L@@K! PetrolBlog’s guide to buying a car on eBay
Buying a car on eBay is a risky business. More often than not you have to trust the seller’s description and take a leap of faith that the car in question is a good’un. For sure, there’s a get-out clause should you find out that the car fails to match the description, but that’s normally after a long and expensive journey on a train. Or worse still, after you’ve had the car delivered by Shiply.
I’ve bought and sold a number of cars on eBay now and have therefore developed a clear understanding of what to look for in an ad. Believe me, you can tell a lot about a car simply by reading between the lines. Here’s my top ten tips to help you avoid making a silly mistake on eBay.
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IF THE AD IS WRITTEN IN LARGE UPPERCASE LETTERS, THEN THE CAR WILL BE GREAT.
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BETTER STILL, HUNT DOWN ADS WITH THE TEXT WRITTEN IN RED UPPERCASE LETTERS. THE CAR WILL BE A REAL BEAUTY.
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Or for the ultimate reassurance, look out for descriptions written in text speak. U wud b crAZ 2 ms out.
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If the seller has used ‘L@@K’ in the title of the ad, click the word ‘bid’ immediately – the car will be a real honey.
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Look out for sellers that have specifically written “will not accept swaps/swops wink-wink” in the description. This roughly translates as “I’m a top quality seller and you can trust me with your life”.
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If the seller kindly informs you that they’ve lost the V5 document and they’re selling on behalf of their mate Dave, this is fine. You can absolutely trust this to be true and a good sign that the car is a peach.
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Low resolution camera phone photos are superb. It is a sure sign that there is nothing to hide and the car will be in brilliant condition.
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The term ‘tastefully modified’ is not a matter of opinion. It is a statement of truth.
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When searching for a Golf R32 and somebody has helpfully inserted ‘NOT R32’ into their ad for a MK3 Golf GL, you should consider this to be a viable and realistic alternative.
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If a seller has managed to convince the girl next door to stand in front of his Ford Ka wearing nothing but her underwear, then you should feel encouraged to raise your bid.
I hope my top ten tips will help you to avoid making any mistakes on eBay. Remember, trust everyone and don’t have nightmares.
14 Comments
Brilliant! 😀
Thank you! Happy to help.
Ah you’ve obviously been on t’Bay for a while. Don’t forget that ‘absolutely no rust’ ‘mint condition’ or ‘as good as the day it left the showroom’ are also to be relied on.
Of course! Wise words Simon. Wise words.
You can also completely trust Ebay’s Safe Harbor to sort out any problems you may have with a mis-described vehicle. You’ll have the cash back in your account almost before the auction has finished!
Everyone’s a winner, every time. Oh, hang on…
Very useful advice – thanks. Particularly the V5 one: I’m never *really* worried when I see it, as the chaps always seem honest and open, but a part of me did tend to wonder. No more. Besides, as one said, the Golf 1.4 CL really IS the thinking man’s alternative to a Golf R32, what with fuel prices as they are (mate). Sage tip indeed.
Delighted to have helped you out Mr Aucock. There are an awful lot of unscrupulous sellers out there, but by taking on board at least some of my advice, you’ll be OK. Stay safe.
Something you missed off was that if they tell you it needs something fixing but they will have done it by the end of the auction you can rely on that with your life. The part certainly wont be in the passenger seat or in the bin.
Excellent point, well made sir.
Also ‘Will buff out’ in real life very rarely translates ‘needs full respray and extensive welding’
Yes indeed. Similar to the ‘only a five minute fix’ comment. In that case, why don’t you do it?!
I know I’m late to join the party but.. I have a question. Often times, I see cars for sale that don’t have a running engine. Usually a minor part is faulty, such as a plug wire or a battery. The new parts are included. Should I be worried?
Personally I don’t think I should be worried in the slightest, after all the replacement part is included for free!?
That’s absolutely nothing to worry about. It just means the seller has been too busy to sort it out. Buy with confidence, Ton.