Buying from online auction
Discussion
Hi. Asking for a friend. He has just bought a classic car from an online auction. He went along and inspected before buying but unfortunately isn’t very knowledgeable about cars. The seller was a trader.
It turns out that the car is unroadworthy with a lot wrong with it including rust, a knackered engine, poor brakes and other things.
Does he have any comeback as the seller was in the trade? The seller says he had 14 days to raise any issues and it has been longer than that.
My friend is gutted to say the least. His local garage is estimating £10k to get the car straight.
Any advice that might help him would be gratefully received.
It turns out that the car is unroadworthy with a lot wrong with it including rust, a knackered engine, poor brakes and other things.
Does he have any comeback as the seller was in the trade? The seller says he had 14 days to raise any issues and it has been longer than that.
My friend is gutted to say the least. His local garage is estimating £10k to get the car straight.
Any advice that might help him would be gratefully received.
Two things here.
1. Of your friend isn’t knowledgeable about classic cats then what was the point of him going along to look at it. Take someone who IS knowledgeable!
However,
2. If the auction site happened to be eBay the auction bids on vehicles aren’t binding. If it was a classified ad however, he may have a problem.
1. Of your friend isn’t knowledgeable about classic cats then what was the point of him going along to look at it. Take someone who IS knowledgeable!
However,
2. If the auction site happened to be eBay the auction bids on vehicles aren’t binding. If it was a classified ad however, he may have a problem.
Ex Boy Racer said:
His local garage is estimating £10k to get the car straight.
I have a few classic cars, I reckon they all need 10K to get straight. He's not very knowledgeable about cars yet but will be after working on it himself and sorting all the issues. Surely after inspecting it in person he must have had an idea what sort of project he was taking on. Rebuild the brakes, get it running and sort the rest over time, you can learn a lot with youtube videos of engine rebuilds etc.Sounds like game over I'm afraid.
Bargains may not be bargains as the motor trade is far more savvy than us...
Big reason I'd never use an auction site 'dealer' that circumvent trading standards and consumer protection but still demand thousands in commission on say a £75k car but offer NOTHING to the buyer in return...
Bargains may not be bargains as the motor trade is far more savvy than us...
Big reason I'd never use an auction site 'dealer' that circumvent trading standards and consumer protection but still demand thousands in commission on say a £75k car but offer NOTHING to the buyer in return...
unrepentant said:
What are we talking here. Garfield or something more in the style of Louis Wain?
lol. I actually have a Louis Wain. But more seriously, it's an interesting question between either (a) it's an auction so tough luck (b) he's a trader so you have rights.If the PH experts can't clarify this, I might call CAB for a chat. But the 'cooling off' period is a concern.
Ex Boy Racer said:
Said engine recently rebuilt. Not true. Small fortune spent on recent restoration. Not true.
Catalogue of lies to be honest
Your starting point will be the auction house's T&Cs which you/he would had to have agreed to in as a condition of making bids. I expect there will be quite lengthy paragraphs contained within, detailing the specific and limited cases where you may have some comeback. I suspect one such paragraph will be along the lines of "vehicles are sold as seen with no warranty implied or given. You have x period to inspect the vehicle to ensure you know exactly what you are bidding on. Bids are binding and final. Full payment and removal of vehicle from site must be completed by y".Catalogue of lies to be honest
It's highly unlikely you'll see any of your money back imo. Auction houses have their T&Cs tighter than a duck's ass, especially as you're outside of the cooling off period.
I fear you may be right. However, surely an auction cannot be such an easy loophole for rogue traders to take advantage of less knowledgeable punters?
If they can’t escape responsibility for a dishonest sale directly, how can they just by using a slightly different channel?
Seriously, the description given in the auction is so clearly untrue in so many ways it is fantasyland. Yet my friend took it as accurate
For instance, he accepted that the engine was rebuilt and upgraded as described. He did not check to see the 3/4 of an inch of crankshaft endfloat. Then again, who would?
If they can’t escape responsibility for a dishonest sale directly, how can they just by using a slightly different channel?
Seriously, the description given in the auction is so clearly untrue in so many ways it is fantasyland. Yet my friend took it as accurate
For instance, he accepted that the engine was rebuilt and upgraded as described. He did not check to see the 3/4 of an inch of crankshaft endfloat. Then again, who would?
From the t’s and c’s on the ad…
‘If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies. ‘
This was not a private sale.
Yet further down…
‘ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only. ’
So no clearer really. But can a dealer really use the sold as seen line?
‘If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies. ‘
This was not a private sale.
Yet further down…
‘ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only. ’
So no clearer really. But can a dealer really use the sold as seen line?
Ex Boy Racer said:
I fear you may be right. However, surely an auction cannot be such an easy loophole for rogue traders to take advantage of less knowledgeable punters?
If they can’t escape responsibility for a dishonest sale directly, how can they just by using a slightly different channel?
Seriously, the description given in the auction is so clearly untrue in so many ways it is fantasyland. Yet my friend took it as accurate
For instance, he accepted that the engine was rebuilt and upgraded as described. He did not check to see the 3/4 of an inch of crankshaft endfloat. Then again, who would?
But he had 14 days to raise the matter and didn't. Auctions are auctions for a reason...If they can’t escape responsibility for a dishonest sale directly, how can they just by using a slightly different channel?
Seriously, the description given in the auction is so clearly untrue in so many ways it is fantasyland. Yet my friend took it as accurate
For instance, he accepted that the engine was rebuilt and upgraded as described. He did not check to see the 3/4 of an inch of crankshaft endfloat. Then again, who would?
Plan C is to chuck it back into the auction and hope somebody makes the same mistake. Probably cheaper than £10K, and then he can start again older and wiser.
Ex Boy Racer said:
Hi. Asking for a friend. He has just bought a classic car from an online auction. He went along and inspected before buying but unfortunately isn’t very knowledgeable about cars. The seller was a trader.
It turns out that the car is unroadworthy with a lot wrong with it including rust, a knackered engine, poor brakes and other things.
Does he have any comeback as the seller was in the trade? The seller says he had 14 days to raise any issues and it has been longer than that.
My friend is gutted to say the least. His local garage is estimating £10k to get the car straight.
Any advice that might help him would be gratefully received.
Need some more details. What's the car? Need photos. It turns out that the car is unroadworthy with a lot wrong with it including rust, a knackered engine, poor brakes and other things.
Does he have any comeback as the seller was in the trade? The seller says he had 14 days to raise any issues and it has been longer than that.
My friend is gutted to say the least. His local garage is estimating £10k to get the car straight.
Any advice that might help him would be gratefully received.
Beethree said:
Why don’t you ask the auction site?
^^^tempted myself, but I possilby know what their reply would be.Successful online bidding for a LR Discovery, auction house inspection report gave full mechanical and electrical report. Decided on catching train up to collect car, had to be jumped start to drive car away, only to travel just thirty metres before all dash lights on. New alternator required, auction site either did not carry out inspection and knew new alternator required. Eight (8) hours sat on side of the road, certainly not an enjoyable experience.
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