Comments on: Guide to Buying a Car on Ebay

By: paulo

paulo — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:51:31 +0000

I would like to know the step by step process that would take place when I win in a bid from e-bay. Especially I’m concern about registering the vehicle from my own state, when the car i just bought from e-bay will come from other state.

By: jim

jim — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:54:04 +0000

Tony – If you’re buying a car, I recommend using an escrow where you have some protection. If you pay via PayPal, they have the money.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:49:01 +0000

What if you buy the vehicle through Pay Pal but they never ship you the vehicle! Does the seller already have your money or is there a delay until you receive the merchandise?

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:35:38 +0000

If i need to finance the car that I am interested in buying on ebay, do you recommend financing it through the option on the listing or financing it with my own bank?

By: LISA

LISA — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:20:25 +0000

WILL YOU REFER YOUR BUYERS? I’M JUST SO UNEASY WITH THIS. LOL I GUESS I’M USED TO TOUCHING AND FEELING MY PURCHASE BEFORE I BUY. LOL

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
LISA

By: Kristin

Kristin — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:25:24 +0000

Hi, I have bought stuff off eBay several times…. just not a car. I am in LOVE with this car on eBay, but I am scared to death something will go wrong. Please tell me I will be covered by eBay if anything goes wrong… I am so scared I will pay and never see my car. =(

Thanks, Kristin

By: jim

jim — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:38:21 +0000

kang -I don’t know the answers to your questions and I am not qualified to dispense advice. Honestly, I would avoid getting into a transaction of that magnitude with someone in another country if it were me.

By: kang

kang — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:32:16 +0000

HI,

Is it OK to buy from a private owner who resides in other country?
The car price he has quoted is much lesser than the market price, but it seems that he cannot register the car over there, which he bought here in US.
He would take care of the shipping costs that is included in the price quoted.

Also, he says that I get 7 days to inspect the car. If I find something problematic, I can return it in 7 days. The payment for the car would be secured thru eBay. i.e eBay would hold the payment for 7 days and release it after I give a go ahead.

Does eBay provide with secured payment option?
And how far can I trust this transaction?
what are the things I need to make sure before I go ahead?

By: jim

jim — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 03:10:00 +0000

Tom – That’s if you go to pick it up, I just mean if you get the car shipped to you then you won’t have the opportunity to test drive it before you receive it… that’s all.

If you show up and something isn’t right and the seller didn’t disclose it, you can terminate the deal on those conditions.

By: TOM

TOM — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 03:05:25 +0000

Why can’t I test drive the vehicle when I arrive to pick it up? Albeit, I’m the winning bidder, if something isn’t right, and the seller didn’t disclose it…the cashier’s check will stay in my wallet, and the deal is off.
I’ll only be out the air fare or the cost of getting there.

By: jim

jim — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 05:29:06 +0000

The cost to list a car on Ebay is pretty low and dealers are afraid of selling the car for too little and so they usually (based on my experience) have a reserve that’s about $500 under the Buy It Now price. Why do 90% end in no sale? I’m not sure but it probably stems from being afraid that they won’t make enough money and get chastized by their sales manager.

By: Allan W.

Allan W. — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 04:47:27 +0000

One thing that baffles me is that in many cases (in my experience, at leas 90%), the auctions posted by dealers end with the reserve not having been met and result in no sale. Why do dealers do this?

By: jim

jim — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:18:10 +0000

I was reading the Economist yesterday and it turns out Ebay Motors is currently their biggest money maker.

By: Jose

Jose — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 14:05:47 +0000

Very helpfull guide.
Thanks to you I will now consider ebay to buy my next car.