I smell shill bidding going on....524td sold on ebay, now CL

[repoman]

This 1985 524td was just sold on ebay on 10/09/08 for $3601

Item number: 260296097143

And it's on SF craigslist 10/06/08 for $4900, same pics, same seller....maybe he just forgot to delete it....

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/869333427.html

I called him prior to bidding on ebay and he seemed nice, however, did not have any records for the car. He states several places that it is black leather, however, we all know that's vinyl....

We'll probably see it relisted on ebay at some point...

Take it for what it's worth....I am just pointing out some facts. Still looks like a nice TD

[wkohler]

Well, I don't know if you have any experience with this, but lots of people are high bidders and not following through with their responsibility.

[repoman]

Well, I don't know if you have any experience with this, but lots of people are high bidders and not following through with their responsibility.

I haven't experienced it as lately...but I do expect it in the near future in this sluggish economy..

I don't think this is the case on this one though....It appears that there is a network of these guys that bid on each others, however, as I mentioned previously, take it for what it's worth. I offered the guy $2500 for it, or at least that was my high bid. I would've gone higher if he had records. Strange though, because on the CL listing, he states that the Trans was rebulit and he told me he did not have any records of anything being rebuilt (engine, trans, inj pump, timing belt replaced, etc)

[wkohler]

Well, I don't know if you have any experience with this, but lots of people are high bidders and not following through with their responsibility.

I haven't experienced it as lately...but I do expect it in the near future in this sluggish economy..

I don't think this is the case on this one though....It appears that there is a network of these guys that bid on each others, however, as I mentioned previously, take it for what it's worth. I offered the guy $2500 for it, or at least that was my high bid. I would've gone higher if he had records. Strange though, because on the CL listing, he states that the Trans was rebulit and he told me he did not have any records of anything being rebuilt (engine, trans, inj pump, timing belt replaced, etc)

Well, what I meant to say, but somehow didn't put it in there is that it has been a big problem lately.

My S38 spark plug tool auction had the same problem, and many active sellers with whom I communicate have been submitting requests for fee refunds because buyers just aren't following through. Many are making excuses about the current climate, but others are just dropping off the face of the earth.

I'm not defending the seller, especially since I have no knowledge of either him or the car, but I'm just saying that it has been happening a lot recently.

[repoman]

Forget about the mortgage crises/banks/wall street...if ebay goes down because of dead beat bidders...we're really screwed..


...sorry, that's not funny

[s38]

I'll make an offer on the shell, maybe he'll sell that at a reasonable price.

[e3mt]

Car is listed in CT.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/869280849.html

[s38]

Wow she gets around doesn't she.

[phivethreephive]

So does this mean it's an obvious scam? I don't see the angle since the asking price isn't a "steal" like most CL scams are, but there's no way that same car is on two side of the country at the same time.

[repoman]

I just called him and he did admit that it sold on ebay for $3600, however, the 'buyer' has not come forward as yet. It will be interesting to see if he leaves negative feedback on the buyer, if it falls through.

He said he would call me if it becomes available. He also stated that he targeted some 'high class areas on craigslist' to list the car and did state that the car is physically in San Diego, CA.

I believe there is a 524td for sale. The point I was attempting to make is that it is very suspicious of shill bidding, especially if the car gets relisted on ebay and there isn't any negative feedback left for the dead beat bidder.....

[s38]

These "auto brokers" don't seem to realize that the audience for these cars is extremely small and for the most part well versed in the fact that a td actually exists.

[photopark]

I just called him and he did admit that it sold on ebay for $3600, however, the 'buyer' has not come forward as yet. It will be interesting to see if he leaves negative feedback on the buyer, if it falls through.

He said he would call me if it becomes available. He also stated that he targeted some 'high class areas on craigslist' to list the car and did state that the car is physically in San Diego, CA.

I believe there is a 524td for sale. The point I was attempting to make is that it is very suspicious of shill bidding, especially if the car gets relisted on ebay and there isn't any negative feedback left for the dead beat bidder.....

Repoman
The feedback rules changed on eBay about 4 months ago. A seller can No longer leave Negative feedback, they can only leave positive. Because of this buyers no longer fear repercussions for not following through with an auction. A buyer will get a strike from eBay for failing to make payment, you have to get several strikes in a 12 month period before eBay will suspend a buyer. Car auctions have the worst follow through of anything sold on eBay.

Doug

[repoman]

you are correct...I forgot about that...it's been a long time since I've had to leave a negative, however, I'm glad ebay did that so that the dead beat bidder could not retaliate...