Car prices on ebay. Too high?

[TerryBPP]

Is it just me or are the majority of cars on ebay going at dealership prices? Beaters are selling for more the dealerships? Classics are outrageous and the worst part is you don't even get to see or drive them in advance.

Is the thrill of winning a auction beating out common sense?

[legion]

Yes and yes. It seems to me that most of the car sellers on eBay anymore are dealerships. They've mastered the art of minimizing flaws and maximizing positives. They also can pay for a service that effectively removes negative feedback.

I bought one car on eBay. I will never, ever, ever do that again.

[Tobra]

It is not referred to as evil bay for nothing

[Rick Lee]

Legion, how can they remove negative feedback?

[legion]

Someone posted something about it a few weeks ago. Apparently there is some sort of program that dealerships can participate in (pay a lot of money for) to have their feedback "independently reviewed". The net effect is that they have all of their negative feedback removed and get to maintain 100% positive feedback--for a price.

[Rick Lee]

Why in the world would eBay allow that?

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Why in the world would eBay allow that?

$$$$$$$

[TerryBPP]

I have been scouring ebay for a beater 4x4 and it seems every truck is selling for well above KBB. Even private sellers are either selling way high or not selling due to insane reserves.

For instance, I was watching a 97' K3500 4x4 on ebay that eventually went for $8300. Which is pretty steep. So I'm driving to a job site yesterday and see a small dealership with virtually the same truck for $7500. Same mileage, condition, even color.

It just amazes me that a small dealership is beating out an auction. Didn't use to be like this.

[JavaBrewer]

A little over 2 years ago I bought a Ford Expedition (EB, 4x4, DVD, ...) on Ebay from a dealership in TX. The truck was everything they said it was and after shipping it to Cali I paid $3500 under what local dealers were asking. Unfortunately it was not what the wife wanted...so I sold it and bought a 2003 LR Discovery on Ebay from a private party in North Carolina. Shipped here and total cost was = to what I would have paid local but none were to be had with right miles, options, and color combo. Again I must have been lucky cause the Disco was also outstanding (after a full professional detail).

The key is to get alot of dialog and have the vehicle inspected by a dealer/auto service shop of your choice. Also look at the completed auctions and make an offer for those that did not sell.

[the]

Some of it is eBay's fault, but anyone who buys a USED car, without seeing it in person (and getting a PPI if the car is more than a couple grand), from ANY source, is nuts.

You'd be crazy to do that with a car advertised in the newpaper, in an online ad, or on eBay.

[Rick Lee]

I've bought a few cars and bikes sight unseen and all ahve worked out well. First one was my e30, but it was from my old mechanic and he's as straight as the day is long. Paid him over the phone and picked the car up a week later. Ditto for the 993 and both my Beemer bikes. I have a nose for honest and meticulous sellers. Every time I go to pick up the vehicle, when I hear one of the seller's family members curse him for selling to me, I know I got a good one. Happens every time too.

[deathpunk dan]

People ask insane prices for run of the mill 911s on ebay. That's all I know.

[JavaBrewer]

The key word here is *ask*, but yes I agree with you the *ask* prices are very high. Only the meek actually pay those prices. You know what you want to spend so offer that and then walk if the seller says no. This is how it's always been.

[wcc]

I've bought lots of cars/motocycles/trucks/etc off ebay and only one I think I paid fair market value for. The rest were all WAY cheaper then the KBB or NADA values. I don't bother with BIN or Reserve auctions. I've only bid on 'No Reserve' auctions for cars. But before I bid I research the value so I know when to quit so I'm not paying more than market value.

[LeeH]

My observation is that most car on Ebay don't sell. Those that do sell are more likely to be somewhat unique or lower production cars. Prices on Ebay on more common cars get bid up to just under what they sell for at the wholesale auction.

Personally, I think Craigslist is a better source. Search for what you're looking for + the word "moving." You know you've got a motivated seller if someone has to sell before they move. Offer to buy the car, but let them keep it until the day they move. Now you're their hero and you get the car a great price.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Exactly - dealerships and "big sellers" have destroyed what originally was a forum for individuals and "little guys".

Don't forget - ebay is now a publicly traded corporation - therefore ANYTHING that brings them in revenue works in their favor from the point of view of their Wall St. supporters Even whoring out their feedback system and undercutting their own objectivity. Not that it really matters anyway - the feedback system is a joke anyhow.

Caveat emptor. I'll occasionally use it for little buy/sell stuff, but am heavily favoring Craigslist.

[on-ramp]

Ebay is turning into a joke. I have cut back recently and refocusing my efforts on my own website.
Thousands of successful e-commerce sites don't sell on ebay. There's a good reason for that.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Exactly - dealerships and "big sellers" have destroyed what originally was a forum for individuals and "little guys".



Caveat emptor. I'll occasionally use it for little buy/sell stuff, but am heavily favoring Craigslist.

Craigslist...where you can rent hookers as well as buy hot merchandise. I buy very little on line these days. Far as I'm concerned, ebay, Craigslist, et al...thinly disguised fencing operations. Online? I trade with people who were in biz before dot-com. Our host excepted of course, because he's proven to me that he is legit.

(edit) These days? I wouldn't buy a pool cue on line...let alone a car.