eBay Spanker of a 2.2 Sport on ebay 27k miles

[Tfp]

He's probably doing it to stop timewasters. As in go and collect the car within 48 hours of the auction ending. He does encourage viewing before you bid, which is always adviseable.

I'm sure the seller is thinking of preventing timewasters by asking for the deposit.

But in reality they are expecting everyone to accept that they are genuine, and the car is "as described"

And asking for £500 and saying it's non refundable?

That's just silly.

I've always found Ebay auctions never get's the best buyers.

You're asking someone to bid with out seeing the car, well you're never going to get the best price as you'll be putting so many genuine buyers off who darn't bid on something they haven't seen.

Best way is to put it on for the price you want, and a phone number. Saves a lot of time, if the car's priced correctly it'll sell.

 

[lightning]

It says the deposit is payable "within 48 hours"
l guess if you "win" the auction you need to go and see it within that 48 hours, so avoiding the deposit.
l have sold many items on Ebay and it is full of wasters, and sellers get fed up with it, this will give him a legitimate reason to relist the car if the buyer has not turned up within two days.

 

[Tfp]

l have sold many items on Ebay and it is full of wasters, and sellers get fed up with it, this will give him a legitimate reason to relist the car if the buyer has not turned up within two days.

Yup, that's why it's best to do a classified advert with a phone number.

You get to speak to them on the phone.

And tell them the price is not negotiable, stops all the chancers turning up.

 

[mrscalex]

The £500 is only payable on auction end isn't it? That's normal isn't it? It's to stop timewasters.

If I was looking to buy it I'd go and see it and strike up a relationship. That would supersede either the need for the £500 or my concern about paying it.

 

[mrscalex]

And surely no one spends that sort of money on a 2.2 without going to see it first?

If it's as good as suggested I think you could get it for £6k and that would be a bit of steal.

 

[Tfp]

The £500 is only payable on auction end isn't it? That's normal isn't it? It's to stop timewasters.

If I was looking to buy it I'd go and see it and strike up a relationship. That would supersede either the need for the £500 or my concern about paying it.

Going to see the car is the best option, but not everyone is local enough.

So anyone who is not local has to pay £500 to commit to going to see the car. And lose it if buyer/seller doesn't agree.

That's not normal, and will put most people off. Who wants to risk £500 on a car they don't know if it's as described?

Timewasters can be avoided by putting ALL the relevant info in the ad, pictures of the bits we want to see ie, drivers seat, engine pics, front panel pics, pics of all the paperwork also helps, people can see it's present.

No one wants to travel to see a car to get there and find out info that's not declared in the ad, or it's not in the condition it looks in the photos. (drivers seat bolster hidden on so many adverts)

An honest ad for an honest car stands out as such, I see so many adverts for cars that I just dismiss because the photos hide the bits I want to see, or all the info isn't present.

This particular car we are talking about looks like a good one to me, shame for the seller because will people really risk losing £500?

 

[mrscalex]

I'm missing something then. The way I read it is if you win the auction and therefore enter into an agreement to buy you pay £500 deposit.

I'm afraid I can't have much sympathy with anyone who buys a car like that blind. If you want to protect your £500 then see it first. It's been up for weeks so he's going to do a deal on the spot quite probably. So if you're a long way away you don't need two trips.

And you can always get a professional inspection or even better ask a local member on here to look before making a big journey. I just don't think there's any excuse not to look before parting with money. Unless it's a cheapie like the stuff I buy blind and can break if it's knackered or it's so cheap there's not much that can't be fixed with the money I save.

I'm with you on rip off sellers. But I don't think this guy is.

Now what I do have a problem with is holding deposits. I hate paying main dealers just to hold a car for me. And I'd never pay a private seller a holding deposit just for the privilege of viewing first.

 

[Tfp]

Now what I do have a problem with is holding deposits. I hate paying main dealers just to hold a car for me. And I'd never pay a private seller a holding deposit just for the privilege of viewing first.

Paying a deposit to a dealer is no risk, up until you see the car it's a distance sale and fully refundable if the car's not as described, or even just not to your liking. A quick phone call to your card company will get you a refund in this case.

But giving a private seller a deposit is a no no if they say it's non refundable.

You could take them to a small claims court to get your money back if it's not as described, but that's long winded and very time consuming.

Not sure how paypal would see it, not had experience with a paypal deposit for a car. Anyone?

 

[mrscalex]

Paying a deposit to a dealer is no risk, up until you see the car it's a distance sale and fully refundable if the car's not as described, or even just not to your liking. A quick phone call to your card company will get you a refund in this case.

But giving a private seller a deposit is a no no if they say it's non refundable.

You could take them to a small claims court to get your money back if it's not as described, but that's long winded and very time consuming.

Not sure how paypal would see it, not had experience with a paypal deposit for a car. Anyone?

If the sale has been agreed through eBay then you'd need to raise a claim stating the item was not as described and explain why. You would need to do this to cancel the transaction and get a resulting refund. The seller can say it's non refundable all he wants but it's not his choice if it's misdescribed.

Assuming it is not as described you would get a refund as eBay are very hot on that these days.

But if it was as described and you just decided to pull out then the deposit might be the least of your worries. You are in theory required to complete the transaction.

The reality I believe is that eBay are very geared towards buyer protection not seller protection. So in any circumstance you stand a good chance of blagging your way out of it. It's genuine sellers who are most vulnerable these days. And I believe that's all this guy is doing - trying to protect himself, albeit in a futile way due to eBay protecting buyers.

But again I come back to why you would part with £500 without selling the car?

 

[Tfp]

But again I come back to why you would part with £500 without selling the car?

Exactly what I'm saying.

This is what the seller is asking of people. Give me your £500 and you can come and see my car, and you're not getting it back!

So many buyers will be put off by this.

A shame, because it looks like a genuine car.

Anyone not local enough to view will be risking £500

 

[mrscalex]

Exactly what I'm saying.

This is what the seller is asking of people. Give me your £500 and you can come and see my car, and you're not getting it back!

So many buyers will be put off by this.

A shame, because it looks like a genuine car.

Anyone not local enough to view will be risking £500

I meant to say seeing not selling!

The point is you've entered into a contract if you are the winning bidder. If it's not as described you follow due process to get a refund.

 

[Tfp]

The point is you've entered into a contract if you are the winning bidder. If it's not as described you follow due process to get a refund.

So paying a Paypal deposit would mean you'd get it back for a car not as described, that's all good.

But the seller's putting genuine buyers off by saying it's non refundable, not everyone would know Paypal would refund it.

 

[mrscalex]

So paying a Paypal deposit would mean you'd get it back for a car not as described, that's all good.

But the seller's putting genuine buyers off by saying it's non refundable, not everyone would know Paypal would refund it.

That's the risk he takes. The reality is he won't stop time wasters anyway.

 

[lightning]

The £500 is only payable on auction end isn't it? That's normal isn't it? It's to stop timewasters.

If I was looking to buy it I'd go and see it and strike up a relationship. That would supersede either the need for the £500 or my concern about paying it.

Well said that man! My thoughts exactly.

 

[Tfp]

Now what I do have a problem with is holding deposits. I hate paying main dealers just to hold a car for me. And I'd never pay a private seller a holding deposit just for the privilege of viewing first.

The £500 is only payable on auction end isn't it? That's normal isn't it? It's to stop timewasters.

Now I'm really confused.

I've sold hundreds of cars, don't think I've ever had some one make the journey to come and see me with no intention of buying the car.

Not sure I've ever had anyone I'd call a timewaster.

 

[mrscalex]

Now I'm really confused.

I've sold hundreds of cars, don't think I've ever had some one make the journey to come and see me with no intention of buying the car.

Not sure I've ever had anyone I'd call a timewaster.

I'm not sure if we're talking at cross purposes.

eBay is very well known for people agreeing to buy cars and then bailing out. Listing after listing says relisted due to timewaster.

By saying £500 deposit within x days the seller is cutting his loses with the timewasters. A genuine buyer will be prepared to cough it up. A joker you'll never hear from so draw a line in the sand after 2 days etc of hearing nothing.

 

[lightning]

I've had people buy a car from me on Ebay, then never turn up or pay.
Then you have to wait 8 days before you can cancel the listing and relist it (4 days before you can report a non paying buyer, then Ebay gives them 4 days to respond)
These are the "timewasters"

 

[Tfp]

I've had people buy a car from me on Ebay, then never turn up or pay.
Then you have to wait 8 days before you can cancel the listing and relist it (4 days before you can report a non paying buyer, then Ebay gives them 4 days to respond)
These are "timewasters"

Ok, I've never had that, I've always done classified ads and spoken to the people on the phone before they travelled.

I've also told people this is not the car for you when they've started trying to negotiate over the phone.

I'd never do an auction for a car, I want to hear the voice of the person I'm going to meet.

 

[Tfp]

I'm not sure if we're talking at cross purposes.

eBay is very well known for people agreeing to buy cars and then bailing out. Listing after listing says relisted due to timewaster.

By saying £500 deposit within x days the seller is cutting his loses with the timewasters. A genuine buyer will be prepared to cough it up. A joker you'll never hear from so draw a line in the sand after 2 days etc of hearing nothing.

Yes, we are confusing each other, no worries.

But I'm a genuine buyer, and I'd never pay £500 non refundable deposit to a private seller as you said, the fact he's saying it's non refundable seems to me that he's trying to force you to go ahead with the sale even if the car doesn't match the description.

Very few people would pay it.

And when I see "relisted due to timewaster" on an advert I just think some one's been along and not bought it, I'm wondering why?

I've met more sellers I'd call timewasters than I have buyers. I've travelled across the UK so many times to see a car that was nothing like it was described to me, I suppose they'd call me a timewaster.

Truth is, I'd spoken to them, listened to their description of their car, agreed a price, travelled on a train for hours, paid money to do so, to then see an awful car. Not sure I'm the time waster.

Anyhow, sorry to waffle.

To summerise, I've bought hundreds of cars, and I'm put right off when an advert says "relisted due to time waster"

And I'm put right off if a seller wants a £500 up front payment "non refundable" when I haven't seen the car.

 

[pgunter]

Interest has obviously been slow as he's relisted the Z3 and the start price is £5,750

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-2-2i-2002-under-27-000-miles-from-new-/122612132680?