Bought M3 on Ebay, seller backing out....advice please

[notax]

Hi, last night I won an auction for a lovely purple E36 3.0 M3 convertible, fitted with all sorts of tasy bits including 19" CSL wheels, hard top etc. I won the auction for £2650 - a very good price. I contacted seller immediately asking when I could collect the car and he has now come back to me saying that he sold it last week but was out of the country and couldn't remove the listing (which had bids on it by then in any case)

Here is a linky if it works:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300608029112?ssPageName=...

Any advice? Thanks

Edited by notax on Friday 14th October 08:33

[5lab]

you'll just have to neg his reputation. Nothing else you can do

[mnkiboy]

The word you're looking for is 'seller'.

[Fartgalen]

But he did also say the car is advertised elsewhere and he reserves the right to remove the listing at anytime. Unfortantely for you that's after the auction ended.

[Terminator X]

Are you really surprised that he won't sell it for £2650?!

TX.

[Moley RUFC]

8000k HID kit! The standard upgrade of the BMW driver for cars of this period

[honest_delboy]

^^^ this is good

[thinfourth2]

isn't it amasing the amount of things that get a low value in an auction that are sold elsewhere in the final hours.


I won a nice mini digger on ebay from a dealer who was clearing out a trade in.

However amasingly enough the dealer suddenly opened up on a rainy sunday afternoon and someone just came in off the street and unexpectaly bought it.

[Fer]

Fartgalen said:

But he did also say the car is advertised elsewhere and he reserves the right to remove the listing at anytime. Unfortantely for you that's after the auction ended.

We could all call him and ask about the M3. Don't forget to ask for his "best price".

[Tuvra]

Fer said:

Fartgalen said:

But he did also say the car is advertised elsewhere and he reserves the right to remove the listing at anytime. Unfortantely for you that's after the auction ended.

We could all call him and ask about the M3. Don't forget to ask for his "best price".

Cant someone contact him & say "Hi mate, is the M3 sold? A friend told me about the car going in the auction but I have been away so was unable to put my bids in".

I had loads of these after selling a car genuinely through ebay.

[300bhp/ton]

notax said:

Hi, last night I won an auction for a lovely purple E36 3.0 M3 convertible, fitted with all sorts of tasy bits including 19" CSL wheels, hard top etc. I won the auction for £2650 - a very good price. I contacted seller immediately asking when I could collect the car and he has now come back to me saying that he sold it last week but was out of the country and couldn't remove the listing (which had bids on it by then in any case)

Here is a linky if it works:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300608029112?ssPageName=...

Any advice? Thanks

Edited by notax on Friday 14th October 08:33

I often wonder what would happen if you pay in full via PayPal, then if the seller still refuses simply phone the Police and report the car stolen.

At the end of the day the V5 doesn't prove ownership and you have a bill of receipt from ebay plus the full listing showing that you are the legal owner.

At the very worst case, if they truly have sold it (which I doubt) PayPal will refund your money.

Being out of the country isn't much of an excuse on the sellers part, that's the handy thing about the World wide web, you can access it from any country.

[300bhp/ton]

Fartgalen said:

But he did also say the car is advertised elsewhere and he reserves the right to remove the listing at anytime. Unfortantely for you that's after the auction ended.

I'm not sure they can legally do that, or that it's in accordance with ebay regs. Either way, the car wasn't removed from the auction. Therefore the statement from the seller is null and void.

[SuperVM]

300bhp/ton said:

Fartgalen said:

But he did also say the car is advertised elsewhere and he reserves the right to remove the listing at anytime. Unfortantely for you that's after the auction ended.

I'm not sure they can legally do that, or that it's in accordance with ebay regs. Either way, the car wasn't removed from the auction. Therefore the statement from the seller is null and void.

I thought car auctions on eBay differed to normal auctions in that they are not binding. Might be mistaken here, so feel free to shoot me down in a big ball of flames.

[300bhp/ton]

SuperVM said:

I thought car auctions on eBay differed to normal auctions in that they are not binding. Might be mistaken here, so feel free to shoot me down in a big ball of flames.

Honestly I don't know, although if the full price has been paid buy the winner, then I'm not sure how it can't be.

[SuperVM]

300bhp/ton said:

Honestly I don't know, although if the full price has been paid buy the winner, then I'm not sure how it can't be.

From ebay:

Policy overview
Certain eBay listings involve non-binding bids, such as items listed in Property and eBay Motors classified listings. A non-binding bid isn't a formal contract between the buyer and the seller, but it does represent a buyer's serious interest in buying the item. Insincere bidding isn't allowed on eBay.

Of course, that doesn't mention insincere selling.

[treetops]

Fartgalen said:

But he did also say the car is advertised elsewhere and he reserves the right to remove the listing at anytime. Unfortantely for you that's after the auction ended.

And that's why ebay is simply NOT an auction anymore (for cars at least).

Its a another place where you can dip your toes in the 'sales water' so to speak and see what you net - if you don't fancy it you make a b*llsh*t excuse and off you go again. Sodding merry go round.

The only true auction left is a shed with people standing around drinking scalding coffee in the cold and nodding.

[joe_90]

Has anyone emailed him yet to see if he still wants to sell it? Its just in Bristol, so I can make up some lame excuse if you like..

I saw this car sold, if the seller backs out can you let me know what you would like for it, as im just over in Bath..

Edited by joe_90 on Friday 14th October 09:53

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I think your neighbours will be happy
My heart would sink if my neighbours bought a chavtastic purple car like that!

Seriously - what were you thinking Black or dark mica blue ONLY next time

[marcosgt]

Neg him and put it down to experience...

At least you're not out of pocket.

Although, I tend to agree with the post above - I reckon you had a lucky escape.

I might be able to live with the purple, but did the original buyer let his/her other half choose the interior without telling them what colour the paint was?!?!?!

M

[Snowboy]

These days, I treat ebay more like an introduction and advertising service, with some protection provided by PayPal to avoid being ripped off, and the ebay rankings and history offering some guidance as to whether the seller/buyer is likely to complete the transaction.

AFAIK, none of the bidding and buying and selling is legally binding, up until the money has changed hands.