Buying a car off eBay...

[GoodOldBakes]

..without seeing it or test driving it first.

Anyone done it? Anyone know if you're still covered by eBay or PayPal protection? It's just that I've got my eye on a couple but they're both based around the south coast area and I'm naturally wary of chucking a grand or so at a potentially dead tin box.

[96terrano]

Originally Posted by GoodOldBakes

..without seeing it or test driving it first.

Anyone done it? Anyone know if you're still covered by eBay or PayPal protection? It's just that I've got my eye on a couple but they're both based around the south coast area and I'm naturally wary of chucking a grand or so at a potentially dead tin box.

i think if you pay him straight away without viewing the car it's your own fault and you should of known better, as your tied into a agreement, however, if its cash on collection and the car doesn't measure up, you don't need to pay as you ain't tied into the eBay/Paypal agreement

[GoodOldBakes]

Isn't there something in eBay terms and conditions that say that once you've agreed to buy, you can't pull out of the deal? I know you could just walk away after driving it around if you think it's a bag of spanners but equally, the seller could refuse to hand over the keys until you've paid up.

[Fez_uk]

I believe cars/vehicles are not covered by the same protection as other ebay stuff.

If you get there and you feel it's not as described in the ebay ad you can walk away. Don't worry about him giving you a non paying marker on your account, Ring ebay and say it was not as described and they will remove it.

Briggie, whats your reason to say pay with paypal for a vehicle?

I personally would not!

[briggie]

Originally Posted by Fez_uk

I believe cars/vehicles are not covered by the same protection as other ebay stuff.

If you get there and you feel it's not as described in the ebay ad you can walk away. Don't worry about him giving you a non paying marker on your account, Ring ebay and say it was not as described and they will remove it.

Briggie, whats your reason to say pay with paypal for a vehicle?

I personally would not!

you have no recourse at all paying cash fez , but with paypal you could say the car isn't as advertised and then possibly open a dispute I guess

[Fez_uk]

Originally Posted by briggie

you have no recourse at all paying cash fez , but with paypal you could say the car isn't as advertised and then possibly open a dispute I guess

But your buying the car as seen on the day, not for when you get back home and you find it's not what you wanted.

[cncfabs]

Originally Posted by GoodOldBakes

Isn't there something in eBay terms and conditions that say that once you've agreed to buy, you can't pull out of the deal? I know you could just walk away after driving it around if you think it's a bag of spanners but equally, the seller could refuse to hand over the keys until you've paid up.

Its supposed to be legally binding contract but in reality you cant force someone to buy an item they dont want currently about half the people i sell to on ebay dont even make contact let alone pay for the item.Most people dont accept paypal for cars as collected items arent covered by seller protection.

[briggie]

speaking from experience ....... don't pay cash , use paypal ....... and even them some categories ( including motors ) are NOT COVERED by e bays buyer protection programme .

[briggie]

true

[Fez_uk]

If your selling anything on ebay and it's collection always accept cash.

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by GoodOldBakes

..without seeing it or test driving it first.

Anyone done it? Anyone know if you're still covered by eBay or PayPal protection? It's just that I've got my eye on a couple but they're both based around the south coast area and I'm naturally wary of chucking a grand or so at a potentially dead tin box.

A fool and his money are soon parted do not even think about buying a vehicle without doing some basic checks. Unless its a main dealer I would not buy any vehicle without driving it.

Be patient you will find one within 50 miles of where you live - there are hundreds of thousands of vehicles up for sale in the UK its a buyers market.

When I was looking for a 300CRD I found one on e-bay and when I e-mailed the seller he said he was out working on the North Sea Rigs and wanted me to work through a middle person. Did some checks and found he was an International Scammer. Other tricks include selling for the deceased messy divorce etc etc !

If buying privately like I have done in the past out of the local paper I have a few golden rules if the answers are vague or complex - walk away.

1) Ask the seller if he is the registered keeper and is the address on the full registration document the address from which it is being sold ?

2) Get a HPI check done on the vehicle so you know if its owned by a finance company or if it has been a write off.

3) Establish how long he has been the registered keeper.

4) If he is genuine talk to him on the phone and obtain VRM and reg document number so you can do some free checks on the VOSA website. You will have all the MoT mileage and advisers going back to when the new MoT certificates were issued - about 5 years now.

5) There are a lot of people on the internet who are traders pretending to be private individuals. There are also plenty of fraudsters - they might be in the minority but they always find a sucker.

6) OK if its £500 and you can afford to find out its only worth scrap or is subject to a log book loan finance then have a go but it might not be the dream vehicle

7) Is he on the voters list at that address ask him his name then google it you will be amazed at what you can find out about people on the net! (Try your own name and see !)


ted

[(RIP) PLANK]

I have bought and sold a couple of hundred vehicles on ebay with no problems at all, if you don't want it just don't pay there is nothing the seller or ebay can or will do! I have come across a few fibbing dogs who try and sell you crap but they are few and far between and I usual persuade them to cover my expenses