A BAT screw up! Looks like bidders can just walk on auctions??

[Fubawu]

I saw a 76 listed today that I could have sworn sold on BAT. Turns out it did
for $80K nice car, well sold in my opinion, but not ridiculous. Anyways the car was listed
here. Turns out the buyer flaked, BAT got their money but the seller is left in the cold??

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/942800-backdate-3-6-1976-rsr-hotrod.html


Modified 1976 Porsche 911 | Bring a Trailer

[1979-930]

He needs rotate the Tachometer 40* counter clockwise if he wants to get $80k for it.

Nice car though. I remember reading the auction rules a long time ago. I believe backing out is not a no.no. The final transaction is out of their hands.

[specialtyoneinc]

Buyers backing out happens way more often than you think on BAT. It's a non binding contract with BAT. The buyer (5% up to $5k) and seller ($250) just lose their fees if someone backs out unfortunately.

[mulsanne79]

Happened to me. Buyer of my BMW 2002 Tii never contacted me and completely disappeared. It's really weird because he/she is automatically charged a fee being the highest bidder.

[amg463]

They are definitely skipping out on the BAT fee too, one call to AMEX and you're in the clear. Had the same thing happen to me for a car I sold on there.

[MrBonus]

If you read the bidding info, very little on BaT is binding other than their 5% fee. This is the disclosure you accept when you place a bid:

Bidding advances immediately to your actual entered amount. The BaT Service Fee is 5% of the bid, with a minimum of $250.00 up to a maximum of $5,000.00

When you bid we pre-authorize your credit card for the service fee (this helps prevent fraud). If you win the auction, your card will be charged for the service fee and you pay the seller directly for the vehicle. If you don't win, the pre-authorization will be released. For more info, read about our auctions or email us with any questions.

I wonder what recourse a buyer has if the seller flakes.

Full disclosure: I bought my Scout on BaT and the seller and transaction were both wonderful. I bought it cross country without a PPI and the car was extremely well represented.

[MrBonus]

BaT is also very hands off with the actual transaction. You basically just get an email when you win with the seller or buyer's contact info and some basic fraud prevention tips. The rest is up to you and the other party to hammer out payment, shipping, and documentation of sale.

[dg567]

I called the buyer after the auction, he said his son bid on it. Either way, he came to see the car the following weekend. All checked out, exchanged banking info, he even took a photo of the title. Few days later, he starts coming up with excuses that he wants to get a ppi done, and it was the holidays, and didn't plan on buying a car this week etc. It snowed here that week so the car was off the road with plates turned in. I basically told him, a ppi is done before you purchase and as far as I'm concerned the car was purchased at the end of the auction. I felt like I left some money on the table without getting a leakdown and compression test done. So it was basically take it or leave it. If it doesn't sell now I'll wait till the weather breaks and get the ppi done and relist it back on BAT.

[Fubawu]

Well, makes me think twice about listing... DG567 did you receive any compensation from BAT?

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by dg567

I called the buyer after the auction, he said his son bid on it. Either way, he came to see the car the following weekend. All checked out, exchanged banking info, he even took a photo of the title. Few days later, he starts coming up with excuses that he wants to get a ppi done, and it was the holidays, and didn't plan on buying a car this week etc. It snowed here that week so the car was off the road with plates turned in. I basically told him, a ppi is done before you purchase and as far as I'm concerned the car was purchased at the end of the auction. I felt like I left some money on the table without getting a leakdown and compression test done. So it was basically take it or leave it. If it doesn't sell now I'll wait till the weather breaks and get the ppi done and relist it back on BAT.

That's really unfortunate and annoying. Best of luck reselling. I love the car and build.

[dg567]

Compensation? lol.

[dg567]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

That's really unfortunate and annoying. Best of luck reselling. I love the car and build.

Thank you I appreciate that! Now it just sucks, because I feel like now people think there's something wrong with the car.

The three other cars I sold on BAT went without a hitch. All purchased sight unseen and shipped out the week after they were paid for. I really hate selling cars because I feel like half the people out there just want to come look at it in person. I was having nightmares last night about PMs I was going to wake up to!

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by dg567

Thank you I appreciate that! Now it just sucks, because I feel like now people think there's something wrong with the car.

The three other cars I sold on BAT went without a hitch. All purchased sight unseen and shipped out the week after they were paid for. I really hate selling cars because I feel like half the people out there just want to come look at it in person. I was having nightmares last night about PMs I was going to wake up to!

I'll be honest; my initial thought when I saw your new ad was that there was something wrong with the car but then I re-looked at your BaT auction and saw your comments and that you sold other cars without issue.

I do believe one of the fundamental flaws of BaT is the short listing period without any advanced advertisement. While buyers have a week to interact with the seller, get videos, pictures, even schedule a visit, I think the site would be better served to allow a month lead time on some of the higher dollar cars in order to facility PPIs by serious buyers.

Your car is gorgeous but if I were dropping the coin that you're listing it for (and I do believe it's worth), I would most certainly want to have a professional check it out prior to finalizing a deal.

[amg463]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

Your car is gorgeous but if I were dropping the coin that you're listing it for (and I do believe it's worth), I would most certainly want to have a professional check it out prior to finalizing a deal.

That's not the point, the BAT agreement doesn't stipulate that all buyers have the right to a professional inspection before completing payment. That is something that a buyer can do before the close of the auction if they make arrangements.

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by amg463

That's not the point, the BAT agreement doesn't stipulate that all buyers have the right to a professional inspection before completing payment. That is something that a buyer can do before the close of the auction if they make arrangements.

Of course. That isn't the point of what I was saying.

[LUFTKUL]

Does this kind of flaky buyer behavior happen at the big in-person auctions? How do they prevent the post gavel remorse? Do they have access to bidders checking account?

What prevents the buyer from just walking out and putting a stop on their CC on the way out the door?

"My son bid on it" What a POS. If you're flaking out on it, just say I changed my mind and be done with it. Flaking is a douche move, but then dragging a seller on with BS excuses makes it worse.

[Antny]

So when I saw this car on BaT and where it was, I had to go see it. I grew up in the same town as Daniel and live nearby, so what the hell. Besides, it gave me an excuse to fire up my 930 and drive it, and to meet another gear-head!

What I can say is that the car is stunning, and that the photos don't do this car any justice. If I was to build one of these, it's pretty much exactly how I would do it, but maybe put matching wheels on it due to my OCD nature! :-)

Also, it was obvious that Dan is a true Porsche enthusiast based on the chat and seeing his other Porsche toy in the garage.

Anyway, I live nearby so if anyone would like me to take that car for a test spin (once the roads get cleaned of salt of course), just let me know!

Here's a photo of our cars together....

[specialtyoneinc]

Originally Posted by dg567

Thank you I appreciate that! Now it just sucks, because I feel like now people think there's something wrong with the car.

The three other cars I sold on BAT went without a hitch. All purchased sight unseen and shipped out the week after they were paid for. I really hate selling cars because I feel like half the people out there just want to come look at it in person. I was having nightmares last night about PMs I was going to wake up to!

I feel your pain. When I'm selling used cars online I try to take the path of least resistance. I would rather take a little less and deal with a easy transaction than dealing with someone asking way too many questions, tire kicking and nitpicking every detail after a test drive.

If you don't have to sell right away, re-market the car in the spring and I'm sure it will do well. Looks like a fun/solid build! GLWS.

[Rick Brooklyn]

It sucks but I don't think it's realistic to expect BaT to guarantee the buyer's performance, especially when their seller fee is $250.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

[Antny]

Yup. It sucks big time. An auction is supposed to be binding, unless the seller misrepresents the car of course. Not the issue here. "My son bid". Good, with your account? Then he bought it!

The seller invests a lot of time and effort to sell at an auction. He's out all of his time, and missed out on the selling season (bad timing, I know) thinking that he had a buyer.

Is there no honor among men left in this country?

BaT made sure to get their $4,000 commission and $250 listing fee. What does Daniel get out of that? My opinion: BaT should enforce the sales. If they aren't willing to, then they should not take their commission.

This is making me re-think listing my cars on BaT.