eBay car seller asking for a deposit - is this normal?

[Formula Autos]

Wasn't a deposit on a diesel Maxi or a Renault 20, was it?

 

If so, more details please!

[BavarianRetro]

I've a 100% watertight, foolproof, plan for avoiding the types of both buyer and seller highlighted by this thread.

 

Don't register on eBay.

[chaseracer]

When I said rock up to a dealer, I didn't mean a car supermarket, I meant some Arthur Daley type or summat with a few old cars laying around where you can check the car over yourself and know you ain't getting your fingers burnt.

 

 

Or Cannock auctions...

 

[bub2006]

Soon I hope dave

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Wasn't a deposit on a diesel Maxi or a Renault 20, was it?

 

If so, more details please!

Are you aware that the 'best before' date on these jokes expired 3 months ago

[Mr A Lawrence]

They did a diesel maxi??

[UmBongo]

The ghost of Old_Fart lives on.

 

God, I miss him.

[stripped fred]

To the op, I wouldn't get too upset. Sounds a bit dodgy. I would have had reservations too. However, if you could have gone straight there to have a look at it you wouldn't have had to pay the deposit just paid up or walked away. From his point of view he probably thought you were a timewaster but I can see you were just being careful. I too would want to pay the person selling the car not another random bloke.

 

I always avoid garages and buy from individuals as I can then properly suss them out and dealers often know little about the cars they are selling at least compared with the owner.

[garbaldy]

I have paid deposits before and have not had a problem,the only time I ever have a problem on eBay is while selling cars that's why if it states deposit to be payed in the listing and you are not happy to do that then don't bid its pretty simple really.

[Alexg]

 

Why exactly does it matter how much the deposit was? £10 / £100 / £1000; I'd prefer not to send that to a random person I do not have a full address for thanks.

 

 

I think it's quite relevant. If the seller is asking for £50 the likelihood of it being a scam is small as it will have cost them half of that to run and complete the ad. If the account is from established eBayer with good feedback then I'd be doubly confident to complete. If however it's Â£500 I don't think may people here will blame you for reneging on the deal.

 

I guess this car isn't local enough to buzz over, inspect and thrust a deposit on the blokes hand with view to collect later as intended? 

[nick]

I think it's quite relevant. If the seller is asking for £50 the likelihood of it being a scam is small as it will have cost them half of that to run and complete the ad. If the account is from established eBayer with good feedback then I'd be doubly confident to complete. If however it's £500 I don't think may people here will blame you for reneging on the deal.

 

I guess this car isn't local enough to buzz over, inspect and thrust a deposit on the blokes hand with view to collect later as intended?

It's not local unfortunately it I would just go along as you said. He'll have its back up for sale by now, for more money anyway! It's £100 which isn't a massive amount but also more than I'd want to lose. I think one point people are missing (not yourself) are the details. I have offered sellers a deposit before now so I worded the title of this topic badly!

 

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[nick]

I think it's quite relevant. If the seller is asking for £50 the likelihood of it being a scam is small as it will have cost them half of that to run and complete the ad. If the account is from established eBayer with good feedback then I'd be doubly confident to complete. If however it's £500 I don't think may people here will blame you for reneging on the deal.

 

I guess this car isn't local enough to buzz over, inspect and thrust a deposit on the blokes hand with view to collect later as intended?

I also became more suspicious when he would not even take £50 deposit which I was a little more willing to risk. Some people are stubborn about one thing despite not adhering to all their other terms.

 

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[hairymel]

nick - i have bought cars before and refused to pay the 'required' deposit. 

 

usually though i have picked up the car within a few days of the auction ending, and have only had one seller kick up when i expressed my reluctance to send a random stranger money.

 

i do however offer a deposit, whether it is asked for or not, when i cannot collect quickly.

 

 

in this/your case i would have probably done the same as you.

 

 

 

 

[nick]

nick - i have bought cars before and refused to pay the 'required' deposit.

 

usually though i have picked up the car within a few days of the auction ending, and have only had one seller kick up when i expressed my reluctance to send a random stranger money.

 

i do however offer a deposit, whether it is asked for or not, when i cannot collect quickly.

 

 

in this/your case i would have probably done the same as you.

My situation was exactly like yours. He said "after Wednesday" for pick-up so I offered to come on Thursday. One day day of waiting is not worthy of a deposit to an unknown email address. Anyway, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is careful.

 

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[doobietoo]

Was the deposit amount mentioned in the listing?

[nick]

Was the deposit amount mentioned in the listing?

Yes

 

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[robinmasters]

I'm not convinced 'conditions' like this within the description form part of any contract, and even if they could it's probably arguable whether they could be enforced. 

 

Sounds like you had a lucky escape here though. 'Disrespecting' him? Who does he think he is? 

[hairymel]

also just to clarify ebay's policy on motors 'auctions'

 

 

A non-binding bid is a bid that shows a buyer's interest in purchasing an item, but it doesn't create a formal contract between the buyer and the seller.

All bids made in the Real Estate and eBay Motors vehicles categories are considered non-binding.

 

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/non-binding-bid.html

[D Spares & Tyres]

I would never leave a deposit on an unseen car just in case it was not as described.

 

However, I have bought cars off eBay with 'deposit must be left, etc'

 

I just ring them up and speak to them first, get them to check my feedback and tell them when I would like to collect.

 

Once they speak to you and realise you are not a typical eBay mouth breather then they usually accept that.

 

However I have sold things and stated on the listing ' cash on collection' Sometimes they will PayPal it anyway so I just refund and cancel the sale. They usually understand.

 

Communication is everything and despite all the current methods available it is a dying art....

[wuvvum]

also just to clarify ebay's policy on motors 'auctions'

 

 

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/non-binding-bid.html

That's the rules for 'Muricuh, though.  On ebay.co.uk bids on vehicle auctions are legally binding.

[carlo]

Just read this and have to concur with nick and hairymel.  I've bought around ten cars on ebay and never had to pay a deposit yet, although I usually pick them up fairly pronto.  Perhaps I've dealt with more trusting/sensible sellers.  I make sure we have a good chat first.

 

Although if anyone had said I was 'disrespecting' him I'd presume I was dealing with a 15 year old and cancel the deal anyway.

[Liggle]

I have asked for a deposit at auction end for 3 cars I've sold on eBay, the genuine buyers paid up no questions asked. The ones that won and then had no intention of collecting/paying didn't funnily enough, quite a limited experience though I admit. 

[hairymel]

ebay.co.uk not .com you tw@t

 

i stand corrected wuvvum!

 

fairly certain it used to be the case, but i am apparently not a credible source   

[nick]

Just for the benefit of anybody who was defending the seller; he changed his mind and agreed I could have the car late last week. We arranged an exact time and place, I bought a coach ticket and even moved my work shift 300 miles to another city for the day. Guess what? He sent me a message two days later saying "I've had two better offers so you need to raise yours". I'll let you be the judge with that but it's a good thing I only booked a cheap coach!

 

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[Mr_Bo11ox]

what a bell end

[garbaldy]

More the fool you for still trying to deal with him, you should have ignored him when he came back to you,

[nick]

More the fool you for still trying to deal with him, you should have ignored him when he came back to you,

I cannot disagree that I should have ditched the joker last week but I am a determined individual, especially when it's involving a car. This one had a personal connection (silly really) as well before you judge me too much

[carlo]

I stand by my comment above, soon as I saw the 'disrespecting me' comment I presumed he was a twat.  Trouble is wanting a car can do strange things to you.

 

I'm still with nick though; fuck 'em with their deposits.

[strangeangel]

I sort of admire your dedication, as the car has some meaning to you, but at the same time you knew the seller was clearly a nobhead, so the chances of this ending well were slim at best.

 

I hate buying and selling cars/bikes. It's a relief when you find a buyer/seller who is genuinely straight up (as the two I have bought cars from on here have been).

[New POD]

When I was trying to sell a knackered Honda last summer, the first bidder refused to pay a deposit, but made perfectly reasonable promises for a week and failed to turn up on a number of occasions. I offered it to the second highest bidder, who actually paid, in full, but also did not turn up for a week and 4 different agreed dates and times. I did not want or need the hassle, so I refunded him his money and got the local scrappy to take it.