Questionable Practices at Bring A Trailer ( BAT )

[Sox Fan]

Originally Posted by trader220

....with regards to "deals" yea there are some deals to be had and yea some cars sell way over the true market value. BAT's become liquid enough and populated by enough guys that for the most part the stuff trades pretty close to what I think "fair value" is given what's known about the car.

I also think the general populations idea of what "fair value" should be is frequently well off. I like playing with the older Bentley's. I buy em and sell em and know the markets both retail and wholesale well. Nothing crazy expensive, all of them under 50 grand. Yes you can buy a 10 to 15 year old 200 grand car for 25 to 50 grand, that doesn't make it a screaming bargain, that's fair value. I was following a 06 Bentley which I thought sold at dead on fair value. Couple of the peanut gallery were hooting and hollering about what a screaming deal it was. Others listen to people like that and believe the bs.

Yup. I see this a lot too. Several people saying "stolen" when a car just goes for a fair market price. Amazed how little research some people do when making major purchases.

[Arne2]

In the end, here's almost zero chance that I would ever bid on a car on BaT. Maybe if it was something I really wanted, and there was some way for me to get there in time to see it in person prior to bidding. But even then, chances are that anything like that would get bid by the crazies to far more than I'd be willing to pay, so the question is moot.

On the other hand, I am about to try selling on BaT (not a Porsche). I can be ethical and transparent as a seller, even if BaT plays a bit looser on that stuff. My opinion is that it is far better to be a seller there than a buyer.

[JMS935]

Originally Posted by Arne2

My opinion is that it is far better to be a seller there than a buyer.

Yep, totally agree. There probably isn’t another venue on this planet that is so skewed to being beneficial to the seller (at the buyer’s expense) than BaT is. Which makes it all the more confusing that there are so many addicted to buying cars on that website.

[wgwollet]

Yep
I agree, the burden is totally on the buyer.
BaT should be helpful to the buyer because they are paying a ton of commission money.

[trader220]

Originally Posted by wgwollet

Yep
I agree, the burden is totally on the buyer.
BaT should be helpful to the buyer because they are paying a ton of commission money.

The buyers commission is cheap compared to other established auction houses.

[wgwollet]

Cheap . I guess compared to Mecum or BJ
But The Samba, Craigslist, Rennslist, Pano, PP, etc, are fine

[pmax]

Originally Posted by trader220

The buyers commission is cheap compared to other established auction houses.

Cheap bastards.

[techweenie]

The interesting thing is that I've sold 4 cars on BAT and 3 were post-auction.

So I got the benefit of all the build-up and chatter and the buyer got the benefit of $0 commission paid to BAT.

I have not purchased a car on BAT, though I've bid on a couple. Thing is, you run into irrational exuberance within the bidding population. I never buy a car at a distance for more than 85% of what the car is worth to me. The reason I hold back is that the great cars often sell locally; the cars that don't bear up under in-person scrutiny are auction fodder. What car can't be made to look good in photos?

[trader220]

Originally Posted by wgwollet

Cheap . I guess compared to Mecum or BJ
But The Samba, Craigslist, Rennslist, Pano, PP, etc, are fine

The sites you mentioned are not auction sites. If you're going to imply their buyers fees are high, and then when pointed out they're not at least compare apples to apples. Those other sites may be fine but they're simple listings not auction sites with buyers fees.

[voitureltd]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I never buy a car at a distance for more than 85% of what the car is worth to me. The reason I hold back is that the great cars often sell locally; the cars that don't bear up under in-person scrutiny are auction fodder. What car can't be made to look good in photos?

Agree, that is why I prefer to only sell in person as most of ones I have need a ride and drive along with a up close to the car. In the past,when this is done in most cases the buyer will agree to my higher price than the price they wanted to pay before they realized the real condition, not just from photos.
One recent BAT sale was a 76 black 930 with only one rubber stabilizer (rear quarter to engine lid ) and the photos only showing the side with that in place in the initial photos. When it was questioned the seller said none on the other side and no hole for it to be installed. Further comment / explanation was the early cars did have inconsistencies when built so that could be why no hole for the rubber piece that wasn't there. In my humble opinion I doubt Porsche would ever have built it that way and could be that drivers side quarter was a replacement from a later car ( mid 79). It seemed pretty decent driver otherwise. The seller claimed he did not think it was in a accident & I was to be there to inspect so I did not comment. The buyer seemed ok with buying it this way with the possibility of previous damage for the price paid. Always nice to know what a 930 in this condition will sell for. Again a good reason to bid 85% less unless inspected and driven in person. So fair to say BAT values may not be absolute as some may or may not be getting the real deal.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by voitureltd

One recent BAT sale was a 76 black 930 with only one rubber stabilizer (rear quarter to engine lid ) and the photos only showing the side with that in place in the initial photos. When it was questioned the seller said none on the other side and no hole for it to be installed. Further comment / explanation was the early cars did have inconsistencies when built so that could be why no hole for the rubber piece that wasn't there. In my humble opinion I doubt Porsche would ever have built it that way.

Obviously the seller is not German.

Inconsistencies on a G-Body that had been made for more than three years.

Yes, Porsche would not do this. Once again the seller is a clown and the excuses and conclusions are amazing.

[voitureltd]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

Obviously the seller is not German.

Inconsistencies on a G-Body that had been made for more than three years.

Yes, Porsche would not do this. Once again the seller is a clown and the excuses and conclusions are amazing.

Interestingly the seller has had other Porsches on BAT and some in the peanut gallery make favorable comments what a Porsche expert he is regarding his offerings / representations / remarks.

[1979-930]

Originally Posted by voitureltd

Interestingly the seller has had other Porsches on BAT and some in the peanut gallery make favorable comments what a Porsche expert he is regarding his offerings / representations / remarks.

He does sell a lot of cars. But he’s “that guy”.
Check out the bids on the Porsche’s and Pantera.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JMS935]

“Those” bidders are so annoying you wonder what the hell they are thinking, and there are so many of them too. Wtf...

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by JMS935

“Those” bidders are so annoying you wonder what the hell they are thinking, and there are so many of them too. Wtf...

It's just a fun way to move auctions along.

[JMS935]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

It's just a fun way to move auctions along.

Or it's just waste of time and effort. Why don't they call for sale ads, and offer $930 for every 930 they find for sale? Or $996 for every 996? That would be equally as stupid, yet nobody is doing that. It's just a bizarre BaT trend. People just want their 15 minutes of fame, even if it's for something as inconsequential and ridiculous as placing teenie bids that have zero chance of ever being successful.

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by JMS935

Or it's just waste of time and effort. Why don't they call for sale ads, and offer $930 for every 930 they find for sale? Or $996 for every 996? That would be equally as stupid, yet nobody is doing that. It's just a bizarre BaT trend. People just want there 15 minutes of fame, even if it's for something as inconsequential and ridiculous as placing teenie bids that have zero chance of ever being successful.

It takes like 2 seconds to place a bid.

[JMS935]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

It takes like 2 seconds to place a bid.

So make that 2 seconds count, instead of looking like an idiot. Sorry if I hit a nerve, but it's a childish behavior. It reminds me of when I was like 8 or 9 years old at an auction with my dad, and he would let me raise his bidder card when the price was so low that there wasn't any chance of getting hit on it. I grew out of that soon after, yet there are grown ups still doing this on BaT. Or at least I presume they are grown ups, since they need a CC to place a bid.

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by JMS935

So make that 2 seconds count, instead of looking like an idiot. Sorry if I hit a nerve, but it's a childish behavior. It reminds me of when I was like 8 or 9 years old at an auction with my dad, and he would let me raise his bidder card when the price was so low that there wasn't any chance of getting hit on it. I grew out of that soon after, yet there are grown ups still doing this on BaT. Or at least I presume they are grown ups, since they need a CC to place a bid.

It took you more than 2 seconds to make this post FYI.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by JMS935

Or it's just waste of time and effort. Why don't they call for sale ads, and offer $930 for every 930 they find for sale? Or $996 for every 996? That would be equally as stupid, yet nobody is doing that. It's just a bizarre BaT trend. People just want their 15 minutes of fame, even if it's for something as inconsequential and ridiculous as placing teenie bids that have zero chance of ever being successful.

I agree. It's a BaT thing and I first that it was cute, funny, and fresh, but now all I want to do is post this pic whenever and wherever I see such silly practice.



It is annoying. But then again, I am a bitter man. I don't think George Carlin would think it was cute either.