Since when have dealers been allowed to sell cars here?

[full quack]

Hey all,

Maybe I've just not noticed until I put my own 930 up for sale, but since when have dealers been able to list cars for sale in the classifieds???

Furthermore, and on a different note, has anybody else noticed that more than a few 930's that sold on BaT for too cheap, seem to turn up at dealer sites shortly after the auction ends. Are the very low allowed "reserve" on BaT, a sign that they are only now catering to dealers?

Mark

[RarlyL8]

I told everyone that long ago. BaT is a scam that caters to dealers and manipulates the market. They tell YOU what the reserve will be or you will not be allowed to sell through them. Dealers get to set their own reserve. What I don't get is why ANYONE would buy from a dealer.

[JMS935]

I’m not a fan of BaT either, but dealers don’t get to set their own reserve from my experience. I consigned a 930 with a dealer who tried putting it up on BaT, but the reserve BaT suggested was far too low. And by calling it a suggestion is being kind, as there was zero negotiating it, you can either accept it or not. At least that’s what I experienced anyways.

[RarlyL8]

Preferential treatment. It depends on who you are as to if you can set your own reserve. Once a dealer has sold a few cars through them it opens up.

[JMS935]

Originally Posted by RarlyL8

Preferential treatment. It depends on who you are as to if you can set your own reserve. Once a dealer has sold a few cars through them it opens up.

That makes sense, you wouldn’t want to bite the hand that feeds you. With that said though, you’d think that they would bend over backwards to establish new relationships with dealers. They have no interest in that however, the dealer I was consigning with hadn’t used BaT previously to submitting my 930. BaT had zero interest in cultivating that relationship, and I doubt that dealer would ever use BaT now as a result of that brief interaction. I’ve said it before in other threads here about BaT, they act very penny wise - pound foolish.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by RarlyL8

I told everyone that long ago. BaT is a scam that caters to dealers and manipulates the market. They tell YOU what the reserve will be or you will not be allowed to sell through them. Dealers get to set their own reserve. What I don't get is why ANYONE would buy from a dealer.

I can think of several reasons to buy from a dealer. Especially if you're not a mechanical, hands-on guy unlike most of us here.

The biggest one would be possibility of negotiating some sort of warranty period. There's also the "one neck to choke" theory, and maybe even more attractive financing available, ability to do a trade in etc etc

I personally wouldn't, but some people feel more comfortable about it.

[alwaysflat6s]

Perhaps you gents are missing something. Look how BAT started off- totally off the wall, fun, and interesting cars, mostly from eBay. This set their tone and they cleverly evolved into what we have now. Look how eBay has become almost a no-man's land for private sellers [lost among the garbage retail parts sellers listing the same parts over and over.. and the prime dealers ads. When is the last time you saw a worthwhile "real" auction there?].

Since I've never bought [more circumstance than interest] or sold via BAT i can only speculate. If the reserves they insist upon are somewhat reasonable, that is a GREAT idea. It's not a retail store and people aren't going to be that interested [as with most auctions] if they don't see either the opportunity to aquire a particularly special car or a "deal". It's hardly a new concept that many times with auctions a shrewd seller drops the reserve just as bids are at the lower end of what the seller believes the car is worth. With everything right the bidders get excited and off things go.

Right now we are in a somewhat declining market. Price at retail and the only reason to play around on BAT is you want a particularly special car. BTW, I'm sure you have noticed that the "Cars of the moment" with lots of eye-candy seem to do quite well [but usually less than the build cost].

One thing I believe they do very well is the final bids. Holding off for final bids allows for the variety of things that can slow down a bidder's responses. Back in the old days of eBay when they actually did auctions I lost a couple of cars due to a slow internet connection. Also, all the discussions about cars on BAT could be really annoying when the questions or comments are particularly stupid-many are- but they also tend to bring out a lot of details otherwise ignored. [Am I the only one crapping over obvious wear on PCCBs that most people don't realize is going to be incredibly expensive to resolve. I've decided I am not going to be "that guy" so it's up to people to wise up.

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Humm this started off about dealers sneaking in here on Pelican. I agree it sucks. That's a lack of moderators and they get away with it. It's also helped by not being able to comment on cars being offered. You would have to start your own ad to "out" them and probably end up banned.

I WISH PELICAN would consider doing an ]auction sub-site. In my case, it's selfish, as I have tons of parts, am getting too old for the projects, don't know prices well enough, and hate making flippers happy. I wonder if I'm unique or speak for a lot of guys with "too many ----"?

Meanwhile we can be grateful for Pelican and this site. Imperfect, sure. In many respects the best of the best.

[gumba]

I noticed dealer listing here or a link to Ebay or their site back in 2005. Which is how I found my 930.
I’m aware of 2 cars that were on Bat, didn’t meet the reserve and sold for more after the auctons ended.
I wouldn’t list a car there because I’m not interested in someone else’s option/critisism of my car. To each his own.