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Just bought my first vette!!!!! Questions...



 
 
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  #21  
Old September 7th 04, 05:30 AM
BenF802961
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>From:
>Date: 9/6/04 5:39 PM Central


>ME: Ebay is a good place to pick out virtually anything youre looking
>for ; but considering the way morality and ethics have clearly taken a
>back seat in our nation ... to risk tens of thousands of dollars based
>ultimately on hearsay and a few web photos...is really very risky. You
>have absolutely no recourse except to put a black mark on his ebay
>record , from what i understand about this sort of Ebay transaction.
>


Since you don't use Ebay to purchase vehicles, you won't know about the section
that contains auctions who guarentee condition or money back if not satisfied.
There is also 20,000.00 protection for some cars that meet certain conditions.


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  #22  
Old September 7th 04, 05:46 AM
Gary
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Flying out to check out the car is just fine if you have the time and
can afford to do it which is something I have neither of. Buying local
works just great if you live in a metropolitan area which again I do
not.So don't knock someone who uses it . Remember people were getting
ripped off before e-bay even was heard of.

  #23  
Old September 7th 04, 05:46 AM
Gary
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Flying out to check out the car is just fine if you have the time and
can afford to do it which is something I have neither of. Buying local
works just great if you live in a metropolitan area which again I do
not.So don't knock someone who uses it . Remember people were getting
ripped off before e-bay even was heard of.

  #24  
Old September 7th 04, 10:44 AM
Joel Jacobs
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I asked two-long time car dealers (both Chevrolet) with a combined
experience with Corvettes of more than 80 years what they thought about
buying cars off eBay. Both couldn't even answer at first for laughing so
hard.

Both said that, at best, valuing, examining, and actually test driving a
car, was still a crap shoot and no guarantee of quality, but, they could
come closer - but that to buy a car online without going to physically
examine it, overall, for the most part, was generally, insane. That
certainly one could always find an exception, but that, in general it was
crazy.

What's a "tiny" dent or "miniscule" scratch to the person advertising the
car for sale might well be something totally unacceptable to a buyer. And
that tiny bit of clutch slip..... and that tiny noise on startup, or the oil
seeping past the valve guides....etc....

These people buy between 2 and 10 used cars each week at GM auctions, and
take in more trades than that daily.

Just passing it on FWIW.....



  #25  
Old September 7th 04, 10:44 AM
Joel Jacobs
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I asked two-long time car dealers (both Chevrolet) with a combined
experience with Corvettes of more than 80 years what they thought about
buying cars off eBay. Both couldn't even answer at first for laughing so
hard.

Both said that, at best, valuing, examining, and actually test driving a
car, was still a crap shoot and no guarantee of quality, but, they could
come closer - but that to buy a car online without going to physically
examine it, overall, for the most part, was generally, insane. That
certainly one could always find an exception, but that, in general it was
crazy.

What's a "tiny" dent or "miniscule" scratch to the person advertising the
car for sale might well be something totally unacceptable to a buyer. And
that tiny bit of clutch slip..... and that tiny noise on startup, or the oil
seeping past the valve guides....etc....

These people buy between 2 and 10 used cars each week at GM auctions, and
take in more trades than that daily.

Just passing it on FWIW.....



  #26  
Old September 7th 04, 12:06 PM
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'Flying out to check out the car is just fine if you have the time and
can afford to do it which is something I have neither of. Buying local
works just great if you live in a metropolitan area which again I do
not.So don't knock someone who uses it . Remember people were getting
ripped off before e-bay even was heard of.'

ME: Hey...its YOUR money ! And because people were getting ripped
off before ebay came along , justifies buying without seeing in person
?! -- would you acquire a wife that way, or even a dog ??? Yet youll
gamble with many many thousands of dollars on a car you are totally
enthused about based on what a guy says , who needs his money out of it
asap ?

  #27  
Old September 7th 04, 12:06 PM
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Posts: n/a
Default

'Flying out to check out the car is just fine if you have the time and
can afford to do it which is something I have neither of. Buying local
works just great if you live in a metropolitan area which again I do
not.So don't knock someone who uses it . Remember people were getting
ripped off before e-bay even was heard of.'

ME: Hey...its YOUR money ! And because people were getting ripped
off before ebay came along , justifies buying without seeing in person
?! -- would you acquire a wife that way, or even a dog ??? Yet youll
gamble with many many thousands of dollars on a car you are totally
enthused about based on what a guy says , who needs his money out of it
asap ?

  #28  
Old September 7th 04, 12:12 PM
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Joel : ' ...but that to buy a car online without going to physically
examine it, overall, for the most part, was generally, insane. =A0 That
certainly one could always find an exception, but that, in general it
was crazy.'

ME: Theres an ol' saying : If you say something long enough, loud
enough, and often enough...people will believe it (even to the point
of handing over large sums of money in confirmation thereof).

  #29  
Old September 7th 04, 12:12 PM
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Joel : ' ...but that to buy a car online without going to physically
examine it, overall, for the most part, was generally, insane. =A0 That
certainly one could always find an exception, but that, in general it
was crazy.'

ME: Theres an ol' saying : If you say something long enough, loud
enough, and often enough...people will believe it (even to the point
of handing over large sums of money in confirmation thereof).

  #30  
Old September 7th 04, 12:35 PM
RWDoyle
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When I began shopping for a Corvette back in May, I searched Ebay
extensively. I was only willing to consider cars that were within 200 miles
of my home specifically because I wanted to:
1) be able to drive out to inspect it before bidding
2) avoid paying a 3rd party to deliver it

I am VERY glad I chose to adhere to this rule. I found two cars (I was
searching for C3's) that were within my price and distance range. I drove
to see them both. I was hugely disappointed with one and very surprised by
the other.

The seller of the first car left a lot of information out of the ad. For
instance, the car's ad showed very nice looking photos and listed a couple
of the car's problems (minor ones). Upon inspection, I discovered the
following:
- headlights didn't pop up
- windshield wiper motor was not working
- the doors could not be opened from the outside... he actually parked the
car (outside) with the windows open about 3 inches so he could reach in and
remove a T-top and then open the door from the inside. Oh, and this meant
there was water damage and mildew in the car.
- the dash was basically falling apart
- the rear bumper was damaged (there were no photos of this in the ad) and
the rear emblem ($50) was missing
- there were significant paint blemishes that were not visible in the ad

The seller of the 2nd car was just the opposite. The ad actually didn't do
the car justice. The car was immaculate, ran very well, and all the
accessories worked. However, the ad was very basic.

I did not end up buying either car (I found one locally for a lower price)
but I was amused as I watched the bidding and saw the car in poor condition
sell for more $$ than the good car. Had I been bidding without a physical
inspection, I may have won the bid on the poor quality car and been hugely
disappointed (even angry) when I went to pick it up.

The lesson I learned was to always check the car out in person before
bidding. Bidding without the inspection could win you a great car or a huge
dissappointment, and doing so is a total crapshoot!

Ryan

79 L-48


 




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