How to Buy on Ebay

T

toyman

New member
I'm wanting to buy a tow vehicle listed on Ebay - 2 days drive from my present location. How do you (how can I) buy something this expensive sight unseen - and have it shipped ?
 
A few years ago I did the crazy thing and bid on a Trimuph sportscar and I won the bid, sight unseen. I contacted the owner and flew from Sacramento to S. Calif. he met me at the airport and we did the paperwork and I started to drive home. The car ran great the first few hundred miles then then overheated. I limped home. This was right after 9-11 so could not carry much in the way of tools on the plane. Long story short, ask lots of questions, and buyer beware. I eventually sold the car for about what I paid for it, of course that was after I had the radiator cored and a few other things fixed.
 
I'm not a big fan of paypal. I once bought something on ebay and clicked on the option to pay by credit card, and it sent me to paypal anyway. So now I avoid ebay if there's any other option, even if it's a higher price.
 
Living as far back in the East Texas woods as I do, I buy LOTS of "stuff" on Ebay, and the Internet in general. I bought the Fan-C-Dory kinda like Don described with his Triumph, then went back 3 months later and picked it up.

But this time I'd kinda like to have it shipped since I have a lot going on right now. Maybe I'll just wait.
 
I have bought many expensive items on eBay without too much trouble. Sometimes you win big (2000 diesel F250 crewcab with 85k for $8k), other times you lose (TRS lower unit covered in bondo and fresh paint over deep corrosion). Pay by credit card so you can get a refund in case of fraud.

Paypal has a very short window in which to make a claim, if you buy out of season (boat parts in winter) it will be much too late to file a claim once it warms up and you find out you were cheated.
 
Welcome Westfield 11

I lurked on here for quite some time before I bought our 22 cruiser, which is sitting in Grass Valley I am sure covered in snow after last night's storm. I live in Roseville.

I just picked up a new to me tow vehicle. I had been using a 2007 Tacoma, which tows it just fine, however wanted a full size truck so picked up a 2006 Nissan Titan at Carmax. Ah now I have heated seats, that came in handy this am. I doubt is I would buy a vehicle sight unseen again, however as was stated sometimes you can do quite well.
 
toyman":osvs56c5 said:
I'm wanting to buy a tow vehicle listed on Ebay - 2 days drive from my present location. How do you (how can I) buy something this expensive sight unseen - and have it shipped ?
Click to expand...

Is there a C-Brat in the seller's vicinity tht could look it over and photograph it for you and help you determine it's condition, value, etc.?

There are lots of folks on this site that I'd trust with this kind of friendly task, and even a lot more!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I've bought (and sold) some expensive stuff on Ebay. The Chevy 2500 Duramax I bought was located in LA but the owner was in Thailand. No problem. Payment was contingent on buyer inspection or buyer approved third party inspection. He flew back, drove it to my place, I approved and we drove to the bank where he got cash and I got the registration. I drove him to the airport and he was off to LA then Thailand.

Sold a 5th wheel RV, similar conditions. Met the buyer in Vegas, he approved, we exchanged $$ for registration on the spot, I hooked him up to his pickup and drove home after wiring the cash to my account.

You can get hosed by a guy in Thailand just as easy as a guy in the next town or even at some dealerships. Do your homework, put in some non negotiable safeguards and have at it.

Don
 
There's no substitute for a personal inspection you make for big ticket items. I bought C-Farer this way.

First, I called the seller, who agreed to hold the boat with a smallish deposit to be refunded if the sale didn't go through. Then I flew down to Juneau to check the boat out: take it for a run, crawl all over it, etc.

I was ready to pay if I liked the boat. We did the deal and he later put the boat on the ferry to ship it up to Haines where we picked it up.

The plane fare was a very small part of the total cost of the purchase and well worth it for me.

Pat
 
buyer beware

Pretty much sums it up...I've been burned on a few small items on E-bay. Not huge monetary losses, but it's the principal of the thing.
 
The most important thing about buying a truck from a distance is to determine how well it runs. I would hire a local mechanic to have a look at it. it does not have to be sight unseen, just unseen by you.
 
I bought my present C-Dory on E-Bay in W. Palm Beach, Fla. I was in Az. but live in Alaska.
I hired a marine surveyor to check it out for $500. Also had a friend there take a look independently.
It all worked out good and I got a great buy.
 
I 2nd Sea Wolf's comment, who among us would not enjoy looking over another C-Dory?

Hopefully you will find someone...maybe go to the Brat map and see who you can find in that area.

I too would never buy something major sight unseen. Though I'm sure there are some honest people out there and great deals to be found.

Good luck!
 
My advice is don't! I have bought many items on e-bay and had mixed success. The worst experience ever was with a car. I bought a Mercedes, assuming the seller was honest, like me. It looked great in the pictures on e-bay and was accompanied by all sorts of assurances. When it arrived there was more wrong than I can even begin to tell you. Dummy me, never again. Go look at and drive a vehicle yourself. Have it inspected by an independent mechanic who knows what he is doing. Buyer beware!!
 
I've bought and sold a total of 725 items on ebay, and still have a 100% positive rating, though I've had to go to bat for myself a few times and also make a few adjustments on a mistake or two I've made. These were mostly small items, however.

I'd never buy a car or boat without seeing it myself or having someone (either a trusted friend, C-Brat, or professional) evaluate it for me before the bid or purchase, and for a a really big item, I'd go see it myself, if at all possible.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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