Ebay Scam

Discussion in 'Buying a VW Camper' started by mgbman, Jul 7, 2016.

  1. I know that second hand vehicles are sold buyer beware. But what if someone out and out lies on eBay? For example says something like this van has absolutely no rot or this van had a complete underside renovation and that turns out to be total horse s**t as when you turn up to collect it its rotten as a bad apple?

    You've won the auction or buy it now so are you obligated to buy? And what if it's a classified listing.

    Anyone ever bought a bus off eBay. How did you protect yourself?
     
  2. If you've payed using PayPal I think you're able to start a "dispute" if the object doesn't match the description.
    Otherwise I don't think you have much protection if buying from a private seller.
     
  3. You'd be pretty stupid to pay more than a deposit before looking at it ...if you turn up and its not as described just walk away and claim deposit back via eBay
     
    Lasty and Moons like this.
  4. I think that's not true for vehicles, I dont think there is any protection through Ebay for buying cars. So I don't suppose you'd get the deposit back especially if the bloke is built like a brick Marmite house.

    http://pages.ebay.co.uk/ebay-money-back-guarantee/index.html

    It looks like you bid you take a chance. Personally I would always view before I even thought of buying a vehicle this way.
     
  5. If you were buying from a private buyer. How do you handle the money side of things? I wouldn't be comfortable wandering round with 10k in cash so I would think a bank transfer would be a safer bet. But that means you are paying the full amount to a complete stranger and then hoping they give you the keys.
     
  6. You don't have any protection at all if buying from a private seller. Often the seller wants cash as well. Usually an ebay ad says 'sold as seen' so its up to the prospective purchaser to inspect the vehicle. Sold as seen also means the seller makes no guarantee of the vehicle's condition. Its up to the buyer to identify any faults.

    Sellers can and do lie about the condition of the vehicle and may also lie in the ebay description, so beware.

    Very important to do the HPI check and ensure the vehicle is not stolen and the location of the van is the address on the registration document. Compare the registration document with the van itself and the details shown on the VIN plate, and engine number etc. matches up.

    Do not go to view a van in Tesco's car park or station car park sort of places, only ever view at the sellers home address.

    Buyers are not under any obligation to buy.

    I would never buy a very expensive vehicle on the first viewing. You go and have a look and take lots of pics and identify the faults and ask questions and get to see the paperwork.. Faults offer the opportunity to reduce the asking price. If you are interested, you can ask for another viewing.

    If the buyer is evasive or obviously lying about the van's condition that's also another reason to walk away.

    There are plenty of Bays out there. So do not be in a hurry to make the purchase. Go online and check the MOT history of the vehicle, usually shows up interesting stuff.

    If the number plate is hidden on the ebay ad, call and ask for the registration number. If the seller refuses, walk away.
     
    Jack Tatty, 75BAY, bode and 1 other person like this.
  7. I won an auction on eBay for a van. Tipped up in the dark with a trailer to collect it. It was rot not a bus. Simply said "sorry mate that's not as described" and drove the 100 miles home.
    It's your money and the seller is obliged to describe the item accurately. Don't hand it over until seeing the item. Assume every seller is going to rob every penny you own if they can.
    If you were in a shop you would not give the assistant money without seeing the goods. Same goes for eBay. Worst they can then do is leave feedback as bad as you leave them.
     
    mgbman likes this.
  8. Well said.

    There is a nice looking van on ebay, its been for sale for a while. Its red with a red/white pop top. Asking for £17,500.

    I am suspicious of it, its had loads of ebay views, the reg plate starts with CPF. What the seller says, doesn't reconcile with the MOT history. In my opinion, I have seen ads like this where the seller says its a straight and solid van, but the MOT history says otherwise.

    Probably a chancer trying their luck. Often sellers say how heartbroken they are at having to sell their beloved van. Don't get taken in by all that rubbish. They want to sell it because its rot and needs expensive repairs to pass the next MOT. It has become a money pit and they want to get shot of it.

    Its a minefield out there full of rip off merchants. There is a saying: A fool and his money are soon parted.
     
  9. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Or maybe they want to sell it because they don't use it / want something newer / need to pay the mortgage etc etc.

    There's a saying: Don't tar everyone with the same brush.
     
    scrooge95 likes this.
  10. Not all crooks out there.

    Its the rip off merchants who spoil it for the genuine sellers. The buying process is full of pitfalls. Its about the large sums of money involved and the rising prices of the VW classic vans can attract the unscrupulous folks cashing in and chancing their luck selling a poor vehicle for top money.

    The forum is helpful by advising prospective buyers about buying a Bay for the first time. Sometimes we have to state the bloomin obvious. Sometimes comments can seem harsh or brutal, but its a forum.

    Buying a van from our classifieds must be a better bet as vehicles put up for sale are scrutinized and commented on by owners and the experts.

    Don't get that on ebay.
     
  11. I'm looking to buy my first van and I'm finding all the comments on here really useful, keep them coming and thanks.
     
  12. When I bought mine one of the things I was pleased about was the seller posting pics of the work that needed doing to it so there was nothing to hide (although filler can still hide some things we found out) :) Pictures of the best bits and a suspect price always made me wary.
     
  13. If you should pay a deposit then you should be able to claim this back from paypal/ebay. Everything is in the buyers favour. Even better if you can take photos to prove the reasons why you are not proceeding with the sale.

    As mentioned - always better to view beforehand, it may be that what a seller thinks is trivial may in fact be more serious - dont assume they are necessarily trying to have you over, it could be honest ignorance.
     
    Zed likes this.
  14. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Exactly this.
    A good bus is worth good money.
    If its cheap, its a scam.
    I'm sure there are cheap buses out there, but the types of people who don't know what they're worth, wont be advertising them on t'internet.
     
  15. Indeed - the people who dont know what they are worth have them abandoned in outbuildings/woodland glades/lower fields.
     
  16. Viewing the van in person is a must. And you must check the documents and vehicle VIN plate. And bills for work and maintenance to show the van has been looked after.

    View the vehicle in the dry and get underneath with a good torch, take lots of pics and don't go along with a bag of cash and buy on a whim. Vans are a lot of money and you need time to make a proper unhurried decision.

    Remember the bodywork and engine/gearbox condition is more important than a fancy interior.
     
  17. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    I'd challenge the statement you have no recourse against a private individual if they sell you a lemon.

    There are the civil courts if the courts of law are unable to help.


    Buy with your eyes wide open and a mate that know their stuff and hates old cars....no one will look after you better than that mate.
     
  18. "The bigger they are the harder they fall!" Springs to mind.
     

Share This Page