Ebay – The Good the Bad the Ugly

[Rich Bellefeuille]

All,

This is a new topic that evolved from the TD Price topic. I have read one side of the story (Pink MG) citing terrible experience with purchase of Vehicles on EBay. I’d like ot hear others as well.

Here’s my two cents, and some advice. I have been a Buyer and a Seller MANY times on EBay (See RichBelfay64dl) and have had excellent success on both sides.

Caveat: I have never purchased a vehicle, but would exercise EXTREME caution if I were to do so.

For what it’s worth to anyone new to using EBay, here are some tips to at least minimize your chances of being ripped off.

1. Only buy/sell to Ebayers with a long history and EXCELLENT feedback. Feedback is the primary leverage on preventing misreprentation. Ebayers with no real history and no reputation have little to lose, and simply change their selling name and move on to their next victim (as Pink MG indicated).

2. USE feedback!! If you get ripped off, do not hesitate to give negative feedback. I had only one incident where I purchased an item that was broken. It was not obvious in the photos, and in this case I believe the Seller just didn’t notice it. The item was repairable and I negotiated a partial refund from the seller. He did not want to risk negative feedback and was VERY willing to make concessions.

3. If you are talking serious bucks for a purchase (like a vehicle) see it in person, or if that is not practical, pay the extra to get an independant inspection done. Many of the reputable sellers make provisions for that in their “pitch”

4. Most vehicles sold thru EBay Motors have a dozen or more photos. If the seller has fewer than this, or the photo quality is poor (inexcusible), demand more/better and specify views.

As I said, I use Ebay all the time and I’m very happy with it. On the other hand, I am very interested to hear other’s experience. You may also have some other tips!

Rich

[Paul Mossberg]

Hey Rich.

Great advice!

I think the key point is the in person inspection, by the buyer or someone they trust, someone knowlegeable about kit cars.

Location, location, location are the first three rules of real estate. I think our equivalent would be inspection, inspection, inspection.

To the forum members, if you are considering a car outside your local market, come here and ask if any of us live near the seller. I see requests like that all the time in my Mopar forums. You’d be surprised what your on-line friends will do for a fellow hobbyist.

The bottom line is that “buyer beware” applies to kit cars even more than for “factory builts”. Since many kits were home built, you have no idea of the quality unless you can see it person. Even “factory built” is no guarantee. In particular because “factory built” may really mean the car was built by one of the factory’s authorized assemblers, and not the actual kit manufacturer.

I use ebay all the time. But far more often as a buyer than seller. Rich’s general ebay tips about buying from sellers with long histories and continual positive feedback are important.

I also recommend using PayPal when you can. Their claims of buyer protection are not just claims. Just a couple weeks ago, I had a seller fail to ship an item. I filed a claim with PayPal. They give the seller two weeks to respond. At the end of the two weeks, with no response from the seller, my account was credited with the full transction amount.

I’ve never bought a car on Ebay. But I sold one (and still miss it). It was a Jovi, a Florida company that produced Mercedes SL body kits for late model Chrysler LeBaron convertibles. White over burgendy leather interior. Beautiful car. And a practical daily driver. I sold it via ebay to a judge in Ohio, sight unseen. The Ebay transaction went very well. The judge didn’t fare so well. A year later, he ended up in jail, convicted of tax fraud, mail fraud and attempted arson. I believe the car was impounded and sold off at auction. But that’s a story for another day.

PMOSSBERG39857.6125

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Rob Baker]

I’m going to buffalo ny on Sunday to hopefully pick up a Jaguar xk-120 kit unbuilt as a retirement project.  I purchased it and pending inspection will complete the transaction.  Ebay does make me nervous but so far this transaction seems fine.

[Dan Rosa]

Rich ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;         &nbsp ;      We all need to take care on A purches , When I bought my TD through Craigs list from A honest person being here in Tn. I could not see the car, he told me what it was like and  was on the mark! so there are honest people selling things ! I may have been lucky, but some times you need to take a chance. and have fath in people. I will post pics, when I  get my daughter inlaw to do it! All the Best of luck to anyone , who wants A TD and can not find one close to home after looking for along time I had to get one 2,500 miles away that could afford.

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