Buying used car as Part-Ex untested. Being asked for deposit
Discussion
Hi folks,
I need some help. We Bidded on a car through eBay.
The car was listed as untested (part-ex), but working condition with a light on for coolant pump. It's a Nissan leaf.
As we are only able to collect it next week, we have contacted the dealer and we're told to pay a deposit of £500 to secure the car.
We also asked to have an MOT done (Expires next month), but we're very cautiously said as follows:
" Nothing checked . So it may or may not pass. So if it fails you still need to remove car from site. No refunds. Bank details are as..."
We first gave it a break thinking... Oh well, it's an electric so maybe they don't work on that? But quick look to their Google business page lists:
"Our expertise also extends to working on electric and hybrid vehicles, for which we have the highest level of training/qualifications."
So my questions:
- What kind of protections do I have on paying a deposit by bank transfer? I assume none. What else can I suggest?
- As they claim themselves experts in EV's - Why would they sell as a part ex when they could retail for full price?
If I pay through eBay - Is this still valid? I assume they would need the collection code so, at least I would be able to view the car in person, before sending money to a stranger!
Should we stay away? Or could there be reasons for this to be a normal 'dealer thing'?
The car is a 2012 leaf. The bidding ended for £1500. So while not massively expensive it's just slightly under what they sell privately - And there is a known fault (Water pump) which we accommodated when we made an offer.
Many thanks for your views!
I need some help. We Bidded on a car through eBay.
The car was listed as untested (part-ex), but working condition with a light on for coolant pump. It's a Nissan leaf.
As we are only able to collect it next week, we have contacted the dealer and we're told to pay a deposit of £500 to secure the car.
We also asked to have an MOT done (Expires next month), but we're very cautiously said as follows:
" Nothing checked . So it may or may not pass. So if it fails you still need to remove car from site. No refunds. Bank details are as..."
We first gave it a break thinking... Oh well, it's an electric so maybe they don't work on that? But quick look to their Google business page lists:
"Our expertise also extends to working on electric and hybrid vehicles, for which we have the highest level of training/qualifications."
So my questions:
- What kind of protections do I have on paying a deposit by bank transfer? I assume none. What else can I suggest?
- As they claim themselves experts in EV's - Why would they sell as a part ex when they could retail for full price?
If I pay through eBay - Is this still valid? I assume they would need the collection code so, at least I would be able to view the car in person, before sending money to a stranger!
Should we stay away? Or could there be reasons for this to be a normal 'dealer thing'?
The car is a 2012 leaf. The bidding ended for £1500. So while not massively expensive it's just slightly under what they sell privately - And there is a known fault (Water pump) which we accommodated when we made an offer.
Many thanks for your views!
You've won an ebay auction and agreed to buy the car.
It sounds like the dealer has made it plain the car is not in full working order it's a 'project' with none of the normal protection you get buying a car from a dealer.
Is it this one?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395815663114
Several other people bid over a grand on it, so worst case you could put it back on ebay and get most of your money back.
You might be able to get it fixed at small cost and have a bargain car.
It sounds like the dealer has made it plain the car is not in full working order it's a 'project' with none of the normal protection you get buying a car from a dealer.
Is it this one?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395815663114
Several other people bid over a grand on it, so worst case you could put it back on ebay and get most of your money back.
You might be able to get it fixed at small cost and have a bargain car.
Yes.
I understand they probably don't want to put too much time over it, honestly not really worth it for how much the car is worth even in working state plus (possible) warranty headaches .
They do mention it's fully driveable and confirmed this by the phone. Coming to think about it - I think the disclaimer is because if it fails the MoT then I cant drive it as it voids the remaining MoT validity.
And obviously need to get that that pump issue sorted, but that's on me.
What really rings alarm bells is the requirement to pay a £500 deposit upfront, by bank transfer. In my mind the dealer tells me: I can't trust you, but you have to trust me by paying an upfront deposit outside eBay.
Hence my thought is to get back to him and politely tell him that according to ebay T&C's it should be OK to pay through Ebay, but looking on your thoughts on this.
I understand they probably don't want to put too much time over it, honestly not really worth it for how much the car is worth even in working state plus (possible) warranty headaches .
They do mention it's fully driveable and confirmed this by the phone. Coming to think about it - I think the disclaimer is because if it fails the MoT then I cant drive it as it voids the remaining MoT validity.
And obviously need to get that that pump issue sorted, but that's on me.
What really rings alarm bells is the requirement to pay a £500 deposit upfront, by bank transfer. In my mind the dealer tells me: I can't trust you, but you have to trust me by paying an upfront deposit outside eBay.
Hence my thought is to get back to him and politely tell him that according to ebay T&C's it should be OK to pay through Ebay, but looking on your thoughts on this.
I think you should just pull out OP, not because of the dealer but because I think you are expecting too much for a car you have won for £1500 on an eBay auction.
I don’t think you are going to be happy with this purchase and I strongly suspect you are going to get no support from the dealer so I’d recommend you forget it and buy elsewhere.
I fully understand what the law says about consumer protections but the reality is different and do you want to potentially get into a legal wrangle over a £1500 car from eBay?
I don’t think you are going to be happy with this purchase and I strongly suspect you are going to get no support from the dealer so I’d recommend you forget it and buy elsewhere.
I fully understand what the law says about consumer protections but the reality is different and do you want to potentially get into a legal wrangle over a £1500 car from eBay?
yanke33 said:
Coming to think about it - I think the disclaimer is because if it fails the MoT then I cant drive it as it voids the remaining MoT validity.
Seriously, how hard can it be, the most talked about topic on PH.No it doesn't.
To the car - it's clearly a world of pain. A dealer that won't provide the normal statutory protections - even though they are statutory. A known fault. 12 year old elec car. Just slightly cheaper than a private sale (but it has a fault).
For a full house, I'm guessing it's quite a distance from you?
If you like pain and hassle, go for it.
Auto810graphy said:
Dealer is treading a thin line with this one as eBay is seen as a consumer platform therefore dealers are meant to honour consumer rights (minus any defects disclosed at point of purchase) even if a car is purchased at auction.
Dealer clearly described it as spares/repairs.The dealer is probably entitled to be upset if the OP no longer wants the car.
But there's always the scope for honest negotiation.
Some years ago I was in a similar situation as a seller, the buyer had clearly made a mistake.
I was able to 'second chance offer' the item to the second bidder.
I was £10 down, but it was still a good price and everyone was happy.
I don't know if you can still do that.
There is a useful market in 'spares/repairs' cars like this.
I have a mate who buys them and fixes them as a hobby. Not EVs, but random stuff.
You have to buy cheap enough to take the odd failure in your stride.
If you sell them on, you're a trader so have to accept the odd punter wanting their money back.
Also in my deep past, I've bought 'back door trade in' vehicles from local dealers.
It was a good system for consenting adults.
If its the one OutInTheShed has included the link for, it says 2 things - collection within 3 days of auction end and payment terms of cash on collection.
I'm presuming that as you can't collect it until next week, i.e. longer than the 3 days, the seller is asking for a £500 deposit as he wants it sold.
If its only slightly cheaper than a private sale and the car has a stated fault and just over 1 month's MOT why did you bid and buy it sight unseen rather than one you could o and view?
I'm presuming that as you can't collect it until next week, i.e. longer than the 3 days, the seller is asking for a £500 deposit as he wants it sold.
If its only slightly cheaper than a private sale and the car has a stated fault and just over 1 month's MOT why did you bid and buy it sight unseen rather than one you could o and view?
The fact that this is clearly (from the listing photo and description) a used car trader with premises trading on eBay as a private seller rings alarm bells with me.
Also "nothing has or will be checked hence selling as spares/repairs" is (to me) car trader speak for "we know it is f
ked, we know exactly what is wrong with it, we've costed the repair work and can't see any margin in it so are punting it out for whatever we can get, no comebacks".
I wouldn't have touched this listing with a bargepole myself, unless I knew all about repairing Leafs.
Also "nothing has or will be checked hence selling as spares/repairs" is (to me) car trader speak for "we know it is f
ked, we know exactly what is wrong with it, we've costed the repair work and can't see any margin in it so are punting it out for whatever we can get, no comebacks". I wouldn't have touched this listing with a bargepole myself, unless I knew all about repairing Leafs.
Richard-390a0 said:
That dealer in the ebay link is registered as a private seller which might be worth noting.
I have had conversations with ebay about 'provate sellers' with several thousand items listed.Not a car, or even a motoring item but someone wound me up, not honouring an auction sale.
It seems that it's not entirely necessary for businesses to operate as 'business sellers' on ebay.
I don't think anyone would reasonably read that ebay item page and think they were dealing with a private seller.
It's clearly listed as a part-ex, and photographed on trade premises.
I think trading standards would laugh at you if you claimed they were masquerading as a private seller, which is something they take moderately seriously in the motor trade.
It's a fair point though, an opportunity for the OP to bail out perhaps?
Dealer has taken an old car as a trade in. It is ropey so might not pass an MOT and he certainly doesn’t want to provide any sort of warranty on it. No problem, he auctions it as spares or repair just to get shot of the bloody thing.
Only issue being is some prat wins the auction then doesn’t pay for it. Rinse and repeat.
Dealers can get a hard time on these forums but I am willing to bet there are far more st customers than there are dealers.
OP - you bid for the car and won the auction. Do the decent thing and follow through with the sale.
Only issue being is some prat wins the auction then doesn’t pay for it. Rinse and repeat.
Dealers can get a hard time on these forums but I am willing to bet there are far more s
t customers than there are dealers. OP - you bid for the car and won the auction. Do the decent thing and follow through with the sale.
sandman77 said:
Dealer has taken an old car as a trade in. It is ropey so might not pass an MOT and he certainly doesn’t want to provide any sort of warranty on it. No problem, he auctions it as spares or repair just to get shot of the bloody thing.
Only issue being is some prat wins the auction then doesn’t pay for it. Rinse and repeat.
Dealers can get a hard time on these forums but I am willing to bet there are far more st customers than there are dealers.
OP - you bid for the car and won the auction. Do the decent thing and follow through with the sale.
Totally agree. Only issue being is some prat wins the auction then doesn’t pay for it. Rinse and repeat.
Dealers can get a hard time on these forums but I am willing to bet there are far more s
t customers than there are dealers. OP - you bid for the car and won the auction. Do the decent thing and follow through with the sale.
The seller clearly stated that it's a part exchange which requires attention, hence the car was sold as spares/repairs. The starting bid was 99p and they specified that it needs to be collected within 3 days. All this information was clearly available prior to bidding.
I get the impression they didn't want to retail or repair the car because it's too old/unreliable/undesirable.
As others have suggested, the dealer's request for a deposit is likely a result of being messed around by winning bidders in the past, and a quick way of finding out whether or not you are genuine.
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