A scam or just plain weird? (another ebay thread)
Discussion
So my parents were selling a car via eBay this week (old merc W124 estate for those interested), but I had a phone call from my my mum explaining that it was all a bit weird...
The auction was one (£400ish), and my mum sent address etc. to the winning bidder to arrange collection, but recieved no response from the winner (female account holder). Yesterday she recieved an e-mail from eBay saying that the winner bidder's account had been ysed fraudulently and the whole lot including auction details have been removed.
Fair enough, s
t happens and they'll get round to re-listing the auction.
However today a chap turns up and introduces himself as the winner of the auction looking to buy the car. He explains that he's bought the car for his wife, but isn't the talkative type (won't talk to about his work etc.), anyway he has the cash and is happy with the car so the deal is done. Receipts and V5 signed so all seems above board.
But the other weird bit is he doesn't want to collect the car today, rather he'd meet them at a local supermarket carpark tomorrow morning to do the exchange.
So this has left my parents with the cash, signed receipt, signed V5 AND the car. I'm assuming it's not a scam (how could it be?), but it's still somewhat strange.
Anyone here ever done a deal this way???
The auction was one (£400ish), and my mum sent address etc. to the winning bidder to arrange collection, but recieved no response from the winner (female account holder). Yesterday she recieved an e-mail from eBay saying that the winner bidder's account had been ysed fraudulently and the whole lot including auction details have been removed.
Fair enough, s
t happens and they'll get round to re-listing the auction.However today a chap turns up and introduces himself as the winner of the auction looking to buy the car. He explains that he's bought the car for his wife, but isn't the talkative type (won't talk to about his work etc.), anyway he has the cash and is happy with the car so the deal is done. Receipts and V5 signed so all seems above board.
But the other weird bit is he doesn't want to collect the car today, rather he'd meet them at a local supermarket carpark tomorrow morning to do the exchange.
So this has left my parents with the cash, signed receipt, signed V5 AND the car. I'm assuming it's not a scam (how could it be?), but it's still somewhat strange.
Anyone here ever done a deal this way???
Get there a bit early, park the car up somewhere prominent as agreed then sit in whoever else's car you've got there a little out of the way and see who turns up. At least you can then get an idea who you are dealing with before you have to meet them. I'd probably leave the keys in it as well seeing as you already have the cash. That way, if they look like trouble you can just drive off and leave them to work it out themselves.
Not necessarily dodgy, maybe people are reading too much into it. Not sure about the initial Ebay stuff, sounds a bit sketchy but from when the bloke turns up. He's happy with the car, very happy with the low price, realises he can completely trust this pleasant middle aged couple. Not convenient for him to take it away there and then (probably came on his own in car) so will pick it up next day. Rather than come the whole way back to the house he suggests the supermarket (is the supermarket between both parties?), seems reasonable enough, especially as no money is even changing hands, literally just the Merc keys. Maybe a mate of his works at the supermarket and is going to drive it back for him?
could of course be genuine. He realises he mucked them about on ebay..does want the car and figured for 400quid he would rather ensure nobody else buys it and he could trust your parents overnight .
The fact he is weird is just coincidence. He is probably pleasuring himself over the handbook as we speak!
The fact he is weird is just coincidence. He is probably pleasuring himself over the handbook as we speak!
Update:
So the car was handed over in the Morrisons car park this morning, guy took the keys and said thank you very much. No-one turned up to the house so it's all genuine.
Only thing is the car is still in the car park as he turned up on his own, with no-one to drive his car or the Merc back. Final comment was asking for positive feedback on eBay, which of course there is no history of, or even who won it.
Strange, but harmless.
So the car was handed over in the Morrisons car park this morning, guy took the keys and said thank you very much. No-one turned up to the house so it's all genuine.
Only thing is the car is still in the car park as he turned up on his own, with no-one to drive his car or the Merc back. Final comment was asking for positive feedback on eBay, which of course there is no history of, or even who won it.
Strange, but harmless.
wombat172a said:
Update:
So the car was handed over in the Morrisons car park this morning, guy took the keys and said thank you very much. No-one turned up to the house so it's all genuine.
Only thing is the car is still in the car park as he turned up on his own, with no-one to drive his car or the Merc back. Final comment was asking for positive feedback on eBay, which of course there is no history of, or even who won it.
Strange, but harmless.
Find spare set of keys, take car back and re-advertise due to time-wasters So the car was handed over in the Morrisons car park this morning, guy took the keys and said thank you very much. No-one turned up to the house so it's all genuine.
Only thing is the car is still in the car park as he turned up on his own, with no-one to drive his car or the Merc back. Final comment was asking for positive feedback on eBay, which of course there is no history of, or even who won it.
Strange, but harmless.
Bought the car for a present for his wife. No where to park it out of her sight. No one prepared to store it for him or come and help pick it up with him. So he keeps it at a local car park which is somewhere relatively safe and out of her way until he gives her the car as a gift as a surprise or arranges insurance.
Odd but I guess that is a possible explanation.
Odd but I guess that is a possible explanation.
That's a bGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff