bit scary - hand over money and its yours but you can't come to see beforehand because it doesn't exist..... I mean because we have a family emergency and aren't in this country at the minute haha! (some of that is made up I know). I tend not to spend more than a couple of hundred quid on cars, and buy new ones when the old ones burn out. Therefore, if it was me, I would maybe go for it (as a couple of hundred isn't that bad) if I thought it was a bargain. Saying that, when you're shedding grands on a car I would trust my instincts and go to a reliable dealer - I wouldn't even buy private! Remember (and this has been said many times before), if it sounds too good to be true.... it probably is!
button_ripple Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 My parents brought a car off ebay 1 year ago, everything was fine with it. Make sure you can view it though!!!!!! One of the others that i had my eye on was rusted through underneath!
Abaddon Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Don't touch with a bargepole. It's a well known scam using a hacked account. E-bay wouldn't have a clue if it was hacked until someone reported it, so they can't say it's legitimate or not.
flashsnaps Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 (edited) The payment has to go thru MoneyGram too. Wotcha all think? Isn't moneygram similar to western union, as in no insurance? Don't think eBay would cover you on that would they? Can you post the link to the auction? Edited June 9, 2008 by flashsnaps
maniac Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Definitely avoid it. Any payment methods other than Paypal or cash on collection through e-bay are a definite no. I'd be willing to bet you'll send your money, and get no car in return and no come back through e-bay or other insurance because of the payment method you used. I would never buy a car without seeing it, If I were spending several thousend on a car, I'd be wanting an independant mechanical inspection on it. Don't be tempted just because it's cheap!! Mike.
flashsnaps Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Think you should leave it! eBay.co.uk Guides - BEWARE OF LATEST CLASSIFIED AD SCAM ON EBAY MOTORS
alan-d Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 If you can't see the car beforehand - walk away and look for another - the too good to miss bargins are usually the dodgy ones.
rhyds Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Has anyone got any experience with cars on ebay? I know my GF and I have looked at a few (physically gone to inspect) and the people seemed legit, we just didn't like the cars in the end. But the GF has found a car she loves, at a REALLY low price (as in about 5k under normal prices). She emailed the seller who said a family emergency means they have to sell it quick. Downside is that it can't be viewed, and is delivered once payment is made. She's emailed ebay and they confirmed the seller is legit, and signed up to insurance stuff with them. I've done a check on the plate number, and came back as clear, not written off, imported, changed plates, etc. All other details match up with his ebay info. I'm just a little apprehensive about not being about to see it before you've actually bought it. The payment has to go thru MoneyGram too. Wotcha all think? 5k under market price, can't view and payment by money transfer? About as honest as a 9 pound note, would you send someone thousands of pounds cash after looking at an ad in the paper? I would avoid like BSF Nowt wrong with buying a car off ebay though, as long as you remember the usual car buying things of test drive, inspection, service history etc. Just because it's ebay doesn't make it any different than looking at a car at an actual car auction (you'd be better off there actually, some amazing bargains if you know your stuff)
contink Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 Don't care what eBay have said... AVOID! They will not cover you for the purchase unless it's made through Paypal and even then the net is replete with stories about how even that hasn't been true. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is...
tech_guy Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 (edited) As others have pointed out, it's a scam. Keep your money and don't be tempted. The other eBay car scams doing the rounds at the moment are the 'bankers draft for more than you're selling your car' scam and a 'wad of counterfiet £20s for you car' scam.... ....someone I know via the Freecycle network got stung that way - auctioned her car on eBay and ended up with no car and some useless bits of paper with Her Majesty on them. Good site here: http://www.safefromscams.co.uk/EBayAutoScams.html Edited June 9, 2008 by tech_guy
MK-2 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Posted June 9, 2008 cheers everyone. i just wanted some other opinions so it wasn't just me thinking it sounded a bit dodgy. like i said we've viewed other cars and inspected them fully before deciding, it was just this one that sounded different
Andrew_C Posted June 9, 2008 Posted June 9, 2008 It stinks, and you're right to walk away. I have sold a car unseen on fleebay. I wouldn't buy though...
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