Questionable Practices at Bring A Trailer ( BAT )
 

I think it's time for a thread about this website.
I just came across some shady withholding of information about a vehicle. It's not a Porsche but a good example of how the owners of BAT may be taking part in withholding information.

I had a 70 Bronco Sport and am still a fan. Shocked at the popularity of them now.
I was looking at one and noticed the rusty windshield hinge in the main photo. Fairly normal area; I had to fix mine 20+ years ago.
There were no questions about it, plenty of pointless comments, so I asked for a better picture.
Before the owner could respond BAT posts up two more pictures of the area that they already had but neglected to include.
That's some B.S. right there.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-ford-bronco-17/

I hear you but I don't know why it would be worth their time/effort/reputation to withhold that information. What is your theory? The pictures will not let it hit reserve?

That’s why it should be referred to as Bring a TrainWreck now. There are some seriously shady biz practices going on. My posts were totally erased from an auction, and I was blocked from posting on it from there on out due to a heated back and forth with a shady seller that I was calling out for some of their lies. I’d never buy a car on that website, I think their reputation is taking a real beating of late.

Shocking.

The seller likely saw your reply and added them to the gallery. When you have an auction, you have a permanent "upload" link from BaT to add any additional photos.

So if you, the seller, upload pictures later a post from bringatrailer shows up that pictures were added?
It sure looks like BAT responded and added the pictures, but thanks for the clarification.

Nov 19 at 9:27 AM
Broncofan74 (The Seller) 8
I will take some photos of the vent boxes tonight and have them uploaded.

Nov 19 at 9:25 AM
bringatrailer
Additional photographs of the windshield frame have been uploaded to the gallery.

Did someone say Bronco ?


https://tribzap2it.files.wordpress.c...onco-chase.jpg

Correct. Your auction has a staff member assigned to it who cursorily reviews your submission then they inform the chat that additional photographs were added.

They completely, utterly, and on-purpose withhold it - until it becomes relevant to the auction, and then it's conveniently added when it becomes so obvious that it would damage them more not to do so.

They do it all the time. I remember they did it probably a year and a half ago on two BMW Z3 Ms - with the rear body mounting. People call it the "subframe" but it's not a subframe. It's the unibody that tears under the trunk where the rear end attaches. One of them actually was cracked. That's when I really got a bad taste in my mouth.

It's a joke show that I am no longer apart of.

I have sold a number of cars on BaT and it's been a good experience. I recently submitted 4 cars for consideration. Although not 911's they were all interesting cars. They rejected several of them for the life of me I don't understand why. Looking at some of the real clunkers or very ordinary cars that get listed, I am a little miffed.

Congratz to the guys who started and built the business. Maybe it's time to sell it to someone who can run it like a business instead of a hobby.

Great catch.

Looks to me like the seller read your request and already had some more photos of just the frame then just sent them in and BAT posted them. He didn't have pictures of the vent boxes and said he would take some and send them in tonight. Not sure where that problem is.

Two separate actions. You asked for frame photos which the seller had and sent in right away. You asked for vent box photos which the seller didn't have and said he would take tonight.

No, that isn’t how it works. BaT doesn’t withhold or edit photographs and they certainly don’t conspire with the sellers to withhold information.

If anything, if they smell dodgy photography or details they will will ask clarification before or during the auction process to enhance transparency.

Oh look, a live BAT test !

More please.

More ...

let's see how many more before you get the boot.

I've had good experience and annoying experiences with BAT. Both of the cars sold but the back and fourth as to the value of my cars was bulls**t. They tried to make an argument using old data, fortunately I was able to back up my value and the second car sold well above my ask. It seems to be a hit or miss but are no worse then ebay or any of the big auction houses, heck even wholesale car auctions can be worse. Proceed with caution (as you always should) but I would not completely write them off.

Can be worse? I was convinced that wholesale auctions were the absolute worst of the worst, the ****tiest cars with the least information, the sketchiest characters and the most rampant adverse selection. Is that not the case?

That was my perception as well.

No you are right..that is the case:D

Again.

I have never sold on BAT, the response from BAT that photos were uploaded shortly after my question seemed odd.
It appeared that BAT had them.

But MrBonus advised me that the owner uploads the pictures and BAT posts the reply.

My mistake.

Ultimately the seller was setting on the pictures and withholding an obvious issue until someone asked. He had the pictures all along.



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This BaT topic is older then the hills.
This has been discussed many time.

Buyer Beware applies to BaT, the system is not in the buyers favor, first most bidders never actually see the car live in person....BIG MISTAKE

Never buy any car on the internet based on pictures and comments from people you do not know..for Pete’s Sake.

BaT intentionality withholds information that in anyway hurts selling the car for their profit. Is this wrong? no, they control the sale, END OF STORY.

Lastly most comments or posts are screened so never to hurt the sale, everyone knows this..