You can purchase clothes, shoes and groceries from your own home in just a few clicks.
However, cars are one of few items that people still prefer to purchase in person. Although the idea of purchasing a large vehicle (in price and size) online is a daunting prospect for most people, the truth is that car-buying has improved significantly. The only choices were to find a used car for sale or shop at used car lots with salesmen who are too eager to sell you. But the internet has made it easier.
You can buy a car online and you can search far and wide for the vehicle you want. Although there are some questionable products on the internet car market, and some shady sellers as well, with the right knowledge, you can avoid most of the risks. eBay is one of the most trusted and useful sites for this.
Even if you aren’t an avid eBay user, chances are you have only thought of eBay as a place to sell vintage clothes and baseball cards. But its automotive section, eBay Motors is a popular destination for car buyers. There have been more than five million cars sold so far.
Why eBay Motors is a safe place to buy a vehicle
There is always some risk when buying a car, no matter where it’s listed. It is possible for a car to fail as soon as it is purchased, even if it was accurately advertised. It is a machine, and you have no control over the variables. You should eliminate any other potential risks that come with purchasing a car you don control.
Alternatives such as Craigslist or Facebook buying and selling group are more convenient because they don’t require much work. However, there is no regulation on business practices and they allow for free-for-all transactions between buyers and sellers. I have personally used these platforms to shop for auto parts and cars. However, I know from personal experience that there will be scammers, waste of time, fake advertisements, slow-moving sellers, and a lot of poor quality items. You might also have to pay cash to most sellers. Some may even try to get you to use shady payment methods, or reloadable debit card to make you spend more.
eBay motors on the other hand has many attributes that make it safer. These include user feedback, secure payments methods and Vehicle Purchase Protection.
The 10 most expensive cars sold by eBay Motors in 2018 were almost $4.1 million. The single most expensive was a 2017 Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce LP750-4 for $499,000. If eBay Motors can handle large sales, you can also rest assured that your purchase will be smooth.
How to find the perfect vehicle on eBay
There are more than 118,000 listings on eBay Motors right now. This means there is a lot to choose from. The site’s huge inventory is complemented by a highly-tuned search engine. You can search by make and model, year, color or transmission type. Distance from you is also an option. Price ranges are another option. eBay Motors offers a variety of categories such as Classics, Exotics. Minivans. Electrics and Hybrids. You can either find the perfect car or let it find you.
This Lamborghini, which was sold in 2018 after an auction with Warren Buffett and a rare Patek Phillip watch, was the third most expensive item on eBay.
How to use feedback for assessing legitimacy of a seller:
You’ve found the perfect car you are looking for on eBay. But before you click the “Buy it Now” button, make sure you verify the seller’s credibility. Their feedback is the best indicator. Each user on eBay has a percentage of overall feedback. This is a combination of positive, neutral and negative feedback from both the seller , and the buyer. This is one way to make an informed decision about whether or not you want to proceed with a transaction. You should always look for a 100% feedback rating or a very close number, but there are other factors.
You’ll need to consider the feedback of the seller. Most eBay splits feedback into “as seller” and “as buyer” categories. You want to ensure that the user has done transactions as seller. It is much easier to collect feedback as a buyer since you only have to pay for the items.
Also, you’ll want to see past sales. It will show the reason for each feedback received. In some cases, you can view the listing. This is a great way to find out if other buyers have had positive experiences with similar products. A seller with 250 reviews from selling cars might be more trustworthy than someone who has thousands of feedback ratings from selling fidget spinners. It doesn’t mean that one seller is better than another, but it helps to keep an eye on their scores.
You can also see feedback from the past month, six months and twelve months. This means that if a seller has had one bad transaction in months but has received positive feedback ratings since then, it is more likely that your transaction will go smoothly.
No matter what I buy on eBay, I always check out feedback from sellers and consider these points. I avoid sellers who don’t leave feedback. While I know that sellers must start somewhere, to be safe, I won’t allow them to start with me as my first customer.
PayPal Secure Payment Methods and eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection:
Each car purchased on eBay motors includes Vehicle Purchase Protection. This protects against fraud-related losses. If the buyer is deemed to be a victim of fraud, they can get up to $100,000 (or the car’s value) You can only make the purchase via eBay to be sure you are protected as a buyer. If you want to be protected by eBay’s protection and assurance, you must make the purchase through eBay. As part of their scam, some sellers claiming eBay protection for their vehicles are fraudulent from other websites.
This protection plan can be used in cases such as not receiving the vehicle after it is purchased, buying a stolen vehicle, and purchasing a vehicle with unreported issues with the transmission or motor. You cannot be backed for general maintenance issues such as lightbulbs, belts, and hoses. You can learn more about Vehicle Purchase Insurance here.
PayPal and eBay’s financing center are required to pay for your vehicle successfully on eBay Motors. A deposit is required by most sellers when they win an auction. The remaining balance must be paid within a certain time. If you are not shipping the car, this allows you to view the vehicle in person before you finalize the purchase. If the seller agrees to finance, eBay will help you obtain a loan and manage your car payments.
The bottom line
You want to ensure that you get the best value and buyer protection when you buy a car using your tax refund or yearly bonus. eBay Motors has the right place to help you find it.
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