Selling a vehicle on Ebay

[Gonz]

Hey everyone,

I'm contemplating using Ebay to sell our G500, since a dealer has advised me I might be able to get more for it that way as opposed to trading it in. Does anyone here have any experience selling a vehicle on ebay or know any horror stories or reasons I should run away fast?! I realize I have to pay commission on my sale to them, and the listing fees and all that, but what I'm really worried about is liability after the sale or issues that might arise if there's something wrong with it that I don't know about.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[tsmckenney]

There's a running joke in our office (USAO) regarding bank robberies, "Why do it when you can just rob people on ebay?" I hate to say you shouldn't consider it as an option, but you have to be so, so careful. There's just endless amounts of bullshit going on with ebay today. Nigerians and Liberians and every other hoodwinker in the U.S. is trying to screw somebody on ebay (and more recently on Craigslist). Generally though, I think people lacking some common criminal sense end up victims, but obviously not always. Recently my wife discovered someone was using her credit card to make purchases. We have no idea how her information would have been obtained. Whoever the person was, they were buying makeup and porn dvd's. WTF. That was the only funny thing to come out of it.

From experience, my father sold a car on ebay and outside of really having to drop his price, he didn't have any problems. One of my best friends has purchased two cars on ebay and he's never complained about either purchase.

So, with that said, I think as long as you are careful and keep an eye on the people who are bidding on the car, you should be alright. And keep in mind that you can set the criteria for a purchase. Make one of your requirements be that a person needs to communicate with you before bidding. That way you can weed someone out who really has no intention of paying for and picking up a vehicle.

Good luck Gonz!

ts

 

[MilesMingusMonk]

Forget eBay - too many potential headaches.

Consider using Craigslist.org and multi-list ( for free ) in major metropolitian markets. I've sold 2 vehicles this way.

 

[BailBonds]

Forget eBay - too many potential headaches.

Consider using Craigslist.org and multi-list ( for free ) in major metropolitian markets. I've sold 2 vehicles this way.

x2, just MHO. I dropped ebay after receiving a fake certified bank check, then cashing it (the bank thought it was real too, and didn't think twice) only later to owe the bank 11xxx and have this guy get a free car that was later found in a chop shop with charges still pending..so I'm waiting to see if I can recoup anything from him from his jail cell. Not saying that would happen to you, but I am saying that it happens on a daily basis. Different variants of it..but it happens. If you choose to sell it on eBay, you might seek out a good friend or family member with tons of ebay knowledge with some time put in there and good feedback who may help you sell it help make sure it runs smooth.

--BB

 

[grateful1]

My brother sold his 55 chevy on ebay...and we'll look to sell the 71 Challenger when its done.

I guys it depends on the market you want to hit. You may want to try the local papers/online first.

 

[CigarStone]

I sold my Infiniti on Ebay and a other than the price being rediculously low it went okay.

That having been said, Ebay is a haven for crooked buyers and sellers. This is because Ebay makes it impossible to communicate with them. If you can't communicate with the broker who brings two parties together, it simply attracts dishonest people because of how difficult it is to catch them.

Good luck Andy!

 

[Martin2D]

I suggest selling it on autotrader...you're going to get SO many morons from ebay, whereas I sold my car way above Blue Book on autotrader. Its like $30 and worth every penny.

 

[davew0670]

sold my jeep with no problems. Buy met me at my house. We drove the jeep to the bank, he got cash out, I signed the title over. He took me back to my house. Little did he know there was 3 unmarked po-po's behind us the whole time.

 

[Gonz]

My brother sold his 55 chevy on ebay...and we'll look to sell the 71 Challenger when its done.

I guys it depends on the market you want to hit. You may want to try the local papers/online first.

Give me a call on that one before it hits ebay!


Thanks for the info guys, very helpful and a couple good options to look into. I checked with the twin cities dealers, and they are lowballing me saying there isn't a good market in MN for that vehicle, so I called out to the dealer in Denver that we bought a couple cars from in years past, and they're a good $5-$7k higher in trade value. I guess this truck can sell in that market!

 

[NullSmurf]

Forget eBay - too many potential headaches.

Consider using Craigslist.org and multi-list ( for free ) in major metropolitian markets. I've sold 2 vehicles this way.

x3

Look also to cars.com. I bought a truck and a car there and found it MUCH more friendly than sleazebay and craig's (though I like Craig's). Also, do NOT accept cashier's checks. Take any instrument other than cash to the originating bank to get it cashed before releasing the vehicle or the title. Cashier's check scams are rampant.

When I bought my Buick, I brought cash in $100 bills ($6500). For my truck, the seller met me at my credit union, where we did the deal. It took 15 minutes.

 

[KayakinBoy]

I'm contemplating using Ebay to sell our G500

Geländewagens are awesome. One of my good friend's dads has one. Funny story, he let him borrow it one night and we were at the gas station trying to figure out how to open the gas tank. We looked all over for the button to pop it opened. After 10 minutes we gave up and called his dad he told us "You just push it to open it. Don't worry, I had to call Mercedes the first time myself". :whistling: :laugh: