Bring a Trailer sold
 

I'm sure this will bring lots of great changes...now where's my green font?

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/06/hearst-autos-nabs-bring-a-trailer-auction-site-for-undisclosed-price/

The big fish eat up the little fish...

Additionally, Hearst Autos’ brands of Car and Driver, Road & Track, and Autoweek will publish editorial content and insights while also providing business and sponsorship opportunities.

It's dead, Jim.

Sounds like good timing for the team at cars and bids.


Go check out the new site! Www.carsandbids.com

I was waiting for this day, it was going to come.
I’d love to hear the sale number. I’m sure it was huge, based on the revenue that can be roughly estimated fairly easily.
They did a great job building that site and positioning it for a sale.

It always amazed me that no real competitor ever arose.

So that’s why everyone got a new terms of use and privacy policy notice yesterday. Good for them, I guess.

My cousin knows the BaT guys because they have an office around the corner from him in San Francisco. These young tech guys are not dumb... they just cleaned up. :cool:

BAT had about $10 million in revenues last year, with massive YoY growth
$8 million must be profit. 20 employees.
Business probably sold for $50 million.

Founder will not work another a day in his life, nor will the next 10 generations of his descendants.
Couldn't happen to a better guy.

BAT is a powerhouse brand in the automotive world.
I hope Hearst does some exciting things beyond auctions.

And let's hope they shut down the idiot mouth breathers comments section.

That'd be the quickest way to kill it for sure.

BAT .... I think of a Louisville Slugger :D

Now that's a lot of $ in my little world... but it's chump change for some in the big league$ ....

With no public comments and questions on the listings, it’s just eBay w better photos. Wtf are you talking about?? :confused:

The expertise on the comment sections of BaT listings is astonishing...just read any muscle car or C2 Corvette auction...there are guys who literally know serial numbers of components based on build dates...

On Porsche listings, the expertise isn’t quite as impressive but still pretty good. Former owners jumping in to verify or dispute claims made, offering history, etc. I’ve seen many shady sellers who were trying to pull a fast one get busted by commenters and have their listings canceled by BaT. Any monkey business whatsoever from buyers or sellers gets an immediate and permanent ban.

Once again, wtf are you smoking?

still time to snag that Miura

Since March, I have bought 1 car and sold 1 car. In both cases I had a good experience, no problems whatever. One advantage is the tremendous exposure your car gets when selling.

Never once went to the site. But I don't sell my cars, and I don't have space to store new projects.

Denis - There is some truth to Sugarwood's comment.

On BaT you have to wade through and filter a fair bit of "armchair quarterbacking" to be able to separate legitimate, technical and knowledgeable comments from those that add zero value where its just about picking a guy's car apart. Most of the guys who just sit there and nit pick, never have any intent on bidding, buying or probably have never built a car over several years and understand the time and financial commitment.

For example, there was a turbocharged all wheel drive Sirocco that was well built by a French Canadian, who's English was not great and many comments were inappropriate and in poor taste directed at his English or trying to tear apart his multi-year build.

Me either... but where will we sell our $250K Carreras if we change our minds now :D?

I could not agree more. Even though I am not in the market for a car, I check in once a week to see if there are any 2002tii's:D

I've learned more things about 2002's from that site than anywhere else because you can reference the pictures with the comments readily. I skip the snark.

Good for the sellers...they captured a market segment in, let's be frank, the wild west.

Hard to do.

What you are talking about is subjective and the price of having an internet where people can freely communicate. Feelings get hurt sometimes, it's the cost of doing business. Happens here sometimes, even.

The benefits of being able to ask questions of the seller, (including additional photos and information), on the listing where everyone can see them and the seller cannot just ignore said questions and requests, is invaluable. As I stated before, several scam or dishonest sellers misrepresenting vehicles and/or withholding vital info have been outed during their listings on BaT and had their listings pulled, sometimes banned from the site. Where else does that happen? Good sellers also get reputations on BaT and become trusted.

If you prefer a truly anonymous buying or browsing experience where sellers can get away w a few lousy photos and not answer questions, there are plenty of alternatives. BaT is special. The quality of merchandise is massively superior to other online sites, it's a curated site, (though they have been relaxing that in the last couple years in favor of maximum revenue). They still turn down vehicles, though. They would not list my mint, low mileage 2007 Ducati Multistrada 1100S w full Termignonis last year...just said no thanks...doesn't fit our current repertoire.

It may not be the best place to list anything weird or home made, it is a critical crowd. I did sell a heavily modified car there, though, and it went well. Anyone who struggles w the English language would be at a severe disadvantage on that site as well...it's all about open, precise communication w potential bidders and answers to specific questions. Lastly, you have no idea who is intending on bidding or not and it's irrelevant if they are adding quality information or asking important questions. I comment a lot more than I bid but I also bid but never during the middle of the listing, only at the very end and only if the price is still attractive. Just won an auction last week. :)

At least BAT makes some representations of their cars and parts as well as offering an avenue for direct questions of the owner. Try to get a traditional consignment outfit to do that.