The more you know about your seller and the items you're bidding on, the safer you, as a buyer will be. Below are some specific tips you can review to ensure you know everything possible about your eBay Motors seller.
Know your seller
Know your seller. Check their feedback rating for similar items to gauge their selling behavior.- Contact your seller prior to placing a bid if the seller has no feedback or negative feedback.
- Contact your seller with any questions about the condition of a vehicle before bidding.
- Do not place a bid if you cannot reach your seller, or your seller is inaccessible by email and/or phone.
Note: Per eBay policy, if you are unable to reach the seller during the course of the auction, you may retract your bid once it has been placed.
Know your item
- Learn about the vehicle you are interested in. If it is a passenger vehicle from 1981 or later, run a
title check on it. Check the blue book value before you decide what you're willing to pay.
- Use extra caution if an item is listing significantly below the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
- Make an
independent assessment of the condition of the vehicle.
- Be realistic in your expectations of used or older vehicles-expect normal "wear and tear."
- Personally visit or have an
inspection service visit the vehicle to ensure accurate representation.
- Read relevant information published by independent consumer watchdog organizations as part of your research. Some examples include:
- Verify that the vehicle meets emissions requirements in your state prior to making an interstate purchase. Many states, such as California, have strict emission standards.
For example: New and used gasoline-powered vehicles registered in California must pass the California Smog Check. To learn more about this requirement, review California's SmogCheck Rules.
Additional Points
- Take advantage of PayPal for safe and fast funds transfer between buyer and seller.
- Educate yourself on eBay's
Vehicle Purchase Protection &
Warranty programs should something go wrong with your vehicle.
- Use caution when considering escrow. To avoid being deceived by fraudulent escrow services, use www.escrow.com, eBay's approved escrow service. For a small fee, www.escrow.com will hold the buyer's payment and forward it to the seller after the buyer receives and approves the item.
Related Help topics
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