Quote:
Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy
Technically everything on BaT is supposed to be available for inspection. But that means you have to drop everything and fly somewhere within the 7 day auction window. I have walked away from a lot of cars over the years, as recently as two months ago, because the average person is somewhere between an idiot and a liar. No way in hell I will buy sight unseen without at least paying for a third party inspection.
As for Gateway, I’ve seen their ads for years. Typically for something unremarkable like a first generation RX7 at an asking price roughly double market value.
|
Everyone has their own process and I'm not going to disagree with you at all...I've flown and driven hours to pick up cars or trucks that I've won on Ebay just to say,
"are you fking kidding me?" and walked away. Several times. This of course goes for locally advertised vehicles that you wasted how ever many hours going to see. It's just part of the game.
What I find unique about BaT is the quality of the photos and videos, (generally), plus the ability to ask questions and ask for additional photos of specific items. Some sellers are more engaged and responsive than others but I follow muscle car auctions and the requests for numbers on parts like rear axle/trans/alternator/carburetor and of course engine casting numbers and dates is pretty amazing...also the level of knowledge in the comments is mind-blowing. It's a pretty amazing process.
Is it perfect? No. I bought my '04 Mini Cooper S from a lying scumbag in NorCal, it's a really good car now after a couple of grand in undisclosed maintenance it needed. This guy bent so far over backwards not to be honest that I'm surprised he didn't break his back. The other side of the coin is that I could have requested a lot of detailed photos and asked questions as well as driven up to see it if I'd noticed it in time but I came in at the end of the auction. I tend to only look at auctions about to end, there are just too many of them and it's a time suck.
It doesn't look any easier to me to fly to some random small town in Indiana to lay eyes on one of this dealer's cars, which aren't that desirable to begin with. At least some of the BaT vehicles are in my neck of the woods or somewhere where there is a trusted Pelican who can put eyes on them for me. I'm always willing to do that as well for you or almost anyone here, regardless of whether we are pals online. Depending on the dollar amount, it can be worth having a PPI or other independent inspection done.
I'm going to MN., (of all places), to look at a car before sending $$ next week. It's a spectacular western car, low mileage and over 70 years old. I'll update the forum if it works out and if it doesn't.
