Hello All- I'm thinking of selling my '85 Mondial. Maybe I'll try eBay. Hmmm... Let's see... Scenaro: I list my Mondial on eBay. Let's say I get a few nibbles. Potential bidders ask for a PPI. Now what? I welcome and encourage "in-person" inspections. Come to my home, see and test drive the car - no problem here. Heck, I keep the car on a lift in my garage. Take a look underneath all you want. But what if he says "I want my mechanic to do a PPI"... I am hesitant to let my car go off to an unknown shop for a PPI at the bidder's request. And, if there are more than one bidder in the hunt and they EACH want a PPI done by their own mechanics, now what? I thought about getting a PPI myself and offering it for review to any bidders, but who would take my mechanic's word for it? See my situation? Add the fact that eBay adds typically run for only one week. Not much time to do anything more than the aforementioned "look and test drive". How does one go about listing a car on eBay and deal with the PPI question in a reasonable manner?
Have you thought about subscribing and listing it in the classified section here on f-chat ? Its a great way to advertise to a large Ferrari fan base for very little money. I've received very good response to a couple ads I've listed.
The 'PPI Shop' is supposed to be unknown to you....the buyer is looking for a fair, independent evaluation of the car's mechanical condition un-influenced by the seller's need to extract as much cash from a potential buyer as possible. However, if you live in the boonies, it would be the buyer's responsibility to make any and all arrangements for safe transportation and PPI evaluation of your vehicle, subject to your approval. To mitigate risk, or to assemble evidence to your integrity and reputation, have a thorough PPI done on your nickel and publish any/all results, in-advance, warts and all. The best defense is a strong offense.
Vintagemotorcars- Yes, great idea. I will definitely run an Fchat classified, also. M. James- Good suggestion. I will probably get a PPI myself and offer it for review - "warts and all". I am not trying to hide anything and want the buyer to know all, without any surprises. I figure that if there is something in my PPI that a potential buyer doesn't like, then they can elect not to bid right then and there. But how do I work with the bidders that are still interested but want their own PPI? I am wondering about the time frame still. What if a bidder's PPI shop cannot see the car until after the auction ends? Also, what guarantees do I have that the PPI shop doesn't strip out a spark plug while doing a compression test? Or fries the clutch on a test drive? I understand that a potential bidder would be hesitant to bid without a professional inspection, but as seller I don't want it to drag out indefinitely. That's one reason I am considering eBay in the first place. Maybe list the auction for two weeks perhaps, but will that really solve anything or just drag it out more? Questions, questions...
Getting your own ppi can't hurt, but I don't think it will satisfy most buyers, who will want their own. if the bidder's shop can't see it until the end of the auction, you have a decision to make. Come to an agreement on price pending the PPI, cancel the auction and give the buyer time to do the PPI, would be one option. there is no guarantee that the shop doing the PPI won't damage the car. If you want an easy transaction with a guarantee that nothing will go wrong, trade the car into a dealership and take your price lumps (i.e., sell it at a "wholesale" price, quick and easy). When you try to maximize your sales price by doing a private party sale (i.e., get a "retail" price), you take all sorts of risks. A shop can damage it, someone can steal it, try to defraud you, come to your house and shoot you, etc. etc. etc. That's just the way risk/reward works. don't get too caught up on the eBay "auction" format. eBay is just another way of publicizing your car for sale. If you find a serious buyer, you just work with him the same as if you found him by advertising your car in the newspaper.
