Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin G.
Speeder -
I was referring to the generally more difficult process of getting any kind of pre-purchase inspection or other information in the limited time of the auction process, not the quality of the merchandise.
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You are correct, and I'm sorry for being sarcastic. I buy virtually all of my vehicles on ebay for a fraction of dealer or private party dreamer prices, but there is definitely an additional challenge to long-distance car purchases. There are ways of dealing with these obstacles, but they definitely cost you in time, etc... One great resource for me has been to enlist a fellow Pelican in the area of the car for sale to lay eyes on it, and I've done the same for people several times. Lastly, I always fly to wherever the car is with a cashier's check or cash and walk on the deal if the car or truck is not exactly as represented. This has happened more than once, with no deposits kept and no negative feedback in either direction. (The tit-for-tat feature of eBay's feedback system is both a fatal flaw as well as a blessing).
No different from any other non-local or long-distance purchase, but it can really work out from a financial standpoint as well as an incomparably bigger selection when you go internet versus local-only. There is no (completely) free lunch, but I am about to buy a used truck for $16k from a private party that is not only ~$5k less than it would be in my locality, it does not exist in my locality, period. It is an order of magnitude nicer than any I've seen for sale in its age range. It might be the nicest one in the country for sale. It was an eBay vehicle that did not sell/reach reserve on auction, now I am dealing with the owner directly. Fingers crossed.
I just get tired of the people who do not know how to use eBay claiming that only junk gets sold there. Pretty ignorant, when it's the largest vehicle reatil vehicle in the world. Good luck with your search, I hope you get a great car that is exactly what you are looking for.
