Buying a car off eBay (auction) - how does it work?

[Jakg]

After a cheap Z4 for summer (think I might of missed that boat!).

I've seen quite a few on auctions on eBay, but I'm struggling to get how it works in practice.

Normally, you find a car online for a price you'd be happy to pay, turn up, assess the condition. If your happy with the condition, buy it, if not walk away or negotiate the price.

But with eBay - you don't know how much it's going to sell for. So do you view a bunch of cars, work out how much you'd be prepared to pay and then bid? Do you ask all the right questions and then bid and if it's not right walk away? Surely that's contingent on the seller and you having the same description of "a few small marks" or similar?

[Nickp82]

The first option is the ideal scenario but the second is the reality.

I have bought a good few cars off Ebay, the description is of course key, you get a good feel as to what kind of seller is offering the car.

[P700DEE]

Option A works great for Buy it Now with Best offer. Can work with buy it now but maybe not with negociation on price.
Auctions are just that. Bid what you feel the car is worth. If you win , go inspect and see if it mets all the description etc. If so technically the auction is binding on both sides, make payment take car. In practice if you don't like the car walk away. The sale is cancelled and the poor seller has to re-list

[Tyre Smoke]

The reality is you bid on a car and pay for it if you are the highest bidder. It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself it's as described and you are happy with it.

Ebay is full of timewasters who bid and then have buyers regret. Just don't add to the statistic and be one of them.

[was8v]

either:

a) go see the car and offer them some cash there and then. If they agree they take it off eBay. If they don't agree then you can bid whatever you like for it and hope to win it.

or

b) don't leave the sofa, and bid whatever you think based on the description, if you win go see the car and if its not as described then you can happily walk away.

[carboy2017]

I have bought only 1 car off eBay via the auction but since it was 20 miles away from my location I went and checked it properly before bidding so it worked fine

I wont be too comfortable spending a lot of money on bidding for something I have not seen though

[alorotom]

I’ve acquired 5 or 6 cars via eBay on both auction and BiN approaches. Some have been great others less so. I’ve never bartered when I’ve arrived

I’ve also sold a few in the same manner (and have one on their at the moment). It can be a minefield and the questions and offers are laughable at times

[JQ]

was8v said:

either:

a) go see the car and offer them some cash there and then. If they agree they take it off eBay. If they don't agree then you can bid whatever you like for it and hope to win it.

or

b) don't leave the sofa, and bid whatever you think based on the description, if you win go see the car and if its not as described then you can happily walk away.

I went with b).

Car was as described so I just handed over the cash. Had the car not been as described I'd have walked away, I wouldn't have started negotiating. Ended up being quite a pleasant experience.