Selling a car on *popular auction site*

[Noofa]

I was given a late-ish holden with a few issues about 2 months ago, I couldnt fix the issue and cant afford(student) at this point to fix it(already spent 500 on sensors that didnt fully fix the issue). These cars when in OK condition sell for around 3.5-5k. (I expect less due to it not running right)

Anyway I put it on *popular auction site* tonight for less than $1000. Within an hour I had an offer to start a buy it now for the auction starting price. Obviously I want to maximise my sale price, and I declined the offer. Stating 'If I do not recieve any interest in the auction within the week, I would be happy to make a deal'. This is my first experience as a seller so I'm not sure I have done the right thing. Also, at this stage (2 hours in, I have 4 watchers).

Have I done the right thing? How do you deal with such offers?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Heaps of people trawl the net looking for bargains. They offer very low in the hope the seller says yes.

Had a car for sale that was worth around 17grand on a good day, put it for sale at 15,500 ONO and I had a guy call me and the first words were "I have 11 grand cash and can come and collect NOW"...

If you think it's worth 3.5-5k and you already have watchers then sit tight and let the auction run its course.

Is your reserve realistic??

[Noofa]

Its no reserve, with what I believe is a cheap starting price.
I think Id be happy with the final price and if I had the mechanical know how I would pay up to $1700 for it.

[Jim Goose]

Someone made an offer.... can you confirm you have "make an offer" on the auction? or is it just a plain auction?

If its a plain auction i wouldnt accept "offers"... let them bid if they are serious.
Also be wary of people making offers or bids who have little to no rep points on their eBay account.
A lot of nigerian type scammers are on there.

Only accept cash or bank transfer.... NO Western Union and if they have a low score dont accept any PayPal payments as they send u fake emails saying you have funds.

[Noofa]

Yup just a plain old auction.

[Kryton]

put the link up.

[Noofa]

Didnt want to get in trouble, mods please delete if I'm in the wrong.

Here

[2011G6E]

I've sold a lot of stuff large and small on Ebay. You often get offers in a message saying stuff like "what is the lowest price you will take?". The simple thing is not to answer, as a reply of "Obviously the starting price of the auction, numbnuts" may offend.

I just sold two old sports steering wheels and a set of WB taillights on there, and got that message about all three of them. I had put the starting price at a very reasonable $20 each for the wheels, and $40 for the taillights. People were offering to buy them at the starting price, but I ended up selling the lights for $76 and the wheels for $50 each.

Some people just trawl and hope they can avoid the auction going ahead to get it cheap...don't fall for it. If they really want it, they'll bid. If not and it doesn't sell, contact them and offer it to them.

And yes...unless it's Paypal or a direct bank transfer, (or cash on pickup for a car...I've sold a car and bought a car like that on Ebay) forget it...run a mile if they offer Western Union...

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Noofa

Didnt want to get in trouble, mods please delete if I'm in the wrong.

Here

You have been honest in your add so at least someone can't say you mislead them.

That is a newer looking car as well. Somone with the right contacts will buy that and get it running properly I'm sure.

Good luck with the sale. Mum had the older model 'Swing'. Had a module in the engine bay that you could plug and rotate depending on the petrol you used. Changed the tune apparently. It needed all the help it could get, having a whole 44kw lol.

[Jim Goose]

You have country of origin as "spain"?????

People may think its a personal import.

[FGII-XR6]

the listing seems ok to me but I would add no offers will be considered , no overseas buyers and that you bid to buy not to have a look at it
these are common in car listings

[Noofa]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

You have country of origin as "spain"?????

People may think its a personal import.

They are the standard ebay details, they are imported new.

[Jim Goose]

Yes i realise this, but its not personal import....

[302 XC]

Theres so many dreamers in ebay land, people will offer silly money , win the auction and never turn up or reneg on the deal
If i advertise something with a "No reserve" and im happy with the start price and get offered that price,and the person offering is serious , a deal will be done
I wont waste time stuffin around with ebay dreamers
Money talks

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Only accept cash or bank transfer.... NO Western Union and if they have a low score dont accept any PayPal payments as they send u fake emails saying you have funds.

I understand about avoiding western union if you a sending money as once you send it,it is gone and therefore if a scam you are screwed. But what is the issue with receiving money via western union?

[falconnut]

OP Pics of the engine bay and more details of the problems or maybe more precise explanation could help.

Take it round the block and listen for any weird problems.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by devilcv8

I understand about avoiding western union if you a sending money as once you send it,it is gone and therefore if a scam you are screwed. But what is the issue with receiving money via western union?

Totally untraceable...it's like sending an envelope of cash through the mail, as one critic put it.
Paypal has legal backup behind it, full traceability, and if you haven't recieved your payment (yet the buyer claims they have paid) Paypal will investigate it and trace what is going on. If someone claims they have deposited money through your Paypal account and you've syphoned it off, Paypal will be able to easily prove that no money has come in from anyone, so you're covered.

[robbyj]

yes by law paypal protects buyers and sellers for upto 25k? around that mark. I have had to make 2 claims before as a buyer, and received my money back both times.

If anyone contacts you asking to communicate over email, avoid.
If they contact you telling you they are currently working off shore.. stop reading here and avoid.

I wouldnt accept paypal for something like a car. (remember paypal takes a % of your sale, [2.5%? IIRC]

A genuine buyer will pay cash on pickup or bank transfer

Also try to be as genuine as possible in listing the problem, understandable you are unsure of what the problem is, but try add some more detail in.

Good luck with the sale and let the auction take its course. If that buyer offered you starting price, let them bid starting price.

[XR8_ash]

I had my MINT Porsche 944 for sale on there as I HAD to sell it and I couldn't move it on car sales. I had people calling me with offers of 4K ... !!!! LOL

[superfly]

Originally Posted by XR8_ash

I had my MINT Porsche 944 for sale on there as I HAD to sell it and I couldn't move it on car sales. I had people calling me with offers of 4K ... !!!! LOL

I tried to sell my MY99 WRX on there first and had low ball offers saying I was dreaming etc. Then put it on carsales and sold it after a few months. My price was higher than most but it also had lots more mods and a new engine.

[Noofa]

I came home to a few bids today, looking to be rid of this small white burden, I wanted to ensure that I didnt get screwed by non-payers. After a while I found that you can search the history of your bidders with goofbay.com and as an added bonus can then contact the sellers to see if they did get a dud bidder. After doing that, of the 4 bidders I had, I cancelled the bid of 2 Jerks.

I then used the function - block non-paying bidders to block anyone who had 2 or more non payments in the past 6 months.

This probably kept my final price low, ($930) but at least I will get rid of it without fuss. (the others had bid $980 and $1000)

Thats my experience anyway, now that I know how to eliminate the bids of non-payers, I would do it again, and am going to try to put one or two items up each week to clear the junk around the house, and maybe make a little extra folding to fund a motorcycle build - the bike that ebay built haha.