Car Buying Online | eBay
There is no doubt that you can save money buying a car. Buying online from eBay might be safer than most, but there are dangers as well. If the car is out of town or out of state you won’t get a chance to see or drive it before you bid on it. So how do you get a good deal and keep for getting ripped off? Well here are some tips from eBay on how to get the best deal possible. Remember that eBay wants you to have a good experience because if you don’t, well they don’t make money.
Focus your Search: Know what your looking for before you go to eBay. Keeping checking for what you want by entering the make and model in the eBay search area.
Be a Watcher: Before you start bidding take some time and watch the auction for a while. Use the “Watch this Item” feature and see how the bidding goes.
Research the Seller: eBay keeps extensive history on sellers and feedback from buyers that have purchased from sellers. Be sure that they are rated as a seller and not a buyer. Read the auction description carefully and request more photos by e-mail if necessary.
Give the seller a call: You can learn more from one call than you can by reading the description.
Auctions with no reserve: Look for aFind the seller who doesn’t set a minimum winning bid amount, which often is as high as the car’s retail value.
Cancel On Inspection: If there is not a cancel upon inspection clause don’t bid. If the seller will not include a cancel on inspection clause run away. The car may not look as good as the pictures or be in as good of shape as it sounds.
Have Cash Will Travel: It is possible to finace an online purchases but you will find that it is much easier to deal with cash for interstate transactions sales.
Have a mechanic Inspect the Car: eBay has inspection services in about 50 major city areas, and a free limited warranty that covers you for the drive home. If there is not an eBay service in the area contact a mechanic in the city where the car is being sold and arrange for an inspection when you arrive.
Check on Carfax: For $19.99 you can get the cars history online and it can tell you if it has been in a accident, milage and service history. Well worth the twenty bucks to know about the car.
What is it worth: There are free tools on the internet that will give you the current prices for retail and wholesale for the car you are looking at. Try Edmunds.com.
Make your Bid: When you have decided on what you are willing to pay make your bib and leave it alone. Don’t fall in to a bid battle and let emotions drive up the price you have set. There are a lot more cars out there.
Hidden costs: Don’t forget that you may have to travel to pick up this car and that will cost you cash too. So if you are going to travel out of state to buy a car better make sure it’s a good deal.
Round-trip ticket: If you have to fly to get to the car check the price of a round-trip ticket as it is often cheaper. It also gives you a ride home if you decide after the inspection that the car is not all it was said and you cancel the purchase.
