If it is flagged, then BaT reviews the post in question. Some are removed and others are not, it is up to BaT. A guy posted in the middle of a live auction last week that he was listing a similar car shortly, it was flagged and removed within a couple of minutes.

For now, it is the place to sell and the gallery I believe helps the bidders feel secure about their decision to bid. Not perfect, but much better than Ebay and there is not a real alternative...yet.

It has jumped the proverbial shark. The only reason I even check out it to view the occasional ***** show when a car gets yanked due to some unforeseen circumstances. 100-120 live auctions completely dilutes the original intent.

I think it's a great place to learn a lot about a wide variety of interesting cars you don't already know. I've never been a buyer or seller (though I have bid on several occasions), but I enjoy the commentary, especially when someone in the know chimes in. I've gained new respect for a lot of cars that never would have showed up on my radar. Like going to Cars-n-coffee without getting out of bed.

In return, I post extensively on the handful of car models I know well. More than once, I have seen the public vetting of some cars reveal potential headaches/disasters for unsuspecting and inexperienced buyers.

BaT flat out rocks.

possibly..... but.......... auctioning a brand new car does allow for the questioning of its original premise......

True, but I ignore those auctions.

I need to create a BaT user ID when the time comes; I can see it now, "Is that a shiit stain in the middle of the driver's seat", "Is the tool kit included (not talking about the seller - he needs a frame-off restoration anyway), and if not, I'll be fuming", "you sure that didn't start life as a 912, because it looks really slow", "I hear that the gearbox has shiit parts in it - true?", etc., etc., etc. . . .

It's become a serious money grab - and they have very little diversity in cars that they take, not to mention they seriously have some problems writing up and cleaning up the descriptions on cars that come in with any sense of knowledge - how many Z3 M's can you put on your site and not address the rear subframe/frame issue in the description?

I'm skeptical... ;)

I just don’t care anymore. I’ve been enjoying driving it recently since my 74 is in pieces. Maybe some random on the street or at CnC tomorrow will buy it before it ever gets to BaT. Cash for my projects would be nice but I’m in no hurry.

I'm a BaT fan. I bought a bone stock, original paint, rust free, no spoiler, original plastic hub caps, cold a/c, 5-spd 1990 Honda Prelude off of the BaT auctions last year. Flew to NY to pick it up and drove it home in one weekend.

The variety of cars, especially the odd-ball cars are what I like about that site.

I really feel like cars get vetted well on BaT auctions, although mostly by people with no intention of buying. Any BS usually gets called out, whether the it's BS by the car's owner, BaT or the peanut gallery themselves. I also think the peanut gallery generally likes to see cars sell high and root for the seller. So when sellers complain about people being overly critical of their car or making them jump through hoops to prove that their car is good, they need to remember that this vetting helps raise the final sale price of the car. If I were selling my car, I'd want all the hard questions asked so I could prove that my car is good, even if that means that I'm showing all the flaws to someone who has no intention of bidding.

If nobody asked questions about a car, that means that no one is interested.

BAT does not exist to provide you with free entertainment.
It exists to for one reason: To make money.

The owners most likely quit their dayjobs and have bills to pay.

From a startup point of view, BAT has finally found its way.
When it is bigger than Ebay, then the goal has been achieved.

Do you make money at your job?
Certainly you've lost your way, just like BAT.

They are an amazing business.
130 cars +\- a week.
$500 seller fee.
That’s $65k a week in fees
PLUS 5% of the value from buyers.
That’s close to 100k extra if you figure the average price of a sold car is $15k.

That’s a $200k a week business.
1.2m month
14m year.

It's $99 to list your car. Not $500.
Great business none the less.

Some folks seem to resent others making money in the business of classic cars.

The hobby vs business angle.

Ahhh. $99 is better.
They are still doing $100k a week.

WooHoo!

how much for a franchise LOM?

No one is denying its viability or right to capitalism. I was questioning core mission ......

Everybody knows it's not the Franchise Fee that'll getcha, it's the Royalties and Weekly Advertising Coop that'll kill you.

I'm available to consult, LOM.

But they are based out of San Francisco. They are spending $150k a week proving to everyone how successful they are.