News: Use Caution When Buying Cars on eBay
July 27th, 2005 by Laurie BarakSource: WNDU - South Bend, IN
A growing number of customers in the market for a new car are turning to the Internet.
These days more people are turning to the computer to find the one that’s right for them. In fact, a sports utility vehicle sells on eBay every 21 minutes. Surprisingly most buyers are willing to cross state lines to get the car of their dreams. But buying a vehicle without seeing it or driving it first can be tricky so be careful!
The first thing you should do is narrow your search. It’s easier to find what you want if know the make and model of the car you’re looking for.
Don’t jump right in: Watch the auctions for a while before bidding. Research the seller: Check feedback from other buyers and don’t be afraid to call the seller directly if you have questions. Look for no-reserve auctions: That means find the seller who doesn’t set a minimum winning bid amount. Make sure you have an out: Bid only on auctions where sellers allow you to cancel after you inspect the car. The Internet offers a lot of tools that can help too, like Carfax. For $19.99 you can get a car’s history.
Free services like True Market Value can give you a quick realistic idea on how much you should be paying.
Don’t get caught up in a bidding war or you could end up paying too much.
Remember you have to pick up the vehicle or have it shipped if you win the auction, so include gas, hotels, food, lost work time, and plane tickets in the cost of your bid.
