Ebay car buying... what's your experience?

Ive sold I think 3 cars that were listed on ebay...

what always ends up happening is that someone comes by to inspect the car with cash, and just buy it outright.

I think they got wise to it, and now they just charge a flat fee to list. (correct me if Im wrong) I think they still charge a final percentage fee if the auction ends successfully.

The last time I sold a car, it was nothing but problems. Certain key words in the listing caused them to freeze my listing so not a lot of people were able to see it.

If I were to list a car on there again, I would just do it for the exposure, but also have it listed other places and locally, screw them.

If I were ever to buy a car from ebay, I would ask a lot of questions, have a long phone conversation, ask for more pictures, pay another hamber to go check it out if I couldnt go in person myself, but Its always best to go inspect the car and cash is king.

I won a 28 chevy hot rod on there several years ago, and it went for really cheap. he seller claimed it "got stolen" from his driveway the night before. (BS) but I didnt want to argue with him and risk getting a negative feedback, i guess theyve revamped the feedback system too now.

 

I bought my truck after it did not reach the reserve. I got his phone # and talked with him a few times before I sent the money to the other coast. I can smell a BS artist from another county. He answered all my questions with the proper amount of humility that showed me that he wasn't just telling me what I wanted to hear. My judgment was correct and the truck was as described. It was hard to send off that amount of money (with my pocketbook) but my instincts were right. I wouldn't spend big money based on pictures and Emails that can be edited to sound just right. A conversation requires instant responses that are easier to smell a rat. I don't like the pressure of meeting a sale dead line.

Years ago I bought a car for a lot less money but with an uneasy feeling in my gut. I was right then too but it was so cheap that I didn't get killed.

I sold a car on Ebay but I always include my Ph.# so that they can call and feel me out. The buyer did and left a nice feedback.

 

I have both bought and sold cars thru Ebay. Some rods, racers and OT's. My own rule of thumb is that I would not buy without seeing/driving it first and a couple of times I was out the cost of a plane ticket but the cars were not worth what was being asked and I found accident damage on one that had not been repaired very well. All the pictures looked great but pictures lie. With my personal inspection rule I have not had a problem. My son has bought a couple of California cars and they were not quite as advertised but he came out OK anyway. I check the cars, the seller and spend a lot of phone time with the seller to find out what he knows about the cars, but without driving them, you just never know.

 

I've sold two model a coupe bodies on eBay both of them I had to re-list 3 times due to the winning bidder never responding to my emails or they would show up and then try to low ball me on the price..sold my '68 caddy and my '50 merc on eBay with no problems the '68 went to virginia the buyer arranged shipping and I delivered the '50 to a guy who was only an hour away...I just bought a 1929 coupe hot rod on eBay the guy sent me a bunch of pics and answered all my questions I got a HAMB guy picking it up for me this weekend hopefully all looks good when I get it, if not I should be able to part it out and get my money back

 

I have an acquaintance who sells a LOT of hot rods and muscle cars on Ebay.

He's a lying, cheating, thief.

He has several accounts under different names and as soon as one gets bad feedback he just creates another. Usually sells enough cheap stuff on the level to get a good feedback rating. He has a 'partner' who shill bids on his cars to drive prices up. Every car he sells has a 'crate motor' in it and is an "award winning show car". He'll also hit the 'buy it now' ****on on cars then renegotiate the price when he goes to pick them up. Told me guys would usually just take the hit rather than relist the car and h***le with the Ebay fees, etc.

"Caveat emptor"

My personal Ebay experience has been OK, I've bought and sold cars a couple times. The only time I got dinged was the guy (a Hamber to boot) that jacked shipping up $300 after HE wrote down the wrong zip.

 

I have purchased several cars from E-Pay, one was a lot of bucks, a whole lot of bucks, just thru photos and talking with the seller.
You usually get a feeling from the seller as to how honest they are.

Haven't been stiffed yet but there is always a first time.

 

I bought a Mustang from a guy in Colorado Springs, was ***ured it had a good ***le. Bought every kind of insurance there was & still got stiffed on the ***le. It is a crime in Colorado to sell a car without a ***le but the state did no good nor did any of the insurance. Only caveat was I got a TON of parts thrown in & I sold them for more than I was out on the car. Finally had a local ***le company straighten it out for $300.

 

i bought i 1946 gmc pickup on ebay , 47 chevy couple , a 1975 chevy pickup for parts for my 46 chevy pickup , and a 41 gmc pickup , 46 chevy ton truck on claigslist , 48 chevy couple and had good dealing on all of them.thanks

 

If the owner says he has a ***le, make SURE you verify it first. I bought a car from the HAMB cl***ifieds that the seller (a regular here) ***ured me he had the ***le for. It's the main reason I chose his car. As it turns out he didn't have a ***le and I never did get one. Don't just take a sellers word for something.