Buying car ebay, never completed, deposit refund

[lost in espace]

Whenever I see an ebay ad with deposit required within 24 hours of £100, etc, it puts me right off. An ebay sale isn't a contract, and I would want a chance to look over any car I bought on there.

[Raccaccoonie]

lost in espace said:

An ebay sale isn't a contract,

yes it is. The only exception are classified adverts where you can't buy it now or complete on ebay.

[and31]

I would have asked for me £100 deposit back whilst I was at the sellers house.

[sixor8]

Raccaccoonie said:

If the seller said nothing about the gearbox and op never asked it is not as described and seller can deduct costs for deposit to relist. No onus to list faults as a private seller.

How many vehicles have you sold on eBay? I wouldn't be buying anything if you're happy to list things and play dumb with obvious faults.

I've sold about 35 (bikes and cars) in the last 22 year using eBay and I always list any obvious faults, it's pointless not to. Perhaps since covid and 'distance' selling has become much more common, people are being duped. If the sale doesn't complete, you've lost the listing fee, it's NOT recoverable unless the buyer agrees to pony up for cancelling the sale.

[Cockaigne]

sixor8 said:

How many vehicles have you sold on eBay? I wouldn't be buying anything if you're happy to list things and play dumb with obvious faults.

I've sold about 35 (bikes and cars) in the last 22 year using eBay and I always list any obvious faults, it's pointless not to. Perhaps since covid and 'distance' selling has become much more common, people are being duped. If the sale doesn't complete, you've lost the listing fee, it's NOT recoverable unless the buyer agrees to pony up for cancelling the sale.

I think as you and others get confused between UK law and eBay terms and conditions. Which you would hope should match but sometimes don't.

Loss of bargain, sold as seen etc .

The OP trusted eBay system to buy a car unseen, didn't ask about faults, paid a deposit without any terms. Is he entitled to full deposit under UK law, no. Is the seller allowed to not list faults and take costs off deposit for fees, yes. Could they sue the OP for loss of bargain, yes.

eBay creates a false sense of security, but as the phrase written thousands of times, buyer beware .

Edited by Cockaigne on Tuesday 16th May 22:21

[CrippsCorner]

Raccaccoonie said:

lost in espace said:

An ebay sale isn't a contract,

yes it is. The only exception are classified adverts where you can't buy it now or complete on ebay.

It isn't for an auction either.

[Cockaigne]

CrippsCorner said:

It isn't for an auction either.

Lol. How?

I guess you didn't the story were a German sued a UK seller for ending an auction early, got sued won and recovered the costs from seller. He thought there was no contract too.

(This is very basic contract law stuff.)